The Project Gutenberg eBook of The 1995 CIA World Factbook, by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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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
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Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian OceanTerritory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
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Burma
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Cambodia
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Canada
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Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
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Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
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Croatia
Cuba
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Czech Republic

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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

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

Pacific Ocean
Pakistan
Palau
Palmyra Atoll
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paracel Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico

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

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

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.

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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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.37 years male: 45.98 years female: 44.72 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)

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.)

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

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

National holiday: Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April; Remembrance
Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day, 19 August

Legal system: a new legal system has not been adopted but the transitional government has declared it will follow Islamic law (Shari'a)

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Television:
broadcast stations: several television stations run by factions and
local councils which provide intermittent service
televisions: NA

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

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian
Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro

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)

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

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%

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)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.81 years male: 70.83 years female: 77.02 years (1995 est.)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1 - 100 (January 1995), 99 (January 1994), 97 (January 1993), 50 (January 1992), 25 (September 1991)

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)

Inland waterways: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake
Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)

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

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

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

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Morocco and Tunisia

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.01 years male: 66.94 years female: 69.13 years (1995 est.)

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

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.

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%

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

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

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)

Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 75% other: 10%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.91 years male: 71.03 years female: 74.85 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa

Type: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs

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

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

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.

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%

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)

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

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

ANDORRA

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 use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 56% forest and woodland: 22% other: 20%

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows
contributes to soil erosion
natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches
international agreements: NA

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.52 years male: 75.65 years female: 81.66 years (1995 est.)

Names:
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
local short form: Andorra

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

Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

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

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

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 35,000 kW production: 140 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,570 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat,
barley, oats, and some vegetables

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)

Telephone system: 17,700 telephones; digital microwave network
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: landline circuits to France and Spain

ANGOLA

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Namibia and Zaire

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

Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.28 years male: 44.18 years female: 48.49 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico
(mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%

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.)

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

Type: transitional government nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

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

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

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

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)

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 91 sq km
land area: 91 sq km
comparative area: about half the size of Washington, DC

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)

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.1 years male: 71.32 years female: 76.91 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%,
Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%

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%

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

Political parties and leaders: Anguilla National Alliance (ANA);
Anguilla United Party (AUP), Hubert HUGHES; Anguilla Democratic Party
(ADP), Victor BANKS

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

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.

Budget:
revenues: $13.8 million
expenditures: $15.2 million, including capital expenditures of $2.4
million (1992 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 2,000 kW production: 6 million kWh consumption per capita: 862 kWh (1992)

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

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Highways: total: 105 km (1992 est.) paved: 65 km unpaved: gravel and earth 40 km

Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2

Telephone system: 890 telephones; modern internal telephone system
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: radio relay microwave link to island of Saint Martin

ANTARCTICA

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)

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%)

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

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

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).

Overview: No economic activity at present except for fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.

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

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

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico

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

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

Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher volcanic areas

Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 16% other: 59%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.4 years male: 71.32 years female: 75.57 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*,
Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint
Peter, Saint Philip

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

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

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.

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%

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

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

Overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.

Note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways

ARGENTINA

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

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

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

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%

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)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.51 years male: 68.22 years female: 74.97 years (1995 est.)

Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing),
Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina

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

Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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.)

ARMENIA

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

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

Terrain: high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land;
fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 0% other: 60%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.36 years male: 68.94 years female: 75.95 years (1995 est.)

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

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)

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

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)

Constitution: adopted NA April 1978; referendum on new constitution to be held 5 July 1995

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

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

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)

Unemployment rate: 6.5% of officially registered unemployed but large numbers of underemployed (1994 est.)

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

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

Railroads:
total: 840 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines
broad gauge: 840 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: NA; note - 100% of population receives Armenian
and Russian TV programs
televisions: NA

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

Area:
total area: 193 sq km
land area: 193 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
international agreements: NA

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.56 years male: 72.89 years female: 80.42 years (1995 est.)

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch,
English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

Labor force: NA by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1995)

Type: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles

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)

Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence

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

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)

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 330 million kWh consumption per capita: 4,761 kWh (1993)

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

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

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

ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS

Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of
Australia

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

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand)

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs which can pose
maritime hazards
international agreements: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal caretakers

Names:
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for the Environment, Sport, and Territories

Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

ATLANTIC OCEAN

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

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

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).

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)

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

Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South
Pacific Ocean

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.78 years male: 74.67 years female: 81.04 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia

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

Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.9 years male: 73.7 years female: 80.27 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich

Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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)

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)

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

local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), and
EUTELSAT earth stations

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.

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.)

International disputes: violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh over its status; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined

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

Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 0% other: 53%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.09 years male: 67.4 years female: 74.97 years (1995 est.)

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

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: none
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 4500 (April 1995), 4168 (end of
December 1994)

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida

Area:
total area: 13,940 sq km
land area: 10,070 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 32% other: 67%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.12 years male: 67.37 years female: 76.97 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas

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

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

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

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.

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%

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

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 620 sq km
land area: 620 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

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

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 0% other: 90%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.94 years male: 71.46 years female: 76.49 years (1995 est.)

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

Names:
conventional long form: State of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

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

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

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the
US Coast Guard

BANGLADESH

Area:
total area: 144,000 sq km
land area: 133,910 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

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)

Land use: arable land: 67% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 16% other: 11%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.46 years male: 55.69 years female: 55.22 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
former: East Pakistan

Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times

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

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

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.

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.)

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

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)

Railroads: total: 2,892 km broad gauge: 978 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,914 km 1.000-m gauge (1992)

Inland waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes 2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)

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

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

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

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

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 use: arable land: 77% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 0% other: 14%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.16 years male: 71.47 years female: 77.06 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980)

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.)

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

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

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)

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.

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%

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)

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

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

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

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.)

BASSAS DA INDIA

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all rock)

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

Type: French possession administered by a Commissioner of the
Republic, resident in Reunion

BELARUS

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

Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.03 years male: 66.36 years female: 75.93 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%,
Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

Unemployment rate: 1.4% officially registered unemployed (December 1993); large numbers of underemployed workers

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

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

Railroads:
total: 5,570 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines
broad gauge: 5,570 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Pipelines: crude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; natural gas 1,980 km (1992)

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

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)

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

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

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

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

Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 21% other: 34%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.21 years male: 73.94 years female: 80.67 years (1995 est.)

Languages: Dutch 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11%
divided along ethnic lines

Labor force: 4.126 million by occupation: services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%, agriculture 2.3% (1988)

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local long form: Royaume de Belgique
local short form: Belgique

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (French: provinces, singular -
province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen,
Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen,
West-Vlaanderen

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

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

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.

Budget:
revenues: $97.8 billion
expenditures: $109.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1989)

commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products partners: EC 75.5%, US 3.7%, former Communist countries 1.4% (1991)

commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: EC 73%, US 4.8%, oil-exporting less developed countries 4%, former Communist countries 1.8% (1991)

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Mexico

Area:
total area: 22,960 sq km
land area: 22,800 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

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

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 44% other: 52%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.32 years male: 66.37 years female: 70.36 years (1995 est.)

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)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange
Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

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

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

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.

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)

Electricity: capacity: 34,532 kW production: 110 million kWh consumption per capita: 490 kWh (1993)

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

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

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

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

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Nigeria and Togo

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

Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 35% other: 45%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.24 years male: 50.34 years female: 54.2 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being
Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey

Type: republic under multiparty democratic rule dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou,
Mono, Oueme, Zou

Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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%

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

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

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

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

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

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

Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)

Area:
total area: 50 sq km
land area: 50 sq km
comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 20% other: 80%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.03 years male: 73.36 years female: 76.97 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 10%, Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other 28%

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)

Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint
Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick

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

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

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

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.

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%

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

Highways:
total: 210 km
paved: 210 km
note: in addition, there are 400 km of paved and unpaved roads that
are privately owned

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

Telephone system: 52,670 telephones; modern, fully automatic telephone
system
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 3 submarine cables; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth
stations

BHUTAN

Area:
total area: 47,000 sq km
land area: 47,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana

Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 70% other: 23%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.03 years male: 51.56 years female: 50.48 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or
migrant tribes 15%

Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects;
Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
note: massive lack of skilled labor

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan

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

National holiday: National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king)

Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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

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

Highways: total: 2,165 km paved: NA unpaved: gravel 1,703 km undifferentiated: 462 km

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

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)

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.)

BOLIVIA

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.85 years male: 61.39 years female: 66.43 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed European and
Indian ancestry) 25%-30%, European 5%-15%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local long form: Republica de Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia

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

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

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

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.

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.)

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

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)

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.47 years male: 72.75 years female: 78.37 years (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

Pipelines: crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992); note - pipelines now disrupted

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

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

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.)

BOTSWANA

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.56 years male: 60.54 years female: 66.67 years (1995 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form: Botswana
former: Bechuanaland

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

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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%.

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)

Area:
total area: 58 sq km
land area: 58 sq km
comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters; coast is mostly inaccessible

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all ice)

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

BRAZIL

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.82 years male: 56.57 years female: 67.32 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Caucasion (includes Portuguese, German, Italian,
Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed Caucasion and African 38%, African 6%,
other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil

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

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%

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)

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.

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 112 (Brazil has the world's fourth largest
television broadcasting system)
televisions: NA

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

Location: Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

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

Names:
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form: none

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

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

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.

Highways:
total: NA
paved: short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego
Garcia
unpaved: NA

Telephone system: NA telephones; minimal facilities
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

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 use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 33% forest and woodland: 7% other: 33%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.73 years male: 70.88 years female: 74.7 years (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander

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)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98%

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands

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

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)

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)

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.

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

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

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

Telephone system: 3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone
service
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: submarine cable communication links to Bermuda

BRUNEI

Area:
total area: 5,770 sq km
land area: 5,270 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Delaware

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

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 79% other: 18%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.24 years male: 69.65 years female: 72.91 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei

Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a
State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1
January 1984)

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

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

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.

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)

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)

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

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

Highways:
total: 1,090 km
paved: bituminous 370 km (with another 52 km under construction)
unpaved: gravel or earth 720 km

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

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

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

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Romania and Turkey

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

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Land use: arable land: 34% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 35% other: 10%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.68 years male: 70.43 years female: 77.1 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast);
Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sofiya,
Varna

Legal system: based on civil law system, with Soviet law influence; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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)

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.

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%)

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

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

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)

Pipelines: crude oil 193 km; petroleum products 525 km; natural gas 1,400 km (1992)

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 29 (Russian repeater in Sofia 1)
televisions: 2.1 million (May 1990)

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.6 years male: 45.71 years female: 47.51 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Burkina Faso
conventional short form: Burkina
former: Upper Volta

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

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

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

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)

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.47 years male: 58.38 years female: 62.69 years (1995 est.)

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%

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.)

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

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*

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BURUNDI

Area:
total area: 27,830 sq km
land area: 25,650 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Climate: temperate; warm; occasional frost in uplands; dry season from
June to September

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%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.86 years male: 37.84 years female: 41.95 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
local short form: Burundi

Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi,
Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba,
Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

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

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

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)

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)

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.

