Produced by Dr. Gregory B. Newby









This is a preliminary edition.  The final first edition should be on
file around midnight, October 31, 1993.

As usual, the margination in these reports may be rough, and another
edition should appear, somewhat neater in appearance, as a Gutenberg
volunteer will probably start work on this shortly.

This file has been edited in such a manner as to delete redundancies
[some, not all] and extra spaces [some, not all], enough that a file
from Project Gutenberg should be enough smaller that storarge/search
requirements should be reduced by 15 to 20%.

To search for information on a specific country from the list below,
search for *country:  *Afganistan, for example.  You can also search
directly for one of the categories of that country as follows:

*Afghanistan, Geography
*Afghanistan, People
*Afghanistan, Government
*Afghanistan, Economy
*Afghanistan, Communications
*Afghanistan, Defense Forces


*The Project Gutenberg Edition of the 1993 CIA World Factbook*



Central Intelligence Agency

The World Factbook 1993

Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations
A
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

B
Bahamas, The
Bahrain
Baker Island
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bassas da India
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina
Burma
Burundi

C
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China (also see separate Taiwan entry)
Christmas Island
Clipperton Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Coral Sea Islands
Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic

D
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic

E
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Europa Island

F
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

G
Gabon
Gambia, The
Gaza Strip
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Glorioso Islands
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana

H
Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Holy See (Vatican City)
Honduras
Hong Kong
Howland Island
Hungary

I
Iceland
India
Indian Ocean
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel (also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank
entries)
Italy

J
Jamaica
Jan Mayen
Japan
Jarvis Island
Jersey
Johnston Atoll
Jordan (also see separate West Bank entry)
Juan de Nova Island

K
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kingman Reef
Kiribati
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan

L
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg

M
Macau
Macedonia
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

N
Namibia
Nauru
Navassa Island
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway

O
Oman

P
Pacific Islands (Palau), Trust Territory of the
Pacific Ocean 2
Pakistan
Palmyra Atoll
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paracel Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico

Q
Qatar

R
Reunion
Romania
Russia
Rwanda

S
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

T
Taiwan entry follows Zimbabwe
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tromelin Island
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu

U
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan

V
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands

W
Wake Island
Wallis and Futuna
West Bank
Western Sahara
Western Samoa
World

Y
Yemen

Z
Zaire
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Taiwan

Appendixes
A: The United Nations System
B: Abbreviations for International Organizations and Groups
C: International Organizations and Groups
D: Weights and Measures
E: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

Reference Maps
The World
North America
Central America and the
Caribbean
South America
Europe
Ethnic Groups in Eastern
Europe
Middle East
Africa
Asia
Commonwealth of Independent States--
European States
Commonwealth of Independent States--Central Asian States
Southeast Asia
Oceania
Arctic Region
Antarctic Region
Standard Time Zones of the World

There have been some significant changes in this edition. Czechoslovakia has
been superseded by the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Eritrea gained independence
from Ethiopia. The name of the Ivory Coast has been changed to Cote d'Ivoire and
the Vatican City became the Holy See. New entries include Location, Map
references, Abbreviation (often substituted for the country name), and Digraph
(two-letter country code). Names is a new entry which includes long and short
forms of both conventional and local names of countries as well as any former
names. Most diacritical marks have been omitted. 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 1994 Factbook. Irrigated land is a new entry with the data
separate from the Land use entry. The Disputes entry is now International
disputes. The GNP/GDP entry was renamed National Product and the per capita and
real growth rate data placed in separate entries. Similar changes were made in
the Population and Diplomatic Representation entries.

Abbreviations: (see Appendix B for international organizations and groups)

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

FY
fiscal year

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

km2
square 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

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.

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 km2,
69 miles 2) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 km2, 0.23 miles 2,146 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 1993 was
used in the preparation of this edition. Population figures are estimates for 1
July 1993, with population growth rates estimated for calendar year 1993. Major
political events have been updated through June 1993.

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 (US Department of Commerce) and
maintained by the Office of the Geographer (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 180
nations. The US has diplomatic relations with 174 of the 182 UN members
(excluding the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia whose status in the UN
is unclear)--the exceptions are Angola, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Macedonia,
North Korea, and Vietnam. In addition, the US has diplomatic relations with 7
nations that are not in the UN-Andorra, Holy See, Kiribati, Nauru, Switzerland,
Tonga, and Tuvalu.

Economic aid: This entry refers to bilateral commitments of official development
assistance (ODA), which is defined as government grants that are administered
with the promotion of economic development and welfare of LDCs as their main
objective and are concessional in character and contain a grant element of at
least 25%, and other official flows (OOF) or transactions by the official sector
whose main objective is other than development motivated or whose grant element
is below the 25% threshold for ODA. 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

182
UN members (excluding the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia whose status
in the UN is unclear)

8
nations that are not members of the UN--Andorra, Holy See, Kiribati, Nauru,
Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland, Tonga, Tuvalu

OTHER

1
Taiwan

DEPENDENT AREAS

6
Australia--Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling)
Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island

2
Denmark--Faroe Islands, Greenland

16
France--Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Guiana, French
Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Guadeloupe,
Juan de Nova Island, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint Pierre
and Miquelon, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna

2
Netherlands--Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

3
New Zealand--Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

3
Norway--Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

1
Portugal--Macau

16
United Kingdom--Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British
Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong
Kong, Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South
Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

15
United States--American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis
Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern
Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), Palmyra Atoll,
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island

MISCELLANEOUS

6
Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, West Bank, Western
Sahara

OTHER ENTITIES

4
oceans--Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean

1
World

266
total

note: The US Government does not recognize the four so-called independent
homelands of Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda in South Africa.
Exchange rate: The 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.

Gross domestic product (GDP): The value of all goods and services produced
domestically in a given year.

Gross national product (GNP): The value of all goods and services produced
domestically 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.

GNP/GDP methodology: In the "Economy'' section, GNP/GDP dollar estimates for the
OECD countries, the former Soviet republics, and the East European 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 PPP GNP/GDP estimate in dollars by the
corresponding estimate in the local currency gives the PPP conversion rate. 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. GNP/GDP estimates for the LDCs, on the other
hand, are based on the conversion of GNP/GDP estimates in local currencies to
dollars at the official currency exchange rates. Because currency exchange rates
depend on a variety of international and domestic financial forces that often
have little relation to domestic output, use of these rates is less satisfactory
for calculating GNP/GDP than the PPP method. 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. One additional caution: the
proportion of, say, defense expenditures as a percent of GNP/GDP in local
currency accounts may differ substantially from the proportion when GNP/GDP
accounts are expressed in PPP terms, as, for example, when an observer estimates
the dollar level of Russian or Japanese military expenditures; similar problems
exist when components are expressed in dollars under currency exchange rate
procedures. Finally, as academic research moves forward on the PPP method, we
hope to convert all GNP/GDP estimates to this method in future editions of The
World Factbook.

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 (Erythroxylon coca) is a bush, and the leaves contain the stimulant
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.

Marijuana is the dried leaves of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).

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
w/codeine, Empirin w/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.

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 may also be included that are border or frontier relevant,
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 number of km 2 that is artifically
supplied with water.

Land use: Human use of 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 land--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 funcions 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.

Maps: All maps will be available only in the printed version of The World
Factbook for the foreseeable future.

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 register 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. Differences
in flag state maritime legislation determine 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 foreignowned 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 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 Gross domestic product (GDP), Gross national product (GNP), and
GNP/GDP methodology.

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 registration systems, or sample
surveys pertaining to the recent past, and on assumptions about future trends.

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).

***

THE WORLD FACTBOOK 1993

*Afghanistan, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, between Iran and Pakistan
Map references:
  Asia, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  647,500 km2
 land area:
  647,500 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 5,529 km, China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan
  1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand water rights; Iran supports clients
  in country, private Pakistani and Saudi sources may also be 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)
Climate:
  arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain:
  mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Natural resources:
  natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, talc, barites, sulphur, lead, zinc,
  iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
Land use:
 arable land:
  12%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  46%
 forest and woodland:
  3%
 other:
  39%
Irrigated land:
  26,600 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; soil degradation,
  desertification, overgrazing, deforestation, pollution, flooding
Note:
  landlocked

*Afghanistan, People

Population:
  16,494,145 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.45% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  43.83 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  19.33 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  158.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  44.41 years
 male:
  45.09 years
 female:
  43.71 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.34 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Afghan(s)
 adjective:
  Afghan
Ethnic divisions:
  Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Chahar
  Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%
Languages:
  Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and
  Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much
  bilingualism
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  29%
 male:
  44%
 female:
  14%
Labor force:
  4.98 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture and animal husbandry 67.8%, industry 10.2%, construction 6.3%,
  commerce 5.0%, services and other 10.7% (1980 est.)

*Afghanistan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Islamic State of Afghanistan
 conventional short form:
  Afghanistan
 former:
  Republic of Afghanistan
Digraph:
  AF
Type:
  transitional government
Capital:
  Kabul
Administrative divisions:
  30 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan,
  Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol,
  Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz,
  Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol
 note:
  there may be a new province of Nurestan (Nuristan)
Independence:
  19 August 1919 (from UK)
Constitution:
  the old Communist-era constitution has been suspended; a new Islamic
  constitution has yet to be ratified
Legal system:
  a new legal system has not been adopted but the transitional government has
  declared it will follow Islamic law (Shari'a)
National holiday:
  Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April; Remembrance Day for Martyrs and
  Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day, 19 August
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 (Islamic Unity Party),
  Abdul Ali MAZARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif
  MOHSENI; a new northern organization consisting of resistance and former
  regional figures is Jonbesh-i-Milli Islami (National Islamic Movement),
  Rashid DOSTUM
 note:
  the former ruling Watan Party has been disbanded
Other political or pressure groups:
  the former resistance commanders are the major power brokers in the
  countryside; shuras (councils) of commanders are now administering most
  cities outside Kabul; ulema (religious scholars); tribal elders
Suffrage:
  undetermined; previously universal, male ages 15-50
Elections:
 President:   last held NA December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1994); results -
  Burhanuddin RABBANI was elected to a two-year term by a national shura

*Afghanistan, Government

Executive branch:
  president, prime minister; Afghan leaders are still in the process of
  choosing a cabinet (May 1993)
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
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Burhanuddin RABBANI (since 2 January 1993); First Vice President
  Mohammad NABI Mohammadi (since NA); First Vice President Mohammad SHAH Fazli
  (since NA)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister-designate Gulbaddin HIKMATYAR (since NA); Deputy Prime
  Minister Sulayman GAILANI (since NA); Deputy Prime Minister Din MOHAMMAD
  (since NA); Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad SHAH Ahmadzai (since NA)
Member of:
  AsDB (has previously been a member of), CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
  OIC, UN, UNCTAD, 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:
  (202) 234-3770 or 3771
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  Ansari Wat, Wazir Akbar Khan Mina, Kabul
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  62230 through 62235 or 62436
 note:
  US Embassy in Kabul was closed in January 1989
Flag:
  a new flag of unknown description reportedly has been adopted; previous flag
  consisted of three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green,
  with the national coat of arms superimposed on the hoist side of the black
  and red bands; similar to the flag of Malawi, which is shorter and bears a
  radiant, rising red sun centered in the black band

*Afghanistan, Economy

Overview:
  Fundamentally, 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 13 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 1.3 million. Another
  1 million probably moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan.
  Although reliable data are unavailable, gross domestic product is lower than
  12 years ago because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of
  trade and transport.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3 billion (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $200 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  over 90% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $236 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
 commodities:
  natural gas 55%, fruits and nuts 24%, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton,
  hides, and pelts
 partners:
  former USSR, Pakistan
Imports:
  $874 million (c.i.f., FY91 est.)
 commodities:
  food and petroleum products
 partners:
  former USSR, Pakistan
External debt:
  $2.3 billion (March 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 2.3% (FY91 est.); accounts for about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
  480,000 kW capacity; 1,000 million kWh produced, 60 kWh per capita (1992)
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 producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug
  trade; world's second-largest opium producer (after Burma) and a major
  source of hashish
Economic aid:   US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $380 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $510 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $57 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $4.1
  billion; net official Western disbursements (1985-89), $270 million

*Afghanistan, Economy

Currency:
  1 afghani (AF) = 100 puls
Exchange rates:
  afghanis (Af) per US$1 - 1,019 (March 1993), 900 (November 1991), 850
  (1991), 700 (1989-90), 220 (1988-89); note - these rates reflect the free
  market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rates
Fiscal year:
  21 March - 20 March

*Afghanistan, Communications

Railroads:
  9.6 km (single track) 1.524-meter gauge from Kushka (Turkmenistan) to
  Towraghondi and 15.0 km from Termez (Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad transshipment
  point on south bank of Amu Darya
Highways:
  21,000 km total (1984); 2,800 km hard surface, 1,650 km bituminous-treated
  gravel and improved earth, 16,550 km unimproved earth and tracks
Inland waterways:
  total navigability 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to
  about 500 metric tons
Pipelines:
  petroleum products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan to Shindand;
  natural gas 180 km
Ports:
  Shir Khan and Kheyrabad (river ports)
Airports:
 total:
  41
 usable:
  36
 with permanent-surface runways:
  9
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  11
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  16
Telecommunications:
  limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services; television
  introduced in 1980; 31,200 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, no FM, 1
  TV; 1 satellite earth station

*Afghanistan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  the military still does not yet 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 remain intact
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 4,094,481; fit for military service 2,196,136; reach
  military age (22) annually 153,333 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  the new government has not yet adopted a defense budget

*Albania, Geography

Location:
  Southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula between Serbia and Montenegro
  and Greece
Map references:
  Africa, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  28,750 km2
 land area:
  27,400 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  total 720 km, Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km
  (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro)
Coastline:
  362 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Kosovo question with Serbia and Montenegro; Northern Epirus question with
  Greece
Climate:
  mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior
  is cooler and wetter
Terrain:
  mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel
Land use:
 arable land:
  21%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:   15%
 forest and woodland:
  38%
 other:
  22%
Irrigated land:
  4,230 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  subject to destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along southwestern coast
Note:
  strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea
  and Mediterranean Sea)

*Albania, People

Population:
  3,333,839 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.21% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  23.24 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -5.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  31.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  73 years
 male:
  70.01 years
 female:
  76.21 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.85 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Albanian(s)
 adjective:
  Albanian
Ethnic divisions:
  Albanian 90%, Greeks 8%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians)
  (1989 est.)
Religions:
  Muslim 70%, Greek Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
 note:
  all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances
  prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious
  practice
Languages:
  Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
Literacy:
  age 9 and over can read and write (1955)
 total population:
  72%
 male:
  80%
 female:
  63%
Labor force:
  1.5 million (1987)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 40% (1986)

*Albania, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Albania
 conventional short form:
  Albania
 local long form:
  Republika e Shqiperise
 local short form:
  Shqiperia
 former:
  People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Digraph:
  AL
Type:
  nascent democracy
Capital:
  Tirane
Administrative divisions:
  26 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth); Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan,
  Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje, Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd,
  Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar,
  Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje, Vlore
Independence:
  28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
Constitution:
  an interim basic law was approved by the People's Assembly on 29 April 1991;
  a new constitution was to be drafted for adoption in 1992, but is still in
  process
Legal system:
  has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Liberation Day, 29 November (1944)
Political parties and leaders:
  there are at least 18 political parties; most prominent are the Albanian
  Socialist Party (ASP; formerly the Albania Workers Party), Fatos NANO, first
  secretary; Democratic Party (DP), Eduard SELAMI, chairman; Albanian
  Republican Party (RP), Sabri GODO; Omonia (Greek minority party), leader NA
  (ran in 1992 election as Unity for Human Rights Party (UHP)); Social
  Democratic Party (SDP), Skender GJINUSHI; Democratic Alliance Party (DAP),
  Spartak NGJELA, chairman
Suffrage:
  18 years of age, universal and compulsory
Elections:
 People's Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister of the Council of Ministers, two deputy prime
  ministers of the Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President of the Republic Sali BERISHA (since 9 April 1992)

*Albania, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since
  10 April 1992)
Member of:
  BSEC, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL,
  IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Roland BIMO
 chancery:
  1511 K Street, NW, Washington, DC
 telephone:
  (202) 223-4942
 FAX:
  (202) 223-4950
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador William E. RYERSON
 embassy:
  Rruga Labinoti 103, room 2921, Tirane
 mailing address:
  PSC 59, Box 100 (A), APO AE 09624
 telephone:
  355-42-32875, 33520
 FAX:
  355-42-32222
Flag:
  red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

*Albania, Economy

Overview:
  The Albanian economy, already providing the lowest standard of living in
  Europe, contracted sharply in 1991, with most industries producing at only a
  fraction of past levels and an unemployment rate estimated at 40%. For over
  40 years, the Stalinist-type economy operated on the principle of central
  planning and state ownership of the means of production. Fitful economic
  reforms begun during 1991, including the liberalization of prices and trade,
  the privatization of shops and transport, and land reform, were crippled by
  widespread civil disorder. Following its overwhelming victory in the 22
  March 1992 elections, the new Democratic government announced a program of
  shock therapy to stabilize the economy and establish a market economy. In an
  effort to expand international ties, Tirane has reestablished diplomatic
  relations with the major republics of the former Soviet Union and the US and
  has joined the IMF and the World Bank. The Albanians have also passed
  legislation allowing foreign investment, but not foreign ownership of real
  estate. Albania possesses considerable mineral resources and, until 1990,
  was largely self-sufficient in food; however, the breakup of cooperative
  farms in 1991 and general economic decline forced Albania to rely on foreign
  aid to maintain adequate supplies. In 1992 the government tightened
  budgetary contols leading to another drop in domestic output. The
  agricultural sector is steadily gaining from the privatization process. Low
  domestic output is supplemented by remittances from the 200,000 Albanians
  working abroad.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.5 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -10% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $760 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  210% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  40% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $70 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $45 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  asphalt, metals and metallic ores, electricity, crude oil, vegetables,
  fruits, tobacco
 partners:
  Italy, Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania,
  Bulgaria, Hungary
Imports:
  $120 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery, consumer goods, grains
 partners:
  Italy, Macedonia, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, Hungary,
  Bulgaria, Greece
External debt:
  $500 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -55% (1991 est.)
Electricity:   1,690,000 kW capacity; 5,000 million kWh produced, 1,520 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Albania, Economy

Industries:
  food processing, textiles and clothing, lumber, oil, cement, chemicals,
  mining, basic metals, hydropower
Agriculture:
  arable land per capita among lowest in Europe; over 60% of arable land now
  in private hands; one-half of work force engaged in farming; wide range of
  temperate-zone crops and livestock
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
  recipient - $190 million humanitarian aid, $94 million in
  loans/guarantees/credits
Currency:
  1 lek (L) = 100 qintars
Exchange rates:
  leke (L) per US$1 - 97 (January 1993), 50 (January 1992), 25 (September
  1991)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Albania, Communications

Railroads:
  543 km total; 509 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track and 34 km
  narrow gauge, single track (1990); line connecting Titograd (Serbia and
  Montenegro) and Shkoder (Albania) completed August 1986
Highways:
  16,700 km total; 6,700 km highways, 10,000 km forest and agricultural cart
  roads (1990)
Inland waterways:
  43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa
  (1990)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km (1991)
Ports:
  Durres, Sarande, Vlore
Merchant marine:
  11 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 52,967 GRT/76,887 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  12
 usable:
  10
 with permanent-surface runways:
  3
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0  with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  6
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  inadequate service; 15,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 13 AM, 1 TV;
  514,000 radios, 255,000 TVs (1987 est.)

*Albania, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 896,613; fit for military service 739,359; reach military
  age (19) annually 32,740 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  215 million leke, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense
  expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
  misleading results

*Algeria, Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, along the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Map references:
  Africa, Europe
Area:
 total area:
  2,381,740 km2
 land area:
  2,381,740 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 6,343 km, Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco
  1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km
Coastline:
  998 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Libya claims part of southeastern Algeria; land boundary disputes with
  Tunisia under discussion
Climate:
  arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier
  with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot,
  dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
Terrain:
  mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous
  coastal plain
Natural resources:   petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  13%
 forest and woodland:
  2%
 other:
  82%
Irrigated land:
  3,360 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; desertification
Note:
  second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

*Algeria, People

Population:
  27,256,252 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.34% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  30.38 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  54 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.35 years
 male:
  66.32 years
 female:
  68.41 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.96 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Algerian(s)
 adjective:
  Algerian
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages:
  Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:   57%
 male:
  70%
 female:
  46%
Labor force:
  6.2 million (1992 est.)
 by occupation:
  government 29.5%, agriculture 22%, construction and public works 16.2%,
  industry 13.6%, commerce and services 13.5%, transportation and
  communication 5.2% (1989)

*Algeria, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
 conventional short form:
  Algeria
 local long form:
  Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Shabiyah
 local short form:
  Al Jaza'ir
Digraph:
  AG
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Algiers
Administrative divisions:
  48 provinces (wilayast, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain
  Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou
  Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued,
  El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara,
  Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi,
  Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset,
  Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen
Independence:
  5 July 1962 (from France)
Constitution:
  19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 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
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)
Political parties and leaders:
  Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Abdelkader
  HACHANI (all under arrest), Rabeh KEBIR; 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 30 legal parties existed
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National People's Assembly:
  first round held on 26 December 1991 (second round canceled by the military
  after President BENDJEDID resigned 11 January 1992); 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 (municipal and
  wilaya) 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
 President of the High State Committee:
  next election to be held December 1993
Executive branch:
  President of the High State Committee, prime minister, Council of Ministers
  (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National People's Assembly (Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani)

*Algeria, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  High State Committee President Ali KAFI (since 2 July 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Belaid ABDESSELAM (since 8 July 1992)
Member of:
  ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPEC,
  UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Mohamed ZARHOUNI
 chancery:
  2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 265-2800
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Mary Ann CASEY
 embassy:
  4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
 mailing address:
  B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
 telephone:
  [213] (2) 601-425 or 255, 186
 FAX:
  [213] (2) 603979
 consulate:   Oran
Flag:
  two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white with a red
  five-pointed star within a red crescent; the crescent, star, and color green
  are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion)

*Algeria, Economy

Overview:
  The oil and natural gas sector forms the backbone of the economy,
  hydrocarbons accounting for nearly all export receipts, about 30% of
  government revenues, and nearly 25% of GDP. In 1973-74 the sharp increase in
  oil prices led to a booming economy and helped to finance an ambitious
  program of industrialization. Plunging oil and gas prices, combined with the
  mismanagement of Algeria's highly centralized economy, has brought the
  nation to its most serious social and economic crisis since full
  independence in 1988. The current government has put reform, including
  privatization of some public sector companies and an overhaul of the banking
  and financial system, on hold, but has continued efforts to admit private
  enterprise to the hydrocarbon industry.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $42 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2.8% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,570 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  55% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  35% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $14.4 billion; expenditures $14.6 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $3.5 billion (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $11.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum and natural gas 97%
 partners:
  Italy, France, US, Germany, Spain
Imports:
  $8.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  capital goods 39.7%, food and beverages 21.7%, consumer goods 11.8% (1990)
 partners:
  France, Italy, Germany, US, Spain
External debt:
  $26 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  6,380,000 kW capacity; 16,834 million kWh produced, 630 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum, light industries, natural gas, mining, electrical, petrochemical,
  food processing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 10.8% of GDP (1991) 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-85), $1.4 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $925 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.8 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.7
  billion; net official disbursements (1985-89), -$375 million
Currency:
  1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes

*Algeria, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 22.787 (January 1993), 21.836 (1992), 18.473
  (1991), 8.958 (1990), 7.6086 (1989), 5.9148 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Algeria, Communications

Railroads:
  4,060 km total; 2,616 km standard gauge (1.435 m), 1,188 km 1.055-meter
  gauge, 256 km 1.000-meter gauge; 300 km electrified; 215 km double track
Highways:
  90,031 km total; 58,868 km concrete or bituminous, 31,163 km gravel, crushed
  stone, unimproved earth (1990)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas 2,948 km
Ports:
  Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mers el Kebir,
  Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda
Merchant marine:
  75 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 903,179 GRT/1,064,211 DWT; includes 5
  short-sea passenger, 27 cargo, 12 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 oil tanker, 9
  liquefied gas, 7 chemical tanker, 9 bulk, 1 specialized tanker
Airports:
 total:
  141
 usable:
  124
 with permanent-surface runways:
  53
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  32
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  65
Telecommunications:   excellent domestic and international service in the north, sparse in the
  south; 822,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 26 AM, no FM, 18 TV;
  1,600,000 TV sets; 5,200,000 radios; 5 submarine cables; microwave radio
  relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to
  Morocco and Tunisia; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, l ARABSAT, and 12 domestic; 20
  additional satellite earth stations are planned

*Algeria, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 6,610,342; fit for military service 4,063,261; reach
  military age (19) annually 291,685 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.36 billion, 2.5% of GDP (1993 est.)

*American Samoa, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*American Samoa, Geography

Location:
  in the South Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km south-southwest of Honolulu, about
  halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  199 km2
 land area:
  199 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  116 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall
  averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to April, dry season from
  May to October; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two
  coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Natural resources:
  pumice, pumicite
Land use:
 arable land:
  10%
 permanent crops:
  5%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  75%
 other:
  10%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  typhoons common from December to March
Note:
  Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific
  Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral
  mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean

*American Samoa, People

Population:
  53,139 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.9% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  19 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  73 years
 male:
  71 years
 female:
  75 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.41 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  American Samoan(s)
 adjective:
  American Samoan
Ethnic divisions:
  Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
Religions:
  Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant
  denominations and other 30%
Languages:
  Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages),
  English; most people are bilingual
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  97%
 male:
  97%
 female:
  97%
Labor force:
  14,400 (1990)
 by occupation:
  government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)

*American Samoa, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of American Samoa
 conventional short form:
  American Samoa
Abbreviation:
  AS
Digraph:
  AQ
Type:
  unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US
  Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
Capital:
  Pago Pago
Administrative divisions:
  none (territory of the US)
Independence:
  none (territory of the US)
Constitution:
  ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Political parties and leaders:
  NA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Governor:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - A.
  P. LUTALI was elected (percent of vote NA)
 House of Representatives:
  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:
  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:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Eni
  R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
Executive branch:
  popularly elected governor and lieutenant governor
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono) consists of an upper house or Senate
  (appointed by county village chiefs) and a lower house or House of
  Representatives (elected)
Judicial branch:
  High Court
Leaders:
 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)

*American Samoa, Government

Member of:
  ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territory of the US)
Flag:
  blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side and
  extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying
  toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of
  authority, a staff and a war club

*American Samoa, Economy

Overview:
  Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa
  does 80-90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants
  are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export.
  The tuna canneries and the government are by far the two largest employers.
  Other economic activities include a slowly developing tourist industry.
  Transfers from the US government add substantially to American Samoa's
  economic well-being.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $128 million (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $2,600 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  12% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $97,000,000 (includes $43,000,000 in local revenue and $54,000,000
  in grant revenue); including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91)
Exports:
  $306 million (f.o.b., 1989)
 commodities:
  canned tuna 93%
 partners:
  US 99.6%
Imports:
  $360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989)
 commodities:
  materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and
  parts 6%
 partners:
  US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  42,000 kW capacity; 100 million kWh produced, 2,020 kWh per capita (1990)
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:
  $21,042,650 in operational funds and $1,227,000 in construction funds for
  capital improvement projects from the US Department of Interior (1991)
Currency:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*American Samoa, Communications

Railroads:   none
Highways:
  350 km total; 150 km paved, 200 km unpaved
Ports:
  Pago Pago, Ta'u, Ofu, Auasi, Aanu'u (new construction), Faleosao
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  3
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440 to 3,659 m :
  1 (international airport at Tafuna)
 with runways 1,200 to 2,439 m:
  0
 note:
  small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu
Telecommunications:
  8,399 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; good telex,
  telegraph, and facsimile services; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station, 1
  COMSAT earth station

*American Samoa, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Andorra, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, between France and Spain
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  450 km2
 land area:
  450 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 125 km, France 60 km, Spain 65 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:   temperate; snowy, cold winters and cool, dry summers
Terrain:
  rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Natural resources:
  hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  56%
 forest and woodland:
  22%
 other:
  20%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  deforestation, overgrazing
Note:
  landlocked

*Andorra, People

Population:
  61,962 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.27% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.78 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.99 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  25.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  78.22 years
 male:
  75.35 years
 female:
  81.34 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.73 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Andorran(s)
 adjective:
  Andorran
Ethnic divisions:
  Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%
Religions:   Roman Catholic (predominant)
Languages:
  Catalan (official), French, Castilian
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

*Andorra, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Principality of Andorra
 conventional short form:
  Andorra
 local long form:
  Principat d'Andorra
 local short form:
  Andorra
Digraph:
  AN
Type:
  parliamentary coprincipality under formal sovereignty of president of France
  and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by officials
  called veguers; to be changed to a parliamentary form of government
Capital:
  Andorra la Vella
Administrative divisions:
  7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La
  Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Independence:
  1278
Constitution:
  Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March
  1993; to take effect within 15 days
Legal system:
  based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative
  acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Political parties and leaders:
  political parties not yet legally recognized; traditionally no political
  parties but partisans for particular independent candidates for the General
  Council on the basis of competence, personality, and orientation toward
  Spain or France; various small pressure groups developed in 1972; first
  formal political party, Andorran Democratic Association, was formed in 1976
  and reorganized in 1979 as Andorran Democratic Party
Suffrage:
  18 years of age, universal
Elections:
 General Council of the Valleys:
  last held 12 April 1992 (next to be held April 1996); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
  two co-princes (president of France, bishop of Seo de Urgel in Spain), two
  designated representatives (French veguer, Episcopal veguer), two permanent
  delegates (French prefect for the department of Pyrenees-Orientales, Spanish
  vicar general for the Seo de Urgel diocese), president of government,
  Executive Council
Legislative branch:
  unicameral General Council of the Valleys (Consell General de las Valls)
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

*Andorra, Government

Leaders:
 Chiefs of State:
  French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981), represented by
  Veguer de Franca Jean Pierre COURTOIS (since NA); Spanish Episcopal
  Co-Prince Mgr. Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented by
  Veguer Episcopal Francesc BADIA Bata
 Head of Government:
  Executive Council President Oscar RIBAS Reig (since 10 Decmber 1989)
Member of:
  INTERPOL, IOC
Diplomatic representation in US:
  Andorra has no mission in the US
US diplomatic representation:
  Andorra is included within the Barcelona (Spain) Consular District, and the
  US Consul General visits Andorra periodically
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the
  national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features
  a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and Romania that do not
  have a national coat of arms in the center

*Andorra, Economy

Overview:
  The mainstay of Andorra's economy is tourism. 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 significantly 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. Although it is a member of the EC
  customs union, it is unclear what effect the European Single Market will
  have on the advantages Andorra obtains from its duty-free status.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $760 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $14,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  0%
Budget:
  revenues $119.4 million; expenditures $190 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1990)
Exports:
  $23 million (f.o.b., 1989)
 commodities:
  electricity, tobacco products, furniture
 partners:
  France, Spain
Imports:
  $888.7 million (f.o.b., 1989)
 commodities:
  consumer goods, food
 partners:
  France, Spain
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  35,000 kW capacity; 140 million kWh produced, 2,570 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco, banking
Agriculture:
  sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, and
  some vegetables
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  the French and Spanish currencies are used
Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
  (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988); Spanish pesetas (Ptas)
  per US$1 - 114.59 (January 1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93
  (1990), 118.38 (1989), 116.49 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Andorra, Communications

Highways:
  96 km
Telecommunications:
  international digital microwave network; international landline circuits to
  France and Spain; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 17,700 telephones

*Andorra, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

*Angola, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Namibia and
  Zaire
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1,246,700 km2
 land area:
  1,246,700 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 5,198 km, Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire 2,511 km, Zambia 1,110
  km
Coastline:
  1,600 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  20 nm
International disputes:
  civil war since independence on 11 November 1975; a ceasefire held from 31
  May 1991 until October 1992, when the insurgent National Union for the Total
  Independence of Angola refused to accept its defeat in internationally
  monitored elections; fighting has since resumed across the countryside
Climate:
  semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May
  to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Terrain:
  narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Natural resources:
  petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite,
  uranium
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  23%
 forest and woodland:   43%
 other:
  32%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on plateau; desertification
Note:
  Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire

*Angola, People

Population:
  9,545,235 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.67% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.8 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  18.96 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  148.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  45.26 years
 male:
  43.26 years
 female:
  47.35 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.54 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Angolan(s)
 adjective:
  Angolan
Ethnic divisions:
  Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, Mestico 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (est.)
Languages:
  Portuguese (official), Bantu dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  42%
 male:
  56%
 female:
  28%
Labor force:
  2.783 million economically active
 by occupation:
  agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)

*Angola, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Angola
 conventional short form:
  Angola
 local long form:
  Republic de Angola
 local short form:
  Angola
 former:
  People's Republic of Angola
Digraph:
  AO
Type:
  transitional government nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong
  presidential system
Capital:
  Luanda
Administrative divisions:
  18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie,
  Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila,
  Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire
Independence:
  11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
Constitution:
  11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, and 6 March 1991
Legal system:
  based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to
  accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
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,
  remains a legal party despite its returned to 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), NZZIA Tiago, leader
 note:
  FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the
  independence of Cabinda Province
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
  first nationwide, multiparty elections were held in late September 1992 with
  disputed results; further elections are being discussed
Executive branch:   president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacrao)
Leaders:
 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)