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%

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

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)

Highways:
total: 5,900 km
paved: 640 km
unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 2,260 km; improved, unimproved earth
3,000 km (1990)

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

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

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

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between
Thailand and Vietnam

Area:
total area: 181,040 sq km
land area: 176,520 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Oklahoma

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.46 years male: 48 years female: 51 years (1995 est.)

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Reacheanachak Kampuchea
local short form: Kampuchea

Type: multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

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

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

Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 54% other: 13%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.48 years male: 55.41 years female: 59.6 years (1995 est.)

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%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
former: French Cameroon

Type: unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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%

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

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

Highways: total: 65,000 km paved: 2,682 km unpaved: gravel, improved earth 32,318 km; unimproved earth 30,000 km

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

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

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

Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US

Area:
total area: 9,976,140 sq km
land area: 9,220,970 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than US

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.29 years male: 74.93 years female: 81.81 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other
European 20%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%

Labor force: 13.38 million by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%, construction 3%, other 4% (1988)

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*

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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)

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

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)

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

Location: Western Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Senegal

Area:
total area: 4,030 sq km
land area: 4,030 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 0% other: 85%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.01 years male: 61.1 years female: 65.01 years (1995 est.)

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)

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

Area:
total area: 260 sq km
land area: 260 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 8% forest and woodland: 23% other: 69%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.1 years male: 75.37 years female: 78.81 years (1995 est.)

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

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)

Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South
Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

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)

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

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.

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

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

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

Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18 November 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

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

Telephone system: 35,000 telephones
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
earth station

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

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

Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 64% other: 28%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 42.15 years male: 40.68 years female: 43.67 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Central African Empire

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

National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the republic)

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)

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.19 years male: 40.04 years female: 42.38 years (1995 est.)

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

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad
local short form: Tchad

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Highways: total: 31,322 km paved: bituminous 263 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 7,069 km; earth 23,990 km

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: NA; note - limited TV service; many facilties are
inoperative
televisions: NA

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

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.88 years male: 71.89 years female: 78.01 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile
local long form: Republica de Chile
local short form: Chile

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

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay,
Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.08 years male: 67.09 years female: 69.18 years (1995 est.)

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: People's Republic of China
conventional short form: China
local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
local short form: Zhong Guo

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)

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

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)

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

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%)

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 135 sq km
land area: 135 sq km
comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: almost completely surrounded by a reef which can be a
maritime hazard
international agreements: NA

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)

Labor force: NA
by occupation: all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining
Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.

Names:
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA)
cabinet: Advisory Council

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.

Electricity: capacity: 11,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)

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)

CLIPPERTON ISLAND

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all coral)

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

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

Type: French possession administered by France from French Polynesia by High Commissioner of the Republic

COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka

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

Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rain fall

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Names:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

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)

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.

Electricity: capacity: 1,000 kW production: 2 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,980 kWh (1990)

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)

Telephone system: NA telephones
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile
communications via satellite with Australia

COLOMBIA

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
Ecuador and Panama

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.48 years male: 69.68 years female: 75.38 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
local short form: Colombia

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

local: NA
intercity: nationwide microwave radio relay system; 11 domestic earth
stations
international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

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.)

COMOROS

Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

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 use: arable land: 35% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 16% other: 34%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.27 years male: 56.04 years female: 60.57 years (1995 est.)

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%

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

Administrative divisions: three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja),
Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
Moroni, and Mutsamudu

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

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

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.

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)

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

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

Highways: total: 750 km paved: bituminous 210 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 540 km

Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 117,349; males fit for military service 70,178 (1995 est.)

CONGO

Location: Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Angola and Gabon

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.09 years male: 45.23 years female: 49 years (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)

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%

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

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Area:
total area: 240 sq km
land area: 240 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Washington,
DC

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 22% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 74%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.14 years male: 69.2 years female: 73.1 years (1995 est.)

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)

Labor force: 5,810
by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry
15%, other 4% (1981)

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

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)

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

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 14,000 kW production: 21 million kWh consumption per capita: 741 kWh (1993)

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

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)

Highways:
total: 187 km
paved: 35 km
unpaved: gravel 35 km; improved earth 84 km; unimproved earth 33 km
(1980)

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

Telephone system: 2,052 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

CORAL SEA ISLANDS

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)

Environment:
current issues: no permanent fresh water resources
natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones
international agreements: NA

Names:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

Type: territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for
Environment, Sport, and Territories

Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors

COSTA RICA

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

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

Climate: tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November)

Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 45% forest and woodland: 34% other: 8%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.11 years male: 76.21 years female: 80.1 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian 1%,
Chinese 1%

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.)

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

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Ghana and Liberia

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

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

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)

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%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.87 years male: 46.52 years female: 51.29 years (1995 est.)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.02 years male: 70.59 years female: 77.65 years (1995 est.)

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%

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

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local long form: Republika Hrvatska
local short form: Hrvatska

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

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

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

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)

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.

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

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

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)

Pipelines: crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural gas 310 km (1992); note - now disrupted because of territorial dispute

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

Telephone system: 350,000 telephones
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: no satellite links

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

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.05 years male: 74.86 years female: 79.37 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba

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)

Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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.)

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

Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (non-convertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.47 years male: 74.19 years female: 78.85 years (1995 est.)

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%

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)

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"

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

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

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

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)

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%

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.54 years male: 69.87 years female: 77.41 years (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%

Labor force: 5.389 million by occupation: industry 37.9%, agriculture 8.1%, construction 8.8%, communications and other 45.2% (1990)

Names:
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local long form: Ceska Republika
local short form: Cechy

Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular);
Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha, Severocesky, Severomoravsky,
Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky

National holiday: National Liberation Day, 9 May; Founding of the
Republic, 28 October

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

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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

Railroads:
total: 9,434 km (include 1.520-m broad, 1.435-m standard, and several
narrow gauges) (1988)

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

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

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany

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

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)

Land use: arable land: 61% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 12% other: 21%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.11 years male: 73.23 years female: 79.16 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 2%, other 7% (1988)

Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect), German
(small minority)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark

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

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Area:
total area: 22,000 sq km
land area: 21,980 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 0% other: 91%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.7 years male: 47.83 years female: 51.62 years (1995 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population: 48%
male: 63%
female: 34%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas French Somaliland

Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle);
'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura

Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional practices,
and Islamic law

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

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

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).

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

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

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

Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)

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)

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

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

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.)

DOMINICA

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

Area:
total area: 750 sq km
land area: 750 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of
Washington, DC

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 41% other: 34%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.2 years male: 74.35 years female: 80.2 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica

Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,
Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint
Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

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

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)

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 7,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 347 kWh (1993)

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

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1

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

Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special
Service Unit, Coast Guard)

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Area:
total area: 48,730 sq km
land area: 48,380 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

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

Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation;
seasonal variation in rainfall

Land use: arable land: 23% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 43% forest and woodland: 13% other: 14%

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)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.73 years male: 66.57 years female: 70.99 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republica Dominicana
local short form: none

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the
Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Area:
total area: 283,560 sq km
land area: 276,840 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Nevada
note: includes Galapagos Islands

Maritime claims: continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands territorial sea: 200 nm

Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 17% forest and woodland: 51% other: 23%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.35 years male: 67.83 years female: 72.99 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%,
Spanish 10%, black 10%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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.)

EGYPT

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Libya and the Gaza Strip

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.12 years male: 59.22 years female: 63.12 years (1995 est.)

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.)

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)

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

Location: Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
Guatemala and Honduras

Area:
total area: 21,040 sq km
land area: 20,720 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Massachusetts

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)

Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 29% forest and woodland: 6% other: 30%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.5 years male: 64.89 years female: 70.23 years (1995 est.)

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

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Cameroon and Gabon

Area:
total area: 28,050 sq km
land area: 28,050 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.56 years male: 50.39 years female: 54.79 years (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

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

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

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas

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

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)

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.

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)

Electricity: capacity: 23,000 kW production: 20 million kWh consumption per capita: 50 kWh (1993)

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

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

Highways:
total: 2,760 km (2,460 km on Rio Muni and 300 km on Bioko)
paved: NA
unpaved: NA

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 121,320 sq km
land area: 121,320 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania

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%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50 years male: 48.28 years female: 51.78 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: ethnic Tigrays 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%,
Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%

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

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

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)

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)

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

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.

Agriculture: products - sorghum, livestock (including goats), fish, lentils, vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal (for making rope)

Exchange rates: 1 birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.9500 (January 1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.000 (fixed rate 1992-93); note - official rate pegged to US$

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

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

ESTONIA

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
Finland, between Latvia and Russia

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

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

Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 11% forest and woodland: 31% other: 36%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.17 years male: 65.2 years female: 75.39 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.17%,
Byelorussian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%, other 2.13% (1989)

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 3; note - provide Estonian programs as well as
Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs
televisions: NA

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

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

International disputes: southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden

Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 41% forest and woodland: 24% other: 22%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50 years male: 48.28 years female: 51.78 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%,
Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local long form: none
local short form: Ityop'iya

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.9500 (January 1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93); fixed at 2.070 before 1992; note - official rate pegged to the US$

Railroads: total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique

Area:
total area: 28 sq km
land area: 28 sq km
comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA% (heavily wooded)
other: NA%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Europa

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic; resident in Reunion

FALKLAND ISLANDS (ISLAS MALVINAS)

Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina

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

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 99% forest and woodland: 0% other: 1%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
international agreements: NA

Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church,
Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day
Adventist

Names:
conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

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

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

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.

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.)

Electricity: capacity: 9,200 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 7,253 kWh (1993)

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

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

Highways: total: 510 km paved: 30 km unpaved: gravel 80 km; unimproved earth 400 km

Airports:
total: 5
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 4

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

Branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army, Royal Air
Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force

FAROE ISLANDS

Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

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 use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 98%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.29 years male: 74.91 years female: 81.8 years (1995 est.)

Labor force: 17,585 by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Foroyar

Type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark

Administrative divisions: none (self-governing overseas administrative
division of Denmark)

Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

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

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

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)

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.

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%

Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 200 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,953 kWh (1992)

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

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)

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

Telephone system: 27,900 telephones; good international
communications; fair domestic facilities
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 3 coaxial submarine cables

Branches: no organized native military forces; only a small Police
Force and Coast Guard are maintained

FIJI

Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Area:
total area: 18,270 sq km
land area: 18,270 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

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

Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 65% other: 19%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.42 years male: 63.13 years female: 67.82 years (1995 est.)

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)

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)

Type: republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared
Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,
Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

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

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

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

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.

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%

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Area:
total area: 337,030 sq km
land area: 305,470 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

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

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

Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 76% other: 16%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.22 years male: 72.51 years female: 80.11 years (1995 est.)

Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small
Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
local short form: Suomi

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (laanit, singular - laani);
Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu,
Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa

Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Land use: arable land: 32% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 23% forest and woodland: 27% other: 16%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.37 years male: 74.5 years female: 82.44 years (1995 est.)

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)

Labor force: 24.17 million
by occupation: services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.2% (1987)

Names:
conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form: France
local long form: Republique Francaise
local short form: France

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

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

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

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

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.

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.)

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname

Area:
total area: 91,000 sq km
land area: 89,150 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

International disputes: Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)

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%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severe
thunderstorms; flooding
international agreements: NA

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.52 years male: 72.27 years female: 78.94 years (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%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Department of Guiana
conventional short form: French Guiana
local long form: none
local short form: Guyane

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

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.

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)

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

Economic aid:
recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
commitments (1970-89), $1.51 billion

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)

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

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

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

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 41,986; males fit for military service 27,298

FRENCH POLYNESIA

Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia

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 use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 19% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 31% other: 44%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.75 years male: 68.32 years female: 73.29 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%

Literacy: age 14 and over can read and write but definition of
literary not available (1977)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98%

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

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

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

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.

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%

Electricity: capacity: 75,000 kW production: 275 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,189 kWh (1993)

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

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

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

Telephone system: 33,200 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS

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"

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

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct
volcanoes
international agreements: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are researchers whose numbers vary from 150 in winter (July) to 200 in summer (January)

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

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

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

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)

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

GABON

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Congo and Equatorial Guinea

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

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

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 78% other: 2%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.14 years male: 52.31 years female: 58.06 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings
(Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans
100,000, including 27,000 French

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique Gabonaise
local short form: Gabon

Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,
Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,
Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

National holiday: Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese Democratic
Party established)

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 11,300 sq km
land area: 10,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry
season (November to May)

Land use: arable land: 16% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 20% other: 55%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.55 years male: 48.25 years female: 52.92 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-Gambian 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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia

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)

Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

Highways: total: 3,083 km paved: 431 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 501 km; unimproved earth 2,151 km

Merchant marine: total: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,194 GRT/19,394 DWT

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

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.

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Area:
total area: 360 sq km
land area: 360 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

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

Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 32% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 55%

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.)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.09 years male: 69.56 years female: 72.69 years (1995 est.)

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English
(widely understood)

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

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

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.

Budget:
revenues: $33.6 million
expenditures: $34.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY89/90)

Imports: $365 million (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials partners: Israel, Egypt

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

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)

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

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.)

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.

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.1 years male: 69.43 years female: 76.95 years (1995 est.)

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%

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)

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

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

Constitution: adopted 21 February 1921; currently amending constitution for Parliamentary and popular review by late 1995

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

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

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)

Unemployment rate: officially less than 5% but real unemployment may be more than 20%, with even larger numbers of underemployed workers

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)

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

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)

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

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

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.)

Note: Georgian forces are poorly organized and not fully under the
government's control

GERMANY

Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

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

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.62 years male: 73.5 years female: 79.92 years (1995 est.)

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)

Labor force: 36.75 million
by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture 6%, other 53% (1987)

Names:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form: Germany
local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form: Deutschland

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

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

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

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

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

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.)

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

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

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast;
hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

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%

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)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.85 years male: 53.88 years female: 57.88 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%,
Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast

Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central,
Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta,
Western

Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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%

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.61 years male: 73.7 years female: 79.48 years (1995 est.)

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

Labor force: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) note: UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the labor force

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

GLORIOSO ISLANDS

Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: periodic cyclones international agreements: NA

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Iles Glorieuses

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

GREECE

Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

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

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

Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

Land use: arable land: 23% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 40% forest and woodland: 20% other: 9%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.92 years male: 75.39 years female: 80.59 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Greek 98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in
Greece

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
local short form: Ellas
former: Kingdom of Greece

Type: presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

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)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)

Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.65 years male: 63.33 years female: 71.98 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born
Caucasians), Danish 14%

Labor force: 22,800 by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Administrative divisions: 3 municipalities (kommuner, singular -
kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland

Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
administrative division)

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

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

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.

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%

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

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)

Ports: Faeringehavn, Frederikshaab, Holsteinsborg, Nanortalik, Narsaq,
Nuuk (Godthaab), Sondrestrom

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

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

GRENADA

Area:
total area: 340 sq km
land area: 340 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 26% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 9% other: 47%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.67 years male: 68.2 years female: 73.17 years (1995 est.)

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)

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and
Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint
John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

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

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

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%.

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)

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

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Highways: total: 1,000 km paved: 600 km unpaved: otherwise improved 300 km; unimproved earth 100 km

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

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

GUADELOUPE

Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

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

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

Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 40% other: 24%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an
active volcano
international agreements: NA

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.2 years male: 74.16 years female: 80.38 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian,
Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe
conventional short form: Guadeloupe
local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
local short form: Guadeloupe

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)

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.

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)

Electricity: capacity: 320,000 kW production: 650 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,421 kWh (1993)

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

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)

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

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

GUAM

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

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

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%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively
rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)

Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.29 years male: 72.42 years female: 76.13 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%, Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, and other 18%

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)

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

National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521);
Liberation Day, 21 July

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

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)

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

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.

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%

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

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

Telephone system: 26,317 telephones (1989)
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 2 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations

GUATEMALA

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El
Salvador and Mexico

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

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

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)

Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 12% forest and woodland: 40% other: 32%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.85 years male: 62.27 years female: 67.56 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Mestizo - mixed Amerindian-Spanish ancestry (in
local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominently
Amerindian 44%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local long form: Republica de Guatemala
local short form: 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

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

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

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%.

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

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

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)

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

Ports: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo
Tomas de Castilla

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

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

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.)

GUERNSEY

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

Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.34 years male: 75.63 years female: 81.07 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist

Names:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey

Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is administered
by the Royal Court

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

Flag: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of
England) extending to the edges of the flag

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.

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)

Electricity: capacity: 173,000 kW production: 525 million kWh consumption per capita: 9,060 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses), sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables, fruit; Guernsey cattle

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

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1

Telephone system: 41,900 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 submarine cable

GUINEA

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

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

Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 12% forest and woodland: 42% other: 40%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.6 years male: 42.31 years female: 46.95 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee
local short form: Guinee
former: French Guinea

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

Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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%

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea and Senegal

Area:
total area: 36,120 sq km
land area: 28,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of
Connecticut

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.87 years male: 46.21 years female: 49.57 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%,
Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

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%

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

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao);
Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali

Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 22,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: 37 kWh (1993)

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

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)

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

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

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.)

GUYANA

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

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

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)

Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 83% other: 8%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.1 years male: 61.86 years female: 68.5 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%,
European and Chinese 2%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana

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

Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures of
Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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.)

HAITI

Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Area:
total area: 27,750 sq km
land area: 27,560 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 4% other: 45%

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)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.77 years male: 43.04 years female: 46.59 years (1995 est.)

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)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
conventional short form: Haiti
local long form: Republique d'Haiti
local short form: Haiti

Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

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

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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

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

Ports: Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Cayes, Miragoane,
Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc

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

Telephone system: 36,000 telephones; domestic facilities barely
adequate, international facilities slightly better
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

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

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

Area:
total area: 412 sq km
land area: 412 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

Terrain: Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano; McDonald Islands - small and rocky

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano called
Big Ben
international agreements: NA

Type: territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for
Environment, Sport, and Territories

HOLY SEE (VATICAN CITY)

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

Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

Labor force: NA
by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay
workers who live outside the Vatican

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)

National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978)
(John Paul II)
note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978

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

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

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

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

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

Telephone system: 2,000 telephones; automatic exchange
local: NA
intercity: tied into Italian system
international: uses Italian system

Note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City

HONDURAS

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
El Salvador and Nicaragua

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.04 years male: 65.64 years female: 70.55 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian 7%, black 2%, white 1%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
conventional short form: Honduras
local long form: Republica de Honduras
local short form: Honduras

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

Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of
English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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

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.

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%

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

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

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

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 1,040 sq km
land area: 990 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than six times the size of Washington,
DC

Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 12% other: 79%

Environment:
current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
natural hazards: occasional typhoons
international agreements: NA

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.18 years male: 76.78 years female: 83.78 years (1995 est.)

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)

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)

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997

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

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

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

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.

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.)

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

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

Highways: total: 1,100 km paved: 794 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 306 km

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

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

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)

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

HOWLAND ISLAND

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

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

Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 5% other: 95%

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

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

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

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the
US Coast Guard

HUNGARY

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

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the
Slovakian border

Land use:
arable land: 50.7%
permanent crops: 6.1%
meadows and pastures: 12.6%
forest and woodland: 18.3%
other: 12.3%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.9 years male: 67.94 years female: 76.06 years (1995 est.)

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%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag

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

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

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

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

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%.

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

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Area:
total area: 103,000 sq km
land area: 100,250 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky

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

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 1% other: 78%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.98 years male: 76.69 years female: 81.39 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lyoveldio Island
local short form: Island

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

National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17
June (1944)

Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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)

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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.)

INDIA

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Bangladesh and Pakistan

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.04 years male: 58.5 years female: 59.61 years (1995 est.)

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%

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

National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 26
January (1950)

Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ports: Bombay (India), Calcutta (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban
(South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Madras (India), Melbourne
(Australia), Richard's Bay (South Africa)

Telephone system:
international: submarine cables from India to United Arab Emirates and
Malaysia, and from Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia

INDONESIA

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.22 years male: 59.13 years female: 63.42 years (1995 est.)

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.)

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

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)

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian
Gulf, between Iraq and Pakistan

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.97 years male: 65.77 years female: 68.22 years (1995 est.)

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form: Iran

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

Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the
presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 3% other: 75%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.52 years male: 65.54 years female: 67.56 years (1995 est.)

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

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form: Al Iraq

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)

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.)

IRELAND

Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of
Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Area:
total area: 70,280 sq km
land area: 68,890 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.99 years male: 73.15 years female: 79 years (1995 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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.

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%

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

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)

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)

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

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

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.

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

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

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

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%

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.)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.14 years male: 76 years female: 80.39 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form: Israel
local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
local short form: Yisra'el

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

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)

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

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.

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

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

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)

Railroads:
total: 520 km (diesel operated; single track)
standard gauge: 520 km 1.435-m gauge

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

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

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

Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central
Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

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

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.85 years male: 74.67 years female: 81.23 years (1995 est.)

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

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Italian Republic
conventional short form: Italy
local long form: Repubblica Italiana
local short form: Italia
former: Kingdom of Italy

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 10,990 sq km
land area: 10,830 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 6% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 28% other: 29%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.65 years male: 72.39 years female: 77.01 years (1995 est.)

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)

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)

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

Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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)

Highways: total: 18,200 km paved: 12,600 km unpaved: gravel 3,200 km; improved earth 2,400 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

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

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

Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the
Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Area:
total area: 373 sq km
land area: 373 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

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

Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is the highest peak, with an elevation of 2,277 meters

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: dominated by the volcano Beerenberg; volcanic
activity resumed in 1970
international agreements: NA

Population: no permanent inhabitants; note - there are personnel who man the LORAN C base and the weather and coastal services radio station

Capital: none; administered from Oslo, Norway, through a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard)

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)

Radio:
broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
radios: NA
note: radio and meteorological station

JAPAN

Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean peninsula

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)

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

Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 67% other: 18%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.44 years male: 76.6 years female: 82.42 years (1995 est.)

Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including 0.7% Christian)

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)

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

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

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

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

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.

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%

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.)