*Angola, Government

Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
  OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none
 representation:
  Jose PATRICIO, Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States
 address:
  Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States, 1899 L Street,
  NW, 5th floor, Washington, DC 20038
 telephone:
  (202) 785-1156
 FAX:
  (202) 785-1258
US diplomatic representation:
 director:
  Edmund DE JARNETTE
 liaison office:
  Rua Major Kanhangolo, Nes 132/138, Luanda
 mailing address:
  CP6484, Luanda, Angola (mail international); USLO Luanda, Department of
  State, Washington, D.C. 20521-2550 (pouch)
 telephone:
  [244] (2) 34-54-81
 FAX:
  [244] (2) 39-05-15
 note:
  the US maintains a liaison office in Luanda accredited to the Joint
  Political Military Commission that oversees implementation of the Angola
  Peace Accords; this office does not perform any commercial or consular
  services; the US does not maintain diplomatic relations with the Government
  of the Republic of Angola
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow
  emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a
  machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)

*Angola, Economy

Overview:
  Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80-90% of the
  population, but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil production is vital
  to the economy, contributing about 60% to GDP. Bitter internal fighting
  continues to severely affect the nonoil economy, and food needs to be
  imported. For the long run, Angola has the advantage of rich natural
  resources in addition to oil, notably gold, diamonds, and arable land. To
  realize its economic potential Angola not only must secure domestic peace
  but also must reform government policies that have led to distortions and
  imbalances throughout the economy.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5.1 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1.7% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $950 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1,000% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $2.1 billion; expenditures $3.6 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $963 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  oil, liquefied petroleum gas, diamonds, coffee, sisal, fish and fish
  products, timber, cotton
 partners:
  US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil
Imports:
  $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), food, vehicles and
  spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines; substantial military
  deliveries
 partners:
  Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain
External debt:
  $8 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for about 60% of GDP, including petroleum output
Electricity:
  510,000 kW capacity; 800 million kWh produced, 84 kWh per capita (1991)
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 - coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, sugar cane, manioc, tobacco; food
  crops - cassava, corn, vegetables, plantains, bananas; livestock production
  accounts for 20%, fishing 4%, forestry 2% of total agricultural output;
  disruptions caused by civil war and marketing deficiencies require food
  imports
Economic aid:   US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $265 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,105 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $1.3 billion; net official disbursements
  (1985-89), $750 million

*Angola, Economy

Currency:
  1 kwanza (Kz) = 100 kwei
Exchange rates:
  kwanza (Kz) per US$1 -4,000 (black market rate was 17,000 on 30 April 1993)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Angola, Communications

Railroads:
  3,189 km total; 2,879 km 1.067-meter gauge, 310 km 0.600-meter gauge;
  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
Highways:
  73,828 km total; 8,577 km bituminous-surface treatment, 29,350 km crushed
  stone, gravel, or improved earth, remainder unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  1,295 km navigable
Pipelines:
  crude oil 179 km
Ports:
  Luanda, Lobito, Namibe, Cabinda
Merchant marine:
  12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 66,348 GRT/102,825 DWT; includes 11
  cargo, 1 oil tanker
Airports:
 total:
  302
 usable:
  173
 with permanent-surface runways:
  32
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  17
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  57
Telecommunications:
  limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and troposcatter routes; high
  frequency radio used extensively for military links; 40,300 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 17 AM, 13 FM, 6 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
  stations

*Angola, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force/Air Defense, People's Defense Organization and
  Territorial Troops, Frontier Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,204,155; fit for military service 1,109,292; reach
  military age (18) annually 94,919 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Anguilla, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*Anguilla, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 270 km east of Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  91 km2
 land area:
  91 km2
 comparative area:
  about half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  61 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
  flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Natural resources:
  negligible; salt, fish, lobster
Land use:
 arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt
  ponds)
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  frequent hurricanes, other tropical storms (July to October)

*Anguilla, People

Population:
  7,006 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.64% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  24.26 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.28 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -9.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  17.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  73.89 years
 male:
  71.1 years
 female:
  76.7 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.09 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Anguillan(s)
 adjective:
  Anguillan
Ethnic divisions:
  black African
Religions:
  Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman
  Catholic 3%, other 12%
Languages:
  English (official)
Literacy:
  age 12 and over can read and write (1984)
 total population:
  95%
 male:
  95%
 female:   95%
Labor force:
  2,780 (1984)
 by occupation:
  NA

*Anguilla, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Anguilla
Digraph:
  AV
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  The Valley
Administrative divisions:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  1 April 1982
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:
  Anguilla Day, 30 May
Political parties and leaders:
  Anguilla National Alliance (ANA), Emile GUMBS; Anguilla United Party (AUP),
  Hubert HUGHES; Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP), Victor BANKS
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Assembly:
  last held 27 February 1989 (next to be held February 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 7 elected) ANA 3, AUP 2, ADP
  1, independent 1
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, chief minister, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
  High Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Alan W.
  SHARE (since August 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Chief Minister Emile GUMBS (since NA March 1984, served previously from
  February 1977 to May 1980)
Member of:
  CARICOM (observer), CDB
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
  two horizontal bands of white (top, almost triple width) and light blue with
  three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design centered in the
  white band; a new flag may have been in use since 30 May 1990

*Anguilla, Economy

Overview:
  Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on
  lobster fishing, offshore banking, tourism, and remittances from emigrants.
  In recent years the economy has benefited from a boom in tourism.
  Development plans center around the improvement of the infrastructure,
  particularly transport and tourist facilities, and also light industry.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $47.4 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6.5% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $6,800 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.6% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  5% (1988 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $13.8 million; expenditures $15.2 million, including capital
  expenditures of $2.4 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $1.4 million (f.o.b., 1987)
 commodities:
  lobster and salt
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $10.3 million (f.o.b., 1987)
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  2,000 kW capacity; 6 million kWh produced, 862 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, boat building, salt
Agriculture:
  pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry,
  fishing (including lobster)
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $38
  million
Currency:
  1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
  NA

*Anguilla, Communications

Highways:
  60 km surfaced
Ports:
  Road Bay, Blowing Point
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1 (1,000 m at Wallblake Airport)
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  modern internal telephone system; 890 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM,
  1 FM, no TV; radio relay microwave link to island of Saint Martin

*Anguilla, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Antarctica, Geography

Location:
  continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle
Map references:
  Antarctic Region
Area:
 total area:
  14 million km2 (est.)
 land area:
  14 million km2 (est.)
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
 note:
  second-smallest continent (after Australia)
Land boundaries:
  none, but see entry on International disputes
Coastline:
  17,968 km
Maritime claims:
  none, but see entry on International Disputes
International disputes:
  Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary below);
  sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France
  (Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and
  UK; the US and most other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of
  other nations and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia reserve
  the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between
  90 degrees west and 150 degrees west, where, because of floating ice,
  Antarctica is unapproachable from the sea
Climate:
  severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the
  ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher
  elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher
  temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below
  freezing
Terrain:
  about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average
  elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to 4,897
  meters high; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land,
  Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on
  McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline,
  and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent
Natural resources:
  none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum
  and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small,
  uncommercial quantities
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)
Irrigated land:
  0 km2

*Antarctica, Geography

Environment:
  mostly uninhabitable; katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from
  the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; a
  circumpolar ocean current flows clockwise along the coast as do cyclonic
  storms that form over the ocean; during summer more solar radiation reaches
  the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an
  equivalent period; 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 ever recorded over Antarctica; active volcanism
  on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic
  activity rare and weak
Note:
  the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent

*Antarctica, People

Population:
  no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are seasonally staffed research
  stations
 Summer (January) population:
  over 4,115 total; Argentina 207, Australia 268, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Chile
  256, China NA, Ecuador NA, Finland 11, France 78, Germany 32, Greenpeace 12,
  India 60, Italy 210, Japan 59, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 264,
  Norway 23, Peru 39, Poland NA, South Africa 79, Spain 43, Sweden 10, UK 116,
  Uruguay NA, US 1,666, former USSR 565 (1989-90)
 Winter (July) population:
  over 1,046 total; Argentina 150, Australia 71, Brazil 12, Chile 73, China
  NA, France 33, Germany 19, Greenpeace 5, India 1, Japan 38, South Korea 14,
  NZ 11, Poland NA, South Africa 12, UK 69, Uruguay NA, US 225, former USSR
  313 (1989-90)
 Year-round stations:
  42 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 3, China 2, Finland 1,
  France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 2, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, South
  Africa 3, UK 5, Uruguay 1, US 3, former USSR 6 (1990-91)
 Summer only stations:
   over 38 total; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Chile 5, Germany 3, India 1,
  Italy 1, Japan 4, NZ 2, Norway 1, Peru 1, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 2,
  UK 1, US numerous, former USSR 5 (1989-90); note - the disintegration of the
  former USSR has placed the status and future of its Antarctic facilities in
  doubt; stations may be subject to closings at any time because of ongoing
  economic difficulties

*Antarctica, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Antarctica
Digraph:
  AY
Type:
 Antarctic Treaty Summary:
  The Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23
  June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica.
  Administration is carried out through consultative member meetings--the 17th
  Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was in Venice in November 1992.
  Currently, there are 41 treaty member nations: 26 consultative and 15
  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), Czechoslovakia (1962), Denmark (1965), Greece (1987), Guatemala
  (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania
  (1971), 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

*Antarctica, Government

 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
 Article 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;
  four parties have ratified Protocol as of June 1993
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, Washington, DC 20550.

*Antarctica, Economy

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

*Antarctica, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only at most coastal stations
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 28 of
  these locations; runways at 10 locations are gravel, sea ice, glacier ice,
  or compacted snow surface suitable for wheeled fixed-wing aircraft; no paved
  runways; 16 locations have snow-surface skiways limited to use by
  ski-equipped planes--11 runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 3 runways/skiways
  less than 1,000 m, 5 runways/skiways greater than 3,000 m, and 7 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
  governments required for landing

*Antarctica, Defense Forces

Note:
  the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as
  the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of
  military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use
  of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other
  peaceful purposes

*Antigua and Barbuda, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 420 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  440 km2
 land area:
  440 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Redonda
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  153 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher volcanic areas
Natural resources:
  negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use:
 arable land:
  18%  permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  7%
 forest and woodland:
  16%
 other:
  59%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); insufficient
  freshwater resources; deeply indented coastline provides many natural
  harbors

*Antigua and Barbuda, People

Population:
  64,406 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.51% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  17.51 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.5 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -6.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  19.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.83 years
 male:
  70.81 years
 female:
  74.95 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.67 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
 adjective:
  Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic divisions:
  black African, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
Religions:
  Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman Catholic
Languages:
  English (official), local dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having completed 5 or more years of schooling (1960)
 total population:
  89%
 male:   90%
 female:
  88%
Labor force:
  30,000
 by occupation:
  commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983)

*Antigua and Barbuda, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Antigua and Barbuda
Digraph:
  AC
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Saint John's
Administrative divisions:
  6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint,   John, Saint Mary, Saint
Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
Independence:
  1 November 1981 (from UK)
Constitution:
  1 November 1981
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
Political parties and leaders:
  Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Vere Cornwall BIRD, Sr., Lester 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 Noel THOMAS
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held 9 March 1989 (next to be held NA 1994); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (17 total) ALP 15, UPP 1, independent 1
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
  or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
  Sir Wilfred Ebenezer JACOBS (since 1 November 1981, previously Governor
  since 1976)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Vere Cornwall BIRD, Sr. (since NA 1976); Deputy Prime
  Minister Lester BIRD (since NA)
Member of:
  ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Patrick Albert LEWIS

*Antigua and Barbuda, Government

 chancery:
  Suite 2H, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 362-5211 or 5166, 5122, 5225
 consulate:
  Miami
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, and, in
  his absence, the Embassy is headed by Charge d'Affaires Bryant J. SALTER
 embassy:
  Queen Elizabeth Highway, Saint John's
 mailing address:
  FPO AA 34054-0001
 telephone:
  (809) 462-3505 or 3506
 FAX:
  (809) 462-3516
Flag:
  red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag;
  the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and
  white with a yellow rising sun in the black band

*Antigua and Barbuda, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism the most important
  determinant of economic performance. During the period 1987-90, real GDP
  expanded at an annual average rate of about 6%. Tourism makes a direct
  contribution to GDP of about 13% and also affects growth in other sectors -
  particularly in construction, communications, and public utilities. Although
  Antigua and Barbuda is one of the few areas in the Caribbean experiencing a
  labor shortage in some sectors of the economy, it has been hurt in 1991-92
  by a downturn in tourism caused by the Persian Gulf war and the US
  recession.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $424 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1.4% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $6,600 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.5% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  5% (1988 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $105 million; expenditures $161 million, including capital
  expenditures of $56 million (1992)
Exports:
  $32 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 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:
  $317.5 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures,
  chemicals, oil
 partners:
  US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%
External debt:
  $250 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3% (1989 est.); accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
  52,100 kW capacity; 95 million kWh produced, 1,482 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household
  appliances)
Agriculture:
  accounts for 4% of GDP; expanding output of cotton, fruits, vegetables, and
  livestock; other crops - bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane;
  not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
  US commitments, $10 million (1985-88); Western (non-US) countries, ODA and
  OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $50 million
Currency:
  1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Antigua and Barbuda, Communications

Railroads:   64 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge and 13 km 0.610-meter gauge used almost
  exclusively for handling sugarcane
Highways:
  240 km
Ports:
  Saint John's
Merchant marine:
  149 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 529,202 GRT/778,506 DWT; includes 96
  cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 21 container, 5 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1
  multifunction large-load carrier, 2 oil tanker, 19 chemical tanker, 2 bulk;
  note - a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  good automatic telephone system; 6,700 telephones; tropospheric scatter
  links with Saba and Guadeloupe; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV, 2
  shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*Antigua and Barbuda, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police
  Force (including the Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
  NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1% of GDP (FY90/91)

*Arctic Ocean, Geography

Location:
  body of water mostly north of the Arctic Circle
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Asia, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  14.056 million km2
 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, and
  other tributary water bodies
Coastline:
  45,389 km
International disputes:
  some maritime disputes (see littoral states); Svalbard is the focus of a
  maritime boundary dispute between Norway and Russia
Climate:
  polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual
  temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and
  stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by
  continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or
  snow
Terrain:
  central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that averages
  about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges may be three times
  that size; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly
  straight line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark
  Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the ice pack is surrounded by open
  seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and
  extends to the encircling land masses; the ocean floor is about 50%
  continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a
  central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera,
  Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonsov Ridge); maximum depth is 4,665 meters in the
  Fram Basin
Natural resources:
  sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and
  gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)
Environment:
  endangered marine species include walruses and whales; ice islands
  occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from
  glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; maximum snow
  cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean and
  lasts about 10 months; permafrost in islands; virtually icelocked from
  October to June; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from
  disruptions or damage
Note:
  major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific
  Ocean via the Bering Strait); ships subject to superstructure icing from
  October to May; 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

*Arctic Ocean, Government

Digraph:
  XQ

*Arctic Ocean, Economy

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

*Arctic Ocean, Communications

Ports:
  Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)
Telecommunications:
  no submarine cables
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, Geography

Location:
  Eastern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Chile and
  Uruguay
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  2,766,890 km2
 land area:
  2,736,690 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Land boundaries:
  total 9,665 km, Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay
  1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km
Coastline:
  4,989 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  not specified
 territorial sea:
  200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm
International disputes:
  short section of the boundary with Uruguay is in dispute; short section of
  the boundary with Chile is indefinite; claims British-administered Falkland
  Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims British-administered South Georgia and the
  South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica
Climate:
  mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Terrain:
  rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of
  Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border
Natural resources:
  fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese,
  petroleum, uranium
Land use:
 arable land:
  9%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:
  52%
 forest and woodland:
  22%
 other:
  13%
Irrigated land:
  17,600 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  Tucuman and Mendoza areas in Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are
  violent windstorms that can strike Pampas and northeast; irrigated soil
  degradation; desertification; air and water pollution in Buenos Aires

*Argentina, Geography

Note:
  second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location
  relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans
  (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)

*Argentina, People

Population:
  33,533,256 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.13% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  19.75 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.64 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  30 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  71.19 years
 male:
  67.91 years
 female:
  74.65 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.72 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Argentine(s)
 adjective:
  Argentine
Ethnic divisions:
  white 85%, mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite groups 15%
Religions:
  nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%,
  Jewish 2%, other 6%
Languages:
  Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  95%
 male:
  96%
 female:
  95%
Labor force:
  10.9 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)

*Argentina, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Argentine Republic
 conventional short form:
  Argentina
 local long form:
  Republica Argentina
 local short form:
  Argentina
Digraph:
  AR
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Buenos Aires
Administrative divisions:
  23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 federal district*,   (distrito federal);
Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba,
  Corrientes, Distrito Federal*, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La,   Rioja, Mendoza,
Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis,
  Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego (Territorio
  Nacional de la Tierra del Fuego, Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur),
  Tucuman
 note:
  the national territory is in the process of becoming a province; the US does
  not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:   9 July 1816 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  1 May 1853
Legal system:
  mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory
  ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Political parties and leaders:
  Justicialist Party (JP), Carlos Saul MENEM, Peronist umbrella political
  organization; Radical Civic Union (UCR), Mario LOSADA, moderately
  left-of-center party; Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), Jorge AGUADO,
  conservative party; Intransigent Party (PI), Dr. Oscar ALENDE, leftist
  party; Dignity and Independence Political Party (MODIN), Aldo RICO,
  right-wing party; 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held in three phases during late 1991 for half of 254 seats; seats (254
  total) - JP 122, UCR 85, UCD 10, other 37 (1993)
 President:
  last held 14 May 1989 (next to be held NA May 1995); results - Carlos Saul
  MENEM was elected

*Argentina, Government

 Senate:
  last held May 1989, but provincial elections in late 1991 set the stage for
  indirect elections by provincial senators for one-third of 46 seats in the
  national senate in May 1992; seats (46 total) - JP 27, UCR 14, others 5
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consists of an upper chamber
  or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de
  Diputados)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989); Vice President (position
  vacant)
Member of:
  AG (observer), Australian Group, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-6, G-11, G-15, G-19,
  G-24, AfDB, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
  LORCS, MERCOSUR, MINURSO, OAS, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Carlos ORTIZ DE ROZAS
 chancery:
  1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 939-6400 through 6403
 consulates general:
  Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto
  Rico)
 consulates:
  Baltimore, Chicago, and Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador James CHEEK (since 28 May 1993)
 embassy:
  4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34034
 telephone:
  [54] (1) 774-7611 or 8811, 9911
 FAX:
  [54] (1) 775-4205
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue;
  centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known
  as the Sun of May

*Argentina, Economy

Overview:
  Argentina is rich in natural resources and has 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. Much remains
  to be done in the 1990s in dismantling the old statist barriers to growth
  and in solidifying the recent economic gains.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $112 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  7% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $3,400 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  17.7% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  6.9% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $33.1 billion; expenditures $35.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $3.5 billion (1992)
Exports:
  $12.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, hides, wool
 partners:
  US 12%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands
Imports:
  $14.0 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants,
  agricultural products
 partners:
  US 22%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands
External debt:
  $54 billion (June 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 10% (1992 est.); accounts for 26% of GDP
Electricity:
  17,911,000 kW capacity; 51,305 million kWh produced, 1,559 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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

*Argentina, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.0 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $718 million
Currency:
  1 peso = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  pesos per US$1 - 0.99000 (January1993), 0.99064 (1992), 0.95355 (1991),
  0.48759 (1990), 0.04233 (1989), 0.00088 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Argentina, Communications

Railroads:
  34,172 km total (includes 209 km electrified); includes a mixture of
  1.435-meter standard gauge, 1.676-meter broad gauge, 1.000-meter narrow
  gauge, and 0.750-meter narrow gauge
Highways:
  208,350 km total; 47,550 km paved, 39,500 km gravel, 101,000 km improved
  earth, 20,300 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  11,000 km navigable
Pipelines:
  crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 km
Ports:
  Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, La Plata, Rosario, Santa Fe
Merchant marine:
  60 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,695,420 GRT/1,073,904 DWT; includes
  30 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 4 container, 1 railcar carrier, 14 oil
  tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 4 bulk, 1 roll-on/roll-off
Airports:
 total:
  1,700
 usable:
  1,451
 with permanet-surface runways:
  137
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  31
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  326
Telecommunications:
  extensive modern system; 2,650,000 telephones (12,000 public telephones);
  microwave widely used; broadcast stations - 171 AM, no FM, 231 TV, 13
  shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; domestic satellite
  network has 40 earth stations

*Argentina, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air Force,
  National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only),
  National Aeronautical Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 8,267,316; fit for military service 6,702,303; reach
  military age (20) annually 284,641 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Armenia, Geography

Location:
  Southeastern Europe, between Turkey and Azerbaijan
Map references:
  Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Middle
  East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  29,800 km2
 land area:
  28,400 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  total 1,254 km, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan (south) 221 km, Georgia
  164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  violent and longstanding dispute with Azerbaijan over ethnically Armenian
  exclave of Nagorno-Karabakh; some irredentism by Armenians living in
  southern Georgia; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey
  have greatly subsided
Climate:
  continental, hot, and subject to drought
Terrain:
  high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing
  rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Natural resources:
  small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
Land use:
 arable land:
  29%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  15%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  56%
Irrigated land:
  3,050 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  pollution of Razdan and Aras Rivers; air pollution in Yerevan; energy
  blockade has led to deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood, use of
  Lake Sevan water for hydropower has lowered lake level, threatened fish
  population
Note:
  landlocked

*Armenia, People

Population:
  3,481,207 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.23% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  25.79 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.77 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -6.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  28.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  71.77 years
 male:
  68.36 years
 female:
  75.36 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.31 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Armenian(s)
 adjective:
  Armenian
Ethnic divisions:
  Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Religions:
  Armenian Orthodox 94%
Languages:
  Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  1.63 million
 by occupation:
  industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40%
  (1990)

*Armenia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Armenia
 conventional short form:
  Armenia
 local long form:
  Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
 local short form:   Hayastan
 former:
  Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
Digraph:
  AM
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Yerevan
Administrative divisions:
  none (all rayons are under direct republic jurisdiction)
Independence:
  23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted NA April 1978; post-Soviet constitution not yet adopted
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  NA
Political parties and leaders:
  Armenian National Movement, Husik LAZARYAN, chairman; National Democratic
  Union; National Self-Determination Association; Armenian Democratic Liberal
  Organization, Ramkavar AZATAKAN, chairman; Dashnatktsutyan Party (Armenian
  Revolutionary Federation, ARF), Rouben MIRZAKHANIN; Chairman of
  Parliamentary opposition - Mekhak GABRIYELYAN; Christian Democratic Union;
  Constitutional Rights Union; Republican Party
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Levon Akopovich
  TER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalists about 7%; note - Levon TER-PETROSYAN
  was elected Chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990
 Supreme Soviet:
  last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (240 total) non-aligned 149, Armenian National Movement
  52, Armenian Democratic Liberal Organization 14, Dashnatktsutyan 12,
  National Democratic Union 9, Christian Democratic Union 1, Constitutional
  Rights Union 1, National Self-Determination Association 1, Republican Party
  1
Executive branch:
  president, council of ministers, prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Supreme Soviet
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since 16 October 1991), Vice
  President Gagik ARUTYUNYAN (since 16 October 1991)

*Armenia, Government

 Head of Government:   Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since NA February 1993); Supreme Soviet
  Chairman Babken ARARKTSYAN (since NA 1990)
Member of:
  BSEC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, IBRD, ICAO, IMF, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Rouben SHUGARIAN
 chancery:
  122 C Street NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20001
 telephone:
  (202) 628-5766
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Designate Harry GILMORE
 embassy:
  18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  (7) (885) 215-1122, 215-1144
 FAX:
  (7) (885) 215-1122
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold

*Armenia, Economy

Overview:
  Armenia under the old centrally planned Soviet system had built up textile,
  machine-building, and other industries and had become a key supplier to
  sister republics. In turn, Armenia had depended on supplies of raw materials
  and energy from the other republics. Most of these supplies enter the
  republic by rail through Azerbaijan (85%) and Georgia (15%). The economy has
  been severely hurt by ethnic strife with Azerbaijan over control of the
  Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, a mostly Armenian-populated enclave
  within the national boundaries of Azerbaijan. In addition to outright
  warfare, the strife has included interdiction of Armenian imports on the
  Azerbaijani railroads and expensive airlifts of supplies to beleaguered
  Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. An earthquake in December 1988 destroyed
  about one-tenth of industrial capacity and housing, the repair of which has
  not been possible because the supply of funds and real resources has been
  disrupted by the reorganization and subsequent dismantling of the central
  USSR administrative apparatus. Among facilities made unserviceable by the
  earthquake are the Yerevan nuclear power plant, which had supplied 40% of
  Armenia's needs for electric power and a plant that produced one-quarter of
  the output of elevators in the former USSR. Armenia has some deposits of
  nonferrous metal ores (bauxite, copper, zinc, and molybdenum) that are
  largely unexploited. For the mid-term, Armenia's economic prospects seem
  particularly bleak because of ethnic strife and the unusually high
  dependence on outside areas, themselves in a chaotic state of
  transformation. The dramatic drop in output in 1992 is attributable largely
  to the cumulative impact of the blockade; of particular importance was the
  shutting off in the summer of 1992 of rail and road links to Russia through
  Georgia due to civil strife in the latter republic.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -34% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  20% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  2% of officially registered unemployed but large numbers of underemployed
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $30 million to outside the successor states of the former USSR (f.o.b.,
  1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, light industrial products, processed food
  items (1991)
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $300 million from outside the successor statees of the former USSR (c.i.f.,
  1992)
 commodities:
  machinery, energy, consumer goods (1991)
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $650 million (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -50% (1992 est.)

*Armenia, Economy

Electricity:
  2,875,000 kW capacity; 9,000 million kWh produced, 2,585 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  diverse, including (in 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)
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 20% of GDP; only 29% of land area is arable; employs 18%
  of labor force; citrus, cotton, and dairy farming; vineyards near Yerevan
  are famous for brandy and other liqueurs
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used as a
  transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
  wheat from US, Turkey
Currency:   retaining Russian ruble as currency (January 1993)
Exchange rates:
  rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Armenia, Communications

Railroads:
  840 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  11,300 km total; 10,500 km hard surfaced, 800 km earth (1990)
Inland waterways:
  NA km
Pipelines:
  natural gas 900 km (1991)
Ports:
  none; landlocked
Airports:
 total:
  12
 useable:
  10
 with permanent-surface runways:
  6
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  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; Armenia has about 260,000 telephones, of which about
  110,000 are in Yerevan; average telephone density is 8 per 100 persons;
  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; broadcast
  stations - 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs;
  satellite earth station - INTELSAT

*Armenia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air Force, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border
  troops)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 848,223; fit for military service 681,058; reach military
  age (18) annually 28,101 (1993 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, Header

Affiliation:
  (part of the Dutch realm)

*Aruba, Geography

Location:
  in the southern Caribbean Sea, 28 km north of Venezuela and 125 km east of
  Colombia
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  193 km2
 land area:
  193 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  68.5 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  12 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Natural resources:
  negligible; white sandy beaches
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

*Aruba, People

Population:
  65,117 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.66% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.33 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.05 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.3 years
 male:
  72.65 years
 female:
  80.13 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Aruban(s)
 adjective:
  Aruban
Ethnic divisions:
  mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Languages:
  Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English
  dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  most employment is in the tourist industry (1986)

*Aruba, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Aruba
Digraph:
  AA
Type:
  part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986
  upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles
Capital:
  Oranjestad
Administrative divisions:
  none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
Independence:
  none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested and received from
  the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give
  independence to the island in 1996)
Constitution:
  1 January 1986
Legal system:
  based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
National holiday:
  Flag Day, 18 March
Political parties and leaders:
  Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP),
  Henny 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislature:
  last held 8 January 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1997); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) MEP 9, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPA 1,
  OLA 1, other 1
Executive branch:
  Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral legislature (Staten)
Judicial branch:
  Joint High Court of Justice
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by
  Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since NA)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since NA February 1989)
Member of:
  ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
Flag:
  blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion and
  a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner

*Aruba, Economy

Overview:
  Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, although offshore banking and oil
  refining and storage are also important. Hotel capacity expanded rapidly
  between 1985 and 1989 and nearly doubled in 1990 alone. Unemployment has
  steadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3% in 1991. The reopening
  of the local oil refinery, once a major source of employment and foreign
  exchange earnings, promises to give the economy an additional boost.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $900 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $14,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  3% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $145 million; expenditures $185 million, including capital
  expenditures of $42 million (1988)
Exports:
  $902.4 million, including oil re-exports (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  mostly petroleum products
 partners:
  US 64%, EC
Imports:
  $1,311.3 million, including oil for processing and re-export (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products
 partners:
  US 8%, EC
External debt:
  $81 million (1987)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  310,000 kW capacity; 945 million kWh produced, 14,610 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Agriculture:
  poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to the
  cultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishing
Illicit drugs:
  drug money laundering center
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $220
  million
Currency:
  1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Aruba, Communications

Highways:
  NA km all-weather highways
Ports:
  Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
 note:
  government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts transatlantic flights
Telecommunications:
  generally adequate; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links;
  72,168 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 submarine cable
  to Sint Maarten

*Aruba, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands

*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of Australia)

*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the Indian Ocean, 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia, between
  Australia and Indonesia
Map references:
  Oceania, Southeast Asia
Area:
 total area:
  5 km2
 land area:
  5 km2
 comparative area:
  about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  74.1 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  12 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m (depth) or to depth of exploration
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:
  low with sand and coral
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100% (all grass and sand)
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  surrounded by shoals and reefs; Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve
  established in August 1983

*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, People

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

*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
 conventional short form:
  Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Digraph:
  AT
Type:
  territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for Arts,
  Sports, the Environment, Tourism, and Territories
Capital:
  none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Administrative divisions:
  none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
  none (territory of Australia)
Legal system:
  relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (territory of Australia)

*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only

*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Defense Forces

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

*Atlantic Ocean, Geography

Location:
  body of water between the Western Hemisphere and Europe/Africa
Map references:   Africa, Antarctic Region, Arctic Region, Central America and the Caribbean,
  Europe, North America, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  82.217 million km2
 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,
  Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Coastline:
  111,866 km
International disputes:
  some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Climate:
  tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape
  Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from
  May to December, but are most frequent from August to November
Terrain:
  surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and
  Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm water gyre (broad, circular
  system of currents) in the north Atlantic, counterclockwise warm water gyre
  in the south 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:
  endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles,
  and whales; 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; icebergs
  common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic 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
Note:
  ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north Atlantic from October
  to May and extreme south Atlantic from May to October; persistent fog can be
  a hazard to shipping from May to September; major choke points include the
  Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals;
  strategic straits include the Dover Strait, Straits of Florida, Mona
  Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; north Atlantic shipping
  lanes subject to icebergs from February to August; the Equator divides the
  Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean

*Atlantic Ocean, Government

Digraph:   ZH

*Atlantic Ocean, Economy

Overview:
  Economic activity is limited to exploitation of natural resources,
  especially fish, dredging aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and crude oil and
  natural gas production (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).