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)

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)

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 12,350 (1 kW or greater 196)
televisions: 100 million

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

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

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

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

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: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the
US Coast Guard

JERSEY

Area:
total area: 117 sq km
land area: 117 sq km
comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land use: arable land: 57% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.9 years male: 73.81 years female: 80.32 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New
Church, Methodist, Presbyterian

Languages: English (official), French (official), Norman-French
dialect spoken in country districts

Names:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey

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

Flag: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 50,000 kW standby production: power supplied by France consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)

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

Telephone system: 63,700 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 3 submarine cables

JOHNSTON ATOLL

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands

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

Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

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

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.

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

Television:
broadcast stations: commercial satellite television system
televisions: NA

JORDAN

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

Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great
Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0.5% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 0.5% other: 94%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.27 years male: 70.43 years female: 74.21 years (1995 est.)

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

Highways: total: 7,500 km paved: asphalt 5,500 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 2,000 km

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 8 and 1 TV receive-only satellite link
televisions: NA

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

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique

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

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 90% other: 10%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: periodic cyclones international agreements: NA

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Juan de Nova

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

KAZAKHSTAN

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)

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.25 years male: 63.61 years female: 73.13 years (1995 est.)

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

Unemployment rate: 1.1% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers (1994)

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.41 years male: 50.72 years female: 54.16 years (1995 est.)

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast,
Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

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

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

Highways: total: 64,590 km paved: 7,000 km unpaved: gravel 4,150 km; improved earth 53,440 km

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

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

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

Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

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

Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938

KIRIBATI

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

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 51% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 3% other: 46%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.16 years male: 52.56 years female: 55.78 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%,
Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)

Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
former: Gilbert Islands

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)

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

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

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

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.

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)

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)

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

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)

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

Telephone system: 1,400 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

Branches: Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; there are small police posts on all islands); no military force is maintained

KOREA, NORTH

Location: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and Russia

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.05 years male: 66.96 years female: 73.29 years (1995 est.)

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

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, south of North Korea

Area:
total area: 98,480 sq km
land area: 98,190 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Indiana

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

Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 67% other: 10%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.89 years male: 67.69 years female: 74.29 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Christianity 48.6%, Buddhism 47.4%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) 0.2%

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)

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

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*

Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought

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

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

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.

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%

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and
Saudi Arabia

Area:
total area: 17,820 sq km
land area: 17,820 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 8% forest and woodland: 0% other: 92%

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

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.64 years male: 73.33 years female: 78.06 years (1995 est.)

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%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
local short form: Al Kuwayt

Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al 'Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, Hawalli, Al Farwaniyah

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

Highways: total: 4,270 km paved: bituminous 3,370 km unpaved: gravel, sand, earth 900 km (est.)

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.13 years male: 63.92 years female: 72.56 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 21.5%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 8.3%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: none
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

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

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

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

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)

Unemployment rate: 0.7% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployed workers (1994)

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

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

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)

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

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

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.)

LAOS

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

Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season
(December to April)

Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 58% other: 35%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.2 years male: 50.66 years female: 53.81 years (1995 est.)

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%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)
total population: 50%
male: 65%
female: 35%

Names:
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form: none

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

National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the
Lao People's Democratic Republic)

Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania

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

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

Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 39% other: 21%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.65 years male: 64.6 years female: 74.95 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%,
Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%

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)

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

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

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)

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

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)

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)

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

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

Exchange rates: lats per US$1 - 0.55 (December 1994), 0.5917 (January 1994), 1.32 (March 1993)

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)

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

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

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.

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria

Area:
total area: 10,400 sq km
land area: 10,230 sq km
comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.69 years male: 67.22 years female: 72.28 years (1995 est.)

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%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Lebanon
conventional short form: Lebanon
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form: none

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)

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

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.

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%

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 30,350 sq km
land area: 30,350 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.56 years male: 60.74 years female: 64.43 years (1995 est.)

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

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland

Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe,
Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing,
Thaba-Tseka

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

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

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.

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

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.)

LIBERIA

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

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

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

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 39% other: 55%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.17 years male: 55.67 years female: 60.75 years (1995 est.)

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)

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

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia

Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand
Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.)

LIBYA

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Tunisia

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

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

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 8% forest and woodland: 0% other: 90%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.29 years male: 62.12 years female: 66.57 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians,
Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians

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%

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

Type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 4,600,000 kW production: 16.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,078 kWh (1993)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 160 sq km
land area: 160 sq km
comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

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

Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 38% forest and woodland: 19% other: 18%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.52 years male: 73.86 years female: 81.17 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%, other 2.8% (1988)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Furstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein

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)

Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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.

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

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

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)

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)

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

LITHUANIA

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

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

Land use:
arable land: 49.1%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 22.2%
forest and woodland: 16.3%
other: 12.4%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.37 years male: 66.68 years female: 76.3 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%,
Byelorussian 1.5%, other 2.1%

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Railroads: total: 2,010 km broad gauge: 2,010 km 1.524-m gauge (120 km electrified) (1990)

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 2,586 sq km
land area: 2,586 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

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

Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 21% other: 34%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.95 years male: 73.31 years female: 80.75 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Celtic base (with French and German blend),
Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg

National holiday: National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday)

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

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

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.

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%

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

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

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)

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 3 and 1 direct-broadcast satellite link
televisions: NA

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

Area:
total area: 16 sq km
land area: 16 sq km
comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.86 years male: 77.41 years female: 82.43 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%,
other 1.2% (1981)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
total population: 90%
male: 93%
female: 86%

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: none
local short form: Ilha de 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)

Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by Beijing awaiting final approval

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

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

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.

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.)

Electricity: capacity: 258,000 kW production: 950 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,093 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, vegetables; food shortages - rice, vegetables,
meat; depends mostly on imports for food requirements

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 0; note - TV programs received from Hong Kong
televisions: NA

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 141,160; males fit for military service 78,578 (1995 est.)

MACEDONIA, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF

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)

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74 years male: 71.87 years female: 76.3 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Macedonian 65%, Albanian 22%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%,
Gypsies 3%, other 4%

Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%

Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994) by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)

Names:
conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Highways: total: 10,591 km paved: 5,091 km unpaved: gravel 1,404 km; earth 4,096 km (1991)

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

Telephone system: 125,000 telephones
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: no satellite links

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

Area:
total area: 587,040 sq km
land area: 581,540 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

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)

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.45 years male: 52.47 years female: 56.48 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo),
Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry -
Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian,
Creole, Comoran

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Antananarivo, Antsiranana,
Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary

Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional
Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

International disputes: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in
Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)

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%

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

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.)

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: the return of refugees to Mozambique is much reduced compared with 1994

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.01 years male: 38.28 years female: 39.76 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
former: Nyasaland

Type: multiparty democracy following a referendum on 14 June 1993; formerly a one-party republic

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

Highways:
total: 13,135 km
paved: 2,364 km
unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 251 km; earth,
improved earth 10,520 km

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

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.48 years male: 66.55 years female: 72.56 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
former: Malayan Union

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

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*

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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)

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

Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

Area:
total area: 300 sq km
land area: 300 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

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

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to
March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 3% other: 84%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.49 years male: 63.99 years female: 67.07 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives

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

Legal system: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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)

Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA (Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city)

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

Telephone system: 2,804 telephones; minimal domestic and international
facilities
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 57,172; males fit for military service 31,911 (1995 est.)

MALI

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.37 years male: 44.7 years female: 48.09 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%,
Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local long form: Republique de Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan

Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao,
Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou

National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22
September (1960)

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Sicily (Italy)

Area:
total area: 320 sq km
land area: 320 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

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

Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 59%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.02 years male: 74.75 years female: 79.48 years (1995 est.)

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)

Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; has
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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)

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

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.

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%

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

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)

Highways: total: 1,291 km paved: asphalt 1,179 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 77 km; earth 35 km

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

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

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

Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great
Britain and Ireland

Area:
total area: 588 sq km
land area: 588 sq km
comparative area: nearly 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% (extensive arable land and forests)

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.53 years male: 73.78 years female: 79.48 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian,
Society of Friends

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

Political parties and leaders: there is no party system and members sit as independents

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 61,000 kW production: 190 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,965 kWh (1992)

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

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

MARSHALL ISLANDS

Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea

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

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 60% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 40%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.49 years male: 61.94 years female: 65.11 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands)

Type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986

National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, 1 May (1979)

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

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

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

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.

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

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)

Economic aid:
recipient: under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US
is to provide approximately $40 million in aid annually

Highways:
total: NA
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks

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

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

MARTINIQUE

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 use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 30% forest and woodland: 26% other: 26%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an
average of one major natural disaster every five years)
international agreements: NA

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.67 years male: 75.94 years female: 81.53 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: African and African-Caucasian-Indian mixture 90%,
Caucasian 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Department of Martinique
conventional short form: Martinique
local long form: Departement de la Martinique
local short form: Martinique

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

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)

US diplomatic representation: the post closed in August 1993 (overseas department of France)

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.

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)

Electricity: capacity: 113,100 kW production: 700 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,677 kWh (1993)

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

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)

Airports: total: 2 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

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

MAURITANIA

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Senegal and Western Sahara

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

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

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 38% forest and woodland: 5% other: 56%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.54 years male: 45.66 years female: 51.54 years (1995 est.)

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%

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

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

Legal system: three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, state security courts (in the process of being eliminated)

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

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

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 110,000 kW production: 135 million kWh consumption per capita: 61 kWh (1993)

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

Land use: arable land: 54% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 31% other: 7%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.84 years male: 66.9 years female: 74.95 years (1995 est.)

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%

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius

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

Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of
English common law in certain areas

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique

Area:
total area: 375 sq km
land area: 375 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season international agreements: NA

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.27 years male: 56.04 years female: 60.57 years (1995 est.)

Names:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte

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

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),

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.

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%

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

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)

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

MEXICO

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.34 years male: 69.74 years female: 77.11 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, Caucasian or predominantly Caucasian 9%, other 1%

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%

Names:
conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form: Mexico
local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
local short form: 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

Legal system: mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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

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

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.

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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.)

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF

Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

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

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

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law
of the Sea

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.81 years male: 65.84 years female: 69.81 years (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese

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

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)

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

National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia,
10 May (1979)

Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

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

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

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

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

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

Highways: total: 226 km paved: 39 km (on major islands) unpaved: stone, coral, laterite 187 km

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

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

MIDWAY ISLANDS

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 453 US military personnel (July 1995 est.)

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

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.

Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

MOLDOVA

Area:
total area: 33,700 sq km
land area: 33,700 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Hawaii

Land use: arable land: 50% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 0% other: 28%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.22 years male: 64.81 years female: 71.8 years (1995 est.)

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)

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

Administrative divisions: previously divided into 40 rayons; new districts possible under new constitution in 1994

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

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.)

MONACO

Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.9 years male: 74.18 years female: 81.8 years (1995 est.)

Names:
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco

Administrative divisions: 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier);
Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

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

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

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.

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

Electricity:
capacity: 10,000 kW standby; power imported from France
production: NA kWh
consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)

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)

Telephone system: 38,200 telephones; automatic telephone system
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: no satellite links; served by cable into the French
communications system

MONGOLIA

Area:
total area: 1.565 million sq km
land area: 1.565 million sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.54 years male: 64.28 years female: 68.92 years (1995 est.)

Religions: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4% note: previously limited religious activity because of Communist regime

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

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia

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

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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

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

Telephone system: 63,000 telephones (1989)
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: at least 1 satellite earth station

Television:
broadcast stations: 1 (provincial repeaters - 18)
televisions: 120,000

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

Area:
total area: 100 sq km
land area: 100 sq km
comparative area: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 10% forest and woodland: 40% other: 30%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.69 years male: 73.93 years female: 77.49 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

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.)

Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges,
Saint Peter's

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
Saturday of June)

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

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

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 5,271 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,106 kWh (1993)

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

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

MOROCCO

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Area:
total area: 446,550 sq km
land area: 446,300 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than California

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

Terrain: northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas
of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 28% forest and woodland: 12% other: 41%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.98 years male: 67.03 years female: 71.02 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib

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

National holiday: National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King
Hassan II's accession to the throne)

Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court

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

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

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.

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between
South Africa and Tanzania

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

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 56% forest and woodland: 20% other: 20%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.95 years male: 47.04 years female: 50.92 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: indigenous tribal groups, Europeans about 10,000,
Euro-Africans 35,000, Indians 15,000

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population: 33%
male: 45%
female: 21%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica Popular de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Angola and South 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

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;

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.1 years male: 59.37 years female: 64.9 years (1995 est.)

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia

Administrative divisions: 13 districts; Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas,
Kunene, Caprivi (Liambezi), Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati,
Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

Highways: total: 54,500 km paved: 4,080 km unpaved: gravel 2,540 km; earth 47,880 km (roads and tracks)

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

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

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

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the
Marshall Islands

Area:
total area: 21 sq km
land area: 21 sq km
comparative area: about one-tenth the size of Washington, DC

Terrain: sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.68 years male: 64.3 years female: 69.18 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%,
European 8%

Languages: Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island

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)

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

Member of: AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory
user), INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UPU

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 14,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,036 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coconuts; other agricultural activity negligible; almost
completely dependent on imports for food and water

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)

Railroads:
total: 3.9 km; note - used to haul phosphates from the center of the
island to processing facilities on the southwest coast

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

NAVASSA ISLAND

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica

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

Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 10% forest and woodland: 0% other: 90%

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

Population: uninhabited; note - transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island

NEPAL

Area:
total area: 140,800 sq km
land area: 136,800 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Arkansas

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.09 years male: 52.86 years female: 53.34 years (1995 est.)

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

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

Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural);
Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi,
Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

Railroads:
total: 101 km; note - all in Terai close to Indian border
narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 37,330 sq km
land area: 33,920 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Land use: arable land: 26% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 32% forest and woodland: 9% other: 32%

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)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.95 years male: 74.9 years female: 81.17 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Labor force: 6.4 million (1993) by occupation: services 71.4%, manufacturing and construction 24.6%, agriculture 4.0% (1992)

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk de Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular -
provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen,
Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland,
Zuid-Holland

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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 use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 92%

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)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.94 years male: 74.67 years female: 79.33 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen

Type: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954

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

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

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)

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

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.

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%

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

Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins
(NAf.) per US$1 - 1.79 (fixed rate since 1989; 1.80 fixed rate
1971-88)

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

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

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.)

NEW CALEDONIA

Area:
total area: 19,060 sq km
land area: 18,760 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

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%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March
international agreements: NA

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.02 years male: 70.73 years female: 77.48 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%,
Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%

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

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

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)

Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law

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

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

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.

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%

Electricity: capacity: 250,000 kW production: 1.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,178 kWh (1993)

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

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

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

Telephone system: 32,578 telephones (1987)
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) satellite link

Branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie);
Police Force

NEW ZEALAND

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

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.65 years male: 73.08 years female: 80.42 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)

Labor force: 1,603,500 (June 1991) by occupation: services 66.6%, industry 22.6%, agriculture 10.8% (1992)

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)

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

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

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

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.

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%

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

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)

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

Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; condensate (liquified petroleum gas - LPG) 150 km

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

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

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

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Area:
total area: 129,494 sq km
land area: 120,254 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than New York State

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

Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior
mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 43% forest and woodland: 35% other: 12%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.54 years male: 61.67 years female: 67.53 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Caucasian) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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)

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

Ports: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino,
Rama, San Juan del Sur

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

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

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

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

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

Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north

Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 2% other: 88%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.07 years male: 43.42 years female: 46.77 years (1995 est.)

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

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger

Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular - departement); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Benin and Cameroon

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.98 years male: 54.69 years female: 57.3 years (1995 est.)

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

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria

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

Constitution: 1979 constitution still in force; plan for 1989 constitution to take effect in 1993 was not implemented

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

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

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.

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%

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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 use: arable land: 61% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 19% other: 12%

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

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)

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

Type: self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs

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)

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)

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 1,500 kW production: 2.7 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,490 kWh (1992)

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

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)

Telephone system: 383 telephones
local: NA
intercity: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
island
international: NA

NORFOLK ISLAND

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 0% other: 75%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
international agreements: NA

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

Names:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Legal system: wide legislative and executive responsibility under the
Norfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court

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

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 7,000 kW production: 8 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,160 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit, cattle, poultry

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)

Telephone system: 987 telephones (1983)
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: radio link service with Sydney

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

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

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)

Land use:
arable land: 5% on Saipan
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: 19%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.43 years male: 65.53 years female: 69.48 years (1995 est.)

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

Names:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands

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

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

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

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

Budget:
revenues: $190.4 million
expenditures: $190.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.1
million (FY94/95)

Imports: $392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.)
commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum
products
partners: US, Japan

Electricity: capacity: 105,000 kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh

Highways:
total: 381.5 km
paved: NA
unpaved: NA
undifferentiated: primary 134.5 km; secondary 55 km; local 192 km
(1991)

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

Telephone system: NA telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 2 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations

Television:
broadcast stations: 1; note - there are 2 cable TV stations
televisions: NA

NORWAY

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Area:
total area: 324,220 sq km
land area: 307,860 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.61 years male: 74.26 years female: 81.15 years (1995 est.)

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

Labor force: 2.13 million by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6% (1992)

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local long form: Kongeriket Norge
local short form: Norge

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

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

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and
Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates

Area:
total area: 212,460 sq km
land area: 212,460 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.25 years male: 68.31 years female: 72.29 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri
Lankan, Bangladeshi)

Names:
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman

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*

Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister
QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970)
cabinet: Cabinet

Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system

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

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.

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: body of water between Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and the
Western Hemisphere

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

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

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.

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)

Telephone system:
international: several submarine cables with network nodal points on
Guam and Hawaii

PAKISTAN

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

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

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)

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.86 years male: 57.18 years female: 58.56 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir
(immigrants from India and their descendents)

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

Names:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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)

Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural gas
4,044 km (1987)

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

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

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

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Area:
total area: 458 sq km
land area: 458 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

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%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.01 years male: 69.14 years female: 73.02 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

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

Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

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

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

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

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

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

Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2

Telephone system: NA telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US pursuant to Compact of
Free Association which entered into force 1 October 1994

PALMYRA ATOLL

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 100% other: 0%

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

Type: incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during the war are unserviceable and overgrown

PANAMA

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Area:
total area: 78,200 sq km
land area: 75,990 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

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

Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 15% forest and woodland: 54% other: 23%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.2 years male: 72.57 years female: 77.97 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%,
West Indian 14%, white 10%, Indian 6%

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

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: 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)

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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.

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%

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Area:
total area: 461,690 sq km
land area: 451,710 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than California

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

Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 71% other: 28%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.85 years male: 56.01 years female: 57.74 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea

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)

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Highways:
total: 19,200 km
paved: 640 km
unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 10,960 km; unimproved
earth 7,600 km

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

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

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

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: typhoons international agreements: NA

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered
Chinese garrisons

Ports: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded

PARAGUAY

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

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

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

Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 39% forest and woodland: 35% other: 5%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.58 years male: 72.06 years female: 75.18 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indian) 95%, Caucasians
plus Amerindians 5%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 90%
male: 92%
female: 88%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay

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

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

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

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)

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.

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%

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

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

International disputes: three sections of the boundary with Ecuador are in dispute

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.07 years male: 63.86 years female: 68.38 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Indian 45%, mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru

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.

Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Area:
total area: 300,000 sq km
land area: 298,170 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Arizona

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)

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.65 years male: 63.16 years female: 68.25 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese
1.5%, other 3%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas

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

Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

Railroads:
total: 800 km (est.); note - including about 390 km in Luzon
narrow gauge: 800 km 1.067-m gauge

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

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

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

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand

Area:
total area: 47 sq km
land area: 47 sq km
comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate: tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Labor force: NA
by occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public
works; subsistence farming and fishing

Names:
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
Saturday in June)

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

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

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.

Budget:
revenues: $430,000
expenditures: $429,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987
est.)

Imports: $NA
commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar,
other foodstuffs
partners: NA

Electricity: capacity: 110 kW production: 300,000 kWh consumption per capita: 5,360 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of
fruits and vegetables; must import grain products

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)

Telephone system: 24 telephones; party line telephone service on the
island
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: NA

POLAND

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

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

Land use: arable land: 46% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 28% other: 12%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.13 years male: 69.15 years female: 77.33 years (1995 est.)

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%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Poland
conventional short form: Poland
local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form: Polska

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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)

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 40 (Russian repeaters 5)
televisions: 9.6 million

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

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.53 years male: 72.11 years female: 79.16 years (1995 est.)

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

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
conventional short form: Portugal
local long form: Republica Portuguesa
local short form: Portugal

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)

Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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

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.

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%

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.1 years male: 70.78 years female: 79.66 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US); note - there are 78 municipalities

Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952

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

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)

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

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.

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)

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)

Railroads:
total: 96 km rural narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; note -
no passenger railroads

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 9; note - cable television available with US
programs (1990)
televisions: NA

QATAR

Area:
total area: 11,000 sq km
land area: 11,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 0% other: 95%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.03 years male: 70.45 years female: 75.5 years (1995 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
total population: 76%
male: 77%
female: 72%

Names:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar

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

Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters

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)

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

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.

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)

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

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

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

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.)

REUNION

Area:
total area: 2,510 sq km
land area: 2,500 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Climate: tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 35% other: 39%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.46 years male: 71.39 years female: 77.67 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Department of Reunion
conventional short form: Reunion
local long form: none
local short form: Ile de la Reunion

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

Highways: total: 2,800 km paved: 2,200 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 600 km

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

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

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.)

ROMANIA

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Ukraine

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.24 years male: 69.31 years female: 75.35 years (1995 est.)

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%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania

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

Legal system: former mixture of civil law system and Communist legal theory; is now based on the Constitution of France's Fifth Republic

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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)

Pipelines: crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km; natural gas 6,400 km (1992)

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

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)

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

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

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

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%

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

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

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

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%

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%

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

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)

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

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

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)

Unemployment rate: 7.1% (December 1994) with considerable additional underemployment

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.33 years male: 38.5 years female: 40.19 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
conventional short form: Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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)

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)

Highways: total: 4,885 km paved: 880 km unpaved: gravel, sand and gravel 1,305 km; unimproved earth 2,700 km

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

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)

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

Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of
Angola, about two-thirds of the way from South America to 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

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%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.07 years male: 73.01 years female: 76.89 years (1995 est.)