*Atlantic Ocean, Communications

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 (formerly Leningrad; Russia), Stockholm
  (Sweden)
Telecommunications:
  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
Note:
  Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways

*Australia, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, between Indonesia and New Zealand
Map references:
  Southeast Asia, Oceania, Antarctic Region, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  7,686,850 km2
 land area:
  7,617,930 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than the US
 note:
  includes Macquarie Island
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  25,760 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  12 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory)
Climate:
  generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
Terrain:
  mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
Natural resources:
  bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten,
  mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum
Land use:
 arable land:
  6%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  58%
 forest and woodland:
  14%
 other:
  22%
Irrigated land:
  18,800 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to severe droughts and floods; cyclones along coast; limited
  freshwater availability; irrigated soil degradation; regular, tropical,
  invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along west coast in
  summer; desertification
Note:
  world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country

*Australia, People

Population:
  17,827,204 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.41% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  14.43 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  7.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.36 years
 male:   74.24 years
 female:
  80.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Australian(s)
 adjective:
  Australian
Ethnic divisions:
  Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, Aboriginal and other 1%
Religions:
  Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%
Languages:
  English, native languages
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  8.63 million (September 1991)
 by occupation:
  finance and services 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%, wholesale
  and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1%
  (1987)

*Australia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Commonwealth of Australia
 conventional short form:
  Australia
Digraph:
  AS
Type:
  federal parliamentary state
Capital:
  Canberra
Administrative divisions:
  6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales,,   Northern
Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria,,   Western Australia
Dependent areas:
  Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands,
  Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
Independence:
  1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
Constitution:   9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system:
  based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
  reservations
National holiday:
  Australia Day, 26 January
Political parties and leaders:
 government:
  Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATING
 opposition:
  Liberal Party, John HEWSON; National Party, Timothy FISCHER; Australian
  Democratic Party, John COULTER
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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1996); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (147 total) Labor 80, Liberal-National 65,
  independent 2
 Senate:
  last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1999); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total) Liberal-National 36, Labor 30,
  Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2, independents 1
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Federal Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a
  lower house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  High Court

*Australia, Government

Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, COCOM,
  CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, G-8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:   Ambassador Michael J. COOK
 chancery:
  1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 797-3000
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American
  Samoa), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600
 mailing address:
  APO AP 96549
 telephone:
  [61] (6) 270-5000
 FAX:
  [61] (6) 270-5970
 consulates general:
  Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
 consulate:
  Brisbane
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large
  seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a
  representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small
  five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars

*Australia, Economy

Overview:
  Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per
  capita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West European countries.
  Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural
  products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Of the top 25 exports, 21 are
  primary products, so that, as happened during 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.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $293.5 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  2.5% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $16,700 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.8% (September 1992)
Unemployment rate:
  11.3% (December 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $68.5 billion; expenditures $78.0 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY93)
Exports:   $41.7 billion (f.o.b., FY91)
 commodities:
  coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
 partners:
  Japan 26%, US 11%, NZ 6%, South Korea 4%, Singapore 4%, UK, Taiwan, Hong
  Kong
Imports:
  $37.8 billion (f.o.b., FY91)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, crude oil
  and petroleum products
 partners:
  US 24%, Japan 19%, UK 6%, FRG 7%, NZ 4% (1990)
External debt:
  $130.4 billion (June 1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for 32% of GDP
Electricity:
  40,000,000 kW capacity; 150,000 million kWh produced, 8,475 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals,
  steel
Agriculture:
  accounts for 5% of GDP and 37% of export revenues; world's largest exporter
  of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton, and among top wheat exporters;
  major crops - wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruit; livestock - cattle, sheep,
  poultry
Illicit drugs:
  Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products;
  government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation
  and output of poppy straw concentrate
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4 billion
Currency:
  1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

*Australia, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992),
  1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Australia, Communications

Railroads:
  40,478 km total; 7,970 km 1.600-meter gauge, 16,201 km 1.435-meter standard
  gauge, 16,307 km 1.067-meter gauge; 183 km dual gauge; 1,130 km electrified;
  government owned (except for a few hundred kilometers of privately owned
  track) (1985)
Highways:
  837,872 km total; 243,750 km paved, 228,396 km gravel, crushed stone, or
  stabilized soil surface, 365,726 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
Pipelines:
  crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 km
Ports:
  Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart,
  Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine:
  82 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,347,271 GRT/3,534,926 DWT; includes
  2 short-sea passenger, 8 cargo, 7 container, 8 roll-on/roll-off, 1 vehicle
  carrier, 17 oil tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 30 bulk, 2
  combination bulk
Airports:
 total:
  481
 usable:
  439
 with permanent-surface runways:
  243
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  20
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  268
Telecommunications:
  good international and domestic service; 8.7 million telephones; broadcast
  stations - 258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New
  Guinea, and Indonesia; domestic satellite service; satellite stations - 4
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 6 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Australia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 4,830,068; fit for military service 4,198,622; reach
  military age (17) annually 135,591 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $7.1 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY92/93)

*Austria, Geography

Location:
  Central Europe, between Germany and Hungary
Map references:
  Africa, Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:   83,850 km2
 land area:
  82,730 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
  total 2,496 km, Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy
  430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 262 km, Switzerland
  164 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands
  and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
Terrain:
  in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and
  northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Natural resources:
  iron ore, petroleum, timber, magnesite, aluminum, lead, coal, lignite,
  copper, hydropower
Land use:
 arable land:
  17%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  24%
 forest and woodland:
  39%
 other:
  19%
Irrigated land:
  40 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor
  soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
Note:
  landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many
  easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube

*Austria, People

Population:
  7,915,145 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.55% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  11.54 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.42 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  4.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.4 years
 male:
  73.18 years
 female:
  79.8 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Austrian(s)
 adjective:
  Austrian
Ethnic divisions:
  German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%
Languages:
  German
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1974)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
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 6% of labor force (1988)

*Austria, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Austria
 conventional short form:
  Austria
 local long form:
  Republik Oesterreich
 local short form:
  Oesterreich
Digraph:
  AU
Type:   federal republic
Capital:
  Vienna
Administrative divisions:
  9 states (bundeslander, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten,
  Niederosterreich, Oberosterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg,
  Wien
Independence:
  12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)
Constitution:
  1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1945)
Legal system:
  civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts
  by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme
  courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 26 October (1955)
Political parties and leaders:
  Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman;
  Austrian People's Party (OVP), Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Party of
  Austria (FPO), Jorg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPO), Walter
  SILBERMAYER, chairman; Green Alternative List (GAL), Johannes VOGGENHUBER,
  chairman
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 (OVP) representing business, labor, and farmers; OVP-oriented League
  of Austrian Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay
  organization, Catholic Action
Suffrage:
  19 years of age, universal; compulsory for presidential elections
Elections:
 President:
  last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of second ballot -
  Thomas KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
 National Council:
  last held 7 October 1990 (next to be held October 1994); results - SPO 43%,
  OVP 32.1%, FPO 16.6%, GAL 4.5%, KPO 0.7%, other 0.32%; seats - (183 total)
  SPO 80, OVP 60, FPO 33, GAL 10
Executive branch:
  president, chancellor, vice chancellor, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) consists of an upper council
  or Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower council or National Council
  (Nationalrat)

*Austria, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for civil and criminal cases,
  Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases,
  Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases
Leaders:
 Chief of State:   President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986); Vice Chancellor Erhard
  BUSEK (since 2 July 1991)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM
  (cooperating country), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG,
  OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNDOF, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Friedrich HOESS
 chancery:
  3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
 telephone:
  (202) 895-6700
 FAX:
  (202) 895-6750
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Roy Michael HUFFINGTON
 chancery:
  Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Unit 27937, Vienna
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09222
 telephone:
  [43] (1) 31-339
 FAX:
  [43] (1) 310-0682
 consulate general:
  Salzburg
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

*Austria, Economy

Overview:
  Austria boasts a prosperous and stable socialist market economy with a
  sizable proportion of nationalized industry and extensive welfare benefits.
  Thanks to an excellent 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. Increased export sales resulting from German unification,
  continued to boost Austria's economy through 1991. However, Germany's
  economic difficulties in 1992 slowed Austria's GDP growth to 2% from the 3%
  of 1991. Austria's economy, moreover, is not expected to grow by more than
  1% in 1993, and inflation is forecast to remain about 4%. Unemployment will
  likely remain at current levels at least until 1994. Living standards in
  Austria are comparable with the large industrial countries of Western
  Europe. Problems for the l990s include an aging population, the high level
  of subsidies, and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budgetary
  capabilities. The continued opening of Eastern European markets, however,
  will increase demand for Austrian exports. Austria, a member of the European
  Free Trade Association (EFTA), in 1992 ratified the European Economic Area
  Treaty, which will extend European Community rules on the free movement of
  people, goods, capital and services to the EFTA countries, and Austrians
  plan to hold a national referendum within the next two years to vote on EC
  membership.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $141.3 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  1.8% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $18,000 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  6.4% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $47.8 billion; expenditures $53.0 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $43.5 billion (1992 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paper products,
  chemicals
 partners:
  EC 65.8% (Germany 39%), EFTA 9.1%, Eastern Europe/former USSR 9.0%, Japan
  1.7%, US 2.8% (1991)
Imports:
  $50.7 billion (1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals,
  textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals
 partners:
  EC 67.8% (Germany 43.0%), EFTA 6.9%, Eastern Europe/former USSR 6.0%, Japan
  4.8%, US 3.9% (1991)
External debt:
  $11.8 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 2.0% (1991)
Electricity:
  17,600,000 kW capacity; 49,500 million kWh produced, 6,300 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Austria, Economy

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
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4 billion
Currency:
  1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates:
  Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 11.363 (January 1993), 10.989 (1992),
  11.676 (1991), 11.370 (1990), 13.231 (1989), 12.348 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Austria, Communications

Railroads:
  5,749 km total; 5,652 km government owned and 97 km privately owned (0.760-,
  1.435- and 1.000-meter gauge); 5,394 km 1.435-meter standard gauge of which
  3,154 km is electrified and 1,520 km is double tracked; 339 km 0.760-meter
  narrow gauge of which 84 km is electrified
Highways:
  95,412 km total; 34,612 km are the primary network (including 1,012 km of
  autobahn, 10,400 km of federal, and 23,200 km of provincial roads); of this
  number, 21,812 km are paved and 12,800 km are unpaved; in addition, there
  are 60,800 km of communal roads (mostly gravel, crushed stone, earth)
Inland waterways:
  446 km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 554 km; natural gas 2,611 km; petroleum products 171 km
Ports:
  Vienna, Linz (Danube river ports)
Merchant marine:
  29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 154,159 GRT/256,765 DWT; includes 23
  cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 3 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  55
 usable:
  55
 with permanent-surface runways:
  20
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  6
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  highly developed and efficient; 4,014,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6
  AM, 21 (545 repeaters) FM, 47 (870 repeaters) TV; satellite ground stations
  for Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and EUTELSAT systems

*Austria, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (including Flying Division)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,016,464; fit for military service 1,694,140; reach
  military age (19) annually 50,259 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 0.9% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Azerbaijan, Geography

Location:
  Southeastern Europe, between Armenia and Turkmenistan, bordering the Caspian
  Sea
Map references:
  Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States,
  Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Middle East, Standard
  Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  86,600 km2
 land area:
  86,100 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maine
 note:
  includes the Nakhichevan' Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh
  Autonomous Oblast; region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijan 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 does border the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
Maritime claims:
  NA
 note:
  Azerbaijani claims in Caspian Sea unknown; 10 nm fishing zone provided for
  in 1940 treaty regarding trade and navigation between Soviet Union and Iran
International disputes:
  violent and longstanding dispute with Armenia over status of
  Nagorno-Karabakh, lesser dispute concerns Nakhichevan; some Azerbaijanis
  desire absorption of and/or unification with the ethnically Azeri portion of
  Iran; minor irredentist disputes along Georgia border
Climate:
  dry, semiarid steppe; subject to drought
Terrain:
  large, flat Kura-Aras Lowland (much of it below sea level) with Great
  Caucasus Mountains to the north, Karabakh Upland in west; Baku lies on
  Aspheson Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
Land use:
 arable land:
  18%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  25%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  57%
Irrigated land:
  14,010 km2 (1990)

*Azerbaijan, Geography

Environment:
  local scientists consider Apsheron Peninsula, including Baku and Sumgait,
  and the Caspian Sea to be "most ecologically devastated area in the world"
  because of severe air and water pollution
Note:
  landlocked

*Azerbaijan, People

Population:
  7,573,435 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.5% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  24.09 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.6 years
 male:
  66.77 years
 female:
  74.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.76 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Azerbaijani(s)
 adjective:   Azerbaijani
Ethnic divisions:
  Azeri 82.7%, Russian 5.6%, Armenian 5.6%, Daghestanis 3.2%, other 2.9%, note
  - Armenian share may be less than 5.6% because many Armenians have fled the
  ethnic violence since 1989 census
Religions:
  Moslem 87%, Russian Orthodox 5.6%, Armenian Orthodox 5.6%, other 1.8%
Languages:
  Azeri 82%, Russian 7%, Armenian 5%, other 6%
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  2.789 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42%
  (1990)

*Azerbaijan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Azerbaijan
 conventional short form:
  Azerbaijan
 local long form:
  Azarbaijchan Respublikasy
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  AJ
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Baku (Baky)
Administrative divisions:
  1 autonomous republic (avtomnaya respublika); Nakhichevan (administrative
  center at Nakhichevan)
 note:
  all rayons except for the exclave of Nakhichevan are under direct republic
  jurisdiction; 1 autonomous oblast, Nagorno-Karabakh (officially abolished by
  Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991) has declared itself
  Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Independence:
  30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution mid-1993
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  NA
Political parties and leaders:
  New Azerbaijan Party, ALIYEV; Musavat Party (Azerbaijan Popular Front -
  APF), Isa GAMBAROV; National Independence Party (main opposition party),
  Etibar MAMEDOV; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zardusht Ali ZADE; Party of
  Revolutionary Revival (successor to the Communist Party), Sayad Afes OGLV,
  general secretary; Party of Independent Azerbaijan, SOVLEYMANOV
Other political or pressure groups:
  self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 8 June 1992 (next to be held NA); results - Abdulfaz Ali ELCHIBEY,
  won 60% of vote
 National Council:
  last held 30 September and 14 October 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next
  expected to be held late 1993 for the National Council); 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 disbanded in favor of a Popular Front-dominated National Council;
  seats - (50 total) 25 Popular Front, 25 opposition elements
Executive branch:
  president, council of ministers
Legislative branch:
  National Parliament (National Assembly or Milli Mejlis)

*Azerbaijan, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Ebulfez ELCHIBEY (since 7 June 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Penah HUSEYNOV (since 29 April 1993; resigned 7 June 1993;
  likely replacement - E'tibar MAMEDOV); National Parliament Chairman Isa
  GAMBAROV (since 19 May 1992; resigned 13 June 1993; likely replacement
  Geydar ALIYEV)
Member of:
  BSEC, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, IDB, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, ITU, NACC, OIC,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Hafiz PASHAYEV
 chancery:
  1615 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  NA
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:   Ambassador Richard MILES
 embassy:
  Hotel Intourist, Baku
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09862
 telephone:
  7-8922-91-79-56
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and
  eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band

*Azerbaijan, Economy

Overview:
  Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia,
  the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in
  its majority Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low
  standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are cotton, oil,
  and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in decline
  for several years. With foreign assistance, the oil industry might generate
  the funds needed to spur industrial development. However, civil unrest,
  marked by armed conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Muslim
  Azeris and Christian Armenians, makes foreign investors wary. 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 propects somewhat. Old
  economic ties and structures have yet to be replaced. A particularly galling
  constraint on economic revival is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said to
  consume 25% of Azerbaijan's economic resources.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -25% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  20% per month (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  0.2% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of
  underemployed workers
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $821 million to outside the successor states of the former USSR (f.o.b.,
  1992 est.)
 commodities:
  oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton (1991)
 partners:
  mostly CIS and European countries
Imports:
  $300 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (c.i.f.,
  1992 est.)
 commodities:   machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles (1991)
 partners:
  European countries
External debt:
  $1.3 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -27% (1992)
Electricity:
  6,025,000 kW capacity; 22,300 million kWh produced, 2,990 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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

*Azerbaijan, Economy

Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited
  government eradication program; used as transshipment points for illicit
  drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
  wheat from Turkey
Currency:
  1 manat (abbreviation NA) = 10 Russian rubles; ruble still used
Exchange rates:
  NA
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Azerbaijan, Communications

Railroads:
  2,090 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  36,700 km total (1990); 31,800 km hard surfaced; 4,900 km earth
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,130 km, petroleum products 630 km, natural gas 1,240 km
Ports:
  inland - Baku (Baky)
Airports:
 total:
  65
 useable:
  33
 with permanent-surface runways:
  26
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:   8
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  23
Telecommunications:
  domestic telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate; 644,000
  domestic telephone lines (density - 9 lines per 100 persons (1991)), 202,000
  persons waiting for telephone installations (January 1991); connections to
  other former USSR republics by cable and microwave and to other countries
  via the Moscow international gateway switch; INTELSAT earth station
  installed in late 1992 in Baku with Turkish financial assistance with access
  to 200 countries through Turkey; 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

*Azerbaijan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air Force, Navy, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border
  troops)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,842,917; fit for military service 1,497,640; reach
  military age (18) annually 66,928 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  2,848 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

*The Bahamas, Geography

Location:
  in the western North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida and northwest of
  Cuba
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  13,940 km2
 land area:
  10,070 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  3,542 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:   3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain:
  long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Natural resources:
  salt, aragonite, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  32%
 other:
  67%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood
  damage
Note:
  strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain

*The Bahamas, People

Population:
  268,726 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.62% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  18.97 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  2.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  31.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.02 years
 male:
  68.19 years
 female:
  75.96 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.9 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Bahamian(s)  adjective:
  Bahamian
Ethnic divisions:
  black 85%, white 15%
Religions:
  Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God
  6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
Languages:
  English, Creole, among Haitian immigrants
Literacy:
  age 15 and over but definition of literacy not available (1963)
 total population:
  90%
 male:
  90%
 female:
  89%
Labor force:
  127,400
 by occupation:
  government 30%, hotels and restaurants 25%, business services 10%,
  agriculture 5% (1989)

*The Bahamas, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
 conventional short form:
  The Bahamas
Digraph:
  BF
Type:
  commonwealth
Capital:
  Nassau
Administrative divisions:
  21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma,
  Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island,
  High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New
  Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy
  Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Independence:
  10 July 1973 (from UK)
Constitution:
  10 July 1973
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:
  National Day, 10 July (1973)
Political parties and leaders:
  Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free National
  Movement (FNM), Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM; Vanguard Nationalist and
  Socialist Party (VNPS), Lionel CAREY, chairman; People's Democratic Force
  (PDF), Fred MITCHELL
Other political or pressure groups:
  Vanguard Nationalist and Socialist Party (VNSP), a small leftist party
  headed by Lionel CAREY; Trade Union Congress (TUC), headed by Arlington
  MILLER
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an appointed upper house or Senate and a
  directly elected lower house or House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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 INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992)
Member of:
  ACP, C, CCC, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

*The Bahamas, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSON
 chancery:
  2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 319-2660
 consulates general:
  Miami and New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Chic HECHT
 embassy:
  Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau
 telephone:
  (809) 322-1181 or 328-2206
 FAX:
  (809) 328-7838
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine with
  a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side

*The Bahamas, Economy

Overview:
  The Bahamas is a stable, middle-income, developing nation whose economy is
  based primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone provides
  about 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000 people or
  40% of the local work force. The economy has slackened in recent years, as
  the annual increase in the number of tourists slowed. Nonetheless, per
  capita GDP is one of the highest in the region.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.6 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $10,200 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  16% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $627.5 million; expenditures $727.5 million, including capital
  expenditures of $100 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $306 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish
 partners:
  US 41%, Norway 30%, Denmark 4%
Imports:
  $1.14 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, manufactured goods, mineral fuels, crude oil
 partners:
  US 35%, Nigeria 21%, Japan 13%, Angola 11%
External debt:
  $1.2 billion (December 1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3% (1990); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity:
  424,000 kW capacity; 929 million kWh produced, 3,599 kWh per capita (1992)
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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $1.0 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $345 million
Currency:   1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1-1.00 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*The Bahamas, Communications

Highways:
  2,400 km total; 1,350 km paved, 1,050 km gravel
Ports:
  Freeport, Nassau
Merchant marine:
  853 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,136,078 GRT/33,119,750 DWT;
  includes 53 passenger, 18 short-sea passenger, 159 cargo, 40
  roll-on/roll-off cargo, 48 container, 6 vehicle carrier, 181 oil tanker, 14
  liquefied gas, 22 combination ore/oil, 43 chemical tanker, 1 specialized
  tanker, 159 bulk, 7 combination bulk, 102 refrigerated cargo; note-a flag of
  convenience registry
Airports:
 total:
  60
 usable:
  55
 with permanent-surface runways:
  31
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3, 659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  26
Telecommunications:
  highly developed; 99,000 telephones in totally automatic system;
  tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links to Florida; broadcast
  stations-3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station

*The Bahamas, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 68,020; fit for military service NA (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion-$65 million, 2.7% of GDP (1990)

*Bahrain, Geography

Location:   Middle East, in the central Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and Qatar
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  620 km2
 land area:
  620 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  161 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary
  with Qatar
Climate:
  arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:
  mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Natural resources:
  oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  6%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  90%
Irrigated land:
  10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subsurface water sources being rapidly depleted (requires development of
  desalination facilities); dust storms; desertification
Note:
  close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in
  Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to
  reach open ocean

*Bahrain, People

Population:   568,471 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.01% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.89 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  3.87 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  7.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  20.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  73.12 years
 male:
  70.72 years
 female:
  75.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.99 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Bahraini(s)
 adjective:
  Bahraini
Ethnic divisions:
  Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6%
Religions:
  Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Languages:
  Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  77%
 male:
  82%
 female:
  69%
Labor force:
  140,000
 by occupation:
  industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 3% (1982)
 note:
  42% of labor force is Bahraini

*Bahrain, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  State of Bahrain
 conventional short form:
  Bahrain
 local long form:   Dawlat al Bahrayn
 local short form:
  Al Bahrayn
Digraph:
  BA
Type:
  traditional monarchy
Capital:
  Manama
Administrative divisions:
  12 districts (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al
  Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al
  Muharraq, Ar Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad,
  Madinat 'Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
Independence:
  15 August 1971 (from UK)
Constitution:
  26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
Legal system:
  based on Islamic law and English common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 16 December
Political parties and leaders:
  political parties prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic
  fundamentalist groups are active
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
  none
Executive branch:
  amir, crown prince and heir apparent, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative
  powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established
  16 December 1992
Judicial branch:
  High Civil Appeals Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Amir 'ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD
  bin 'Isa Al Khalifa (son of Amir; born 28 January 1950)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)
Member of:
  ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC,
  OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador 'Abd al-Rahman Faris Al KHALIFA
 chancery:
  3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

*Bahrain, Government

 telephone:
  (202) 342-0741 or 342-0742
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Dr. Charles W. HOSTLER
 embassy:
  Road No. 3119 (next to Alahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama
 mailing address:
  P. O. 26431, Manama, or FPO AE 09834-6210
 telephone:
  [973] 273-300
 FAX:
  (973) 272-594
Flag:
  red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side

*Bahrain, Economy

Overview:
  Petroleum production and processing account for about 80% of export
  receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 31% of GDP. Economic conditions
  have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example,
  during the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. Bahrain with its highly developed
  communication and transport facilities is home to numerous multinational
  firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of
  petroleum products made from imported crude.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.3 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $7,800 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  8%-10% (1989)
Budget:
  revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.32 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports:
  $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7%
 partners:
  Japan 13%, UAE 12%, India 10%, Pakistan 8%
Imports:
  $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
 partners:
  Saudi Arabia 41%, US 14%, UK 7%, Japan 5%
External debt:
  $1.8 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3.8% (1988); accounts for 44% of GDP
Electricity:
  1,600,000 kW capacity; 4,700 million kWh produced, 8,500 kWh per capita
  (1992 est.)
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; fish catch 9,000 metric tons in 1987
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $24 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $45 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.8 billion
Currency:
  1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates:
  Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Bahrain, Communications

Highways:
  200 km bituminous surfaced, including 25 km bridge-causeway to Saudi Arabia
  opened in November 1986; NA km natural surface tracks
Pipelines:
  crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
Ports:
  Mina' Salman, Manama, Sitrah
Merchant marine:
  9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 186,331 GRT/249,490 DWT; includes 5
  cargo, 2 container, 1 liquefied gas, 1 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  modern system; good domestic services; 98,000 telephones (1 for every 6
  persons); excellent international connections; tropospheric scatter to
  Qatar, UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar,
  UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT,
  1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV

*Bahrain, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 194,770; fit for military service 107,696; reach military
  age (15) annually 5,043 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $245 million, 6% of GDP (1990)

*Baker Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Baker Island, Geography

Location:
  in the North Pacific Ocean, just north of the Equator, 2,575 km southwest of
  Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  1.4 km2
 land area:
  1.4 km2
 comparative area:
  about 2.3 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  4.8 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  12 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:   low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Natural resources:
  guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate
  vines, and low growing shrubs; lacks fresh water; primarily a nesting,
  roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

*Baker Island, People

Population:
  uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air
  and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World
  War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit
  only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and
  cemetery ruinsare located near the middle of the west coast

*Baker Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Baker Island
Digraph:
  FQ
Type:
  unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife
  Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
  Wildlife Refuge system
Capital:
  none; administered from Washington, DC

*Baker Island, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Baker Island, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle of the
  west coast
Airports:
  1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m
Note:
  there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

*Baker Island, Defense Forces

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

*Bangladesh, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, at the head of the Bay of Bengal, almost completely surrounded
  by India
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  144,000 km2
 land area:
  133,910 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
  total 4,246 km, Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline:
  580 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  18 nm
 continental shelf:
  up to outer limits of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  a portion of the boundary with India is in dispute; water-sharing problems
  with upstream riparian India over the Ganges
Climate:
  tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to
  June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain:   mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Natural resources:
  natural gas, arable land, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  67%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  16%
 other:
  11%
Irrigated land:
  27,380 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  vulnerable to droughts; much of country routinely flooded during summer
  monsoon season; overpopulation; deforestation

*Bangladesh, People

Population:
  122,254,849 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.35% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  35.41 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  109.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  54.7 years
 male:
  55 years
 female:
  54.38 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.55 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Bangladeshi(s)
 adjective:
  Bangladesh
Ethnic divisions:
  Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1 million
Religions:
  Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, other
Languages:
  Bangla (official), English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  35%
 male:
  47%
 female:
  22%
Labor force:
  35.1 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 74%, services 15%, industry and commerce 11% (FY86)
 note:
  extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)

*Bangladesh, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  People's Republic of Bangladesh
 conventional short form:
  Bangladesh
 former:
  East Pakistan
Digraph:
  BG
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Dhaka
Administrative divisions:
  64 districts (zillagulo, singular - zilla); Bagerhat, Bandarban, Barguna,
  Barisal, Bhola, Bogra, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Chapai Nawabganj, Chattagram,
  Chuadanga, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Faridpur, Feni, Gaibandha,
  Gazipur, Gopalganj, Habiganj, Jaipurhat, Jamalpur, Jessore, Jhalakati,
  Jhenaidah, Khagrachari, Khulna, Kishorganj, Kurigram, Kushtia, Laksmipur,
  Lalmonirhat, Madaripur, Magura, Manikganj, Meherpur, Moulavibazar,
  Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Naogaon, Narail, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Nator,
  Netrakona, Nilphamari, Noakhali, Pabna, Panchagar, Parbattya Chattagram,
  Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Satkhira, Shariyatpur,
  Sherpur, Sirajganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Tangail, Thakurgaon
Independence:
  16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
Constitution:
  4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24
  March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended NA March 1991
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Parliament:
  last held 27 February 1991 (next to be held NA 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
 President:
  last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996); results -
  Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad)

*Bangladesh, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Khaleda ZIAur Rahman (since 20 March 1991)
Member of:
  AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
  MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM,
  UNTAC, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WFTU, WIPO, WCL, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Abul AHSAN
 chancery:
  2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
 telephone:
  (202) 342-8372 through 8376
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador William B. MILAM
 embassy:
  Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka
 mailing address:
  G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212
 telephone:   [880] (2) 884700-22
 FAX:
  [880] (2) 883648
Flag:
  green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; green is
  the traditional color of Islam

*Bangladesh, Economy

Overview:
  Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least
  developed nations. Its economy is overwhelmingly agricultural. Major
  impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, government
  interference with the economy, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be
  absorbed by agriculture, a low level of industrialization, failure to fully
  exploit energy resources (natural gas), and inefficient and inadequate power
  supplies. An excellent rice crop and expansion of the export garment
  industry helped growth in FY91/92. Policy reforms intended to reduce
  government regulation of private industry and promote public-sector
  efficiency have been announced but are being implemented only slowly.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $23.8 billion (FY92)
National product real growth rate:
  3.8% (FY92)
National product per capita:
  $200 (FY92)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5.09% (FY92)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $2.5 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY92)
Exports:
  $2.0 billion (FY92)
 commodities:
  garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp
 partners:
  US 28%, Western Europe 39% (FY91)
Imports:
  $3.4 billion (FY91/92)
 commodities:
  capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles
 partners:
  Japan 10.0%, Western Europe 17%, US 5.0% (FY91)
External debt:
  $11.8 billion (FY92 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.0% (FY92 est.); accounts for less than 10% of GDP
Electricity:
  2,400,000 kW capacity; 9,000 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing, steel, fertilizer
Agriculture:   accounts for about 40% of GDP, 60% of employment, and one-fifth of exports;
  imports 10% of food grain requirements; world's largest exporter of jute;
  commercial products - jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, beef,
  milk, poultry; shortages include wheat, vegetable oils, cotton; fish catch
  778,000 metric tons in 1986
Illicit drugs:
  transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.4 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $11.65 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $6.52 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $1.5
  billion
Currency:
  1 taka (Tk) = 100 paise

*Bangladesh, Economy

Exchange rates:
  taka (Tk) per US$1 - 39.000 (January 1993), 38.951 (1992), 36.596 (1991),
  34.569 (1990), 32.270 (1989), 31.733 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Bangladesh, Communications

Railroads:
  2,892 km total (1986); 1,914 km 1.000 meter gauge, 978 km 1.676 meter broad
  gauge
Highways:
  7,240 km total (1985); 3,840 km paved, 3,400 km unpaved
Inland waterways:
  5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes 2,575-3,058 km main cargo
  routes)
Pipelines:
  natural gas 1,220 km
Ports:
  Chittagong, Chalna
Merchant marine:
  42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 314,228 GRT/461,607 DWT; includes 34
  cargo, 2 oil tanker, 3 refrigerated cargo, 3 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  16
 usable:
  12
 with permanent-surface runways:
  12
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:   6
Telecommunications:
  adequate international radio communications and landline service; fair
  domestic wire and microwave service; fair broadcast service; 241,250
  telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 6 FM, 11 TV; 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
  satellite earth stations

*Bangladesh, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force
 paramilitary forces:
  Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Defense Parties,
  National Cadet Corps
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 30,909,597; fit for military service 18,348,702 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $355 million, 1.5% of GDP (FY92/93)

*Barbados, Geography

Location:
  in the extreme eastern Caribbean Sea, about 375 km northeast of Venezuela
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  430 km2
 land area:
  430 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  97 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain:
  relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Natural resources:
  petroleum, fishing, natural gas
Land use:
 arable land:   77%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  9%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  14%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes (especially June to October)
Note:
  easternmost Caribbean island

*Barbados, People

Population:
  255,338 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.18% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.78 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -5.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  21.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  73.49 years
 male:
  70.75 years
 female:
  76.46 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.77 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Barbadian(s)
 adjective:
  Barbadian
Ethnic divisions:
  African 80%, mixed 16%, European 4%
Religions:
  Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%),
  Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980)
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
 total population:   99%
 male:
  99%
 female:
  99%
Labor force:
  120,900 (1991)
 by occupation:
  services and government 37%, commerce 22%, manufacturing and construction
  22%, transportation, storage, communications, and financial institutions 9%,
  agriculture 8%, utilities 2% (1985 est.)