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)

Administrative divisions: 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*;
Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10 June 1989 (second Saturday in June)

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

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 9,800 kW production: 10 million kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)

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

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

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)

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

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Area:
total area: 269 sq km
land area: 269 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
margin
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 17% other: 41%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.51 years male: 63.51 years female: 69.69 years (1995 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1980)
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98%

Names:
conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

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

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1

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

SAINT LUCIA

Area:
total area: 620 sq km
land area: 610 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
margin
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from
January to April, rainy season from May to August

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.88 years male: 66.33 years female: 73.67 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: African descent 90.3%, mixed 5.5%, East Indian 3.2%,
Caucasian 0.8%

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.)

Administrative divisions: 11 quarters; Anse La Raye, Castries,
Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin,
Soufriere, Vieux Fort

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

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

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

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)

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

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

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

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

SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON

Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

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

International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute between
Canada and France

Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 4% other: 83%

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime
hazard
international agreements: NA

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76 years male: 74.4 years female: 77.92 years (1995 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%

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

Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under
French control since 1763)

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

Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS), Albert PEN; Union
for French Democracy (UDF/CDS), Gerard GRIGNON

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 10,000 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,013 kWh (1993)

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

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)

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

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Area:
total area: 340 sq km
land area: 340 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season
(May to November)

Terrain: volcanic, mountainous; Soufriere volcano on the island of
Saint Vincent

Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 12% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 41% other: 3%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.66 years male: 71.15 years female: 74.21 years (1995 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96%

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint
Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

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

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

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.

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%

Electricity: capacity: 16,600 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 436 kWh (1993)

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

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Highways: total: 1,000 km paved: 300 km unpaved: improved earth 400 km; unimproved earth 300 km

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

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

SAN MARINO

Area:
total area: 60 sq km
land area: 60 sq km
comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 83%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.27 years male: 77.26 years female: 85.29 years (1995 est.)

Literacy: age 10 and over can read and write (1976)
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95%

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

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle

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

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

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)

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.

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

Agriculture: employs 3% of labor force; products - wheat, grapes, maize, olives, meat, cheese, hides; small numbers of cattle, pigs, horses

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)

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

Television:
broadcast stations: NA; note - receives broadcasts from Italy
televisions: NA

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

Location: Western Africa, island in the Atlantic Ocean, straddling the equator, west of Gabon

Area:
total area: 960 sq km
land area: 960 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 20% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 75% other: 3%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.65 years male: 61.76 years female: 65.59 years (1995 est.)

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)

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

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

Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Principe, Sao Tome

Legal system: based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

Highways: total: 300 km paved: 200 km unpaved: 100 km note: roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in need of repair

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

Telephone system: NA; minimal system
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 33,789; males fit for military service 17,752 (1995 est.)

SAUDI ARABIA

Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

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

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

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 39% forest and woodland: 1% other: 59%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.5 years male: 66.79 years female: 70.3 years (1995 est.)

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%

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

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

Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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

Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate since late 1986), 3.7033 (1986)

Railroads: total: 1,390 km standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track)

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

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

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

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

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

Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 30% forest and woodland: 31% other: 12%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.16 years male: 55.65 years female: 58.71 years (1995 est.)

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)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal
local short form: Senegal

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)

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Telephone system: NA telephones; above-average urban system
local: NA
intercity: microwave and cable
international: 3 submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth
station

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

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

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%

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

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.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Serbia and Montenegro
local long form: none
local short form: Srbija-Crna Gora

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)

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Exchange rates: Yugoslav New Dinars (YD) per US $1 - 102.6 (February 1995 black market rate)

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)

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

Telephone system: 700,000 telephones
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

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

Location: Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Area:
total area: 455 sq km
land area: 455 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington,
DC

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 18% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 18% other: 60%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.08 years male: 66.54 years female: 73.73 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles

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

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

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;;

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea and Liberia

Area:
total area: 71,740 sq km
land area: 71,620 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 31% forest and woodland: 29% other: 13%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.94 years male: 44.07 years female: 49.89 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 13 native African tribes 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 39%), Creole, European, Lebanese, and Asian 1%

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone

Administrative divisions: 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern,
Southern, Western*

Legal system: based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined
in treaties and practice
territorial sea: 3 nm

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

Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 5% other: 84%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.16 years male: 73.28 years female: 79.25 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

International disputes: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary; unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.24 years male: 69.15 years female: 77.57 years (1995 est.)

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%

Labor force: 2.484 million by occupation: industry 33.2%, agriculture 12.2%, construction 10.3%, communication and other 44.3% (1990)

Names:
conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local long form: Slovenska Republika
local short form: Slovensko

Administrative divisions: 4 departments (kraje, singular - kraj)
Bratislava, Zapadoslovensky, Stredoslovensky, Vychodoslovensky

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

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)

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

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

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Croatia and Italy

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

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

Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 45% other: 23%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.73 years male: 70.91 years female: 78.76 years (1995 est.)

Labor force: 786,036 by occupation: agriculture 2%, manufacturing and mining 46%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenije
local short form: Slovenija

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

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

Exchange rates: tolars (SIT) per US$1 - 127 (January 1995), 112 (June 1993), 28 (January 1992)

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)

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

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

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea

Area:
total area: 28,450 sq km
land area: 27,540 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 93% other: 4%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.84 years male: 68.38 years female: 73.41 years (1995 est.)

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

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)

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central,
Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western

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

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

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.

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%

Electricity: capacity: 21,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 80 kWh (1993)

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

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)

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)

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

Telephone system: 3,000 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

SOMALIA

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
Ocean, east of Ethiopia

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.74 years male: 55.48 years female: 56 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Somalia
former: Somali Republic

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)

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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),

Highways: total: 22,500 km paved: 2,700 km unpaved: gravel 3,000 km; improved, stabilized earth 16,800 km (1992)

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

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

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.

SOUTH 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

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;

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.42 years male: 62.68 years female: 68.25 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
conventional short form: South Africa

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

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

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

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)

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

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

Names:
conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: none

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)

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)

Telephone system: NA telephones; coastal radio station at Grytviken
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: NA

SPAIN

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay,
Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.91 years male: 74.67 years female: 81.39 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
local short form: Espana

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

Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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)

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

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

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.)

SPRATLY ISLANDS

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines

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

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

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.

Airports: total: 4 with paved runways under 914 m: 3 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Note: about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

SRI LANKA

Area:
total area: 65,610 sq km
land area: 64,740 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

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

Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March);
southwest monsoon (June to October)

Land use: arable land: 16% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 37% other: 23%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.14 years male: 69.58 years female: 74.82 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
former: Ceylon

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central, North
Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.71 years male: 53.81 years female: 55.65 years (1995 est.)

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.)

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

Type: ruling military junta - Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) - dissolved on 16 October 1993 and government civilianized

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

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

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

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

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%.

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

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

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)

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.76 years male: 67.24 years female: 72.41 years (1995 est.)

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%

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

Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

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

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

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.

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)

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

Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - 1.7850 (fixed rate); parallel rate 510 (December 1994), 109 (January 1994)

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

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

Telephone system: 27,500 telephones; international facilities good
local: NA
intercity: microwave radio relay network
international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

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.)

SVALBARD

Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents
Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

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)

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

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)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

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

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)

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)

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)

Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 3

Telephone system: NA telephones; local telephone service
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: satellite communication with Norwegian mainland

SWAZILAND

Area:
total area: 17,360 sq km
land area: 17,200 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.84 years male: 52.83 years female: 60.96 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland

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

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

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

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%.

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

Electricity: capacity: 120,000 kW production: 410 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,003 kWh (1993)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Area:
total area: 449,964 sq km
land area: 410,928 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than California

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.43 years male: 75.64 years female: 81.39 years (1995 est.)

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

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige

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

Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 40% forest and woodland: 26% other: 23%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.36 years male: 74.99 years female: 81.88 years (1995 est.)

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%

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%

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)

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)

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

National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss
Confederation, 1 August (1291)

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

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

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

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.

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%

Electricity: capacity: 15,430,000 kW production: 58 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,699 kWh (1993)

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

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)

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)

Inland waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to
Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes

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

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

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Lebanon and Turkey

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

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%

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.)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.81 years male: 65.67 years female: 68.01 years (1995 est.)

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)

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)

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)

Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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.)

TAIWAN

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.47 years male: 72.17 years female: 78.93 years (1995 est.)

Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian
4.5%, other 2.5%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Taiwan
local long form: none
local short form: T'ai-wan

Type: multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties legalized in March, 1989

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)

Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

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)

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

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.

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.)

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

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)

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

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 15 (repeaters 13)
televisions: 6.386 million (color 5,680,000, monochrome 706,000)

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.

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.03 years male: 66.11 years female: 72.1 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6%

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

Unemployment rate: 1.5% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers and unregistered unemployed people (September 1994)

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

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

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

Railroads:
total: 480 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines (1990)

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: NA
televisions: NA
note: 1 INTELSAT earth station provides TV receive-only service from
Turkey

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.)

TANZANIA

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique

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

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

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%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 42.53 years male: 40.88 years female: 44.22 years (1995 est.)

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

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

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
Thailand, southeast of Burma

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.42 years male: 64.94 years female: 72.08 years (1995 est.)

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand

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

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Benin and Ghana

Area:
total area: 56,790 sq km
land area: 54,390 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 28% other: 42%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.42 years male: 55.29 years female: 59.6 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: 37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabye, European and Syrian-Lebanese under 1%

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

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Togo
conventional short form: Togo
local long form: Republique Togolaise
local short form: none
former: French Togo

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

Constitution: multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

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

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

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.

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

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 use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

Telephone system: NA telephones
local: NA
intercity: radiotelephone service between islands
international: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa

TONGA

Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Area:
total area: 748 sq km
land area: 718 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of
Washington, DC

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 55% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 12% other: 2%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.16 years male: 65.8 years female: 70.62 years (1995 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write simple message in Tongan
or English (1976)
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands

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

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

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.

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)

Electricity: capacity: 6,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 231 kWh (1993)

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

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)

Highways:
total: 366 km
paved: 272 km (198 km on Tongatapu; 74 km on Vava'u)
unpaved: 94 km (usable only in dry weather)

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

Telephone system: 3,529 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

Branches: Tonga Defense Services, Maritime Division, Royal Tongan
Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Police

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Area:
total area: 5,130 sq km
land area: 5,130 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Delaware

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

Land use: arable land: 14% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 44% other: 23%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.14 years male: 67.75 years female: 72.6 years (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%

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago

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

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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.

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)

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

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

Highways: total: 8,000 km paved: 4,000 km unpaved: improved earth 1,000 km; unimproved earth 3,000 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

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

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

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

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (scattered bushes)

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Note: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Tromelin

Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

TUNISIA

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Algeria and Libya

Area:
total area: 163,610 sq km
land area: 155,360 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

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

Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: 4% other: 47%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.25 years male: 71.16 years female: 75.44 years (1995 est.)

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

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: 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

Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session

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

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

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.

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%

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

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)

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

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

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

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.)