*Barbados, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Barbados
Digraph:
  BB
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Bridgetown
Administrative divisions:
  11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint
  John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip,
  Saint Thomas
 note:
  the new city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
Independence:
  30 November 1966 (from UK)
Constitution:
  30 November 1966
Legal system:
  English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Erskine SANDIFORD; Barbados Labor Party (BLP),
  Henry FORDE; National Democratic Party (NDP), Richie 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Assembly:
  last held 22 January 1991 (next to be held by January 1996); results - DLP
  49.8%; seats - (28 total) DLP 18, BLP 10
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
  or House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Judicature
Leaders:
 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 Lloyd Erskine SANDIFORD (since 2 June 1987)
Member of:
  ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES,
  LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Dr. Rudi WEBSTER

*Barbados, Government

 chancery:
  2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 939-9200 through 9202
 consulate general:
  New York
 consulate:
  Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador G. Philip HUGHES
 embassy:
  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 302, Box B, FPO AA 34054
 telephone:
  (809) 436-4950 through 4957
 FAX:
  (809) 429-5246
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and blue with the
  head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head
  represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms
  contained a complete trident)

*Barbados, Economy

Overview:
  A per capita income of $7,000 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. The tourist industry is now a major employer
  of the labor force and a primary source of foreign exchange. The economy
  slowed in 1990-91, however, and Bridgetown's declining hard currency
  reserves and inability to finance its deficits have caused it to adopt an
  austere economic reform program.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.8 billion ( 1991)
National product real growth rate:
  -4% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $7,000 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8.1% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  23% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $547 million; expenditures $620 million (FY92-93), including
  capital expenditures of $60 million
Exports:
  $205.8 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  sugar and molasses, chemicals, electrical components, clothing, rum,
  machinery and transport equipment
 partners:
  CARICOM 31%, US 16%, UK 13%
Imports:
  $697 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, consumer durables, raw materials, machinery, crude oil,
  construction materials, chemicals
 partners:
  US 34%, CARICOM 16%, UK 11%, Canada 6%
External debt:
  $750 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -1.3% (1991); accounts for 10% of GDP
Electricity:
  152,100 kW capacity; 540 million kWh produced, 2,118 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export,
  petroleum
Agriculture:
  accounts for 8% of GDP; major cash crop is sugarcane; other crops -
  vegetables, cotton; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $171 million
Currency:
  1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0113 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Barbados, Communications

Highways:
  1,570 km total; 1,475 km paved, 95 km gravel and earth
Ports:
  Bridgetown
Merchant marine:
  3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 48,710 GRT79,263 DWT; includes 1 cargo,
  2 oil tanker
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  islandwide automatic telephone system with 89,000 telephones; tropospheric
  scatter link to Trinidad and Saint Lucia; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 2
  (1 is pay) TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Barbados, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Barbados Defense Force, including the Ground Forces and Coast Guard,
  Royal Barbados Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 70,254; fit for military service 49,096 (1993 est.); no
  conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $10 million, 0.7% of GDP (1989)

*Bassas da India, Header

Affiliation:
  (possession of France)

*Bassas da India, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, in the southern Mozambique Channel about halfway between
  Madagascar and Mozambique
Map references:
  Africa
Area:
 total area:
  NA km2
 land area:
  NA km2
 comparative area:
  NA
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  35.2 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claimed by Madagascar
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:
  a volcanic rock 2.4 meters high
Natural resources:
  none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100% (all rock)
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
Note:
  navigational hazard since it is usually under water during high tide

*Bassas da India, People

Population:
  uninhabited

*Bassas da India, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Bassas da India
Digraph:
  BS
Type:
  French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic Jacques
  DEWATRE (since July 1991), resident in Reunion
Capital:
  none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence:
  none (possession of France)

*Bassas da India, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Bassas da India, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only

*Bassas da India, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Belarus, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, between Poland and Russia
Map references:
  Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Europe, Standard
  Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  207,600 km2
 land area:
  207,600 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:   total 3,098 km, Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km, Russia 959
  km, Ukraine 891 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  mild and moist; transitional between continental and maritime
Terrain:
  generally flat and contains much marshland
Natural resources:
  forest land, peat deposits
Land use:
 arable land:
  29%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  15%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  56%
Irrigated land:
  1,490 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  southern part of Belarus highly contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear
  reactor accident at Chornobyl'
Note:
  landlocked

*Belarus, People

Population:
  10,370,269 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.34% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.28 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  19.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.73 years
 male:
  66.04 years
 female:
  75.66 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.89 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Belarusian(s)
 adjective:
  Belarusian
Ethnic divisions:
  Belarusian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%
Religions:
  Eastern Orthodox NA%, other NA%
Languages:
  Byelorussian, Russian, other
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  5.418 million
 by occupation:
  industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38%
  (1990)

*Belarus, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Belarus
 conventional short form:
  Belarus
 local long form:
  Respublika Belarus
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  BO
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Minsk
Administrative divisions:
  6 oblasts (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and one municipality* (harady,,   singular - horad);
Brestskaya, Homyel'skaya, Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya,,   Mahilyowskaya, Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya
 note:
  each voblasts' has the same name as its administrative center
Independence:
  25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted NA April 1978
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  24 August (1991)
Political parties and leaders:
  Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), Zenon PAZNYAK, chairman; United Democratic
  Party of Belarus (UDPB), Aleksandr DOBROVOLSKIY, chairman; Social Democratic
  Party of Belarus (SDBP), Mikhail TKACHEV, chairman; Belarus Workers Union,
  Mikhail SOBOL, Chairman; Belarus Peasants Party; Party of People's Unity,
  Gennadiy KARPENKO; Communist Party of Belarus
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Supreme Soviet:
  last held 4 April 1990 (next to be held NA); 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
Executive branch:
  chairman of the Supreme Soviet, chairman of the Council of Ministers; note -
  Belarus has approved a directly elected presidency but so far no elections
  have been scheduled
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Supreme Soviet
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Stanislav S. SHUSHKEVICH (since 18 September
  1991)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Vyacheslav F. KEBICH (since NA April 1990), First Deputy
  Prime Minister Mikhail MYASNIKOVICH (since NA 1991)

*Belarus, Government

Member of:
  CBSS (observer), CIS, CSCE, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ILO, IMF, INMARSAT, IOC, ITU,
  NACC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Designate Sergey Nikolayevich MARTYNOV
 chancery:
  1511 K Street NW, Suite 619, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 638-2954
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador David H. SWARTZ
 embassy:
  Starovilenskaya #46, Minsk
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09862  telephone:
  7-0172-34-65-37
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of white (top), red, and white

*Belarus, Economy

Overview:
  In many ways Belarus resembles the three Baltic states, for example, in its
  industrial competence, its higher-than-average standard of living, and its
  critical dependence on the other former Soviet states for fuels and raw
  materials. Belarus ranks fourth in gross output among the former Soviet
  republics, having produced 4% of the total GDP and employing 4% of the labor
  force in the old USSR. Once a mainly agricultural area, it now supplies
  important producer and consumer goods - sometimes as the sole producer - to
  the other states. Belarus had a significant share of the machine-building
  capacity of the former USSR. It is especially noted for production of
  tractors, large trucks, machine tools, and automation equipment. The soil in
  Belarus is not as fertile as the black earth of Ukraine, but by emphasizing
  favorable crops and livestock (especially pigs and chickens), Belarus has
  become a net exporter to the other former republics of meat, milk, eggs,
  flour, and potatoes. Belarus produces only small amounts of oil and gas and
  receives most of its fuel from Russia through the Druzhba oil pipeline and
  the Northern Lights gas pipeline. These pipelines transit Belarus en route
  to Eastern Europe. Belarus produces petrochemicals, plastics, synthetic
  fibers (nearly 30% of former Soviet output), and fertilizer (20% of former
  Soviet output). Raw material resources are limited to potash and peat
  deposits. The peat (more than one-third of the total for the former Soviet
  Union) is used in domestic heating, as boiler fuel for electric power
  stations, and in the production of chemicals. The potash supports fertilizer
  production. In 1992 GDP fell an estimated 13%, largely because the country
  is highly dependent on the ailing Russian economy for raw materials and
  parts.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -13% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  30% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  0.5% of officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed
  workers
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $1.1 billion to outside of the successor states of the former USSR (f.o.b.,
  1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
 partners:
  NA
Imports:   $751 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (c.i.f.,
  1992)
 commodities:
  machinery, chemicals, textiles
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $2.6 billion (end of 1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -9.6%; accounts for about 50% of GDP (1992)

*Belarus, Economy

Electricity:
  8,025,000 kW capacity; 37,600 million kWh produced, 3,626 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  employ about 27% of labor force and produce a wide variety of products
  essential to the other states; products include (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 20% 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 producer of opium and cannabis; mostly for the domestic market;
  transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  1 rubel (abbreviation NA) = 10 Russian rubles
 note:
  the rubel circulates with the Russian ruble; certain purchase are made only
  with rubels; government has established a different, and varying, exchange
  rate for trade between Belarus and Russia
Exchange rates:
  NA
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Belarus, Communications

Railroads:   5,570 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  98,200 km total; 66,100 km hard surfaced, 32,100 km earth (1990)
Inland waterways:
  NA km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,470 km, refined products 1,100 km, natural gas 1,980 km (1992)
Ports:
  none; landlocked
Merchant marine:
  claims 5% of former Soviet fleet
Airports:
 total:
  124
 useable:
  55
 with permanent-surface runways:
  31
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  28
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  20
Telecommunications:
  construction of NMT-450 analog cellular network proceeding in Minsk, in
  addition to installation of some 300 km of fiber optic cable in the city
  network; telephone network has 1.7 million lines, 15% of which are switched
  automatically; Minsk has 450,000 lines; telephone density is approximately
  17 per 100 persons; as of 1 December 1991, 721,000 applications from
  households for telephones were still unsatisfied; international connections
  to other former Soviet republics are by landline or microwave and to other
  countries by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway
  switch; Belarus has not constructed ground stations for international
  telecommunications via satellite to date

*Belarus, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces, Security Forces (internal and border
  troops)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,491,039; fit for military service 1,964,577; reach
  military age (18) annually 71,875 (1993 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, Geography

Location:   Western Europe, bordering on the North Sea, between France and the
  Netherlands
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  30,510 km2
 land area:
  30,230 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  total 1,385 km, France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,
  Netherlands 450 km
Coastline:
  64 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  equidistant line with neighbors
 exclusive fishing zone:
  equidistant line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Terrain:
  flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of
  Ardennes Forest in southeast
Natural resources:
  coal, natural gas
Land use:
 arable land:
  24%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  20%
 forest and woodland:
  21%
 other:
  34%
Irrigated land:
  10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  air and water pollution
Note:
  crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within
  1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of the EC

*Belgium, People

Population:   10,040,939 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.23% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  11.94 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.32 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.72 years
 male:
  73.41 years
 female:
  80.21 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.62 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Belgian(s)
 adjective:
  Belgian
Ethnic divisions:
  Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Languages:
  Flemish (Dutch) 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11% divided
  along ethnic lines
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  4.126 million
 by occupation:
  services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%, agriculture 2.3% (1988)

*Belgium, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Belgium
 conventional short form:
  Belgium
 local long form:
  Royaume de Belgique  local short form:
  Belgique
Digraph:
  BE
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Brussels
Administrative divisions:
  9 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Flemish: provincien,
  singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg,
  Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen
Independence:
  4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)
Constitution:
  7 February 1831, last revised 8-9 August 1980; the government is in the
  process of revising the Constitution with the aim of federalizing the
  Belgian state
Legal system:
  civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial
  review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
  reservations
National holiday:
  National Day, 21 July (ascension of King Leopold to the throne in 1831)
Political parties and leaders:
  Flemish Social Christian (CVP), Herman VAN ROMPUY, president; Walloon Social
  Christian (PSC) , Melchior WATHELET, president; Flemish Socialist (SP),
  Frank VANDENBROUCKE, president; Walloon Socialist (PS), Guy SPITAELS;
  Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD), Guy VERHOFSTADT, president; Walloon
  Liberal (PRL), Antoine DUQUESNE, president; Francophone Democratic Front
  (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president; Volksunie (VU), Jaak GABRIELS,
  president; Communist Party (PCB), Louis VAN GEYT, president; Vlaams Blok
  (VB), Karel VAN DILLEN, chairman; ROSSEM, Jean Pierre VAN ROSSEM; National
  Front (FN), Werner van STEEN; Live Differently (AGALEV; Flemish Green
  party), Leo COX; Ecologist (ECOLO; Francophone Green party), NA; 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age, universal and compulsory
Elections:
 Senate:
  last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (184 total; of which 106 are directly
  elected) CVP 20, SP 14, PVV (now VLD) 13, VU 5, AGALEV 5, VB 5, ROSSEN 1, PS
  18, PRL 9, PSC 9, ECOLO 6, FDF 1

*Belgium, Government

 Chamber of Representatives:
  last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results - CVP
  16.7%, PS 13.6%, SP 12.0%, PVV (now 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) CVP 39, PS 35, SP 28, PVV (now VLD) 26, PRL 20, PSC 18, FB 12,
  VU 10, ECOLO 10, AGALEV 7, FDF 3, ROSSEM 3, FN 1
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Flemish -
  Senaat, French - Senat) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Representatives
  (Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, French - Chambre des
  Representants)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de
  Cassation)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege
  (brother of the King; born 6 June 1934)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992)
Member of:
  AG (observer), ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australian Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE,
  CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG,
  OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP,
  UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
  ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Juan CASSIERS
 chancery:
  3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 333-6900
 FAX:
  (202) 333-3079
 consulates general:
  Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Bruce S. GELB
 embassy:
  27 Boulevard du Regent, Brussels
 mailing address:
  B-1000 Brussels, PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09724
 telephone:
  [32] (2) 513-3830
 FAX:
  [32] (2) 511-2725
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the
  design was based on the flag of France

*Belgium, Economy

Overview:
  This small private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central
  geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified
  industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the
  populous Flemish area in the north, although the government is encouraging
  reinvestment in the southern region of Walloon. With few natural resources
  Belgium must import essential raw materials, making its economy closely
  dependent on the state of world markets. Over 70% of trade is with other EC
  countries. The economy grew at a strong 4% pace during the period 1988-90,
  but economic growth slowed to a 1% pace in 1991-92. The economy is expected
  to turn in another sluggish 1% performance in 1993. Belgium's public debt
  remains high at 120% of GDP and the government is trying to control its
  expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized
  countries.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $177.9 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  0.8% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $17,800 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  9.8% (end 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $97.8 billion; expenditures $109.3 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports:
  $118 billion (f.o.b., 1991) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union
 commodities:
  iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum
  products
 partners:
  EC 75.5%, US 3.7%, former Communist countries 1.4% (1991)
Imports:
  $121 billion (c.i.f., 1991) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union
 commodities:
  fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs
 partners:
  EC 73%, US 4.8%, oil-exporting less developed countries 4%, former Communist
  countries 1.8% (1991)
External debt:
  $31.3 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.6% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  17,500,000 kW capacity; 68,000 million kWh produced, 6,790 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and
  beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal
Agriculture:   accounts for 2.3% 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;
  increasingly important gateway country for cocaine entering the European
  market

*Belgium, Economy

Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.8 billion
Currency:
  1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 33.256 (January 1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148
  (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Belgium, Communications

Railroads:
  Belgian National Railways (SNCB) operates 3,568 km 1.435-meter standard
  gauge, government owned; 2,563 km double track; 2,207 km electrified
Highways:
  103,396 km total; 1,317 km limited access, divided autoroute; 11,717 km
  national highway; 1,362 km provincial road; about 38,000 km paved and 51,000
  km unpaved rural roads
Inland waterways:
  2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 1,167 km; crude oil 161 km; natural gas 3,300 km
Ports:
  Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Merchant marine:
  23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 96,949 GRT/133,658 DWT; includes 10
  cargo, 5 oil tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 5 chemical tanker, 1 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  42
 usable:
  42
 with permanent-surface runways:
  24
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  14
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:   highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated
  domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities; extensive
  cable network; limited microwave radio relay network; 4,720,000 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 3 AM, 39 FM, 32 TV; 5 submarine cables; 2 satellite
  earth stations - Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and EUTELSAT systems; nationwide
  mobile phone system

*Belgium, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,556,189; fit for military service 2,133,051; reach
  military age (19) annually 63,532 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $4 billion, 2% of GDP (1992)

*Belize, Geography

Location:
  Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Guatemala and Mexico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  22,960 km2
 land area:
  22,800 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
  total 516 km, Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline:
  386 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south
 note:
  from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Caye, 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; negotiations to resolve the dispute have
  begun
Climate:
  tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)
Terrain:
  flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Natural resources:   arable land potential, timber, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  2%
 forest and woodland:
  44%
 other:
  52%
Irrigated land:
  20 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding
  (especially in south); deforestation
Note:
  national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of
  hurricanes; only country in Central America without a coastline on the North
  Pacific Ocean

*Belize, People

Population:
  203,957 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.42% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  35.75 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.15 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -5.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  36.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.85 years
 male:
  65.91 years
 female:
  69.88 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.53 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Belizean(s)
 adjective:
  Belizean
Ethnic divisions:
  Mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite
  4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other
  2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)
Languages:
  English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
 total population:
  91%
 male:
  91%
 female:
  91%
Labor force:
  51,500
 by occupation:
  agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%,
  manufacturing 10.3%
 note:
  shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985)

*Belize, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Belize
 former:
  British Honduras
Digraph:
  BH
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Belmopan
Administrative divisions:
  6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:
  21 September 1981 (from UK)
Constitution:
  21 September 1981
Legal system:
  English law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 21 September
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, leader NA
Other political or pressure groups:
  Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad SHOMAN;
  United Workers Front, leader NA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  last held 4 September 1989 (next to be held September 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 15, UDP 13; note - in
  January 1990 one member expelled from UDP joined PUP, making the seat count
  PUP 16, UDP 12
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower
  house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
  Dame Minita Elmira GORDON (since 21 September 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister George Cadle PRICE (since 4 September 1989)
Member of:
  ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador James V. HYDE

*Belize, Government

 chancery:
  2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 332-9636
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA
 embassy:
  Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 286, Belize City
 telephone:
  [501] (2) 77161 through 77163
 FAX:
  [501] (2) 30802
Flag:
  blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered
  is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a
  shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related
  motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom,
  all encircled by a green garland

*Belize, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and
  merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance.
  Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export
  earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard
  currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in
  efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification
  program.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $373 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  10% (1990)
National product per capita:
  $1,635 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5.5% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  12% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $126.8 million; expenditures $123.1 million, including capital
  expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $95.6 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  sugar, citrus, clothing, bananas, fish products, molasses
 partners:
  US 49%, UK, EC, Mexico (1991)
Imports:
  $194 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels,
  chemicals, pharmaceuticals
 partners:
  US 60%, UK, EC, Mexico (1991)
External debt:
  $143.7 million (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3.7% (1990); accounts for 12% of GDP
Electricity:
  34,532 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced, 393 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar refining, rum, beverages,
  tourism
Agriculture:
  accounts for 22% of GDP (including fish and forestry); commercial crops
  include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding output of lumber
  and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods
Illicit drugs:
  an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
  eradication program cut marijuana production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to
  about 50 metric tons in 1991; transshipment point for cocaine
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $215 million
Currency:
  1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)

*Belize, Economy

Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Belize, Communications

Highways:
  2,710 km total; 500 km paved, 1,600 km gravel, 300 km improved earth, and
  310 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable
Ports:
  Belize City; additional ports for shallow draught craft include Corozol,
  Punta Gorda, Big Creek
Merchant marine:
  4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,768 GRT/12,721 DWT; includes 3 cargo,
  1 roll-on/roll-off
Airports:
 total:
  42
 usable:
  32
 with permanent-surface runways:
  3
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,229-2,439 mr:
  2
Telecommunications:
  8,650 telephones; above-average system based on microwave radio relay;
  broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station

*Belize, Defense Forces

Branches:
  British Forces Belize, Belize Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air
  Force, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 47,135; fit for military service 28,070; reach military age
  (18) annually 2,066 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:   exchange rate conversion - $5.4 million, 2% of GDP (1992)

*Benin, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Nigeria and Togo
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  112,620 km2
 land area:
  110,620 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
  total 1,989 km, Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Coastline:
  121 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:
  mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Natural resources:
  small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  12%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  35%
 other:
  45%
Irrigated land:
  60 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter; deforestation;
  desertification
Note:
  recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; no
  natural harbors

*Benin, People

Population:
  5,166,735 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.33% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  48.09 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  14.8 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  112.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  51.31 years
 male:
  49.51 years
 female:
  53.16 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Beninese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Beninese
Ethnic divisions:
  African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba,
  Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
Languages:
  French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal
  languages (at least six major ones in north)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 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%
 note:
  49% of population of working age (1985)

*Benin, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:   Republic of Benin
 conventional short form:
  Benin
 local long form:
  Republique Populaire du Benin
 local short form:
  Benin
 former:
  Dahomey
Digraph:
  BN
Type:
  republic under multiparty democratic rule dropped Marxism-Leninism December
  1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty
  system completed 4 April 1991
Capital:
  Porto-Novo
Administrative divisions:
  6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
Independence:
  1 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  2 December 1990
Legal system:
  based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 1 August (1990)
Political parties and leaders:
  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 of the Alliance for
  Social Democracy (ASD), Robert DOSSOU; Bloc for Social Democracy (BSD),
  Michel MAGNIDE; Alliance of the Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP),
  Akindes ADEKPEDJOU; 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, Theophile NATA; numerous other
  small parties
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  last held 10 and 24 March 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
  - (64 total) UDFP-MDPS-ULD 12, PNDD/PRD 9, PSD/UNSP 8, NCC 7, RND 7,
  MNDD/MSUP/UDRN 6, UDS 5, RDL 4, ASD/BSD 3, ADP/UDRS 2, UNDP 1

*Benin, Government

 President:
  last held 10 and 24 March 1991; results - Nicephore SOGLO 68%, Mathieu
  KEREKOU 32%
Executive branch:
  president, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Nicephore SOGLO (since 4 April 1991)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
  ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Candide AHOUANSOU
 chancery:
  2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 232-6656
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ruth A. DAVIS
 embassy:
  Rue Caporal Anani Bernard, Cotonou
 mailing address:
  B. P. 2012, Cotonou
 telephone:
  [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
 FAX:
  [229] 30-14-39 and 30-19-74
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green
  band on the hoist side

*Benin, Economy

Overview:
  Benin is one of the least developed countries in the world because of
  limited natural resources and a poorly developed infrastructure. Agriculture
  accounts for about 35% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and
  generates a major share of foreign exchange earnings. The industrial sector
  contributes only about 15% to GDP and employs 2% of the work force. Low
  prices in recent years have kept down hard currency earnings from Benin's
  major exports of agricultural products and crude oil.
National product:   GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $410 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $194 million; expenditures $390 million, including capital
  expenditures of $104 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $263.3 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  crude oil, cotton, palm products, cocoa
 partners:
  FRG 36%, France 16%, Spain 14%, Italy 8%, UK 4%
Imports:
  $428 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods,
  capital goods, light consumer goods
 partners:
  France 34%, Netherlands 10%, Japan 7%, Italy 6%, US 4%
External debt:
  $1 billion (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -0.7% (1988); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity:
  30,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced, 5 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  textiles, cigarettes, construction materials, beverages, food production,
  petroleum
Agriculture:
  accounts for 35% of GDP; small farms produce 90% of agricultural output;
  production is dominated by food crops - corn, sorghum, cassava, beans, rice;
  cash crops include cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry and livestock output
  has not kept up with consumption
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $46 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,300 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $101
  million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)

*Benin, Economy

Fiscal year:   calendar year

*Benin, Communications

Railroads:
  578 km, all 1.000-meter gauge, single track
Highways:
  5,050 km total; 920 km paved, 2,600 laterite, 1,530 km improved earth
Inland waterways:
  navigable along small sections, important only locally
Ports:
  Cotonou
Airports:
 total:
  7
 usable:
  5
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,439-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  fair system of open wire, submarine cable, and radio relay microwave;
  broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*Benin, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,075,053; females age 15-49 1,170,693; males fit for
  military service 550,645; females fit for military service 591,506; males
  reach military age (18) annually 56,872; females reach military age (18)
  annually 55,141 (1993 est.); both sexes are liable for military service
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.7% of GDP (1988 est.)

*Bermuda, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*Bermuda, Geography

Location:
  in the western North Atlantic Ocean, 1,050 km east of North Carolina
Map references:
  North America
Area:
 total area:
  50 km2
 land area:
  50 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  103 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Terrain:
  low hills separated by fertile depressions
Natural resources:
  limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  20%
 other:
  80%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; consists of about 360
  small coral islands
Note:
  some reclaimed land leased by US Government

*Bermuda, People

Population:
  60,686 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.78% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.21 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.3 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  13.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.03 years
 male:
  73.36 years
 female:
  76.97 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.82 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Bermudian(s)
 adjective:
  Bermudian
Ethnic divisions:
  black 61%, white and other 39%
Religions:
  Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 10%,
  Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other 28%
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  99%
Labor force:
  32,000
 by occupation:
  clerical 25%, services 22%, laborers 21%, professional and technical 13%,
  administrative and managerial 10%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2%
  (1984)

*Bermuda, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Bermuda
Digraph:
  BD
Type:   dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  Hamilton
Administrative divisions:
  9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget,,   Pembroke, Saint
George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick, Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  8 June 1968
Legal system:
  English law
National holiday:
  Bermuda Day, 22 May
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
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Assembly:
  last held 9 February 1989 (next to be held by February 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40 total) UBP 23, PLP 15, NLP 1, other
  1
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, deputy governor, premier, deputy premier,
  Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
  or House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Lord
  David WADDINGTON (since NA)
 Head of Government:
  Premier John William David SWAN (since NA January 1982)
Member of:
  CARICOM (observer), CCC, ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as a dependent territory of the UK, Bermuda's interests in the US are
  represented by the UK
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Consul General L. Ebersole GAINES
 consulate general:
  Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton

*Bermuda, Government

 mailing address:   P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; PSC 1002, FPO AE 09727-1002
 telephone:
  (809) 295-1342
 FAX:
  (809) 295-1592
Flag:
  red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue shield with a red lion holding a
  scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in
  1609) centered on the outer half of the flag

*Bermuda, Economy

Overview:
  Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having
  successfully exploited its location by providing luxury tourist facilities
  and financial services. The tourist industry attracts more than 90% of its
  business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture
  is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are
  imported.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.3 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  -1.5% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $22,000 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.4% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  6% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $327.5 million; expenditures $308.9 million, including capital
  expenditures of $35.4 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $50 million (f.o.b., FY89)
 commodities:
  semitropical produce, light manufactures, re-exports of pharmaceuticals
 partners:
  US 55%, UK 32%, Canada 11%, other 2%
Imports:
  527.2 million (f.o.b., FY89)
 commodities:
  fuel, foodstuffs, machinery
 partners:
  US 60%, UK 8%, Venezuela 7%, Canada 5%, Japan 5%, other 15%
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  154,000 kW capacity; 504 million kWh produced, 8,370 kWh per capita (1992)
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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $277 million
Currency:
  1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Bermuda, Communications

Highways:
  210 km public roads, all paved (about 400 km of private roads)
Ports:
  Freeport, Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine:
  72 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,451.099 GRT/5,937,636 DWT; includes
  5 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 5 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off, 21 oil
  tanker, 13 liquefied gas, 16 bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  modern with fully automatic telephone system; 52,670 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 5 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV; 3 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
  earth stations

*Bermuda, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Bhutan, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, in the Himalayas, between China and India
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  47,000 km2
 land area:
  47,000 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries:
  total 1,075 km, China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central
  valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Terrain:
  mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Natural resources:
  timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide, tourism potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  5%
 forest and woodland:
  70%
 other:
  23%
Irrigated land:
  340 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the source of the country
  name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon
Note:
  landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key
  Himalayan mountain passes

*Bhutan, People

Population:
  700,000 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.33% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  39.59 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  16.26 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  123.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  50.17 years
 male:
  50.74 years
 female:
  49.58 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.45 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Bhutanese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Bhutanese
Ethnic divisions:
  Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Religions:
  Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages:
  Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects; Nepalese speak
  various Nepalese dialects
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
 note:
  massive lack of skilled labor

*Bhutan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Bhutan
 conventional short form:
  Bhutan
Digraph:
  BT
Type:
  monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital:
  Thimphu
Administrative divisions:
  18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang,
  Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi,
  Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
Independence:
  8 August 1949 (from India)
Constitution:
  no written constitution or bill of rights
Legal system:
  based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary
  king)
Political parties and leaders:
  no legal parties
Other political or pressure groups:
  Buddhist clergy; Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations
  leading militant antigovernment campaign
Suffrage:
  each family has one vote in village-level elections
Elections:
  no national elections
Executive branch:
  monarch, chairman of the Royal Advisory Council, Royal Advisory Council
  (Lodoi Tsokde), chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers
  (Lhengye Shungtsog)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu)
Judicial branch:
  High Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
Member of:
  AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU,
  NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  no formal diplomatic relations; the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York
  has consular jurisdiction in the US
US diplomatic representation:
  no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained
  between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India)
Flag:
  divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is
  orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the dividing line is a
  large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

*Bhutan, Economy

Overview:
  The economy, one of the world's least developed, is based on agriculture and
  forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and
  account for about 50% of GDP. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make
  the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The
  economy is closely aligned with that of India 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 its most important
  natural resources; however, the government limits the number of tourists to
  3,000/year to minimize foreign influence.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $320 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3.1% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $200 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  10% (FY91 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $112 million; expenditures $121 million, including capital
  expenditures of $58 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $74 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
 commodities:
  cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India)
 partners:
  India 90%
Imports:
  $106.4 million (c.i.f., FY91 est.)
 commodities:
  fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics
 partners:
  India 83%
External debt:
  $120 million (June 91)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for 18% of GDP; primarily cottage industry and
  home based handicrafts
Electricity:
  336,000 kW capacity; 1,542.2 million kWh produced, 2,203 kWh per capita
  (25.8% is exported to India, leaving only 1,633 kWh per capita) (1990-91)
Industries:
  cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium
  carbide
Agriculture:
  accounts for 45% of GDP; based on subsistence farming and animal husbandry;
  self-sufficient in food except for foodgrains; other production - rice,
  corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy products, eggs
Economic aid:
  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

*Bhutan, Economy

Exchange rates:
  ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 26.156 (January 1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742
  (1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988); note - the Bhutanese
  ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Bhutan, Communications

Highways:
  2,165 km total; 1,703 km surfaced
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  domestic telephone service is very poor with very few telephones in use;
  international telephone and telegraph service is by land line through India;
  a satellite earth station was planned (1990); broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1
  FM, no TV (1990)

*Bhutan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 415,315; fit for military service 222,027; reach military
  age (18) annually 17,344 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Bolivia, Geography

Location:
  Central South America, between Brazil and Chile
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:   1,098,580 km2
 land area:
  1,084,390 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
  total 6,743 km, Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay
  750 km, Peru 900 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama
  area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water
  rights
Climate:
  varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
Terrain:
  rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland
  plains of the Amazon basin
Natural resources:
  tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron ore,
  lead, gold, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  25%
 forest and woodland:
  52%
 other:
  20%
Irrigated land:
  1,650 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to efficient fuel combustion;
  overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
  landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake,
  with Peru

*Bolivia, People

Population:
  7,544,099 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.31% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  32.83 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.63 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  76.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  62.77 years
 male:
  60.34 years
 female:
  65.33 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.31 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Bolivian(s)
 adjective:
  Bolivian
Ethnic divisions:
  Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mixed 25-30%, European 5-15%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
Languages:
  Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  78%
 male:
  85%
 female:
  71%
Labor force:
  1.7 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 50%, services and utilities 26%, manufacturing 10%, mining 4%,
  other 10% (1983)

*Bolivia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Bolivia
 conventional short form:
  Bolivia
 local long form:
  Republica de Bolivia
 local short form:
  Bolivia
Digraph:
  BL
Type:
  republic
Capital:   La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)
Administrative divisions:
  9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca,
  Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence:
  6 August 1825 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  2 February 1967
Legal system:
  based on Spanish law and Code Napoleon; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Political parties and leaders:
  Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR), Jaime PAZ Zamora; Nationalist
  Democratic Action (ADN), Hugo BANZER Suarez; Nationalist Revolutionary
  Movement (MNR), Gonzalo SANCHEZ de Lozada; Civic Solidarity Union (UCS), Max
  FERNANDEZ Rojas; Conscience of the Fatherland (CONDEPA), Carlos PALENQUE
  Aviles; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jorge AGREDO; Free Bolivia
  Movement (MBL), Antonio ARANIBAR; United Left (IU), a coalition of leftist
  parties that includes Patriotic National Convergency Axis (EJE-P), Walter
  DELGADILLO and Bolivian Communist Party (PCB), Humberto RAMIREZ;
  Revolutionary Vanguard - 9th of April (VR-9), Carlos SERRATE Reich
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory (married) 21 years of age;
  universal and compulsory (single)
Elections:
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held 6 June 1993); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; note - legislative and presidential candidates run on a
  unified slate, so vote percentages are the same as in section on
  presidential election results; seats - (130 total) MNR 40, ADN 35, MIR 33,
  IU 10, CONDEPA 9, PDC 3
 Chamber of Senators:
  last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held 6 June 1993); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; note - legislative and presidential candidates run on a
  unified slate, so vote percentages are the same as in section on
  presidential election results; seats - (27 total) MNR 9, ADN 7, MIR 8,
  CONDEPA 2, PDC 1

*Bolivia, Government

 President:
  last held 7 May 1989 (next to be held 6 June 1993); results - Gonzalo
  SANCHEZ de Lozada (MNR) 23%, Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN) 22%, Jaime PAZ Zamora
  (MIR) 19%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote; Jaime PAZ
  Zamora (MIR) formed a coalition with Hugo BANZER (ADN); with ADN support,
  PAZ Zamora won the congressional runoff election on 4 August and was
  inaugurated on 6 August 1989
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consists of an upper chamber
  or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber
  of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Jaime PAZ Zamora (since 6 August 1989); Vice President Luis OSSIO
  Sanjines (since 6 August 1989)
Member of:
  AG, ECLAC, FAO, GATT, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM,
  OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO,
  WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jorge CRESPO
 chancery:
  3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 483-4410 through 4412
 consulates general:
  Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Charles R. BOWERS
 embassy:
  Banco Popular del Peru Building, corner of Calles Mercado y Colon, La Paz
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 425, La Paz, or APO AA 34032
 telephone:
  [591] (2) 350251 or 350120
 FAX:
  [591] (2) 359875
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat
  of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag of Ghana, which has
  a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band

*Bolivia, Economy

Overview:
  With its long history of semifeudalistic 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. Since August 1989, President PAZ Zamora, despite his Marxist
  origins, has maintained a moderate policy of repressing domestic terrorism,
  containing inflation, and achieving annual GDP growth of 3 to 4%. For many
  farmers, who constitute half of the country's work force, the main cash crop
  is coca, which is sold for cocaine processing.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.9 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  3.8% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $670 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  10.5% (December 1992)
Unemployment rate:
  5% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $1.5 billion; expenditures $1.57 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $627 million (1993 est.)
Exports:
  $609 million (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  metals 46%, hydrocarbons 21%, other 33% (coffee, soybeans, sugar, cotton,
  timber)
 partners:
  US 15%, Argentina
Imports:
  1.185 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  food, petroleum, consumer goods, capital goods
 partners:
  US 22%
External debt:
  $3.7 billion (December 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7% (1992); accounts for almost 32% of GDP
Electricity:
  865,000 kW capacity; 1,834 million kWh produced, 250 kWh per capita (1992)
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
  47,900 hectares under cultivation; voluntary and forced eradication program
  unable to prevent production from rising to 82,000 metric tons in 1992 from
  74,700 tons in 1989; 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $990 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2,025 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $340 million

*Bolivia, Economy

Currency:
  1 boliviano ($B) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  bolivianos ($B) per US$1 - 3.9437 (August 1992), 3.85 (1992), 3.5806 (1991),
  3.1727 (1990), 2.6917 (1989), 2.3502 (1988), 2.0549 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Bolivia, Communications

Railroads:
  3,684 km total, all narrow gauge; 3,652 km 1.000-meter gauge and 32 km
  0.760-meter gauge, all government owned, single track
Highways:
  38,836 km total; 1,300 km paved, 6,700 km gravel, 30,836 km improved and
  unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  10,000 km of commercially navigable waterways
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,800 km; petroleum products 580 km; natural gas 1,495 km
Ports:
  none; maritime outlets are Arica and Antofagasta in Chile, Matarani and Ilo
  in Peru
Merchant marine:
  2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,051 GRT/22,155 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  1,225
 usable:
  1,043
 with permanent-surface runways:
  9
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  7
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  161
Telecommunications:
  microwave radio relay system being expanded; improved international
  services; 144,300 telephones; broadcast stations - 129 AM, no FM, 43 TV, 68
  shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Bolivia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy includes Marines (Fuerza Navala), Air Force
  (Fuerza Aereo de Bolivia), National Police Force (Boliviano Policia
  Nacional)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,786,137; fit for military service 1,162,160; reach
  military age (19) annually 78,125 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $80 million, 1.6% of GDP (1990 est.)

*Bosnia and Herzegovina, Header

Note:
  Bosnia and Herzegovina is suffering from interethnic civil strife which
  began in March 1992 after the Bosnian Government 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 a "greater Serbia". Since the onset of the
  conflict, which has driven approximately half of the pre-war population of
  4.4 million from their homes, both the Bosnian Serbs and the Bosnian Croats
  have asserted control of more than three-quarters of the territory formerly
  under the control of the Bosnian Government. The UN and the EC are
  continuing to try to mediate a plan for peace.

*Bosnia and Herzegovina, Geography

Location:
  Southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula, between Croatia and Serbia and
  Montenegro
Map references:
  Africa, Arctic Region, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard
  Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  51,233 km2
 land area:
  51,233 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
  total 1,369 km, Croatia (northwest) 751 km, Croatia (south) 91 km, Serbia
  and Montenegro 527 km (312 km with Serbia; 215 km with Montenegro)
Coastline:
  20 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth
 exclusive economic zone:
  12 nm
 exclusive fishing zone:
  12 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia seek to cantonize Bosnia and Herzegovina;
  Muslim majority being forced from many areas
Climate:
  hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool
  summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast
Terrain:
  mountains and valleys
Natural resources:
  coal, iron, bauxite, manganese, timber, wood products, copper, chromium,
  lead, zinc
Land use:
 arable land:   20%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  25%
 forest and woodland:
  36%
 other:
  17%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  air pollution from metallurgical plants; water scarce; sites for disposing
  of urban waste are limited; subject to frequent and destructive earthquakes

*Bosnia and Herzegovina, People

Population:
  4,618,804 (July 1993 est.)
 note:
  all data dealing with population is subject to considerable error because of
  the dislocations caused by military action and ethnic cleansing
Population growth rate:
  0.72% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.54 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  13.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  74.8 years
 male:
  72.11 years
 female:
  77.67 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.62 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)
 adjective:
  Bosnian, Herzegovinian
Ethnic divisions:
  Muslim 44%, Serb 31%, Croat 17%, other 8%
Religions:
  Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%, other 10%
Languages:
  Serbo-Croatian 99%
Literacy:
 total population:   NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  1,026,254
 by occupation:
  agriculture 2%, industry, mining 45% (1991 est.)

*Bosnia and Herzegovina, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
 conventional short form:
  Bosnia and Herzegovina
 local long form:
  Republika Bosna i Hercegovina
 local short form:
  Bosna i Hercegovina
Digraph:
  BK
Type:
  emerging democracy
Capital:
  Sarajevo
Administrative divisions:
  109 districts (opcine, singular - opcina) Banovici, Banja Luka, Bihac,
  Bijeljina, Bileca, Bosanska Dubica, Bosanska Graaiskia, Bosanska Krupa,
  Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Novi, Bosanski Petrovac, Bosanski Samac, Bosansko
  Grahovo, Bratunac, Brcko, Breza, Bugojno, Busovaca, Cazin, Cajilice,
  Capljina, Celinac, Citluk, Derventa, Duboj, 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,
  Stoloc, Sekovici, Sipovo, Teslic, Tesanj, (Titov Drvar) Drvar, Duvno,
  Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla, Ugljevik, Vare, Velika Kladusa, Visoko, Visegrad,
  Vitez Vlasenica, Zavidovici, Zenica, Zvornik, Zepce, Zivinice
 note:
  currently under negotiation with the assistance of international mediators
Independence:
  NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
Constitution:
  NA
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:   NA
Political parties and leaders:
  Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Mirsad CEMAN; Croatian Democratic Union of
  Bosnia and Herzegovina (HDZ BiH), Mate BOBAN; Serbian Democratic Party of
  Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDS BiH), Radovan KARADZIC, president;
  Muslim-Bosnian Organization (MBO), Adil ZULFIKARPASIC, president; Democratic
  Party of Socialists (DSS), Nijaz DURAKOVIC, president; Party of Democratic
  Changes, leader NA; Serbian Movement for Renewal (SPO), Milan TRIVUNCIC;
  Alliance of Reform Forces of Yugoslavia for Bosnia and Herzegovina (SRSJ
  BiH), Dr. Nenad KECMANOVIC, president; Democratic League of Greens (DSZ),
  Drazen PETROVIC; Liberal Party (LS), Rasim KADIC, president
Other political or pressure groups:
  NA
Suffrage:
  16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal

*Bosnia and Herzegovina, Government

Elections:
 Chamber of Municipalities:
  last held November-December 1990 (next to be held NA); seats - (110 total)
  SDA 43, SDS BiH 38, HDZ BiH 23, Party of Democratic Changes 4, DSS 1, SPO 1
 Chamber of Citizens:
  last held NA 1990 (next to be held NA); seats - (130 total) SDA 43, SDS BiH
  34, HDZ BiH 21, Party of Democratic Changes 15, SRSJ BiH 12, MBO 2, DSS 1,
  DSZ 1, LS 1
Executive branch:
  collective presidency, prime minister, deputy prime ministers, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Chamber of
  Municipalities (Vijece Opeina) and a lower house or Chamber of Citizens
  (Vijece Gradanstvo)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since NA December 1990), other members of the
  collective presidency: Ejup GANIC (since NA), Miro LASIC (since NA December
  1992), Mirko PEJANOVIC (since NA), Tatjana LJUJIC-MIJATOVIC (since NA
  December 1992), Fikret ABDIC
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Mile AKMADZIC (since NA October 1992); Deputy Prime Minister
  Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA (since NA); Deputy Prime Minister Miodrag SIMOVIC (since
  NA); Deputy Prime Minister Hadzo EFENDIC (since NA)
Member of:
  CEI, CSCE, ECE, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  NA
 chancery:
  NA
 telephone:
  NA
US diplomatic representation:   the US maintains full diplomatic relations with Bosnia and
Herzegovina but
  has not yet established an embassy in Serajevo
Flag:
  white with a large blue shield; the shield contains white Roman crosses with
  a white diagonal band running from the upper hoist corner to the lower fly
  side

*Bosnia and Herzegovina, Economy

Overview:
  Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to 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 March 1993, 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 reliable economic statistics for 1992 are available,
  although output clearly fell below the already depressed 1991 level.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $14 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -37% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $3,200 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  80% per month (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  28% (February 1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $2,054 million (1990)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods 31%, machinery and transport equipment 20.8%, raw
  materials 18%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 17.3%, chemicals 9.4%,
  fuel and lubricants 1.4%, food and live animals 1.2%
 partners:
  principally the other former Yugoslav republics
Imports:
  $1,891 million (1990)
 commodities:
  fuels and lubricants 32%, machinery and transport equipment 23.3%, other
  manufactures 21.3%, chemicals 10%, raw materials 6.7%, food and live animals
  5.5%, beverages and tobacco 1.9%
 partners:
  principally the other former Yugoslav republics
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%, but production is sharply down because of interethnic and
  interrepublic warfare (1991-92)
Electricity:
  3,800,000 kW capacity; 7,500 million kWh produced, 1,700 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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

*Bosnia and Herzegovina, Economy

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
Illicit drugs:
  NA
Economic aid:
  $NA
Currency:
  Croatian dinar used in ethnic Croat areas, "Yugoslav" dinar used in all
  other areas
Exchange rates:
  NA
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Bosnia and Herzegovina, Communications

Railroads:
  NA km
Highways:
  21,168 km total (1991); 11,436 km paved, 8,146 km gravel, 1,586 km earth;
  note - highways now disrupted
Inland waterways:
  NA km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 174 km, natural gas 90 km (1992); note - pipelines now disrupted
Ports:
  coastal - none; inland - Bosanski Brod on the Sava River
Airports:
 total:
  27
 useable:
  22
 with permanent-surface runways:
  8
 with runways over 3659:
  0  with runways 2440-3659 m:
  4
 with runways 1220-2439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  telephone and telegraph network is in need of modernization and expansion,
  many urban areas being below average compared with services in other former
  Yugoslav republics; 727,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 2 FM, 6
  TV; 840,000 radios; 1,012,094 TVs; NA submarine coaxial cables; satellite
  ground stations - none

*Bosnia and Herzegovina, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,283,576; fit for military service 1,045,512; reach
  military age (19) annually 37,827 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP

*Botswana, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  600,370 km2
 land area:
  585,370 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 4,013 km, Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  short section of boundary with Namibia is indefinite; disputed island with
  Namibia in the Chobe River; quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
  is in disagreement; recent dispute with Namibia over uninhabited Sidudu
  Island in Linyanti River
Climate:
  semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain:
  predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Natural resources:
  diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Land use:  arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  75%
 forest and woodland:
  2%
 other:
  21%
Irrigated land:
  20 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  overgrazing, desertification
Note:
  landlocked

*Botswana, People

Population:
  1,325,920 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.53% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  33.39 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.05 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  62.54 years
 male:
  59.52 years
 female:
  65.65 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.25 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
 adjective:
  Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic divisions:
  Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%, white 1%
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
Languages:
  English (official), Setswana
Literacy:
  age 15 and over able to read and write simple sentences (1990)
 total population:   72%
 male:
  67%
 female:
  74%
Labor force:
  400,000
 by occupation:
  198,500 formal sector employees, most others are engaged in cattle raising
  and subsistence agriculture (1990 est.); 14,600 are employed in various
  mines in South Africa (1990)

*Botswana, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Botswana
 conventional short form:
  Botswana
 former:
  Bechuanaland
Digraph:
  BC
Type:
  parliamentary republic
Capital:
  Gaborone
Administrative divisions:
  10 districts; Central, Chobe, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng,
  Ngamiland, North-East, South-East, Southern; in addition, there are 4 town
  councils - Francistown, Gaborone, Lobaste, Selebi-Phikwe
Independence:
  30 September 1966 (from UK)
Constitution:
  March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Legal system:
  based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to
  matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
Political parties and leaders:
  Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Sir Ketumile MASIRE; Botswana National
  Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA; Boswana People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE;
  Botswana Independence Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total, 34 elected) BDP 35, BNF 3
 President:
  last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - President
  Sir Ketumile MASIRE was reelected by the National Assembly
Executive branch:   president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or House of Chiefs
  and a lower house or National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Sir Ketunile MASIRE (since 13 July 1980); Vice President Festus
  MOGAE (since 9 March 1992 )
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley SEBELE
 chancery:
  Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

*Botswana, Government

 telephone:
  (202) 244-4990 or 4991
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador David PASSAGE
 embassy:
  address NA, Gaborone
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
 telephone:
  [267] 353-982
 FAX:
  [267] 356-947
Flag:
  light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center

*Botswana, Economy

Overview:
  The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops.
  Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population,
  but produces only about 50% of food needs. 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 50% in 1991. 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%. Although diamond
  production was down slightly in 1992, substantial gains in coal output and
  manufacturing helped boost the economy
National product:   GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.6 billion (FY92 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  5.8% (FY92 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,450 (FY92 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  16.5% (December 1992)
Unemployment rate:
  25% (1989)
Budget:
  revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $1.99 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $652 million (FY94)
Exports:
  $1.6 billion (f.o.b. 1991)
 commodities:
  diamonds 78%, copper and nickel 8%, meat 4%
 partners:
  Switzerland, UK, SACU (Southern African Customs Union)
Imports:
  $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles, petroleum products
 partners:
  Switzerland, SACU (Southern African Customs Union), UK, US
External debt:
  $344 million (December 1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 6.9% (1991); accounts for about 53% of GDP, including mining
Electricity:
  220,000 kW capacity; 1,123 million kWh produced, 846 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock
  processing
Agriculture:
  accounts for only 5% of GDP; subsistence farming predominates; cattle
  raising supports 50% of the population; must import up to of 80% of food
  needs
Economic aid:
  US aid, $13 million (1992); US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $257
  million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
  (1970-89), $1,875 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $43 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $29 million; in 1992: Norway (largest donor)
  $16 million, Sweden $15.5 million, Germany $3.6 million, EC/Lome-IV $3-6
  million in grants, $28.7 million in long-term projects
Currency:
  1 pula (P) = 100 thebe

*Botswana, Economy

Exchange rates:
  pula (P) per US$1 - 2.31 (February 1993), 2.1327 (1992), 2.0173 (1991),
  1.8601 (1990), 2.0125 (1989), 1.8159 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Botswana, Communications

Railroads:
  712 km 1.067-meter gauge
Highways:
  11,514 km total; 1,600 km paved; 1,700 km crushed stone or gravel, 5,177 km
  improved earth, 3,037 km unimproved earth
Airports:
 total:
  100
 usable:
  87
 with permanent-surface runways:
  8
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  29
Telecommunications:
  the small system is a combination of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
  links, and a few radio-communications stations; 26,000 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 7 AM, 13 FM, no TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Botswana, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Botswana Defense Force (including Army and Air Wing), Botswana National
  Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 282,885; fit for military service 148,895; reach military
  age (18) annually 14,868 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $196 million, 4.9% of GDP (FY93/94)

*Bouvet Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of Norway)

*Bouvet Island, Geography

Location:
  in the south Atlantic Ocean, 2,575 km south-southwest of the Cape of Good
  Hope (South Africa)
Map references:   Antarctic Region
Area:
 total area:
  58 km2
 land area:
  58 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  29.6 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  4 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  antarctic
Terrain:
  volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters; coast is mostly inaccessible
Natural resources:
  none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100% (all ice)
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  covered by glacial ice
Note:
  located in the South Atlantic Ocean

*Bouvet Island, People

Population:
  uninhabited

*Bouvet Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:   Bouvet Island
Digraph:
  BV
Type:
  territory of Norway
Capital:
  none; administered from Oslo, Norway
Independence:
  none (territory of Norway)

*Bouvet Island, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Bouvet Island, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only
Telecommunications:
  automatic meteorological station

*Bouvet Island, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of Norway

*Brazil, Geography

Location:
  Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  8,511,965 km2
 land area:
  8,456,510 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than the US
 note:
  includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da
  Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo
Land boundaries:
  total 14,691 km, Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km,
  French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km,
  Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
Coastline:   7,491 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  short section of the boundary with Paraguay (just west of Guaira Falls on
  the Rio Parana) is in dispute; two short sections of boundary with Uruguay
  are in dispute - Arrio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada) area of the Rio
  Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai
  (Rio Cuareim) and the Uruguay
Climate:
  mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain:
  mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and
  narrow coastal belt
Natural resources:
  iron ore, manganese, bauxite, nickel, uranium, phosphates, tin, hydropower,
  gold, platinum, petroleum, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  7%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  19%
 forest and woodland:
  67%
 other:
  6%
Irrigated land:
  27,000 km2 (1989 est.)

*Brazil, Geography

Environment:
  recurrent droughts in northeast; floods and frost in south; deforestation in
  Amazon basin; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and
  several other large cities
Note:
  largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South
  American country except Chile and Ecuador

*Brazil, People

Population:
  156,664,223 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.35% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  21.77 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.3 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  61.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  62.7 years
 male:
  58.28 years
 female:
  67.33 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.49 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Brazilian(s)
 adjective:
  Brazilian
Ethnic divisions:
  Portuguese, Italian, German, Japanese, Amerindian, black 6%, white 55%,
  mixed 38%, other 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic (nominal) 90%
Languages:
  Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  81%
 male:
  82%
 female:
  80%
Labor force:
  57 million (1989 est.)
 by occupation:
  services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%

*Brazil, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Federative Republic of Brazil
 conventional short form:
  Brazil
 local long form:
  Republica Federativa do Brasil
 local short form:   Brasil
Digraph:
  BR
Type:
  federal republic
Capital:
  Brasilia
Administrative divisions:
  26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito,   federal); Acre,
Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*,,   Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato
Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas
  Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande
  do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo,
  Sergipe, Tocantins
Independence:
  7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
Constitution:
  5 October 1988
Legal system:
  based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Reconstruction Party (PRN), Daniel TOURINHO, president; Brazilian
  Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), Roberto ROLLEMBERG, president; Liberal
  Front Party (PFL), Jose Mucio MONTEIRO, president; Workers' Party (PT), Luis
  Ignacio (Lula) da SILVA, president; Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), Luiz
  GONZAGA de Paiva Muniz, president; Democratic Labor Party (PDT), Leonel
  BRIZOLA, president; Democratic Social Party (PPS), Paulo MALUF, president;
  Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Tasso JEREISSATI, president;
  Popular Socialist Party (PPS), Roberto FREIRE, president; Communist Party of
  Brazil (PCdoB), Joao AMAZONAS, secretary general; Christian Democratic Party
  (PDC), Siqueira CAMPOS, president
Other political or pressure groups:
  left wing of the Catholic Church and labor unions allied to leftist Worker's
  Party are critical of government's social and economic policies
Suffrage:
  voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and
  under 70 years of age
Elections:
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held 3 October 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results - PMDB
  21%, PFL 17%, PDT 9%, PDS 8%, PRN 7.9%, PTB 7%, PT 7%, other 23.1%; seats -
  (503 total as of 3 February 1991) PMDB 108, PFL 87, PDT 46, PDS 43, PRN 40,
  PTB 35, PT 35, other 109
 Federal Senate:
  last held 3 October 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total as of 3 February 1991) PMDB 27, PFL
  15, PSDB 10, PTB 8, PDT 5, other 16

*Brazil, Government

 President:
  last held 15 November 1989, with runoff on 17 December 1989 (next to be held
  November 1994); results - Fernando COLLOR de Mello 53%, Luis Inacio da SILVA
  47%; note - first free, direct presidential election since 1960
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Congress (Congresso Nacional) consists of an upper
  chamber or Federal Senate (Senado Federal) and a lower chamber or Chamber of
  Deputies (Camara dos Deputados)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Federal Tribunal
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Itamar FRANCO (since 29 December 1992)
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, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS,
  MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WHO, WFTU, WIPO,
  WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Rubens RICUPERO
 chancery:
  3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 745-2700
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, and New York
 consulates:
  Dallas, Houston, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Richard MELTON
 embassy:
  Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34030
 telephone:
  [55] (61) 321-7272
 FAX:
  [55] (61) 225-9136
 consulates general:
  Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
 consulates:
  Porto Alegre, Recife
Flag:
  green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial
  globe with 23 white five-pointed stars (one for each state) arranged in the
  same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial
  band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

*Brazil, Economy

Overview:
  The economy, with large agrarian, mining, and manufacturing sectors, entered
  the 1990s with declining real growth, runaway inflation, an unserviceable
  foreign debt of $122 billion, and a lack of policy direction. In addition,
  the economy remained highly regulated, inward-looking, and protected by
  substantial trade and investment barriers. Ownership of major industrial and
  mining facilities is divided among private interests - including several
  multinationals - and the government. Most large agricultural holdings are
  private, with the government channeling financing to this sector. Conflicts
  between large landholders and landless peasants have produced intermittent
  violence. The COLLOR government, which assumed office in March 1990,
  launched an ambitious reform program that sought to modernize and
  reinvigorate the economy by stabilizing prices, deregulating the economy,
  and opening it to increased foreign competition. The government also
  obtained an IMF standby loan in January 1992 and reached agreements with
  commercial bankers on the repayment of interest arrears and on the reduction
  of debt and debt service payments. Galloping inflation - the rate doubled in
  1992 - continues to undermine economic stability. Itamar FRANCO, who assumed
  the presidency following President COLLOR'S resignation in December 1992,
  has promised to support the basic premises of COLLOR'S reform program but
  has yet to define clearly his economic policies. Brazil's natural resources
  remain a major, long-term economic strength.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $369 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  -0.2% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $2,350 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1,174% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  5.9% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $164.3 billion; expenditures $170.6 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $32.9 billion (1990)
Exports:
  $35.0 billion (1992)
 commodities:
  iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear, coffee, motor vehicle parts
 partners:
  EC 32.3%, US 20.3%, Latin America 11.6%, Japan 9% (1991)
Imports:
  $20.0 billion (1992)
 commodities:
  crude oil, capital goods, chemical products, foodstuffs, coal
 partners:
  Middle East 12.4%, US 23.5%, EC 21.8%, Latin America 18.8%, Japan 6% (1991)
External debt:
  $123.3 billion (December 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -3.8% (1992); accounts for 39% of GDP
Electricity:
  63,765,000 kW capacity; 242,184 million kWh produced, 1,531 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  textiles and other consumer goods, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron
  ore, steel, motor vehicles and auto parts, metalworking, capital goods, tin

*Brazil, Economy

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 modest eradication program to control cannabis and coca
  cultivation; important transshipment country for Bolivian and Colombian
  cocaine headed for the US and Europe
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.5 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $10.2 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $284 million; former Communist countries (1970-89),
  $1.3 billion
Currency:
  1 cruzeiro (Cr$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  cruzeiros (Cr$) per US$1 - 13,827.06 (January 1993), 4,506.45 (1992), 406.61
  (1991), 68.300 (1990), 2.834 (1989), 0.26238 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Brazil, Communications

Railroads:
  28,828 km total; 24,864 km 1.000-meter gauge, 3,877 km 1.600-meter gauge, 74
  km mixed 1.600-1.000-meter gauge, 13 km 0.760-meter gauge; 2,360 km
  electrified
Highways:
  1,448,000 km total; 48,000 km paved, 1,400,000 km gravel or earth
Inland waterways:
  50,000 km navigable
Pipelines:
  crude oil 2,000 km; petroleum products 3,804 km; natural gas 1,095 km
Ports:
  Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de
  Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos
Merchant marine:
  232 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,335,234 GRT/8,986,734 DWT; includes
  5 passenger-cargo, 42 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 10 container, 11
  roll-on/roll-off, 58 oil tanker, 15 chemical tanker, 12 combination ore/oil,
  65 bulk, 2 combination bulk, 11 vehicle carrier; in addition, 1 naval tanker
  is sometimes used commercially
Airports:
 total:
  3,613
 usable:   3,031
 with permanent-surface runways:
  431
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  22
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  584
Telecommunications:
  good system; extensive microwave radio relay facilities; 9.86 million
  telephones; broadcast stations - 1,223 AM, no FM, 112 TV, 151 shortwave; 3
  coaxial submarine cables, 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations and 64
  domestic satellite earth stations

*Brazil, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Brazilian Army, Navy of Brazil (including Marines), Brazilian Air Force,
  Military Police (paramilitary)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 42,623,934; fit for military service 28,721,849; reach
  military age (18) annually 1,655,918 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 3% of GDP (1990)

*British Indian Ocean Territory, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*British Indian Ocean Territory, Geography

Location:
  in the Indian Ocean, south of India about halfway between Africa and
  Indonesia
Map references:
  Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  60 km2
 land area:
  60 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes the island of Diego Garcia
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:   698 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  the entire Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius
Climate:
  tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
  flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)
Natural resources:
  coconuts, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  archipelago of 2,300 islands
Note:
  Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location
  in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility

*British Indian Ocean Territory, People

Population:
  no indigenous inhabitants
 note:
  there are UK-US military personnel; civilian inhabitants, known as the
  Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military
  facilities

*British Indian Ocean Territory, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  British Indian Ocean Territory
 conventional short form:
  none
Abbreviation:
  BIOT
Digraph:   IO
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  none
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Commissioner Mr. T. G. HARRIS (since NA); Administrator Mr. R. G. WELLS
  (since NA 1991); note - both reside in the UK
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (dependent territory of UK)
Flag:
  white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and six blue
  wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the
  outer half of the flag

*British Indian Ocean Territory, Economy

Overview:
  All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia,
  where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and
  various services needed to support the military installations are done by
  military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and
  the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
Electricity:
  provided by the US military

*British Indian Ocean Territory, Communications

Highways:
  short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia
Ports:
  Diego Garcia
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1 on Diego Garcia
 with runways 2,439-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,229-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  minimal facilities; broadcast stations (operated by US Navy) - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1
  TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*British Indian Ocean Territory, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*British Virgin Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*British Virgin Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east of Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  150 km2
 land area:
  150 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes the island of Anegada
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  80 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
  coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  20%
 permanent crops:
  7%
 meadows and pastures:   33%
 forest and woodland:
  7%
 other:
  33%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October
Note:
  strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

*British Virgin Islands, People

Population:
  12,707 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.22% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  20.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  19.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.62 years
 male:
  70.77 years
 female:
  74.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.28 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  British Virgin Islander(s)
 adjective:
  British Virgin Islander
Ethnic divisions:
  black 90%, white, Asian
Religions:
  Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day
  Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic
  6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
Languages:
  English (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  98%  female:
  98%
Labor force:
  4,911 (1980)
 by occupation:
  NA

*British Virgin Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  British Virgin Islands
Abbreviation:
  BVI
Digraph:
  VI
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  Road Town
Administrative divisions:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  1 June 1977
Legal system:
  English law
National holiday:
  Territory Day, 1 July
Political parties and leaders:
  United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity
  STOUTT; Independent Progressive Movement (IPM), Cyril B. ROMNEY
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Council:
  last held 12 November 1990 (next to be held by November 1995); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) VIP 6, IPM 1, independents 2
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, chief minister, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
  Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Peter
  Alfred PENFOLD (since NA 1991)
 Head of Government:
  Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986)
Member of:   CARICOM (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO
  (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (dependent territory of UK)
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin
  Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of
  arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil
  lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

*British Virgin Islands, Economy

Overview:
  The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean area, is highly
  dependent on the tourist industry, which generates about 21% of the national
  income. In 1985 the government offered offshore registration to companies
  wishing to incorporate in the islands, and, in consequence, incorporation
  fees generated about $2 million in 1987. The economy slowed in 1991 because
  of the poor performances of the tourist sector and tight commercial bank
  credit. Livestock raising is the most significant agricultural activity. The
  islands' crops, limited by poor soils, are unable to meet food requirements.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $133 million (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  2% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $10,600 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.5% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NEGL% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $51 million; expenditures $88 million, including capital
  expenditures of $38 million (1991)
Exports:
  $2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988)
 commodities:
  rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals
 partners:
  Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports:
  $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988)
 commodities:
  building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
 partners:
  Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
External debt:
  $4.5 million (1985)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.0% (1985)
Electricity:
  10,500 kW capacity; 43 million kWh produced, 3,510 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore
  financial center
Agriculture:
  livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  US currency is used
Exchange rates:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*British Virgin Islands, Communications

Highways:
  106 km motorable roads (1983)
Ports:
  Road Town
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone service; submarine cable
  communication links to Bermuda; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

*British Virgin Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Brunei, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, on the northern coast of Borneo almost completely surrounded
  by Malaysia
Map references:
  Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  5,770 km2  land area:
  5,270 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Delaware
Land boundaries:
  total 381 km, Malysia 381 km
Coastline:
  161 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country; all of
  the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them
  are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an
  exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly
  claimed the island
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain:
  flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  79%
 other:
  18%
Irrigated land:
  10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Note:
  close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific
  Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of
  Malaysia

*Brunei, People

Population:
  276,984 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.77% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.55 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:   5.02 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  6.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  25.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.94 years
 male:
  69.27 years
 female:
  72.65 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.45 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Bruneian(s)
 adjective:
  Bruneian
Ethnic divisions:
  Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%
Religions:
  Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and
  other 15% (1981)
Languages:
  Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
 total population:
  77%
 male:
  85%
 female:
  69%
Labor force:
  89,000 (includes members of the Army)
 by occupation:
  government 47.5%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction
  41.9%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.8% (1986)
 note:
  33% of labor force is foreign (1988)

*Brunei, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Negara Brunei Darussalam
 conventional short form:
  Brunei
Digraph:
  BX
Type:
  constitutional sultanate
Capital:   Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions:
  4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara,
  Temburong, Tutong
Independence:
  1 January 1984 (from UK)
Constitution:
  29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency
  since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
Legal system:
  based on Islamic law
National holiday:
  23 February (1984)
Political parties and leaders:
  Brunei United National Party (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; Brunei
  National Democratic Party (the first legal political party and now banned),
  leader NA
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
 Legislative Council:
  last held in March 1962; in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive
  body by decree of the sultan and no elections are planned
Executive branch:
  sultan, prime minister, Council of Cabinet Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  APEC, ASEAN, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, IDB, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Mohamed KASSIM bin Haji Mohamed Daud
 chancery:
  2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 3000, Washington, DC 20037
 telephone:
  (202) 342-0159
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Donald Burnham ENSENAT
 embassy:
  Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan

*Brunei, Government

 mailing address:
  American Embassy Box B, APO AP 96440
 telephone:   [673] (2) 229-670
 FAX:
  [673] (2) 225-293
Flag:
  yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black
  starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is
  superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top
  of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by
  two upraised hands

*Brunei, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship,
  government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is
  almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with
  revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for more than 50% of GDP. Per
  capita GDP of $8,800 is among the highest in the Third World, and
  substantial income from overseas investment supplements domestic production.
  The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and
  housing.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $8,800 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.3% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
  3.7% (1989)
Budget:
  revenues $1.3 billion; expenditures $1.5 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $255 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
  $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products
 partners:
  Japan 53%, UK 12%, South Korea 9%, Thailand 7%, Singapore 5% (1990)
Imports:
  $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
 partners:
  Singapore 35%, UK 26%, Switzerland 9%, US 9%, Japan 5% (1990)
External debt:
  $0
Industrial production:
  growth rate 12.9% (1987); accounts for 52.4% of GDP
Electricity:
  310,000 kW capacity; 890 million kWh produced, 3,300 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Agriculture:
  imports about 80% of its food needs; principal crops and livestock include
  rice, cassava, bananas, buffaloes, and pigs
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $20.6 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $153 million
Currency:
  1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.6531 (January 1993), 1.6290 (1992),
  1.7276 (1991), 1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988); note - the
  Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Brunei, Communications

Railroads:
  13 km 0.610-meter narrow-gauge private line
Highways:
  1,090 km total; 370 km paved (bituminous treated) and another 52 km under
  construction, 720 km gravel or unimproved
Inland waterways:
  209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 meters
Pipelines:
  crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km
Ports:
  Kuala Belait, Muara
Merchant marine:
  7 liquefied gas carriers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635
  DWT
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runway over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runway 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runway 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  service throughout country is adequate for present needs; international
  service good to adjacent Malaysia; radiobroadcast coverage good; 33,000
  telephones (1987); broadcast stations - 4 AM/FM, 1 TV; 74,000 radio
  receivers (1987); satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1
  Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

*Brunei, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 77,407; fit for military service 45,112; reach military age
  (18) annually 2,676 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $300 million, 9% of GDP (1990)

*Bulgaria, Geography

Location:
  Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
Map references:
  Africa, Arctic Region, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Middle East,
  Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  110,910 km2
 land area:
  110,550 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
  total 1,808 km, Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and
  Montenegro 318 km (all with Serbia), Turkey 240 km
Coastline:
  354 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Macedonia question with Greece and Macedonia
Climate:
  temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with lowlands in north and south
Natural resources:
  bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use:
 arable land:
  34%
 permanent crops:
  3%
 meadows and pastures:
  18%
 forest and woodland:
  35%
 other:
  10%
Irrigated land:
  10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to earthquakes, landslides; deforestation; air pollution
Note:
  strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from
  Europe to Middle East and Asia

*Bulgaria, People

Population:
  8,831,168 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -0.39% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  11.69 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.54 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -4.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  12.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.82 years
 male:
  69.55 years
 female:
  76.26 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.71 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Bulgarian(s)
 adjective:
  Bulgarian
Ethnic divisions:
  Bulgarian 85.3%, Turk 8.5%, Gypsy 2.6%, Macedonian 2.5%, Armenian 0.3%,
  Russian 0.2%, other 0.6%
Religions:
  Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman Catholic 0.5%, Uniate
  Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 0.5%
Languages:
  Bulgarian; secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  93%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  4.3 million  by occupation:
  industry 33%, agriculture 20%, other 47% (1987)

*Bulgaria, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Bulgaria
 conventional short form:
  Bulgaria
Digraph:
  BU
Type:
  emerging democracy
Capital:
  Sofia
Administrative divisions:
  9 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo,
  Lovech, Mikhaylovgrad, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Sofiya, Varna
Independence:
  22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)
Constitution:
  adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system:
  based on civil law system, with Soviet law influence; has accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  3 March (1878)
Political parties and leaders:
  Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), Filip DIMITROV, chairman, an alliance of
  approximately 20 pro-Democratic parties including United Democratic Center,
  Democratic Party, Radical Democratic Party, Christian Democratic Union,
  Alternative Social Liberal Party, Republican Party, Civic Initiative
  Movement, Union of the Repressed, and about a dozen other groups; Movement
  for Rights and Freedoms (ethnic Turkish party) (MRF), Ahmed DOGAN, chairman;
  Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Zhan VIDENOV, chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
  Ecoglasnost; Podkrepa (Support) Labor Confederation; Fatherland Union;
  Bulgarian Democratic Youth (formerly Communist Youth Union); Confederation
  of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB); Nationwide Committee for
  Defense of National Interests; Peasant Youth League; 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 President:
  last held January 1992; results - Zhelyu ZHELEV was elected by popular vote
 National Assembly:
  last held 13 October 1991; results - UDF 34%, BSP 33%, MRF 7.5%; seats -
  (240 total) UDF 110, BSP 106, Movement for Rights and Freedoms 24
Executive branch:   president, chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister), three
  deputy chairmen of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Narodno Sobranie)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Zhelyu Mitev ZHELEV (since 1 August 1990); Vice President Blaga
  Nikolova DIMITROVA (since NA)

*Bulgaria, Government

 Head of Government:
  Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) Lyuben Borisov BEROV
  (since 30 December 1992); Deputy Chairmen of the Council of Ministers
  (Deputy Prime Ministers) Valentin KARABASHEV, Neycho NEEV, and Evgeniy
  MATINCHEV (since 30 December 1992)
Member of:
  BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS,
  NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ognyan Raytchev PISHEV
 chancery:
  1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 387-7969
 FAX:
  (202) 234-7973
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Hugh Kenneth HILL
 embassy:
  1 Alexander Stamboliski Boulevard, Sofia, Unit 25402
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09213-5740
 telephone:
  [359] (2) 88-48-01 through 05
 FAX:
  [359] (2) 80-19-77
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the national
  emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has been removed - it
  contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a red
  five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the dates 681 (first Bulgarian
  state established) and 1944 (liberation from Nazi control)