TURKEY

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.48 years male: 69.11 years female: 73.96 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
conventional short form: Turkey
local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Turkiye

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

National holiday: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic, 29
October (1923)

Legal system: derived from various continental legal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 69% forest and woodland: 0% other: 29%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.35 years male: 61.85 years female: 69.02 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turkmenistan
local long form: none
local short form: Turkmenistan
former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

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

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

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

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)

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

Electricity: capacity: 2,480,000 kW production: 10.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,600 kWh (1994)

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)

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)

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

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

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.)

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas

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 use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 98%

Environment:
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private
cisterns collect rainwater
natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
international agreements: NA

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.37 years male: 73.44 years female: 77.04 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)

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

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands

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

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

Political parties and leaders: Progressive National Party (PNP),
Washington MISSICK; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Derek H.
TAYLOR; National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Ariel MISSICK

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 9,050 kW production: 11.1 million kWh consumption per capita: 860 kWh (1992)

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

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

Telephone system: 1,446 telephones; fair cable and radio services
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 2 submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth
station

TUVALU

Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the
South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to
Australia

Area:
total area: 26 sq km
land area: 26 sq km
comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to
November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

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

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.15 years male: 61.87 years female: 64.34 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
former: Ellice Islands

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)

Member of: ACP, AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 2,600 kW production: 3 million kWh consumption per capita: 330 kWh (1990)

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

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)

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

Telephone system: 108 telephones; 300 radiotelephones
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: NA

UGANDA

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

Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to
February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

Land use: arable land: 23% permanent crops: 9% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 30% other: 13%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 36.58 years male: 36.26 years female: 36.91 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda

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

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

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

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

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.

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%

Electricity: capacity: 160,000 kW production: 780 million kWh consumption per capita: 32 kWh (1993)

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

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)

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

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

Telephone system: NA telephones; fair system
local: NA
intercity: microwave and radio communications stations
international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.11 years male: 65.59 years female: 74.87 years (1995 est.)

Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian
Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox,
Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish

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)

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ukraine
local long form: none
local short form: Ukrayina
former: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

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

Constitution: using 1978 pre-independence constitution; new
constitution currently being drafted

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

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)

Unemployment rate: 0.4% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian
Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Area:
total area: 75,581 sq km
land area: 75,581 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine

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

Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 0% other: 98%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.51 years male: 70.42 years female: 74.71 years (1995 est.)

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)

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.)

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

Type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu
Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Dubai, Ra's al Khaymah,
Sharjah, Umm al Qaywayn

Legal system: secular codes are being introduced by the UAE Government and in several member emirates; Islamic law remains influential

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

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

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.

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

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)

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

Economic aid:
donor: pledged in bilateral aid to less developed countries (1979-89)
$9.1 billion

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77 years male: 74.18 years female: 79.95 years (1995 est.)

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)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
conventional short form: United Kingdom

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

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
Saturday in June)

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

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)

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

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

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.

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%

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

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)

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

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

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

Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.99 years male: 72.8 years female: 79.7 years (1995 est.)

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)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States

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)

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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.)

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

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)

Television:
broadcast stations: 1,092 (about 9,000 cable TV systems)
televisions: 193 million

Branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (includes
Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force

URUGUAY

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

Area:
total area: 176,220 sq km
land area: 173,620 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Washington State

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

Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 78% forest and woodland: 4% other: 10%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.46 years male: 71.24 years female: 77.83 years (1995 est.)

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.)

Names:
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Highways: total: 49,900 km paved: 6,700 km unpaved: gravel 3,000 km; earth 40,200 km

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.79 years male: 65.5 years female: 72.24 years (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions: Uzbek 71.4%, Russian 8.3%, Tajik 4.7%, Kazakh 4.1%,
Tatar 2.4%, Karakalpak 2.1%, other 7%

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)

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

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)

Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

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

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

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)

Unemployment rate: 0.3% includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers (December 1994)

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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.)

VANUATU

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

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

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

Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 1% other: 91%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.71 years male: 57.9 years female: 61.61 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa,
Tafea, Torba

Legal system: unified system being created from former dual French and
British systems

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

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

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

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.

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%

Electricity: capacity: 17,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 181 kWh (1993)

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

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)

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

Telephone system: 3,000 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

Branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)

VENEZUELA

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.31 years male: 70.48 years female: 76.29 years (1995 est.)

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local long form: Republica de Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela

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

Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of
Tonkin, and South China Sea, between China and Cambodia

Area:
total area: 329,560 sq km
land area: 325,360 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.72 years male: 63.66 years female: 67.91 years (1995 est.)

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.)

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

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

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

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

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.

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;

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

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)

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

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 36 (repeaters 77)
televisions: 2.5 million (1991)

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

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Area:
total area: 352 sq km
land area: 349 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November

Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% meadows and pastures: 26% forest and woodland: 6% other: 47%

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

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%

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.29 years male: 73.6 years female: 77.2 years (1995 est.)

Names:
conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States
conventional short form: Virgin Islands

Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

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

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

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.

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

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

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix

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

WAKE ISLAND

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

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

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Army and Strategic Defense Command since 1 October 1994

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.

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

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

WALLIS AND FUTUNA

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

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

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October)

Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 20% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 75%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.24 years male: 71.62 years female: 72.9 years (1995 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

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.)

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

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)

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 1,200 kW production: 1 million kWh consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1990)

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

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

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)

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

WEST BANK

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

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

Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 32% forest and woodland: 1% other: 40%

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.)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.42 years male: 69.91 years female: 73 years (1995 est.)

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English
(widely understood)

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

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.

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.

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

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

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)

Highways:
total: NA
paved: NA
unpaved: NA
note: small road network; Israelis have developed many highways to
service Jewish settlements

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1

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.)

WESTERN SAHARA

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Mauritania and Morocco

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

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

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: 0% other: 81%

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.31 years male: 45.34 years female: 47.59 years (1995 est.)

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

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.

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

Electricity: capacity: 60,000 kW production: 79 million kWh consumption per capita: 339 kWh (1993)

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

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)

Highways: total: 6,200 km unpaved: gravel 1,450 km; improved, unimproved earth, tracks 4,750 km

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

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

WESTERN SAMOA

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Area:
total area: 2,860 sq km
land area: 2,850 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains
in interior

Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 24% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 47% other: 10%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.38 years male: 65.99 years female: 70.88 years (1995 est.)

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)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97%

Names:
conventional long form: Independent State of Western Samoa
conventional short form: Western Samoa

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

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

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

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

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.

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%

Electricity: capacity: 29,000 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 200 kWh (1993)

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

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)

Highways: total: 2,042 km paved: 375 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 1,667 km

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

Telephone system: 7,500 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station

WORLD

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)

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62 years male: 61 years female: 64 years (1995 est.)

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)

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.)

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

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

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

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)

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

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and
Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

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)

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.51 years male: 61.57 years female: 63.5 years (1995 est.)

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

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

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
conventional short form: Yemen
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
local short form: Al Yaman

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)

Legal system: based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

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

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.

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.54 years male: 45.68 years female: 49.46 years (1995 est.)

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%

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Ports: Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa,
Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 42.88 years male: 42.74 years female: 43.03 years (1995 est.)

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%

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern,
Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Exchange rates: Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 672.8 (September 1994), 434.78 (1993), 156.25 (1992), 61.7284 (1991), 28.9855 (1990)

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

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

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)

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

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

International disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia
is in disagreement

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%

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

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.)

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

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.35 years male: 39.73 years female: 43.01 years (1995 est.)

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%

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)

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Manicaland, Mashonaland
Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo (Victoria),
Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

ACCT — Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique; see Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation

ALADI — Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion; see Latin
American Integration Association (LAIA)

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)

BID — Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo; see Inter-American
Development Bank (IADB)

BOAD — Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement; see West African
Development Bank (WADB)

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)

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)

CMEA — Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991

Comecon — Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as CMEA; abolished 1 January 1991

ECAFE — Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East; see
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

ECLA — Economic Commission for Latin America; see Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

ECWA — Economic Commission for Western Asia; see Economic and
Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

ICEM — Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration; see
International Organization for Migration (IOM)

ICM — Intergovernmental Committee for Migration; see
International Organization for Migration (IOM)

IMCO — Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization; see
International Maritime Organization (IMO)

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

SELA — Sistema Economico Latinoamericana; see Latin American
Economic System (LAES)

UDEAC — Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale; see
Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)

UNFPA — United Nations Fund for Population Activities; see UN
Population Fund (UNFPA)

UNRWA — United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East

APPENDIX C

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.

another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)

FAX — [32] (2) 735 55 73

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

FAX — [225] 21 77 53, 20 49 01, 20 49 09

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

FAX — [33] (1) 45 79 14 98

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

note — acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas
Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)

FAX — [52] (5) 280 2965

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

address — c\o JUNAC, Paseo de la Republica 3895, Casilla 18-1177, Lima 27, Peru

FAX — [51] (14) 420911

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

note — also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en
Afrique (BADEA)

FAX — [249] (11) 70600

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

aim — to promote economic cooperation and integration, possibly leading to an Arab Common Market

FAX — [965] 2416758

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

FAX — [20] (2) 740 331

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

aim — to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of northern Africa

FAX — [971] (2) 326454

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

address — Ministry of Trade and Industry, Public Relations, 8 Shenton Way No 48-01, Treasury Building, Singapore, Singapore

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

FAX — [63] (2) 741 7961, 631 6816

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

address — Jalan Sisingamangaraja 70A, Kebayoran Baru, P.O. Box 2072, Jakarta 12110, Indonesia

FAX — [62] (21) 739 82 34

aim — to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia

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

address — c/o Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bag 8, Queen Victoria Terrace, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

FAX — [61] (62) 61 21 51

aim — to implement a trilateral mutual security agreement, although the US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986

FAX — [41] (61) 280 91 00

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

FAX — [32] (2) 513 42 06

members — (11) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine

address — CARICOM, P.O. Box 10827, Bank of Guyana Building, 3rd floor, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, Guyana

FAX — [592] (2) 66091, 67816, 57341

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

observers — (9) Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominican
Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela

FAX — [1] (809) 426 7269

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

FAX — [236] 61 21 35

members — (6) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon

FAX — [242] 83 02 66

members — (9) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Kuwait

FAX — [504] 370793

address — 4A Avda 10-25, Zona 14, Apdo Postal 1237, 01901 Guatemala City, Guatemala

FAX — [502] (2) 681071

address — Chairman of the National Coordinators, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Bem rakpart 47, Budapest II, Hungary

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

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

address — Colombo Plan Bureau, P.O. Box 596, 12 Melbourne Avenue, Colombo 4, Sri Lanka

FAX — [94] (1) 580721

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

FAX — [1] (212) 963 5935

aim — to deal, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with social development programs of UN

aim — to provide guidance, as part of the Economic and Social Council, on crime prevention and criminal justice

address — c/o United Nationas Office, Centre for Human Rights, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

FAX — [41] (22) 733 32 46

aim — to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with human rights programs of UN

FAX — [254] (2) 226473, 226479

aim — to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, in solving human settlement problems of UN

address — c/o International Drug Control Programme, Treaty Implementation and Legal Affairs Division, P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria

FAX — [43] (1) 230 7002

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

aim — to promote international cooperation, as part of the Economic and Social Council, in the field of science and technology