*Bulgaria, Economy

Overview:
  Growth in the lackluster Bulgarian economy fell to the 2% annual level in
  the 1980s. By 1990, Sofia's foreign debt had skyrocketed to over $10 billion
  - giving a debt-service ratio of more than 40% of hard currency earnings and
  leading the regime to declare a moratorium on its hard currency payments.
  The post-Communist government faces major problems of renovating an aging
  industrial plant; keeping abreast of rapidly unfolding technological
  developments; investing in additional energy capacity (the portion of
  electric power from nuclear energy reached over one-third in 1990); and
  motivating workers, in part by giving them a share in the earnings of their
  enterprises. Political bickering in Sofia and the collapse of the DIMITROV
  government in October 1992 have slowed the economic reform process. New
  Prime Minister BEROV, however, has pledged to continue the reforms initiated
  by the previous government. He has promised to continue cooperation with the
  World Bank and IMF, advance negotiations on rescheduling commercial debt,
  and push ahead with privatization. BEROV's government - whose main
  parliamentary supporters are the former Communist Bulgarian Socialist Party
  (BSP) - nonetheless appears likely to pursue more interventionist tactics in
  overcoming the country's economic problems.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $34.1 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  -7.7% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $3,800 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  80% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  15% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $8 billion; expenditures $5 billion, including capital expenditures
  of $NA (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 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% (USSR 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:
  $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 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% (former USSR 43.2%, Poland 3.7%); developed
  countries 32.8% (Germany 7.0%, Austria 4.7%); less developed countries 16.2%
  (Iran 2.8%, Libya 2.5%)
External debt:
  $12 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -21% (1992 est.); accounts for about 37% of GDP (1990)
Electricity:   11,500,000 kW capacity; 45,000 million kWh produced, 5,070 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Bulgaria, Economy

Industries:
  machine building and metal working, food processing, chemicals, textiles,
  building materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals
Agriculture:
  accounts for 22% of GDP (1990); 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 transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
  donor - $1.6 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed
  countries (1956-89)
Currency:
  1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki
Exchange rates:
  leva (Lv) per US$1 - 24.56 (January 1993),17.18 (January 1992), 16.13 (March
  1991), 0.7446 (November 1990), 0.84 (1989), 0.82 (1988), 0.90 (1987); note -
  floating exchange rate since February 1991
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Bulgaria, Communications

Railroads:
  4,300 km total, all government owned (1987); 4,055 km 1.435-meter standard
  gauge, 245 km narrow gauge; 917 km double track; 2,640 km electrified
Highways:
  36,908 km total; 33,535 km hard surface (including 242 km superhighways);
  3,373 km earth roads (1987)
Inland waterways:
  470 km (1987)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 193 km; petroleum products 525 km; natural gas 1,400 km (1992)
Ports:
  coastal - Burgas, Varna, Varna West; inland - Ruse, Vidin, and Lom on the
  Danube
Merchant marine:
  112 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 1,262,320 GRT/1,887,729 DWT;
  includes 2 short-sea passenger, 30 cargo, 2 container, 1 passenger-cargo
  training, 6 roll-on/roll-off, 15 oil tanker, 4 chemical carrier, 2 railcar
  carrier, 50 bulk; Bulgaria owns 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,717
  DWT operating under Liberian registry
Airports:
 total:
  380  usable:
  380
 with permanent-surface runways:
  120
 with runways over 3659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  20
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  20
Telecommunications:
  extensive but antiquated transmission system of coaxial cable and mirowave
  radio relay; 2.6 million telephones; direct dialing to 36 countries; phone
  density is 29 phones per 100 persons (1992); almost two-thirds of the lines
  are residential; 67% of Sofia households have phones (November 1988);
  telephone service is available in most villages; broadcast stations - 20 AM,
  15 FM, and 29 TV, with 1 Soviet TV repeater in Sofia; 2.1 million TV sets
  (1990); 92% of country receives No. 1 television program (May 1990); 1
  satellite ground station using Intersputnik; INTELSAT is used through a
  Greek earth station

*Bulgaria, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Frontier Troops, Internal Troops
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,178,136; fit for military service 1,819,901; reach
  military age (19) annually 69,495 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  5.77 billion leva, NA% of GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense
  expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
  misleading results

*Burkina, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, between Ghana and Mali
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  274,200 km2
 land area:
  273,800 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:
  total 3,192 km, Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Mali 1,000
  km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:   none; landlocked
International disputes:
  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:
  tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
  mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast
Natural resources:
  manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper,
  nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver
Land use:
 arable land:
  10%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  37%
 forest and woodland:
  26%
 other:
  27%
Irrigated land:
  160 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  recent droughts and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural
  activities, population distribution, economy; overgrazing; deforestation
Note:
  landlocked

*Burkina, People

Population:
  9,852,529 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.83% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  48.8 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  18.19 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  119.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  47.47 years
 male:
  46.66 years
 female:
  48.3 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  7 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Burkinabe (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Burkinabe
Ethnic divisions:
  Mossi (about 2.5 million), Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 25%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%
Languages:
  French (official), tribal languages belong to Sudanic family, spoken by 90%
  of the population
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  18%
 male:
  28%
 female:
  9%
Labor force:
  3.3 million residents; 30,000 are wage earners
 by occupation:
  agriculture 82%, industry 13%, commerce, services, and government 5%
 note:
  20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for
  seasonal employment (1984); 44% of population of working age (1985)

*Burkina, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Burkina Faso
 conventional short form:
  Burkina
 former:
  Upper Volta
Digraph:
  UV
Type:
  parliamentary
Capital:
  Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions:
  30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou,
  Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga,
  Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie,
  Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo
Independence:
  5 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  June 1991
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system and customary law
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)
Political parties and leaders:
  Organization for People's Democracy-Labor Movement (ODP-MT), ruling party,
  Marc Christian Roch KABORE; National Convention of Progressive
  Patriots-Social Democratic Party (CNPP-PSD), Pierre TAPSOBA; African
  Democratic Assembly (RDA), Gerard Kango OUEDRAOGO; Alliance for Democracy
  and Federation (ADF), Herman YAMEOGO
Other political or pressure groups:
  committees for the defense of the revolution; watchdog/political action
  groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
 President:
  last held December 1991
 Assembly of People's Deputies:
  last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (107 total), ODP-MT 78, CNPP-PSD 12, RDA 6, ADF 4, other 7
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  Assembly of People's Deputies
 note:
  the current law also provides for a second consultative chamber, which had
  not been formally constituted as of 1 July 1992
Judicial branch:
  Appeals Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)

*Burkina, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
  ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 chancery:
  2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 332-5577 or 6895
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edward P. BYRNN
 embassy:
  Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou
 mailing address:   01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou
 telephone:
  [226] 30-67- 23 through 25
 FAX:
  [226] 31-23-68
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed
  star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

*Burkina, Economy

Overview:
  One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina has a high population
  density, few natural resources, and relatively infertile soil. Economic
  development is hindered by a poor communications network within a landlocked
  country. Agriculture provides about 40% of GDP and is entirely of a
  subsistence nature. Industry, dominated by unprofitable
  government-controlled corporations, accounts for about 15% of GDP.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.3 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  1.3% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $350 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -1% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $495 million; expenditures $786 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
  $304.8 million (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  cotton, gold, animal products
 partners:
  EC 45%, Taiwan 15%, Cote d'Ivoire 15% (1987)
Imports:
  $593 million (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  machinery, food products, petroleum
 partners:
  EC 51%, Africa 25%, US 6% (1987)
External debt:
  $865 million (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.7% (1990 est.), accounts for about 23% of GDP (1989)
Electricity:
  120,000 kW capacity; 320 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles,
  gold mining and extraction
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 30% of GDP; cash crops - peanuts, shea nuts, sesame,
  cotton; food crops - sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock; not
  self-sufficient in food grains
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $294 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.9 billion;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $113 million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11
  (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Burkina, Communications

Railroads:
  620 km total; 520 km Ouagadougou to Cote d'Ivoire border and 100 km
  Ouagadougou to Kaya; all 1.00-meter gauge and single track
Highways:
  16,500 km total; 1,300 km paved, 7,400 km improved, 7,800 km unimproved
  (1985)
Airports:
 total:
  48
 usable:
  38
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  8
Telecommunications:
  all services only fair; microwave radio relay, wire, and radio communication
  stations in use; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station

*Burkina, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's Militia
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,947,935; fit for military service 995,532 (1993 est.); no
  conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Burma, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
Map references:
  Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  678,500 km2
 land area:
  657,740 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 5,876 km, Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235
  km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline:
  1,930 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or to the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June
  to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower
  humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
Terrain:
  central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Natural resources:
  petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some
  marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas
Land use:
 arable land:
  15%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  49%
 other:
  34%
Irrigated land:
  10,180 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  subject to destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides
  common during rainy season (June to September); deforestation
Note:
  strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

*Burma, People

Population:
  43,455,953 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.88% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  28.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.05 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  65.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  59.5 years
 male:
  57.5 years
 female:
  61.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.7 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Burmese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Burmese
Ethnic divisions:
  Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Mon 2%, Indian 2%,
  other 5%
Religions:
  Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%,
  animist beliefs 1%, other 2%
Languages:
  Burmese; minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 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%
  (FY89 est.)

*Burma, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Union of Burma
 conventional short form:
  Burma
 local long form:
  Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of
  Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar)
 local short form:
  Myanma Naingngandaw
 former:
  Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
Digraph:
  BM
Type:
  military regime
Capital:
  Rangoon (sometimes translated as Yangon)
Administrative divisions:
  7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular - yin) and 7 states (pyine-mya, singular -,   pyine); Chin State,
Irrawaddy*, Kachin State, Karan State, Kayah State,,   Magwe*, Mandalay*, Mon State, Pegu*, Rakhine,
State, Rangoon*, Sagaing*, Shan,   State, Tenasserim*, Independence:
  4 January 1948 (from UK)
Constitution:
  3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); National Convention
  started on 9 January 1993 to draft chapter headings for a new constitution
Legal system:
  has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Unity Party (NUP; proregime), THA KYAW; National League for
  Democracy (NLD), U AUNG SHWE; National Coalition of Union of Burma (NCGUB),
  SEIN WIN (which consists of individuals legitimately elected to parliament,
  but not recognized by military regime) fled to border area and joined with
  insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government
Other political or pressure groups:
  Kachin Independence Army (KIA); United Wa State Army (UWSA); Karen National
  Union (KNU - the only non-drug group); several Shan factions, including the
  Mong Tai Army (MTA)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 People's Assembly:
  last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened; results - NLD 80%; seats
  - (485 total) NLD 396, the regime-favored NUP 10, other 79
Executive branch:
  chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, State Law and Order
  Restoration Council
Legislative branch:
  unicameral People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw) was dissolved after the coup
  of 18 September 1988
Judicial branch:   none; Council of People's Justices was abolished after the coup of 18
  September 1988

*Burma, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Gen. THAN SHWE
  (since 23 April 1992)
Member of:
  AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, 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:
  (202) 332-9044 through 9046
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission, Charge d'Affaires Franklin P. HUDDLE, Jr.
 embassy:
  581 Merchant Street, Rangoon
 mailing address:
  GPO Box 521, AMEMB Box B, APO AP 96546
 telephone:
  [95] (1) 82055, 82181
 FAX:
  [95] (1) 80409
Flag:
  red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing, all in
  white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of
  rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions

*Burma, Economy

Overview:
  Burma is a poor Asian country, with a per capita GDP of about $660. The
  nation has been unable to achieve any substantial improvement in export
  earnings because of falling prices for many of its major commodity exports.
  For rice, traditionally the most important export, the drop in world prices
  has been accompanied by shrinking markets and a smaller volume of sales. In
  1985 teak replaced rice as the largest export and continues to hold this
  position. The economy is heavily dependent on the agricultural sector, which
  generates about 40% of GDP and provides employment for 65% of the work
  force. Burma has been largely isolated from international economic forces
  and has been trying to encourage foreign investment, so far with little
  success.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $28 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  1.3% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $660 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  50% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  9.6% (FY89 est.) in urban areas
Budget:
  revenues $8.1 billion; expenditures $11.6 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $535.1 million (FY92)
 commodities:
  teak, rice, oilseed, metals, rubber, gems
 partners:
  China, India, Thailand, Singapore
Imports:
  $907.0 million (FY92)
 commodities:
  machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, food products
 partners:
  Japan, China, Singapore
External debt:
  $4 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 2.6% (FY90 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP
Electricity:
  1,100,000 kW capacity; 2,800 million kWh produced, 65 kWh per capita (1992)
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 40% of GDP (including fish and forestry); self-sufficient in
  food; principal crops - paddy rice, corn, oilseed, sugarcane, pulses;
  world's largest stand of hardwood trees; rice and teak account for 55% of
  export revenues
Illicit drugs:
  world's largest illicit producer of opium poppy and minor producer of
  cannabis for the international drug trade; opium production has nearly
  doubled since the collapse of Rangoon's antinarcotic programs

*Burma, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $158 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.9 billion;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $424 million
Currency:
  1 kyat (K) = 100 pyas
Exchange rates:   kyats (K) per US$1 - 6.0963 (January 1992), 6.2837 (1991), 6.3386 (1990),
  6.7049 (1989), 6.46 (1988), 6.6535 (1987); unofficial - 105
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Burma, Communications

Railroads:
  3,991 km total, all government owned; 3,878 km 1.000-meter gauge, 113 km
  narrow-gauge industrial lines; 362 km double track
Highways:
  27,000 km total; 3,200 km bituminous, 17,700 km improved earth or gravel,
  6,100 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  12,800 km; 3,200 km navigable by large commercial vessels
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,343 km; natural gas 330 km
Ports:
  Rangoon, Moulmein, Bassein
Merchant marine:
  62 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 940,264 GRT/1,315,156 DWT; includes 3
  passenger-cargo, 18 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 4 vehicle carrier, 2
  container, 2 oil tanker, 3 chemical, 1 combination ore/oil, 23 bulk, 1
  combination bulk
Airports:
 total:
  83
 usable:
  78
 with permanent-surface runways:
  26
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  38
Telecommunications:
  meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and
  government; international service is good; 53,000 telephones (1986);
  radiobroadcast coverage is limited to the most populous areas; broadcast
  stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (1985); 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Burma, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 11,004,419; females age 15-49 10,945,899; males fit for
  military service 5,894,514; females fit for military service 5,847,958;
  males reach military age (18) annually 435,030; females reach military age
  (18) annually 420,487 (1993 est.); both sexes are liable for military
  service
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP (1992)

*Burundi, Geography

Location:
  Central Africa, between Tanzania and Zaire
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  27,830 km2
 land area:
  25,650 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  total 974 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km, Zaire 233 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate; warm; occasional frost in uplands
Terrain:
  mostly rolling to hilly highland; some plains
Natural resources:
  nickel, uranium, rare earth oxide, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet
  exploited), vanadium
Land use:
 arable land:
  43%
 permanent crops:
  8%
 meadows and pastures:
  35%
 forest and woodland:
  2%
 other:
  12%
Irrigated land:
  720 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  soil exhaustion; soil erosion; deforestation
Note:
  landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed

*Burundi, People

Population:
  5,985,308 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.34% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  44.69 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  21.25 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  115.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  40.75 years
 male:
  38.79 years
 female:
  42.76 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.76 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Burundian(s)
 adjective:
  Burundi
Ethnic divisions:
 Africans:
  Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1% (other Africans
  include about 70,000 refugees, mostly Rwandans and Zairians)
 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)
 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%
 note:
  52% of population of working age (1985)

*Burundi, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Burundi
 conventional short form:
  Burundi
 local long form:
  Republika y'u Burundi
 local short form:
  Burundi
Digraph:
  BY
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Bujumbura
Administrative divisions:
  15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi,
  Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence:
  1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
Constitution:
  13 March 1992 draft provides for establishment of plural political system
Legal system:
  based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Political parties and leaders:
  only party - National Party of Unity and Progress (UPRONA), Nicolas MAYUGI,
  secretary general;
 note:
  although Burundi is still officially a one-party state, at least four
  political parties were formed in 1991 and set the precedent for
  constitutional reform in 1992 - Burundi Democratic Front (FRODEBU),
  Organization of the People of Burundi (RPB), Socialist Party of Burundi
  (PSB), Royalist Parliamentary Party (PRP) - the most significant opposition
  party is FRODEBU, led by Melchior NDADAYE; the Party for the Liberation of
  the Hutu People (PALIPEHUTU), formed in exile in the early 1980s, is an
  ethnically based political party dedicated to majority rule; the government
  has long accused PALIPEHUTU of practicing devisive ethnic politics and
  fomenting violence against the state; PALIPEHUTU's exclusivist charter makes
  it an unlikely candidate for legalization under the new constitution that
  will require party membership open to all ethnic groups
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  note - The National Unity Charter outlining the principles for
  constitutional government was adopted by a national referendum on 5 February
  1991; new elections to the National Assembly are to take place 29 June 1993;
  presidential elections are to take place 1 June 1993
Executive branch:
  president; chairman of the Central Committee of the National Party of Unity
  and Progress (UPRONA), prime minister

*Burundi, Government

Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) was dissolved following
  the coup of 3 September 1987; at an extraordinary party congress held from
  27 to 29 December 1990, the Central Committee of the National Party of Unity
  and Progress (UPRONA) replaced the Military Committee for National
  Salvation, and became the supreme governing body during the transition to
  constitutional government
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Major Pierre BUYOYA (since 9 September 1987)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Adrien SIBOMANA (since 26 October 1988)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Julien KAVAKURE
 chancery:
  Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
 telephone:
  (202) 342-2574
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Cynthia Shepherd PERRY
 embassy:
  Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
 mailing address:
  B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
 telephone:
  [257] (223) 454
 FAX:
  [257] (222) 926
Flag:
  divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green
  panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk superimposed at the
  center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a
  triangular design (one star above, two stars below)

*Burundi, Economy

Overview:
  A landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage of economic
  development, Burundi is predominately agricultural with only a few basic
  industries. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts
  for an average 90% of foreign exchange earnings each year. 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 and attract foreign
  investment in industry. Several state-owned coffee companies were privatized
  via public auction in September 1991.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.23 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  5% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $205 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  9% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $318 million; expenditures $326 million, including capital
  expenditures of $150 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $91.7 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  coffee 81%, tea, hides, and skins
 partners:
  EC 83%, US 5%, Asia 2%
Imports:
  $246 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  capital goods 31%, petroleum products 15%, foodstuffs, consumer goods
 partners:
  EC 57%, Asia 23%, US 3%
External debt:
  $1 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  real growth rate 11.0% (1991 est.); accounts for about 5% of GDP
Electricity:
  55,000 kW capacity; 105 million kWh produced, 20 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imports;
  public works construction; food processing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 60% of GDP; 90% of population dependent on subsistence farming;
  marginally self-sufficient in food production; cash crops - coffee, cotton,
  tea; food crops - corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc; livestock
  - meat, milk, hides and skins
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $71 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $10.2 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $32 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $175
  million
Currency:
  1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes

*Burundi, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1 - 235.75 (January 1993), 208.30 (1992), 181.51
  (1991), 171.26 (1990), 158.67 (1989), 140.40 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Burundi, Communications

Highways:
  5,900 km total; 400 km paved, 2,500 km gravel or laterite, 3,000 km improved
  or unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  Lake Tanganyika
Ports:
  Bujumbura (lake port) connects to transportation systems of Tanzania and
  Zaire
Airports:
 total:
  5
 usable:
  4
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  sparse system of wire, radiocommunications, and low-capacity microwave radio
  relay links; 8,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Burundi, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,283,308; fit for military service 670,381; reach military
  age (16) annually 62,700 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $28 million, 3.7% of GDP (1989)

*Cambodia, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand and Vietnam
Map references:   Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  181,040 km2
 land area:
  176,520 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries:
  total 2,572 km, Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Coastline:
  443 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  offshore islands and three sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in
  dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined
Climate:
  tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to October); dry season (December to
  March); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Natural resources:
  timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower
  potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  16%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  3%
 forest and woodland:
  76%
 other:
  4%
Irrigated land:
  920 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  a land of paddies and forests dominated by Mekong River and Tonle Sap
Note:
  buffer between Thailand and Vietnam

*Cambodia, People

Population:
  9,898,900 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  4.41% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.52 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  16.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  15.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  111.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  49.06 years
 male:
  47.6 years
 female:
  50.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.81 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Cambodian(s)
 adjective:
  Cambodian
Ethnic divisions:
  Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:
  Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%
Languages:
  Khmer (official), French
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  35%
 male:
  48%
 female:
  22%
Labor force:
  2,500,000 to 3,000,000
 by occupation:
  agriculture 80% (1988 est.)

*Cambodia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Cambodia
Digraph:
  CB
Type:
  transitional government currently administered by the Supreme National
  Council (SNC), a body set up under United Nations' auspices, in preparation
  for an internationally supervised election in 1993 and including
  representatives from each of the country's four political factions
Capital:
  Phnom Penh
Administrative divisions:
  20 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, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
Independence:
  9 November 1949 (from France)
Constitution:
  a new constitution will be drafted after the national election in 1993
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
 NGC:
  Independence Day, 17 April (1975)
 SOC:
  Liberation Day, 7 January (1979)
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Kampuchea (DK, also known as the Khmer Rouge) under KHIEU
  SAMPHAN; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party (CPP) under
  CHEA SIM; Khmer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) under SON SANN;
  National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative
  Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) under Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH; Liberal Democratic
  Party (LDP) under SAK SUTSAKHAN
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
  UN-supervised election for a 120-member constituent assembly based on
  proportional representation within each province is scheduled for 23-27 May
  1993; the assembly will draft and approve a constitution and then transform
  itself into a legislature that will create a new Cambodian Government
Executive branch:
  a 12 member Supreme National Council (SNC), chaired by Prince NORODOM
  SIHANOUK, composed of representatives from each of the four political
  factions; faction names and delegation leaders are: State of Cambodia (SOC)
  - HUN SEN; Democratic Kampuchea (DK or Khmer Rouge) - KHIEU SAMPHAN; Khmer
  People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF) - SON SANN; National United Front
  for an Independent, Peaceful, Neutral, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC)
  - Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH
Legislative branch:
  pending a national election in 1993, the incumbent SOC faction's unicameral
  National Assembly is the only functioning national legislative body
Judicial branch:
  Supreme People's Court pending a national election in 1993, the incumbent
  SOC faction's Supreme People's Court is the only functioning national
  judicial body

*Cambodia, Government

Leaders:  Chief of State:
  SNC - Chairman Prince NORODOM SIHANOUK, under UN supervision
 Head of Government:
  NGC - vacant, but will be determined following the national election in
  1993; SOC - Chairman of the Council of Ministers HUN SEN (since 14 January
  1985)
Member of:
  AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INTERPOL, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  the Supreme National Council (SNC) represents Cambodia in international
  organizations
US diplomatic representation:
 US representative:
  Charles TWINNING
 mission:
  27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
 mailing address:
  Box P, APO AP 96546
 telephone:
  (855) 23-26436 or (855) 23-26438
 FAX:
  (855) 23-26437
Flag:
  SNC - blue background with white map of Cambodia in middle; SOC - two equal
  horizontal bands of red (top) and blue with a gold stylized five-towered
  temple representing Angkor Wat in the center

*Cambodia, Economy

Overview:
  Cambodia remains a desperately poor country whose economic recovery is held
  hostage to continued political unrest and factional hostilities. The
  country's immediate economic challenge is an acute financial crisis that is
  undermining monetary stability and preventing disbursement of foreign
  development assistance. Cambodia is still recovering from an abrupt shift in
  1990 to free-market economic mechanisms and a cutoff in aid from former
  Soviet bloc countries; these changes have severely impacted on public sector
  revenues and performance. The country's infrastructure of roads, bridges,
  and power plants has been severely degraded, now having only 40-50% of
  prewar capacity. The economy remains essentially rural, with 90% of the
  population living in the countryside and dependent mainly on subsistence
  agriculture. Statistical data on the economy continue to be sparse and
  unreliable.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $280 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  250-300% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $120 million; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of
  $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $59 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  natural rubber, rice, pepper, wood
 partners:
  Vietnam, USSR, Eastern Europe, Japan, India
Imports:
  $170 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  international food aid; fuels, consumer goods, machinery
 partners:
  Vietnam, USSR, Eastern Europe, Japan, India
External debt:
  $717 million (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  35,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 9 kWh per capita (1990)
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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $725 million; Western (non-US
  countries) (1970-89), $300 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $1.8
  billion
Currency:
  1 riel (CR) = 100 sen

*Cambodia, Economy

Exchange rates:
  riels (CR) per US$1 - 2,800 (September 1992), 500 (December 1991), 560
  (1990), 159.00 (1988), 100.00 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Cambodia, Communications

Railroads:
  612 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned
Highways:
  13,351 km total; 2,622 km bituminous; 7,105 km crushed stone, gravel, or
  improved earth; 3,624 km unimproved earth; some roads in disrepair
Inland waterways:
  3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 meters; 282 km navigable to
  craft drawing 1.8 meters
Ports:
  Kampong Saom, Phnom Penh
Airports:
 total:
  15
 usable:
  9
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  service barely adequate for government requirements and virtually
  nonexistent for general public; international service limited to Vietnam and
  other adjacent countries; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

*Cambodia, Defense Forces

Branches:
 SOC:
  Cambodian People's Armed Forces (CPAF)
 Communist resistance forces:
  National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge)
 non-Communist resistance forces:
  Armee National Kampuchea Independent (ANKI) which is sometimes anglicized as
  National Army of Independent Cambodia (NAIC), Khmer People's National
  Liberation Armed Forces (KPNLAF)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,883,679; fit for military service 1,033,168; reach
  military age (18) annually 74,585 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Cameroon, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Equatorial Guinea
  and Nigeria
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  475,440 km2
 land area:
  469,440 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:   total 4,591 km, Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Congo 523
  km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Coastline:
  402 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  50 nm
International disputes:
  demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has
  led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification
  by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; boundary commission, created with
  Nigeria to discuss unresolved land and maritime boundaries, has not yet
  convened
Climate:
  varies with terrain from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Terrain:
  diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center,
  mountains in west, plains in north
Natural resources:
  petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  13%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  18%
 forest and woodland:
  54%
 other:
  13%
Irrigated land:
  280 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases; deforestation;
  overgrazing; desertification
Note:
  sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa

*Cameroon, People

Population:
  12,755,873 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.9% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  40.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.63 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  78.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:  total population:
  56.66 years
 male:
  54.65 years
 female:
  58.74 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.88 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Cameroonian(s)
 adjective:
  Cameroonian
Ethnic divisions:
  Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%,
  Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African
  less than 1%
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%
Languages:
  24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  54%
 male:
  66%
 female:
  43%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%, other services 14.2% (1983)
 note:
  50% of population of working age (15-64 years) (1985)

*Cameroon, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Cameroon
 conventional short form:
  Cameroon
 former:
  French Cameroon
Digraph:
  CM
Type:
  unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties
  legalized 1990)
Capital:
  Yaounde
Administrative divisions:
  10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord,
  Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence:
  1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French administration)
Constitution:
  20 May 1972
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not
  accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 20 May (1972)
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)
 major oppositon parties:
  Social Democratic Front (SDF)
 major opposition parties:
  Cameroonian Democratic Union (UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC)
Other political or pressure groups:
  NA
Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  last held 1 March 1992 (next scheduled for March 1997); results - (180
  seats) CPDM 88, UNDP 68, UPC 18, MDR 6
 President:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)

*Cameroon, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April 1992)
Member of:
  ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77,
  GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:   Ambassador Paul PONDI
 chancery:
  2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 265-8790 through 8794
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Harriet ISOM
 embassy:
  Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
 mailing address:
  B. P. 817, Yaounde
 telephone:
  [237] 234-014
 FAX:
  [237] 230-753
 consulate:
  Douala
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a
  yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular
  pan-African colors of Ethiopia

*Cameroon, Economy

Overview:
  Because of its offshore oil resources, Cameroon has one of the highest
  incomes per capita in tropical 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 1990-92, with support
  from the IMF and World Bank, the government has begun to introduce reforms
  designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture,
  and recapitalize the nation's banks. Nationwide strikes organized by
  opposition parties in 1991, however, undermined these efforts.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $11.5 billion (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,040 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  25% (1990 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $2.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $422 million (FY90 est.)
Exports:
  $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  petroleum products 51%, coffee, beans, cocoa, aluminum products, timber
 partners:
  EC (particularly France) about 50%, US, African countries
Imports:
  $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer goods, transport equipment
 partners:
  EC about 60%, France 41%, Germany 9%, African countries, Japan, US 4%
External debt:
  $6 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 6.4% (FY87); accounts for 30% of GDP
Electricity:
  755,000 kW capacity; 2,190 million kWh produced, 190 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods,
  textiles, sawmills
Agriculture:
  the agriculture and forestry sectors provide employment for the majority of
  the population, contributing nearly 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:
  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

*Cameroon, Economy

Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Cameroon, Communications

Railroads:
  1,003 km total; 858 km 1.000-meter gauge, 145 km 0.600-meter gauge
Highways:
  about 65,000 km total; includes 2,682 km paved, 32,318 km gravel and
  improved earth, and 30,000 km of unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  2,090 km; of decreasing importance
Ports:   Douala
Merchant marine:
  2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,122 GRT/33,509 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  59
 usable:
  51
 with permanent-surface runways:
  11
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  6
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  51
Telecommunications:
  good system of open wire, cable, troposcatter, and microwave radio relay;
  26,000 telephones, 2 telephones per 1,000 persons, available only to
  business and government; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 11 FM, 1 TV; 2 Atlantic
  Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Cameroon, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
  Presidential Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,844,280; fit for military service 1,432,563; reach
  military age (18) annually 125,453 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $219 million, less than 2% of GDP (1990 est.)