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

aim — to deal, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with women's rights goals of UN

aim — to monitor, as part of the Economic and Social Council, implementation of agreements reached at the UN Conference on Environment and Development

address — c/o Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y5HX, UK

FAX — [44] (71) 930 0827

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

FAX — [7] (172) 261894, 261944

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

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

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

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

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)

FAX — [962] (6) 66 33 43

members — (11 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

FAX — [33] 88 41 27 81, 88 41 27 82

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

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

FAX — [225] 33 11 49

FAX — [32] (2) 508 42 40

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

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

FAX — [256] (41) 259763

address — United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

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

FAX — [962] (6) 694981, 694982

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

FAX — [1] (212) 758 2718

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)

FAX — [251] (1) 51 44 16

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

FAX — [41] (22) 917 0036

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

address — Edificio Naciones Unidas, Avenida Dag Hammarskjold, Casilla 179 D, Santiago, Chile

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

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

FAX — [250] 40785

FAX — [234] (1) 636822

members — (16) Benin, Burkina, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

address — 5 Hejab Avenue, Bd Keshavarz, P.O. Box 14155-6176, Teheran, Iran Islamic Republic

FAX — [98] (21) 658046

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

FAX — [44] (71) 338 6100

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

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

FAX — [41] (22) 733 92 91

members — (7) Austria, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland

FAX — [352] 437704

members — (12) Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK

note — acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire

FAX — [41] (22) 767 65 55

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

FAX — [33] (1) 42 73 75 60

members — (13) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland,
Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

address — c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049
Brussels, Belgium

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

another term for countries with advanced, industrialized economies; this term is fading from use; see developed countries (DCs)

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

/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

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

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

FAX — [33] (1) 42 92 39 88

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)

established to achieve black majority rule in South Africa; members included Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

FAX — [41] (22) 731 42 06

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

aim — to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants

aim — to coordinate the economic policies of the five major non-Communist economic powers

note — also known as Groupe des Six Sur le Desarmement not to be confused with the Big Six

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

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

members — (9) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Sweden, Yugoslavia

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

FAX — [33] (1) 47 23 40 89

members — (11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

members — (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

address — Technical Support Facility, Ch du Champ dAncier 17, Case postale 326, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland

FAX — [41] (22) 798 38 49

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

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

address — c/o European Commission, DGI, G-24 Coordination Unit, Rue de la Science 29, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium

FAX — [32] (2) 299 06 02

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

members — (30) informal group of 30 leading international bankers, economists, financial experts, and businessmen organized by Johannes Witteveen (former managing director of the IMF)

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

FAX — [966] (1) 4829089

aim — to promote regional cooperation in economic, social, political, and military affairs

FAX — [1] (202) 789 2835

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

FAX — [253] 356994

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

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

FAX — [1] (202) 477 6391

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

FAX — [33] (1) 49 53 29 42

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

FAX — [1] (514) 288 4772

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

FAX — [41] (22) 733 82 80

address — International Trade Union House, Bd Emile Jacqmain 155, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium

FAX — [32] (2) 218 84 15, 219 75 03

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

FAX — [31] (70) 364 99 28

members — (15 judges) elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council to represent all principal legal systems

FAX — [33] 72 44 71 63

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

aim — UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides economic loans for low income countries

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

FAX — [33] (1) 45 24 99 88

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

note — formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS)

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

FAX — [1] (202) 477 6391

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

FAX — [39] (6) 5043463

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

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

address — International Labor Office, 4 route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland

FAX — [41] (22) 798 86 85

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

note — name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982

FAX — [44] (71) 587 3210

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

FAX — [44] (71) 728 1044

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

FAX — [1] (202) 623 4661, 623 7491, 623 4662

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

note — there are 194 National Olympic Committees of which 185 are recognized by the International Olympic Committee

FAX — [41] (21) 621 62 16

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

FAX — [41] (22) 798 61 50

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

FAX — [41] (22) 733 34 30

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

FAX — [41] (22) 733 20 57

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

FAX — [41] (22) 733 72 56

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

address — INTELSAT, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008-3098, USA

FAX — [1] (202) 944 7860

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

FAX — [966] (2) 6366871

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

address — SELA, Avda Francisco de Miranda, Torre Europa, piso 4, Chacaito, Apartado de Correos 17035, Caracas 1010-A, Venezuela

FAX — [58] (2) 951 6953, 951 7246

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

address — Calle Cebollati 1461, Casilla de Correo 577, 11000
Montevideo, Uruguay

FAX — [598] (2) 49 06 49

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

see — International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)

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

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

another term for those less developed countries with below-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)

another term for those less developed countries with above-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)

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

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

former term for the newly industrializing economies; see 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

address — c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jalan Taman Pejambon 6, Jakarta PUSAT, Indonesia

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

FAX — [46] (8) 411 75 36

members — (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland),
Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden

FAX — [358] (0) 1800309

members — (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden

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)

FAX — [32] (2) 728 45 79

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

FAX — [32] (2) 728 45 79

members — (16) Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US

address — Le Seine St. Germain, 12 bd des Iles, F-92130 Issy-les- Moulineaux, France

FAX — [33] (1) 45 24 11 10

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

FAX — [43] (1) 234564

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

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)

FAX — [33] (1) 45 24 85 00, 45 24 81 76

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

FAX — [251] (1) 512622

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

address — corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA

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

FAX — [965] 5340694

members — (10) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE

FAX — [1] (809) 453 1628

members — (7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

FAX — [43] (1) 26 43 20

members — (12) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela

FAX — [966] (2) 687-3568

aim — to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs

FAX — [422] (2) 24310629

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)

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

FAX — [31] (70) 356 13 38

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

aim — to deal with population matters of importance to the UN, as part of Economic and Social Council organization

members — (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela; note - Panama was expelled in 1988

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

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

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)

FAX — [977] (1) 227033

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

FAX — [679] 302 204

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

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

address — Director General, Trade and Industry, Private Bag X84, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

members — (9) Bophuthatswana, Botswana, Ciskei, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Transkei, Venda

note — evolved from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC)

FAX — [267] (31) 372848

members — (11) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

address — c/o Cancilleria de la Republica de Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina

FAX — [1] (212) 758 2718

aim — to deal with development and standardization of national statistics of interest to the UN, as part of the Economic and Social Council organization

refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above- average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)

refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs)

FAX — [1] (212) 758 2718

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

FAX — [1] (212) 758 2718

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

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

note — acronym retained from the predecessor organization UN
International Children's Emergency Fund

FAX — [41] (22) 907 00 57

aim — to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development

aim — to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli ceasefire; established by the UN Security Council

FAX — [33] (1) 45 67 16 90

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

FAX — [1] (212) 826 2057

address — c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

FAX — [1] (212) 963 4879

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

FAX — [43] (1) 23 21 56

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

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

address — c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

FAX — [1] (212) 963 4879

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

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

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

FAX — [1] (212) 758 2718

aim — to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan ceasefire; established by the UN Security Council

members — (8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway,
Sweden, Uruguay

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

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

address — c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

FAX — [1] (212) 963 4879

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

address — c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

FAX — [1] (212) 963 4879

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

address — c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

FAX — [1] (212) 963 4879

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

address — c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

FAX — [1] (212) 963 4879

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

FAX — [41] (22) 731 95 46

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

address — c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

FAX — [1] (212) 963 4879

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

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

FAX — [1] (212) 963 4879

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

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

FAX — [1] (212) 557 6416

aim — to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with their population problems

address — c/o UN Peace Keeping Mission, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

FAX — [1] (212) 963 4879

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

FAX — [43] (1) 230 7487

members — (10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US

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

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

FAX — [1] (212) 758 2718

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)

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

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

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

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

address — Bureau International de lUPU, Weltpoststrasse 4, CH-3000 Berne 15, Switzerland

FAX — [41] (31) 350 31 10

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

FAX — [228] 21 52 67, 21 72 69

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

FAX — [32] (2) 511 35 19

members — (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK

associate partners — (9) Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia

includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), and International Finance Corporation (IFC)

FAX — [32] (2) 230 87 22

established — 19 June 1920 as the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1968

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

FAX — [42] (2) 46 13 78

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

FAX — [39] (6) 574 5091

aim — to study world food problems and to recommend solutions; ECOSOC organization

FAX — [39] (6) 5123700, 5133537, 52282840

aim — to provide food aid in support of economic development or disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization

FAX — [41] (22) 791 07 46

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

address — 34 chemin des Colombettes, Case Postale 18, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland

FAX — [41] (22) 733 5428

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

address — Case Postale 2300, 41 Av Giuseppe-Motta, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

FAX — [41] (22) 734 23 26

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

FAX — [34] (1) 571 37 33

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

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

     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

Desertification — United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

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

Hazardous Wastes — Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

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

Nuclear Test Ban — Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the
Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water

Ozone Layer Protection — Montreal Protocol on Substances That
Deplete the Ozone Layer

     Ship Pollution — Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International
     Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973
     (MARPOL)

Wetlands — Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
Especially As Waterfowl Habitat; note - also known as Ramsar

Note: Not all of the selected international environmental agreements have abbreviations.

APPENDIX E

see — Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes

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%

see — Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions

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

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

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

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

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

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

Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and
Fauna (CITES)

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)

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

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)

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

see — United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

see — Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

see — Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques

see — Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

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

former parties — (10) Belize, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, Iceland, Jamaica, Mauritius, Panama, Philippines, Uruguay

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

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

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified — (11) Cameroon, Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Indonesia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Togo, United States

see — Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention)

see — Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas

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

see — Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water

Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)

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

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

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

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

objective — to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes

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%

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

see — Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)

APPENDIX F:

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).

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

minim (US) 0.061 611 52 milliliters 0.002 083 33 ounces, liquid or one-sixtieth of a dram

section (US) 2.589 988 1 kilometers^2 1 mile^2, statute or 640 acres

APPENDIX G:

These estimates of gross domestic product on an exchange rate basis are based on official data from national statistical offices.

APPENDIX H

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.

Baghdad [US Embassy temporarily — Iraq suspended; US Interests
Section located in Poland's embassy in Baghdad]

Belgrade [US Embassy; US does not — Serbia and Montenegro maintain full diplomatic relations with Serbia and Montenegro]

     Brussels [US Embassy, US Mission — Belgium to European Union
     (USEU), US Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
     (USNATO)]

Geneva [Branch Office of the — Switzerland US Embassy, US Mission to European Office of the UN and Other International Organizations]

Havana [US post not maintained; — Cuba representation by US
Interests Section (USINT) of the Swiss Embassy]

Montreal [US Consulate General, US — Canada Mission to the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)]

     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

Rome [US Embassy, US Mission to the UN Agencies for Food and
Agriculture (FODAG)] — Italy

Soviet Union [the former] — Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, — Estonia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, — Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, — Moldova,
Russia, Tajikistan, — Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
[the former USSR] — Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,

— Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, — Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, —
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

USSR [the former] — Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, — Estonia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, — Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, — Moldova,
Russia, Tajikistan, — Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Vaduz [US post not maintained; — Liechtenstein representation from Zurich, Switzerland]

Vienna [US Embassy, US Mission to — Austria International
Organizations in Vienna (UNVIE)]

Washington, DC [The Permanent Mission of the US to the
Organization of American States (OAS)] — United States

Yugoslavia [the former] — Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; —
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 1995 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK ***

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