*Canada, Geography

Location:
  Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific
  Ocean north of the US
Map references:
  Arctic Region, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  9,976,140 km2
 land area:
  9,220,970 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than US
Land boundaries:
  total 8,893 km, US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline:
  243,791 km
Maritime claims:  continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  maritime boundary disputes with the US; Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus
  of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France
Climate:
  varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Terrain:
  mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
Natural resources:
  nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber,
  wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
 arable land:
  5%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  3%
 forest and woodland:
  35%
 other:
  57%
Irrigated land:
  8,400 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  80% of population concentrated within 160 km of US border; continuous
  permafrost in north a serious obstacle to development
Note:
  second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between
  Russia and US via north polar route

*Canada, People

Population:
  27,769,993 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.28% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  14.48 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.35 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  5.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.98 years
 male:   74.54 years
 female:
  81.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.84 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Canadian(s)
 adjective:
  Canadian
Ethnic divisions:
  British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other European 20%, indigenous
  Indian and Eskimo 1.5%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 46%, United Church 16%, Anglican 10%, other 28%
Languages:
  English (official), French (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  13.38 million
 by occupation:
  services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%, construction 3%, other 4%
  (1988)

*Canada, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Canada
Digraph:
  CA
Type:
  confederation with parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Ottawa
Administrative divisions:
  10 provinces and 2 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New,   Brunswick,
Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario,,   Prince Edward Island, Quebec,
Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*, Independence:
  1 July 1867 (from UK)
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
National holiday:
  Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Political parties and leaders:
  Progressive Conservative Party, Brian MULRONEY; Liberal Party, Jean
  CHRETIEN; New Democratic Party, Audrey McLAUGHLIN; Reform Party, Preston
  MANNING; Bloc Quebecois, Lucien BOUCHARD
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Commons:
  last held 21 November 1988 (next to be held by November 1993); results -
  Progressive Conservative Party 43%, Liberal Party 32%, New Democratic Party
  20%, other 5%; seats - (295 total) Progressive Conservative Party 159,
  Liberal Party 80, New Democratic Party 44, Bloc Quebecois 9, independents 3
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of an upper house or Senate
  (Senat) and a lower house or House of Commons (Chambre des Communes)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
  Raymond John HNATYSHYN (since 29 January 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Kim CAMBELL was chosen to replace Brian MULRONEY on 13 June
  1993

*Canada, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB
  (non-regional), COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state),
  FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, ONUSAL,
  PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
  UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WIPO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador John DE CHASTELAIN
 chancery:
  501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
 telephone:
  (202) 682-1740
 FAX:
  (202) 682-7726
 consulates general:
  Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles,
  Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador-designate Governor James J. BLANCHARD
 embassy:
  100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430
 telephone:
  (613) 238-5335 or (613) 238-4470
 FAX:
  (613) 238-5720
 consulates general:
  Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
Flag:
  three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and
  red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band

*Canada, Economy

Overview:
  As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles
  the US in per capita output, market-oriented economic system, and pattern of
  production. Since World War II the impressive growth of the manufacturing,
  mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural
  economy into one primarily industrial and urban. In the 1980s, Canada
  registered one of the highest rates of real growth among the OECD nations,
  averaging about 3.2%. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force,
  and modern capital plant, Canada has excellent economic prospects. However,
  the continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking
  areas has observers discussing a possible split in the confederation; foregn
  investors have become edgy.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $537.1 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  0.9% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $19,600 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.5% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  11.5% (December 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $111.8 billion; expenditures $138.3 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY90 est.)
Exports:
  $124.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 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:
  $118 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods,
  electronic computers; telecommunications equipment and parts
 partners:
  US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea
External debt:
  $247 billion (1987)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1% (1992); accounts for 34% of GDP
Electricity:
  109,340,000 kW capacity; 493,000 million kWh produced, 17,900 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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

*Canada, Economy

Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of
  hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of
  high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a transit point for heroin
  and cocaine entering the US market
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $7.2 billion
Currency:
  1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.2776 (January 1993), 1.2087 (1992),
  1.1457 (1991), 1.1668 (1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Canada, Communications

Railroads:
  146,444 km total; two major transcontinental freight railway systems -
  Canadian National (government owned) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger
  service - VIA (government operated); 158 km is electrified
Highways:
  884,272 km total; 712,936 km surfaced (250,023 km paved), 171,336 km earth
Inland waterways:
  3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway
Pipelines:
  crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
Ports:
  Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), Saint John's
  (Newfoundland), Toronto, Vancouver
Merchant marine:
  63 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 454,582 GRT/646,329 DWT; includes 1
  passenger, 3 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 8 cargo, 2 railcar
  carrier, 1 refrigerated cargo, 7 roll-on/roll-off, 1 container, 24 oil
  tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 9 bulk; note - does not
  include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes
Airports:
 total:
  1,420
 useable:
  1,142
 with permanent-surface runways:
  457
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  30
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  330
Telecommunications:
  excellent service provided by modern media; 18.0 million telephones;
  broadcast stations - 900 AM, 29 FM, 53 (1,400 repeaters) TV; 5 coaxial
  submarine cables; over 300 earth stations operating in INTELSAT (including 4
  Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and domestic systems

*Canada, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Canadian Armed Forces (including Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air
  Command, Communications Command, Training Command), Royal Canadian Mounted
  Police (RCMP)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 7,444,767; fit for military service 6,440,927; reach
  military age (17) annually 191,884 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $11.3 billion, 2% of GDP (FY92/93)

*Cape Verde, Geography

Location:
  in the southeastern North Atlantic Ocean, 500 km west of Senegal in Western
  Africa
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  4,030 km2
 land area:
  4,030 km2  comparative area:
  slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  965 km
Maritime claims:
  measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate; warm, dry, summer; precipitation very erratic
Terrain:
  steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Natural resources:
  salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  9%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  6%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  85%
Irrigated land:
  20 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility;
  volcanically and seismically active; deforestation; overgrazing
Note:
  strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south
  sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air
  refueling site

*Cape Verde, People

Population:
  410,535 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.03% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  47.02 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.43 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -7.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:   59.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  62.18 years
 male:
  60.3 years
 female:
  64.15 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.41 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Cape Verdean(s)
 adjective:
  Cape Verdean
Ethnic divisions:
  Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs
Languages:
  Portuguese, Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African words
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
 total population:
  66%
 male:
  NA
 female:
  NA
Labor force:
  102,000 (1985 est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981)
 note:
  51% of population of working age (1985)

*Cape Verde, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Cape Verde
 conventional short form:
  Cape Verde
 local long form:
  Republica de Cabo Verde
 local short form:
  Cabo Verde
Digraph:
  CV
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Praia
Administrative divisions:   14 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo,
Maio,
  Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz,
  Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Independence:
  5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Constitution:
  7 September 1980; amended 12 February 1981, December 1988, and 28 September
  1990 (legalized opposition parties)
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 People's National Assembly:
  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 - this
  multiparty Assembly election ended 15 years of single-party rule
 President:
  last held 17 February 1991 (next to be held February 1996); results -
  Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (MPD) received 72.6% of vote
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, deputy minister, secretaries of state, Council of
  Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (since 22 March 1991)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January
  1991)

*Cape Verde, Government

Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, 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:
  Ambassador Carlos Alberto Santos SILVA
 chancery:
  3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
 telephone:
  (202) 965-6820  consulate general:
  Boston
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Joseph SEGARS
 embassy:
  Rua Hoji Ya Henda 81, Praia
 mailing address:
  C. P. 201, Praia
 telephone:
  [238] 61-56-16 or 61-56-17
 FAX:
  [238] 61-13-55
Flag:
  a new flag of unknown description reportedly has been adopted; previous flag
  consisted of two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a
  vertical red band on the hoist side; in the upper portion of the red band is
  a black five-pointed star framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell;
  uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of
  Guinea-Bissau, which is longer and has an unadorned black star centered in
  the red band

*Cape Verde, Economy

Overview:
  Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, a
  serious, 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 16%; the fishing sector accounts for 4%.
  About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster
  and tuna, is not fully exploited. In 1988 fishing represented only 3.5% of
  GDP. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances
  from emigrants and foreign aid. Economic reforms launched by the new
  democratic government in February 1991 are aimed at developing the private
  sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $310 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $800 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8.7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  25% (1988)
Budget:
  revenues $104 million; expenditures $133 million, including capital
  expenditures of $72 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $5.7 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  fish, bananas, hides and skins
 partners:   Portugal 40%, Algeria 31%, Angola, Netherlands (1990 est.)
Imports:
  $120 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment
 partners:
  Sweden 33%, Spain 11%, Germany 5%, Portugal 3%, France 3%, Netherlands, US
  (1990 est.)
External debt:
  $156 million (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 18% (1988 est.); accounts for 4% of GDP
Electricity:
  15,000 kW capacity; 15 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, 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
Economic aid:
  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

*Cape Verde, Economy

Currency:
  1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 75.47 (January 1993), 73.10 (1992),
  71.41 (1991), 64.10 (November 1990), 74.86 (December 1989), 72.01 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Cape Verde, Communications

Ports:
  Mindelo, Praia
Merchant marine:
  7 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,717 GRT/19,000 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  6
 usable:
  6
 with permanent-surface runways:
  6  with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  interisland microwave radio relay system, high-frequency radio to Senegal
  and Guinea-Bissau; over 1,700 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 1
  TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Cape Verde, Defense Forces

Branches:
  People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP) (including Army and Navy),
  Security Service
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 75,431; fit for military service 44,358 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Cayman Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*Cayman Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, nearly halfway between Cuba and Honduras
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  260 km2
 land area:
  260 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  160 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively
  dry winters (November to April)
Terrain:
  low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Natural resources:
  fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  8%
 forest and woodland:
  23%
 other:
  69%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  within the Caribbean hurricane belt
Note:
  important location between Cuba and Central America

*Cayman Islands, People

Population:
  30,440 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  4.35% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.32 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.1 years
 male:
  75.37 years
 female:
  78.81 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.48 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Caymanian(s)
 adjective:
  Caymanian
Ethnic divisions:   mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Religions:
  United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman
  Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  98%
Labor force:
  8,061
 by occupation:
  service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and
  investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

*Cayman Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Cayman Islands
Digraph:
  CJ
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  George Town
Administrative divisions:
  8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West
  End, Western
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  1959, revised 1972
Legal system:
  British common law and local statutes
National holiday:
  Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Political parties and leaders:
  no formal political parties
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  last held November 1992 (next to be held November 1996); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected)
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Governor and President of the Executive Council Michael GORE (since NA May
  1992)
Member of:
  CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as a dependent territory of the UK, Caymanian interests in the US are
  represented by the UK
Flag:
  blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the
  flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with
  three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom
  bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

*Cayman Islands, Economy

Overview:
  The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of export
  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 needs must be imported.
  The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the region.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $670 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4.4% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $23,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  7% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $141.5 million; expenditures $160.7 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
  $1.5 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.)
 commodities:
  turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
 partners:
  mostly US
Imports:
  $136 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, manufactured goods
 partners:   US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
External debt:
  $15 million (1986)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced, 8,780 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, building materials,
  furniture making
Agriculture:
  minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $26.7 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $35 million
Currency:
  1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 1.20 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Cayman Islands, Communications

Highways:
  160 km of main roads
Ports:
  George Town, Cayman Brac
Merchant marine:
  29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 307,738 GRT/468,659 DWT; includes 1
  passenger-cargo, 8 cargo, 8 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 oil tanker, 2 chemical
  tanker, 1 liquefied gas carrier, 4 bulk, 2 combination bulk; note - a flag
  of convenience registry
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1 submarine coaxial cable and 1
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and access
  international services; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

*Cayman Islands, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Central African Republic, Geography

Location:
  Central Africa, between Chad and Zaire
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  622,980 km2
 land area:
  622,980 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 5,203 km, Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165
  km, Zaire 1,577 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain:
  vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and
  southwest
Natural resources:
  diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  5%
 forest and woodland:
  64%
 other:
  28%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; poaching has
  diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification
Note:
  landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

*Central African Republic, People

Population:
  3,073,979 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.23% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  42.77 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  20.49 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  138.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  42.94 years
 male:
  41.46 years
 female:
  44.45 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Central African(s)
 adjective:
  Central African
Ethnic divisions:
  Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans
  6,500 (including 3,600 French)
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%,
  other 11%
 note:
  animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
Languages:
  French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), Arabic,
  Hunsa, Swahili
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  27%
 male:
  33%
 female:
  15%
Labor force:
  775,413 (1986 est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 85%, commerce and services 9%, industry 3%, government 3%
 note:
  about 64,000 salaried workers; 55% of population of working age (1985)

*Central African Republic, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Central African Republic
 conventional short form:
  none
 local long form:
  Republique Centrafricaine
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  Central African Empire
Abbreviation:
  CAR
Digraph:
  CT
Type:
  republic; one-party presidential regime since 1986
Capital:
  Bangui
Administrative divisions:
  14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures*,   (prefectures
economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1
  commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui** Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto,,   Haute-Sangha,
Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere,
  Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga, Independence:
  13 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  21 November 1986
Legal system:
  based on French law
National holiday:
  National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the republic)
Political parties and leaders:
  Central African Democratic Party (RDC), the government party, Laurent
  GOMINA-PAMPALI; Council of Moderates Coalition includes; Union of the People
  for Economic and Social Development (UPDS), Katossy SIMANI; Liberal
  Republican Party (PARELI), Augustin M'BOE; Central African Socialist
  Movement (MSCA), Michel BENGUE; Concerted Democratic Forces (CFD), a
  coalition of 13 parties, including; Alliance for Democracy and Progress
  (ADP), Francois PEHOUA; Central African Republican party (PRC), Ruth
  ROLLAND; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Enoch DERANT-LAKOUE; Civic Forum
  (FC), Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA; Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), Nestor
  KOMBOT-NAGUEMON
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 25 October 1992; widespread irregularities at some polls led to
  dismissal of results by Supreme Court; elections are rescheduled for 17
  October 1993
 National Assembly:   last held 25 October 1992; widespread irregularities at some polls led to
  dismissal of results by Supreme Court; elections are rescheduled for 17
  October 1993
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

*Central African Republic, Government

Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) advised by the Economic
  and Regional Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit
  together this is known as the Congress (Congres)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Andre-Dieudonne KOLINGBA (since 1 September 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Enoch DERANT-LAKOUE (since 2 March 1993)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
  OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jean-Pierre SOHAHONG-KOMBET
 chancery:
  1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 483-7800 or 7801
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert E. GRIBBIN
 embassy:
  Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
 mailing address:
  B. P. 924, Bangui
 telephone:
  [236] 61-02-00, 61-25-78, 61-43-33, 61-02-10
 FAX:
  [236] 61-44-94
Flag:
  four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a
  vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the
  hoist side of the blue band

*Central African Republic, Economy

Overview:
  Subsistence agriculture, including forestry, is the backbone of the CAR
  economy, with more than 70% of the population living in the countryside. In
  1988 the agricultural sector generated about 40% of GDP. Agricultural
  products accounted for about 60% of export earnings and the diamond industry
  for 30%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's
  landlocked position, a poor transportation system, and a weak human resource
  base. Multilateral and bilateral development assistance, particularly from
  France, plays a major role in providing capital for new investment.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -3% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $440 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -3% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  30% (1988 est.) in Bangui
Budget:
  revenues $175 million; expenditures $312 million, including capital
  expenditures of $122 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $138 million (1991 est.)
 commodities:
  diamonds, cotton, coffee, timber, tobacco
 partners:
  France, Belgium, Italy, Japan, US
Imports:
  $205 million (1991 est.)
 commodities:
  food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor
  vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products
 partners:
  France, other EC countries, Japan, Algeria
External debt:
  $859 million (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4% (1990 est.); accounts for 14% of GDP
Electricity:
  40,000 kW capacity; 95 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of
  bicycles and motorcycles
Agriculture:
  accounts for 40% of GDP; self-sufficient in food production except for
  grain; commercial crops - cotton, coffee, tobacco, timber; food crops -
  manioc, yams, millet, corn, bananas
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $52 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $1.6 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $6 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $38
  million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)

*Central African Republic, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Central African Republic, Communications

Highways:
  22,000 km total; 458 km bituminous, 10,542 km improved earth, 11,000
  unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts;
  Oubangui is the most important river
Airports:
 total:
  66
 usable:
  51
 with permanent-surface runways:
  3
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  20
Telecommunications:
  fair system; network relies primarily on radio relay links, with
  low-capacity, low-powered radiocommunication also used; broadcast stations -
  1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Central African Republic, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Central African Army (including Republican Guard), Air Force, National
  Gendarmerie, Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 685,575; fit for military service 358,836 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $23 million, 1.8% of GDP (1989 est.)

*Chad, Geography

Location:
  Central Africa, between the Central African Republic and Libya
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:  total area:
  1.284 million km2
 land area:
  1,259,200 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than three times the size of California
Land boundaries:
  total 5,968 km, Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197 km, Libya
  1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  Libya claims and occupies the 100,000 km2 Aozou Strip in the far north;
  demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has
  led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification
  by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
Climate:
  tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain:
  broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest,
  lowlands in south
Natural resources:
  petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin,
  fish (Lake Chad)
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  36%
 forest and woodland:
  11%
 other:
  51%
Irrigated land:
  100 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; drought and desertification
  adversely affecting south; subject to plagues of locusts
Note:
  landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel

*Chad, People

Population:
  5,350,971 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.13% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  42.21 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:   20.93 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  134 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  40.41 years
 male:
  39.36 years
 female:
  41.5 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Chadian(s)
 adjective:
  Chadian
Ethnic divisions:
 north and center:
  Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi,
  Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba)
 south:
  non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa)
  nonindigenous 150,000, of whom 1,000 are French
Religions:
  Muslim 44%, Christian 33%, indigenous beliefs, animism 23%
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 can read and write French or Arabic (1990)
 total population:
  30%
 male:
  42%
 female:
  18%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  agriculture 85% (engaged in unpaid subsistence farming, herding, and
  fishing)

*Chad, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Chad
 conventional short form:
  Chad
 local long form:
  Republique du Tchad  local short form:
  Tchad
Digraph:
  CD
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  N'Djamena
Administrative divisions:
  14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha, Biltine,
  Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental,
  Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
Independence:
  11 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  22 December 1989, suspended 3 December 1990; Provisional National Charter 1
  March 1991; national conference drafting new constitution to submit to
  referendum January 1993
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  11 August
Political parties and leaders:
  Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS; former dissident group), Idriss DEBY,
  chairman
 note:
  President DEBY has promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and
  free elections by September 1993; numerous dissident groups; 26 opposition
  political parties
Other political or pressure groups:
  NA
Suffrage:
  universal at age NA
Elections:
 National Consultative Council:
  last held 8 July 1990; disbanded 3 December 1990
 President:
  last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA); results - President Hissein
  HABRE was elected without opposition; note - the government of then
  President HABRE fell on 1 December 1990, and Idriss DEBY seized power on 3
  December 1990; national conference opened 15 January 1993; election to
  follow by end of year
Executive branch:
  president, Council of State (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Consultative Council (Conseil National Consultatif) was
  disbanded 3 December 1990 and replaced by the Provisional Council of the
  Republic, with 30 members appointed by President DEBY on 8 March 1991
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal

*Chad, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Col. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Joseph YODOYMAN (since NA August 1992)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,
  OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Kombaria Loumaye MEKONYO
 chancery:
  2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 462-4009
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Richard W. BOGOSIAN
 embassy:
  Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
 mailing address:
  B. P. 413, N'Djamena
 telephone:
  [235] (51) 62-18, 40-09, or 51-62-11
 FAX:
  [235] 51-33-72
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to
  the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a
  national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow
  band; design was based on the flag of France

*Chad, Economy

Overview:
  The climate, geographic location, and lack of infrastructure and natural
  resources make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world.
  Its economy is burdened by the ravages of civil war, conflict with Libya,
  drought, and food shortages. In 1986 real GDP returned to its 1977 level,
  with cotton, the major cash crop, accounting for 48% of exports. Over 80% of
  the work force is employed in subsistence farming and fishing. Industry is
  based almost entirely on the processing of agricultural products, including
  cotton, sugarcane, and cattle. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, with
  its economy in trouble and many regions suffering from shortages. Oil
  companies are exploring areas north of Lake Chad and in the Doba basin in
  the south. Good crop weather led to 8.4% growth in 1991.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  8.4% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $215 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):   2%-3% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $115 million; expenditures $412 million, including capital
  expenditures of $218 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $193.9 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish
 partners:
  France, Nigeria, Cameroon
Imports:
  $294.1 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum
  products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; note - excludes military equipment
 partners:
  US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon
External debt:
  $492 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 12.9% (1989 est.); accounts for nearly 15% of GDP
Electricity:
  40,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 15 kWh per capita (1991)
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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $198 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $28 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $80
  million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

*Chad, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Chad, Communications

Highways:
  31,322 km total; 32 km bituminous; 7,300 km gravel and laterite; remainder
  unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  2,000 km navigable
Airports:
 total:
  69
 usable:
  55
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  24
Telecommunications:
  fair system of radiocommunication stations for intercity links; broadcast
  stations - 6 AM, 1 FM, limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative;
  1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Chad, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (includes Ground Forces, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,246,617; fit for military service 647,908; reach military
  age (20) annually 52,870 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $58 million, 5.6% of GDP (1989)

*Chile, Geography

Location:
  Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean between Argentina
  and Peru
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  756,950 km2
 land area:
  748,800 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
 note:
  includes Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Land boundaries:
  total 6,171 km, Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Coastline:   6,435 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  short section of the southern boundary with Argentina is indefinite; Bolivia
  has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama
  area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water
  rights; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory)
  partially overlaps Argentine and British claims
Climate:
  temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
Terrain:
  low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
Natural resources:
  copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum
Land use:
 arable land:
  7%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  16%
 forest and woodland:
  21%
 other:
  56%
Irrigated land:
  12,650 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to severe earthquakes, active volcanism, tsunami; Atacama Desert one
  of world's driest regions; desertification
Note:
  strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
  (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)

*Chile, People

Population:
  13,739,759 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.54% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  20.9 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.55 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  15.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  74.15 years
 male:
  71.16 years
 female:
  77.29 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.51 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Chilean(s)
 adjective:
  Chilean
Ethnic divisions:
  European and European-Indian 95%, Indian 3%, other 2%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish
Languages:
  Spanish
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  93%
 male:
  94%
 female:
  93%
Labor force:
  4.728 million
 by occupation:
  services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry and commerce 33.8%,
  agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%, construction 6.4%
  (1990)

*Chile, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Chile
 conventional short form:
  Chile
 local long form:
  Republica de Chile
 local short form:
  Chile
Digraph:
  CI
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Santiago
Administrative divisions:
  13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez
  del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador
  General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena,
  Maule, Region Metropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaiso
 note:
  the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:
  18 September 1810 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989
Legal system:
  based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes
  influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts
  in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Political parties and leaders:
  Concertation of Parties for Democracy consists mainly of four parties: PDC,
  PPD, PR, PS; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle;
  Party for Democracy (PPD), Sergio BITAR; Radical Party (PR), Carlos GONZALEZ
  Marquez; Sociaistl Party (PS), German CORREA; Independent Democratic Union
  (UDI), Jovino NOVOA; National Renovation (RN), Andree ALLAMAND;
  Center-Center Union (UCC), Francisco Juner ERRAZURIZ; Communist Party of
  Chile (PCCh), Volodia TEITELBOIM; Allende Leftist Democratic Movement
  (MIDA), Mario PALESTRO
Other political or pressure groups:
  revitalized university student federations at all major universities
  dominated by opposition political groups; labor - United Labor Central (CUT)
  includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor
  confederations; Roman Catholic Church
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) Concertation of Parties for
  Democracy 71 (PDC 38, PPD 17, PR 5, other 11), RN 29, UDI 11, right-wing
  independents 9
 President:
  last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December 1993); results -
  Patricio AYLWIN (PDC) 55.2%, Hernan BUCHI 29.4%, other 15.4%

*Chile, Government

 Senate:
  last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total, 38 elected) Concertation of
  Parties for Democracy 22 (PDC 13, PPD 5, PR 2, PSD 1, PRSD 1), RN 6, UDI 2,
  right-wing independents 8
Executive branch:
  president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consisting of an upper house
  or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de
  Diputados)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Patricio AYLWIN Azocar (since 11 March 1990)
Member of:
  CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
  LAIA, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
  UNMOGIP, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Patricio SILVA Echenique
 chancery:
  1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 785-1746
 consulates general:
  Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Curtis W. KAMMAN
 embassy:
  Codina Building, 1343 Agustinas, Santiago
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34033
 telephone:
  [56] (2) 671-0133
 FAX:
  [56] (2) 699-1141
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square
  the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band;
  the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center; design was based
  on the US flag

*Chile, Economy

Overview:
  The government of President AYLWIN, which took power in 1990, retained the
  economic policies of PINOCHET, although the share of spending for social
  welfare has risen steadily. In 1991 growth in GDP recovered to 6% (led by
  consumer spending) after only 2% growth in 1990. The pace accelerated in
  1992 as the result of strong investment and export growth, and GDP rose
  10.4%. Nonetheless, inflation fell further, to 12.7%, compared with 27.3% in
  1990 and 18.7% in 1991. The buoyant economy spurred a 25% growth in imports,
  and the trade surplus fell in 1992, although international reserves
  increased. Inflationary pressures are not expected to ease much in 1993, and
  economic growth is likely to approach 7%.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $34.7 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:   10.4% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $2,550 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  12.7% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  4.9% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $10.9 billion; expenditures $10.9 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $1.2 billion (1993)
Exports:
  $10 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  copper 41%, other metals and minerals 8.7%, wood products 7.1%, fish and
  fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1991)
 partners:
  EC 32%, US 18%, Japan 18%, Brazil 5% (1991)
Imports:
  $9.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials 15.4%, petroleum 10%,
  foodstuffs 5.7%
 partners:
  US 21%, EC 18%, Brazil 9%, Japan 8% (1991)
External debt:
  $16.9 billion (year end 1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 14.56% (1992); accounts for 34% of GDP
Electricity:
  5,769,000 kW capacity; 22,010 million kWh produced, 1,630 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood
  and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 9% 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
Economic aid:
  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

*Chile, Economy

Currency:
  1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 384.04 (January 1993), 362.59 (1992), 349.37
  (1991), 305.06 (1990), 267.16 (1989), 245.05 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Chile, Communications

Railroads:
  7,766 km total; 3,974 km 1.676-meter gauge, 150 km 1.435-meter standard
  gauge, 3,642 km 1.000-meter gauge; 1,865 km 1.676-meter gauge and 80 km
  1.000-meter gauge electrified
Highways:
  79,025 km total; 9,913 km paved, 33,140 km gravel, 35,972 km improved and
  unimproved earth (1984)
Inland waterways:
  725 km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural gas 320 km
Ports:
  Antofagasta, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Valparaiso, San Antonio,
  Talcahuano, Arica
Merchant marine:
  31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 445,330 GRT/756,018 DWT; includes 8
  cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 oil tanker, 3
  chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas tanker, 3 combination ore/oil, 8 bulk; note
  - in addition, 1 naval tanker and 1 military transport are sometimes used
  commercially
Airports:
 total:
  396
 usable:
  351
 with permanent-surface runways:
  48
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  13
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  57
Telecommunications:
  modern telephone system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities;
  768,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 159 AM, no FM, 131 TV, 11
  shortwave; satellite ground stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3
  domestic

*Chile, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army of the Nation, National Navy (including Naval Air, Coast Guard, and
  Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of Chile (National Police),
  Investigative Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 3.653 million; fit for military service 2,722,479; reach
  military age (19) annually 119,434 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:   exchange rate conversion - $1 billion, 3.4% of GDP (1991 est.)

*China, Header

Affiliation:
  (also see separate Taiwan entry)

*China, Geography

Location:
  East Asia, between India and Mongolia
Map references:
  Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  9,596,960 km2
 land area:
  9,326,410 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries:
  total 22,143.34 km, Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km, Hong
  Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km,
  Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia 4,673 km, Nepal
  1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest)
  40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km
Coastline:
  14,500 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  claim to shallow areas of East China Sea and Yellow Sea
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  boundary with India; bilateral negotiations are under way to resolve
  disputed sections of the boundary with Russia; boundary with Tajikistan
  under 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, as does Taiwan, (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu
  Tai)
Climate:
  extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Terrain:
  mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills
  in east
Natural resources:
  coal, iron ore, petroleum, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese,
  molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, world's
  largest hydropower potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  10%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  31%
 forest and woodland:
  14%
 other:
  45%
Irrigated land:
  478,220 km2 (1991 - Chinese statistic)

*China, Geography

Environment:
  frequent typhoons (about five times per year along southern and eastern
  coasts), damaging floods, tsunamis, earthquakes; deforestation; soil
  erosion; industrial pollution; water pollution; air pollution;
  desertification
Note:
  world's third-largest country (after Russia and Canada)

*China, People

Population:
  1,177,584,537 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.1% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  18.29 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.34 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  52.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.74 years
 male:
  66.78 years
 female:
  68.8 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.85 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Chinese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Chinese
Ethnic divisions:
  Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol,
  Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%
Religions:
  Daoism (Taoism), Buddhism, Muslim 2-3%, Christian 1% (est.)
 note:
  officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic
Languages:
  Standard Chinese (Putonghua) or Mandarin (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:
  73%
 male:
  84%
 female:
  62%
Labor force:
  567.4 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture and forestry 60%, industry and commerce 25%, construction and
  mining 5%, social services 5%, other 5% (1990 est.)

*China, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  People's Republic of China
 conventional short form:
  China
 local long form:
  Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
 local short form:
  Zhong Guo
Abbreviation:
  PRC
Digraph:
  CH
Type:
  Communist state
Capital:
  Beijing
Administrative divisions:
  23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu,,   singular and
plural), and 3 municipalities** (shi, singular and plural);,   Anhui, Beijing Shi**, Fujian, Gansu,,
Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan,,   Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi,
Jilin, Liaoning,
  Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai Shi**, Shanxi,,   Sichuan, Tianjin
Shi**, 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)
Constitution:
  most recent promulgated 4 December 1982
Legal system:
  a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law; rudimentary
  civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes in effect since 1
  January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to improve civil,
  administrative, criminal, and commercial law
National holiday:
  National Day, 1 October (1949)
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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National People's Congress:
  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)
 President:
  last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - JIANG Zemin was
  nominally elected by the Eighth National People's Congress
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, premier, four vice premiers, State Council

*China, Government

Legislative branch:
  unicameral National People's Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme People's Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993); Vice President RONG Yiren
  (since 27 March 1993)
 Chief of State and Head of Government (de facto):
  DENG Xiaoping (since NA 1977)
 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)
Member of:
  AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM
  (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UN Security
  Council, UNTAC, UNTSO, UN Trusteeship Council, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador LI Daoyu
 chancery:
  2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 328-2500 through 2502
 consulates 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, Beijing
 mailing address:
  100600, PSC 461, Box 50, Beijing or FPO AP 96521-0002
 telephone:
  [86] (1) 532-3831
 FAX:
  [86] (1) 532-3178
 consulates general:
  Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang
Flag:
  red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow
  five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the
  flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

*China, Economy

Overview:
  Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the
  economy from the sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more
  productive and flexible economy with market elements, but still within the
  framework of monolithic Communist control. To this end the authorities have
  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 foreign
  economic sector to increased trade and joint ventures. The most gratifying
  result has been a strong spurt 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 and
  thereby lessening the credibility of the reform process. In 1991, and again
  in 1992, output rose substantially, particularly in the favored coastal
  areas. 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.
National product:   GNP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  12.8% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5.4% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  2.3% in urban areas (1992)
Budget:
  deficit $16.3 billion (1992)
Exports:
  $85.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  textiles, garments, telecommunications and recording equipment, petroleum,
  minerals
 partners:
  Hong Kong and Macau, Japan, US, Germany, South Korea, Russia (1992)
Imports:
  $80.6 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  specialized industrial machinery, chemicals, manufactured goods, steel,
  textile yarn, fertilizer
 partners:
  Hong Kong and Macau, Japan, US, Taiwan, Germany, Russia (1992)
External debt:
  $69.3 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 20.8% (1992)
Electricity:
  158,690,000 kW capacity; 740,000 million kWh produced, 630 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*China, Economy

Industries:
  iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles, petroleum,
  cement, chemical fertilizers, consumer durables, food processing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 26% of GNP; 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 in at least 18 provinces and administrative
  regions; bulk of production is in Yunnan Province; transshipment point for
  heroin produced in the Golden Triangle
Economic aid:
  donor - to less developed countries (1970-89) $7.0 billion; US commitments,
  including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $220.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA
  and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $13.5 billion
Currency:
  1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao
Exchange rates:
  yuan (Y) per US$1 - 5.7640 (January 1993), 5.5146 (1992), 5.3234 (1991),
  4.7832 (1990), 3.7651 (1989), 3.7221 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*China, Communications

Railroads:
  total about 64,000 km; 54,000 km of common carrier lines, of which 53,400 km
  are 1.435-meter gauge (standard) and 600 km are 1.000-meter gauge (narrow);
  11,200 km of standard gauge common carrier route are double tracked and
  6,900 km are electrified (1990); an additional 10,000 km of varying gauges
  (0.762 to 1.067-meter) are dedicated industrial lines
Highways:
  about 1,029,000 km (1990) total; 170,000 km (est.) paved roads, 648,000 km
  (est.) gravel/improved earth roads, 211,000 km (est.) unimproved earth roads
  and tracks
Inland waterways:
  138,600 km; about 109,800 km navigable
Pipelines:
  crude oil 9,700 km (1990); petroleum products 1,100 km; natural gas 6,200 km
Ports:
  Dalian, Guangzhou, Huangpu, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Xingang,
  Zhanjiang, Ningbo, Xiamen, Tanggu, Shantou
Merchant marine:
  1,478 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,029,320 GRT/21,120,522 DWT;
  includes 25 passenger, 42 short-sea passenger, 18 passenger-cargo, 6
  cargo/training, 811 cargo, 11 refrigerated cargo, 81 container, 18
  roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 multifunction/barge carrier, 177 oil tanker, 11
  chemical tanker, 263 bulk, 3 liquefied gas, 1 vehicle carrier, 9 combination
  bulk, 1 barge carrier; note - China beneficially owns an additional 227
  ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 6,187,117 DWT that operate
  under Panamanian, British, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Vanuatu, Cypriot,
  Saint Vincent, Bahamian, and Romanian registry
Airports:
 total:
  330
 usable:
  330
 with permanent-surface runways:
  260
 with runways over 3,500 m:
  fewer than 10
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  90
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  200
Telecommunications:
  domestic and international services are increasingly available for private
  use; unevenly distributed internal system serves principal cities,
  industrial centers, and most townships; 11,000,000 telephones (December
  1989); broadcast stations - 274 AM, unknown FM, 202 (2,050 repeaters) TV;
  more than 215 million radio receivers; 75 million TVs; satellite earth
  stations - 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 INMARSAT,
  and 55 domestic

*China, Defense Forces

Branches:
  People's Liberation Army (PLA), PLA Navy (including Marines), PLA Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 343,361,925; fit for military service 190,665,512; reach
  military age (18) annually 10,844,047 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GNP

*Christmas Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of Australia)

*Christmas Island, Geography

Location:
  in the Indian Ocean, between Australia and Indonesia
Map references:
  Southeast Asia
Area:
 total area:
  135 km2
 land area:
  135 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  138.9 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  12 nm
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
  steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Natural resources:
  phosphate
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  almost completely surrounded by a reef
Note:
  located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

*Christmas Island, People

Population:
  1,685 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -2.44% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years
 female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman
Nationality:
 noun:
  Christmas Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Christmas Island
Ethnic divisions:
  Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population
Religions:
  Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (Roman Catholic 8.2%, Church
  of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, Uniting Church 0.4%, Methodist 0.2%,
  Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none 12.7%, unknown 4.6%, other 3.5% (1981)
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas
  Island, Ltd.

*Christmas Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of Christmas Island
 conventional short form:
  Christmas Island
Digraph:
  KT
Type:
  territory of Australia
Capital:
  The Settlement
Administrative divisions:
  none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
  none (territory of Australia)
Constitution:
  Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system:
  under the authority of the governor general of Australia
National holiday:
  NA
Political parties and leaders:
  none
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Advisory
  Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  none
Judicial branch:
  none
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA)
Member of:
  none
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
  the flag of Australia is used

*Christmas Island, Economy

Overview:
  Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in
  December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer
  economically viable. Plans have been under way to reopen the mine and also
  to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism, with a possible opening date
  during the first half of 1992.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  phosphate
 partners:
  Australia, NZ
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  consumer goods
 partners:
  principally Australia
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  11,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 17,800 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Agriculture:
  NA
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992),
  1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Christmas Island, Communications

Highways:
  adequate road system
Ports:
  Flying Fish Cove
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439:
  1
Telecommunications:
  4,000 radios (1982); broadcasting stations - 1 AM, 1 TV

*Christmas Island, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of Australia

*Clipperton Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (possession of France)

*Clipperton Island, Geography

Location:
  in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Map references:
  World
Area:
 total area:
  7 km2
 land area:
  7 km2
 comparative area:
  about 12 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  11.1 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claimed by Mexico
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:
  coral atoll
Natural resources:
  none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100% (all coral)
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  reef about 8 km in circumference

*Clipperton Island, People

Population:
  uninhabited

*Clipperton Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Clipperton Island
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Ile Clipperton
 former:
  sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Digraph:   IP
Type:
  French possession administered by France from French Polynesia by High
  Commissioner of the Republic
Capital:
  none; administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence:
  none (possession of France)

*Clipperton Island, Economy

Overview:
  The only economic activity is a tuna fishing station.

*Clipperton Island, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only

*Clipperton Island, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of Australia)

*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the Indian Ocean, 1,070 km southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between
  Australia and Sri Lanka
Map references:
  Southeast Asia
Area:
 total area:
  14 km2
 land area:
  14 km2
 comparative area:
  about 24 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
 note:
  includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Land boundaries:   0 km
Coastline:
  2.6 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the
  year; moderate rain fall
Terrain:
  flat, low-lying coral atolls
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, People

Population:
  593 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -0.53% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years
 female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/women
Nationality:
 noun:
  Cocos Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Cocos Islander
Ethnic divisions:
 West Island:
  Europeans
 Home Island:
  Cocos Malays
Religions:
  Sunni Muslims
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
 conventional short form:
  Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Digraph:
  CK
Type:
  territory of Australia
Capital:
  West Island
Administrative divisions:
  none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
  none (territory of Australia)
Constitution:
  Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system:
  based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
National holiday:
  NA
Political parties and leaders:
  NA
Suffrage:
  NA
Elections:   NA
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, chairman of
  the Islands Council
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Islands Council
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA); Chairman of the Islands Council Haji
  WAHIN bin Bynie (since NA)
Member of:
  none
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
  the flag of Australia is used

*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Economy

Overview:
  Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and
  fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing
  contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other
  necessities must be imported from Australia.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  copra
 partners:
  Australia
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  foodstuffs
 partners:
  Australia
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  1,000 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, 2,980 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  copra products
Agriculture:
  gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992),
  1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Communications

Ports:
  none; lagoon anchorage only
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  250 radios (1985); linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile communications
  via satellite with Australia; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of Australia

*Colombia, Geography

Location:
  Northern South America, between Panama and Venezuela
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  1,138,910 km2
 land area:
  1,038,700 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than three times the size of Montana
 note:
  includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank
Land boundaries:
  total 7,408 km, Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900
  km, Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline:
  3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela;
  territorial dispute with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y
  Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
Climate:
  tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
  flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes mountains, eastern
  lowland plains
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds
Land use:
 arable land:
  4%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  29%
 forest and woodland:
  49%
 other:
  16%
Irrigated land:
  5,150 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; deforestation; soil damage from
  overuse of pesticides; periodic droughts
Note:
  only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and
  Caribbean Sea

*Colombia, People

Population:
  34,942,767 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.83% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  23.4 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.82 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  29.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  71.72 years
 male:
  68.99 years
 female:
  74.53 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.54 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Colombian(s)
 adjective:
  Colombian
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian
  1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
  Spanish
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  87%
 male:
  88%
 female:
  86%
Labor force:
  12 million (1990)
 by occupation:
  services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)

*Colombia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Colombia
 conventional short form:
  Colombia  local long form:
  Republica de Colombia
 local short form:
  Colombia
Digraph:
  CO
Type:
  republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital:
  Bogota
Administrative divisions:
  23 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento), 5 commissariats*,   (comisarias, singular
- comisaria), 4 intendancies** (intendencias, singular,   - intendencia), and 1 special district***,
(distrito especial); 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*,  note:
  the Constitution of 5 July 1991 states that the commissariats and
  intendancies are to become full departments and a capital district (distrito
  capital) of Santa Fe de Bogota is to be established by 1997
Independence:
  20 July 1810 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  5 July 1991
Legal system:
  based on Spanish law; judicial review of executive and legislative acts;
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Political parties and leaders:
  Liberal Party (PL), Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo, president; Social Conservative
  Party (PCS), Misael PASTRANA Borrero; National Salvation Movement (MSN),
  Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado; Democratic Alliance M-19 (AD/M-19) is headed by 19th
  of April Movement (M-19) leader Antonio NAVARRO Wolf, 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 President:
  last held 27 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - Cesar GAVIRIA
  Trujillo (Liberal) 47%, Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado (National Salvation Movement)
  24%, Antonio NAVARRO Wolff (M-19) 13%, Rodrigo LLOREDA (Conservative) 12%

*Colombia, Government

 Senate:
  last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (102 total) Liberal 58, Conservative 22, AD/M-19
  9, MSN 5, UP 1, other 7
 House of Representatives:
  last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (161 total) Liberal 87, Conservative 31, AD/M-19
  13, MSN 10, UP 3, other 17
Executive branch:
  president, presidential designate, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of a nationally elected upper chamber
  or Senate (Senado) and a nationally elected lower chamber or House of
  Representatives (Camara de Representantes)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical), Constitutional Court,
  Council of State
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo (since 7 August 1990)
Member of:
  AG, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL,
  PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jaime GARCIA Parra
 chancery:
  2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 387-8338
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan
  (Puerto Rico)
 consulates:
  Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Tampa
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Morris D. BUSBY
 embassy:
  Calle 38, No. 8-61, Bogota
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box A. A. 3831, Bogota or APO AA 34038
 telephone:
  [57] (1) 285-1300 or 1688
 FAX:
  [57] (1) 288-5687
 consulate:
  Barranquilla
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar
  to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of
  arms superimposed in the center

*Colombia, Economy

Overview:
  Economic development has slowed gradually since 1986, but growth rates
  remain high by Latin American standards. Conservative economic policies have
  kept inflation and unemployment near 30% and 10%, respectively. The rapid
  development of oil, coal, and other nontraditional industries in recent
  years has helped to offset the decline in coffee prices - Colombia's major
  export. The collapse of the International Coffee Agreement in the summer of
  1989, a troublesome rural insurgency, energy rationing, and drug-related
  violence have dampened growth. The level of violence, in Bogota in
  particular, surged to higher levels in the first quarter of 1993, further
  delaying the economic resurgence expected from government reforms. These
  reforms center on fiscal restraint, trade and investment liberalization,
  financial and labor reform, and privatization of state utilities and
  commercial banks.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $51 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3.3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  25% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  10% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $5.0 billion; current expenditures $5.1 billion, capital
  expenditures $964 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $7.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers
 partners:
  US 44%, EC 21%, Japan 5%, Netherlands 4%, Sweden 3% (1991)
Imports:
  $5.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals,
  paper products
 partners:
  US 36%, EC 16%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 3%, Japan 3% (1991)
External debt:
  $17 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -0.5% (1991); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
  10,193,000 kW capacity; 36,000 million kWh produced, 1,050 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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% (1991 est.) accounts for 22% 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

*Colombia, Economy

Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis, coca, and opium; about 37,500 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.6 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.3 billion,
  Communist countries (1970-89), $399 million
Currency:
  1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 820.08 (January 1993), 759.28 (1992),
  633.05 (1991), 502.26 (1990), 382.57 (1989), 299.17 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Colombia, Communications

Railroads:
  3,386 km; 3,236 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track (2,611 km in use), 150 km
  1.435-meter gauge
Highways:
  75,450 km total; 9,350 km paved, 66,100 km earth and gravel surfaces
Inland waterways:
  14,300 km, navigable by river boats
Pipelines:
  crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural
  gas liquids 125 km
Ports:
  Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, San Andres, Santa Marta,
  Tumaco
Merchant marine:
  27 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 227,719 GRT/356,665 DWT; includes 9
  cargo, 3 oil tanker, 8 bulk, 7 container
Airports:
 total:
  1,233
 usable:
  1,059
 with permanent-surface:
  69
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1  with runways 2,440-2,459 m:
  9
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  200
Telecommunications:
  nationwide radio relay system; 1,890,000 telephones; broadcast stations -
  413 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 28 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
  and 11 domestic satellite earth stations

*Colombia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including Marines), Air
  Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 9,428,358; fit for military service 6,375,944; reach
  military age (18) annually 356,993 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $630 million, 1.3% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Comoros, Geography

Location:
  in the extreme northern Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way
  between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  2,170 km2
 land area:
  2,170 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  340 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims French-administered Mayotte
Climate:
  tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain:
  volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:  arable land:
  35%
 permanent crops:
  8%
 meadows and pastures:
  7%
 forest and woodland:
  16%
 other:
  34%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; cyclones possible during rainy
  season
Note:
  important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

*Comoros, People

Population:
  511,651 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.54% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  46.75 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.31 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  81.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  57.35 years
 male:
  55.23 years
 female:
  59.55 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Comoran(s)
 adjective:
  Comoran
Ethnic divisions:
  Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Languages:
  Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and
  Arabic)
Literacy:   age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  48%
 male:
  56%
 female:
  40%
Labor force:
  140,000 (1982)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 80%, government 3%
 note:
  51% of population of working age (1985)

*Comoros, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
 conventional short form:
  Comoros
 local long form:
  Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
 local short form:
  Comores
Digraph:
  CN
Type:
  independent republic
Capital:
  Moroni
Administrative divisions:
  three islands; Njazidja (Grand Comore), Nzwani (Anjouan), and Mwali (Moheli)
 note:
  there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and
  Mutsamudu
Independence:
  6 July 1975 (from France)
Constitution:
  7 June 1992
Legal system:
  French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
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; Maecha Bora, leader
  NA; MDP/NGDC (expansion NA), leader NA; Comoran Popular Front (FPC), Mohamed
  HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou MOUSTAKIM (Secretary General)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Federal Assembly:
  last held November-December 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) UNDC 7, CHUMA 3, ADP 2,
  MDP/NGDC 5, FDC 2, MAECHA BORA 2, FPC 2, RACHADE 1, UWEZO 1, MWANGAZA 1, 16
  other seats to smaller parties
 President:
  last held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results - Said Mohamed
  DJOHAR (UDZIMA) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45%
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

*Comoros, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990); Prime Minister Ibrahim
  HALIDI (since 1 January 1992)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
  IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Amini Ali MOUMIN
 chancery:
  (temporary) at the Comoran Permanent Mission to the UN, 336 East 45th
  Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
 telephone:
  (212) 972-8010
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Kenneth N. PELTIER
 embassy:
  address NA, Moroni
 mailing address:
  B. P. 1318, Moroni
 telephone:
  [269] 73-22-03, 73-29-22
 FAX:
  no service available at this time
Flag:
  green with a white crescent placed diagonally (closed side of the crescent
  points to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag); 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 (which is a territorial collectivity of France, but
  claimed by the Comoros)

*Comoros, Economy

Overview:
  One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several islands
  that have poor transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing
  population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the
  labor force contributes to a low 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, and rice, the main staple, accounts for
  90% of imports. During the period 1982-86 the industrial sector grew at an
  annual average rate of 5.3%, but its contribution to GDP was only 5% in
  1988. Despite major investment in the tourist industry, which accounts for
  about 25% of GDP, growth has stagnated since 1983. A sluggish growth rate of
  1.5% during 1985-90 has led to large budget deficits, declining incomes, and
  balance-of-payments difficulties. Preliminary estimates for FY92 show a
  moderate increase in the growth rate based on increased exports, tourism,
  and government investment outlays.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $260 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2.7% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $540 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  over 16% (1988 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $96 million; expenditures $88 million, including capital
  expenditures of $33 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $16 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra, ylang-ylang
 partners:
  US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2% (1988)
Imports:
  $41 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, consumer goods
 partners:
  Europe 62% (France 22%), Africa 5%, Pakistan, China (1988)
External debt:
  $196 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -6.5% (1989 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP
Electricity:
  16,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1991)
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

*Comoros, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $10 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $435 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $22 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $18
  million
Currency:
  1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11
  (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988)); note - linked to the
  French franc at 50 to 1 French franc
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Comoros, Communications

Highways:
  750 km total; about 210 km bituminous, remainder crushed stone or gravel
Ports:
  Mutsamudu, Moroni
Airports:
 total:
  4
 usable:
  4
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency radio communication stations
  for interisland and external communications to Madagascar and Reunion; over
  1,800 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

*Comoros, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Comoran Defense Force (FDC)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 108,867; fit for military service 65,106 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP

*Congo, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Gabon and Zaire
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  342,000 km2
 land area:
  341,500 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
  total 5,504 km, Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467
  km, Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km
Coastline:
  169 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  long section with Zaire along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of
  the river or its islands has been made)
Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October);
  constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate
  astride the Equator
Terrain:
  coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Natural resources:
  petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural
  gas
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  29%
 forest and woodland:
  62%
 other:
  7%
Irrigated land:
  40 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  deforestation; about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe
  Noire, or along the railroad between them

*Congo, People

Population:
  2,388,667 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.44% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  40.68 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  16.28 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  112.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  48.04 years
 male:
  46.3 years
 female:
  49.84 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.38 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Congolese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Congolese or Congo
Ethnic divisions:
 south:
  Kongo 48%
 north:
  Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%
 center:
  Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)
Religions:
  Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages:
  French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongo are the most
  widely used)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  57%
 male:
  70%
 female:
  44%
Labor force:
  79,100 wage earners
 by occupation:
  agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government 25%
 note:
  51% of population of working age; 40% of population economically active
  (1985)

*Congo, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of the Congo
 conventional short form:
  Congo
 local long form:
  Republique Populaire du Congo
 local short form:
  Congo
 former:
  Congo/Brazzaville
Digraph:
  CF
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Brazzaville
Administrative divisions:
  9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,,   Brazzaville*, Cuvette,
Kouilou,, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool,
  Sangha
Independence:
  15 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  8 July 1979, currently being modified
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system and customary law
National holiday:
  Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
  Congolese Labor Party (PCT), headed by former president Denis
  SASSOU-NGUESSO; Union for Democratic Renewal (URD) - a coalition of
  opposition parties; Panafrican Union for Social Development (UPADS)
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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 2-16 August 1992 (next to be held August 1997); results -
  President Pascal LISSOUBA won with 61% of the vote
 National Assembly:
  last held 24 June-19 July 1992; results - (125 total) UPADS 39, MCDDI (part
  of URD coalition) 29, PCT 19; more than a dozen smaller parties split the
  remaining 38 seats
 note:
  National Assembly dissolved in November 1992; next election to be held May
  1993
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) was dissolved on NA
  November 1992
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

*Congo, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Claude Antoine DA COSTA (since December 1992)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
  OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Roger ISSOMBO
 chancery:
  4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
 telephone:
  (202) 726-5500
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador James Daniel PHILLIPS
 embassy:
  Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
 mailing address:
  B. P. 1015, Brazzaville, or Box C, APO AE 09828
 telephone:
  (242) 83-20-70
 FAX:
  [242] 83-63-38
Flag:
  red, divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the
  upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the
  popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

*Congo, Economy

Overview:
  Congo's economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, a
  beginning industrial sector based largely on oil, supporting 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. During the period 1987-91, however,
  growth has slowed to an average of roughly 1.5% annually, only half the
  population growth rate. The new government, responding to pressure from
  businessmen and the electorate, has promised to reduce the bureaucracy and
  government regulation but little has been accomplished as of early 1993.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0.6% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,070 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -0.6% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $765 million; expenditures $952 million, including capital
  expenditures of $65 million (1990)
Exports:
  $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  crude oil 72%, lumber, plywood, coffee, cocoa, sugar, diamonds
 partners:
  US, France, other EC countries
Imports:
  $704 million (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, consumer goods, intermediate manufactures, capital equipment
 partners:
  France, Italy, other EC countries, US, Germany, Spain, Japan, Brazil
External debt:
  $4.1 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.2% (1989); accounts for 33% of GDP; includes petroleum
Electricity:
  140,000 kW capacity; 315 million kWh produced, 135 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  petroleum, cement, lumbering, brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap,
  cigarette
Agriculture:
  accounts for 13% 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:
  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

*Congo, Economy

Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Congo, Communications

Railroads:
  797 km, 1.067-meter gauge, single track (includes 285 km that are privately
  owned)
Highways:
  11,960 km total; 560 km paved; 850 km gravel and laterite; 5,350 km improved
  earth; 5,200 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially
  navigable water transport; the rest are used for local traffic only
Pipelines:
  crude oil 25 km
Ports:
  Pointe-Noire (ocean port), Brazzaville (river port)
Airports:
 total:
  44
 usable:
  41
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  16
Telecommunications:
  services adequate for government use; primary network is composed of radio
  relay routes and coaxial cables; key centers are Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire,
  and Loubomo; 18,100 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 4 TV; 1
  Atlantic Ocean satellite earth station

*Congo, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 534,802; fit for military service 272,051; reach military
  age (20) annually 24,190 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Cook Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (free association with New Zealand)

*Cook Islands, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, 4,500 km south of Hawaii in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway
  between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  240 km2
 land area:
  240 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  120 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
  low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  4%
 permanent crops:
  22%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:   0%
 other:
  74%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to typhoons from November to March

*Cook Islands, People

Population:
  18,903 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.18% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  23.4 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -6.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  71.14 years
 male:
  69.2 years
 female:
  73.1 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.32 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Cook Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Cook Islander
Ethnic divisions:
  Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and
  other 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
Religions:
  Christian (majority of populace members of Cook Islands Christian Church)
Languages:
  English (official), Maori
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  5,810
 by occupation:
  agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)

*Cook Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Cook Islands
Digraph:
  CW
Type:
  self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New
  Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand
  retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook
  Islands
Capital:
  Avarua
Administrative divisions:
  none
Independence:
  none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August
  1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by
  unilateral action)
Constitution:
  4 August 1965
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  Constitution Day, 4 August
Political parties and leaders:
  Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY; Democratic Tumu Party, Vincent INGRAM;
  Democratic Party, Terepai MAOATE; Cook Islands Labor Party, Rena JONASSEN;
  Cook Islands People's Party, Sadaraka SADARAKA
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Elections:
 Parliament:
  last held 19 January 1989 (next to be held by January 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (24 total) Cook Islands Party 12,
  Democratic Tumu Party 2, opposition coalition (including Democratic Party)
  9, independent 1
Executive branch:
  British monarch, representative of the UK, representative of New Zealand,
  prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament; note - the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on
  traditional matters, but has no legislative powers
Judicial branch:
  High Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Representative of the UK Sir
  Tangaroa TANGAROA (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 NA February 1989)
Member of:
  AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, IOC, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

*Cook Islands, Government

US diplomatic representation:
  none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Flag:
  blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large
  circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the
  outer half of the flag

*Cook Islands, Economy

Overview:
  Agriculture provides the economic base. The major export earners are fruit,
  copra, and clothing. Manufacturing activities are limited to a
  fruit-processing plant and several clothing factories. Economic development
  is hindered by the isolation of the islands from foreign markets and a lack
  of natural resources and good transportation links. A large trade deficit is
  annually made up for by remittances from emigrants and from foreign aid.
  Current economic development plans call for exploiting the tourism potential
  and expanding the fishing industry.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $40 million (1988 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  5.3% (1986-88 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,200 (1988 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $33.8 million; expenditures $34.4 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $4.0 million (f.o.b., 1988)
 commodities:
  copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing
 partners:
  NZ 80%, Japan
Imports:
  $38.7 million (c.i.f., 1988)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber
 partners:   NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  14,000 kW capacity; 21 million kWh produced, 1,170 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  fruit processing, tourism
Agriculture:
  export crops - copra, citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, bananas;
  subsistence crops - yams, taro
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $128 million
Currency:
  1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9490 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992),
  1.7266 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Cook Islands, Communications

Highways:
  187 km total (1980); 35 km paved, 35 km gravel, 84 km improved earth, 33 km
  unimproved earth
Ports:
  Avatiu
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship (1,000 or over) totaling 1,464 GRT/2,181 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  7
 usable:
  7
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 11,000 radio receivers; 17,000 TV
  receivers (1989); 2,052 telephones; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Cook Islands, Defense Forces

Note:   defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

*Coral Sea Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of Australia)

*Coral Sea Islands, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, just off the northeast coast of Australia in the Coral Sea
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  less than 3 km2
 land area:
  less than 3 km2
 comparative area:
  NA
 note:
  includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about
  1 million km2, with Willis Islets the most important
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  3,095 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:
  sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
Irrigated land:   0 km2
Environment:
  subject to occasional tropical cyclones; no permanent fresh water; important
  nesting area for birds and turtles

*Coral Sea Islands, People

Population:
  no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 3 meteorologists

*Coral Sea Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Coral Sea Islands Territory
 conventional short form:
  Coral Sea Islands
Digraph:
  CR
Type:
  territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for Arts, Sport, the
  Environment, Tourism, and Territories
Capital:
  none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Independence:
  none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
  the flag of Australia is used

*Coral Sea Islands, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Coral Sea Islands, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorages only

*Coral Sea Islands, Defense Forces

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

*Costa Rica, Geography

Location:
  Central America, between Nicaragua and Panama
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America
Area:
 total area:
  51,100 km2
 land area:
  50,660 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than West Virginia
 note:
  includes Isla del Coco
Land boundaries:
  total 639 km, Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline:
  1,290 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:
  coastal plains separated by rugged mountains
Natural resources:
  hydropower potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  6%
 permanent crops:
  7%
 meadows and pastures:
  45%
 forest and woodland:
  34%
 other:
  8%
Irrigated land:
  1,180 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent
  flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes;
  deforestation; soil erosion

*Costa Rica, People

Population:
  3,264,776 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.38% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.07 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  3.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  1.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.49 years
 male:
  75.56 years
 female:
  79.52 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.11 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Costa Rican(s)
 adjective:
  Costa Rican
Ethnic divisions:
  white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian 1%, Chinese 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
  Spanish (official), English; spoken around Puerto Limon
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  93%
 male:
  93%
 female:
  93%
Labor force:
  868,300
 by occupation:
  industry and commerce 35.1%, government and services 33%, agriculture 27%,
  other 4.9% (1985 est.)

*Costa Rica, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Costa Rica
 conventional short form:
  Costa Rica  local long form:
  Republica de Costa Rica
 local short form:
  Costa Rica
Digraph:
  CS
Type:
  democratic republic
Capital:
  San Jose
Administrative divisions:
  7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago,
  Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  9 November 1949
Legal system:
  based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in
  the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Liberation Party (PLN), Carlos Manuel CASTILLO Morales; 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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  last held 4 February 1990 (next to be held February 1994); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (57 total) PUSC 29, PLN 25, PVP/PPC 1, regional
  parties 2
 President:
  last held 4 February 1990 (next to be held February 1994); results - Rafael
  Angel CALDERON Fournier 51%, Carlos Manuel CASTILLO 47%
Executive branch:
  president, two vice presidents, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

*Costa Rica, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier (since 8 May 1990); First Vice
  President German SERRANO Pinto (since 8 May 1990); Second Vice President
  Arnoldo LOPEZ Echandi (since 8 May 1990)
Member of:
  AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU,
  LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Gonzalo FACIO Segreda
 chancery:
  Suite 211, 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 234-2945 through 2947
 consulates general:
  Albuquerque, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Diego,
  San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
 consulate:
  Buffalo
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Luis GUINOT, Jr.
 embassy:
  Pavas Road, San Jose
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34020
 telephone:
  [506] 20-39-39
 FAX:
  (506) 20-2305
Flag:
  five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and
  blue, with the coat of arms in a white disk on the hoist side of the red
  band

*Costa Rica, Economy

Overview:
  In 1992 the economy grew at an estimated 5.4%, up from the 2.5% gain of 1991
  and the gain of 1990. Increases in agricultural production (on the strength
  of good coffee and banana crops) and in nontraditional exports are
  responsible for much of the growth. In 1992 consumer prices rose by 17%,
  below the 27% of 1991. The trade deficit of $100 million was substantially
  below the 1991 deficit of $270 million. Unemployment is officially reported
  at 4.0%, but much underemployment remains. External debt, on a per capita
  basis, is among the world's highest.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $6.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  5.4% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  17% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  4% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.34 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $110 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
 partners:
  US 75%, Germany, Guatemala, Netherlands, UK, Japan
Imports:
  $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum
 partners:
  US 45%, Japan, Guatemala, Germany
External debt:
  $3.2 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.0% (1991); accounts for 19% of GDP
Electricity:
  927,000 kW capacity; 3,612 million kWh produced, 1,130 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer,
  plastic products
Agriculture:
  accounts for 17% 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:
  illicit production of cannabis on small scattered plots; transshipment
  country for cocaine from South America
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $935 million;
  Communist countries (1971-89), $27 million
Currency:
  1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos

*Costa Rica, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 137.72 (January 1993), 134.51 (1992),
  122.43 (1991), 91.58 (1990), 81.504 (1989), 75.805 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Costa Rica, Communications

Railroads:
  950 km total, all 1.067-meter gauge; 260 km electrified
Highways:
  15,400 km total; 7,030 km paved, 7,010 km gravel, 1,360 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  about 730 km, seasonally navigable
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 176 km
Ports:
  Puerto Limon, Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puntarenas
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,878 GRT/4,506 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  162
 usable:
  144
 with permanent-surface runways:
  28
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  8
Telecommunications:
  very good domestic telephone service; 292,000 telephones; connection into
  Central American Microwave System; broadcast stations - 71 AM, no FM, 18 TV,
  13 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Costa Rica, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard
 note:
  constitution prohibits armed forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 851,713; fit for military service 573,854; reach military
  age (18) annually 31,987 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $22 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989)

*Cote d'Ivoire, Header

Affiliation:
  (also known as Ivory Coast)

*Cote d'Ivoire, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Ghana and Liberia
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  322,460 km2
 land area:
  318,000 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
  total 3,110 km, Burkina 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km,
  Mali 532 km
Coastline:
  515 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry
  (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to
  October)
Terrain:
  mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
Natural resources:
  petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper
Land use:
 arable land:
  9%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:
  9%
 forest and woodland:
  26%
 other:
  52%
Irrigated land:
  620 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; severe deforestation

*Cote d'Ivoire, People

Population:   13,808,447 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.5% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  46.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  15.07 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  97 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  48.97 years
 male:
  46.98 years
 female:
  51.03 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.73 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Ivorian(s)
 adjective:
  Ivorian
Ethnic divisions:
  Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%, Agni, foreign Africans
  (mostly Burkinabe about 2 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French
  30,000 and Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)
Religions:
  indigenous 63%, Muslim 25%, Christian 12%
Languages:
  French (official), 60 native dialects Dioula is the most widely spoken
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  54%
 male:
  67%
 female:
  40%
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
 note:
  54% of population of working age (1985)

*Cote d'Ivoire, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:   Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
 conventional short form:
  Cote d'Ivoire
 local long form:
  Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
 local short form:
  Cote d'Ivoire
 former:
  Ivory Coast
Digraph:
  IV
Type:
  republic multiparty presidential regime established 1960
Capital:
  Yamoussoukro
 note:
  although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Adibjan remains the
  administrative center; foreign governments, including the United States,
  maintain presence in Abidjan
Administrative divisions:
  49 departments (departements, singular - (departement); Abengourou, Abidjan,
  Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou,
  Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane,
  Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou,
  Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne,
  Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda,
  Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula
Independence:
  7 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  3 November 1960
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
National holiday:
  National Day, 7 December
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Party of the Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI), Dr. Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY;
  Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent GBAGBO; Ivorian Worker's Party (PIT),
  Francis WODIE; Ivorian Socialist Party (PSI), Morifere BAMBA; over 20
  smaller parties
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held October 1995); results -
  President Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY received 81% of the vote in his first
  contested election; he is currently serving his seventh consecutive
  five-year term
 National Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

*Cote d'Ivoire, Government

Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Dr. Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY (since 27 November 1960)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Alassane OUATTARA (since 7 November 1990)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, GATT,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Charles GOMIS
 chancery:
  2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (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 or 21-46-72
 FAX:
  [225] 22-32-59
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar
  to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green
  (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is
  green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France

*Cote d'Ivoire, Economy

Overview:
  Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters of
  coffee, cocoa beans, and palm-kernel oil. Consequently, the economy is
  highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for coffee and
  cocoa and to weather conditions. Despite attempts by the government to
  diversify, the economy is still largely dependent on agriculture and related
  industries. The agricultural sector accounts for over one-third of GDP and
  about 80% of export earnings and employs about 85% of the labor force. A
  collapse of world cocoa and coffee prices in 1986 threw the economy into a
  recession, from which the country had not recovered by 1990. Continuing low
  prices for commodity exports, an overvalued exchange rate, a bloated
  public-sector wage bill, and a large foreign debt hindered economic recovery
  in 1991. The government, which has sponsored various economic reform
  programs, especially in agriculture, projected an increase of 1.6% in GNP in
  1992.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $10 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  -0.6% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $800 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  14% (1985)
Budget:
  revenues $2.3 billion; expenditures $3.6 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $274 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  cocoa 30%, coffee 20%, tropical woods 11%, petroleum, cotton, bananas,
  pineapples, palm oil, cotton
 partners:
  France, FRG, Netherlands, US, Belgium, Spain (1985)
Imports:
  $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  food, capital goods, consumer goods, fuel
 partners:
  France 29%, other EC 29%, Nigeria 16%, US 4%, Japan 3% (1989)
External debt:
  $15 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 6% (1990); accounts for 11% of GDP
Electricity:
  1,210,000 kW capacity; 1,970 million kWh produced, 150 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  foodstuffs, wood processing, oil refinery, automobile assembly, textiles,
  fertilizer, beverage
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 Asian heroin to
  Europe

*Cote d'Ivoire, Economy

Economic aid:   US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $356 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $5.2 billion
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Cote d'Ivoire, Communications

Railroads:
  660 km (Burkina border to Abidjan, 1.00-meter gauge, single track, except 25
  km Abidjan-Anyama section is double track)
Highways:
  46,600 km total; 3,600 km paved; 32,000 km gravel, crushed stone, laterite,
  and improved earth; 11,000 km unimproved
Inland waterways:
  980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons
Ports:
  Abidjan, San-Pedro
Merchant marine:
  7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,945 GRT/ 90,684 DWT; includes 1 oil
  tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 3 container, 2 roll-on/roll-off
Airports:
 total:
  42
 usable:
  37
 with permanent-surface runways:
  7
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  15
Telecommunications:
  well-developed by African standards but operating well below capacity;
  consists of open-wire lines and radio relay microwave links; 87,700
  telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 17 FM, 13 TV, 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station; 2 coaxial submarine cables

*Cote d'Ivoire, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, Military
  Fire Group
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 3,131,016; fit for military service 1,624,401; reach
  military age (18) annually 145,827 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $200 million, 2.3% of GDP (1988)

*Croatia, Geography

Location:
  Southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula, bordering the Adriatic Sea,
  between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Map references:
  Africa, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  56,538 km2
 land area:
  56,410 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
  total 1,843 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina (east) 751 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  (southeast) 91 km, Hungary 292 km, Serbia and Montenegro 254 km (239 km with
  Serbia; 15 km with Montenego), Slovenia 455 km
Coastline:
  5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km)
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  12 nm
 exclusive fishing zone:
  12 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Serbian enclaves in eastern Croatia and along the western Bosnia and
  Herzegovinian border; dispute with Slovenia over fishing rights in Adriatic
Climate:
  Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot
  summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Terrain:
  geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains
  and highlands near Adriatic coast, coastline, and islands
Natural resources:
  oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, natural asphalt,
  silica, mica, clays, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  32%
 permanent crops:
  20%
 meadows and pastures:
  18%
 forest and woodland:   15%
 other:
  15%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  air pollution from metallurgical plants; damaged forest; coastal pollution
  from industrial and domestic waste; subject to frequent and destructive
  earthquakes

*Croatia, Geography

Note:
  controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish
  Straits

*Croatia, People

Population:
  4,694,398 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  11.38 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.73 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  73.19 years
 male:
  69.7 years
 female:
  76.89 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.66 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Croat(s)
 adjective:
  Croatian
Ethnic divisions:
  Croat 78%, Serb 12%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%, Slovenian 0.5%, others
  8.1%
Religions:
  Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Slavic Muslim 1.2%, Protestant 1.4%, others
  and unknown 9.8%
Languages:
  Serbo-Croatian 96%, other 4%
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  1,509,489
 by occupation:
  industry and mining 37%, agriculture 16% (1981 est.), government NA%, other

*Croatia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Croatia
 conventional short form:
  Croatia
 local long form:
  Republika Hrvatska
 local short form:
  Hrvatska
Digraph:
  HR
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Zagreb
Administrative divisions:
  100 districts (opcine, singular - opcina) Beli Manastir, Biograd (Biograd Na
  Moru), Bielovar, Bjelovar, Brac, Buje, Buzet, Cabar, Cakovec, Cazma, Cres
  Losinj, Crikvenica, Daruvar, Delnice, Djakovo (Dakovo), Donja Stubica, Donji
  Lapac, Dordevac, Drnis, Dubrovnik, Duga Resa, Dugo Selo, Dvor, Garesnica,
  Glina, Gospic, Gracac, Grubisno Polje, Hvar, Imotski, Ivanec, Ivanic-Grad,
  Jastrebarsko, Karlovac, Klanjec, Knin, Koprivnica, Korcula, Kostajnica,
  Krapina, Krizevci, Krk, Kutina, Labin, Lastovo, Ludbreg, Makarska, Metkovic,
  Nova Gradiska, Novi Marof, Novska, Obrovac, Ogulin, Omis, Opatija,
  Orahovica, Osijek, Otocac, Ozalj, Pag, Pazin, Petrinja, Ploce (Kardeljevo),
  Podravska Slatina, Porec, Pregrada, Pukrac, Pula, Rab, Rijeka, Rovinj,
  Samobor (part of Zagreb), Senj, Sesvete, Sibenik, Sinj, Sisak, Slavonska
  Pozega, Slavonski Brod, Slunj, Split (Solin, Kastela), Titova Korenica,
  Trogir, Valpovo, Varazdin, Vinkovci, Virovitica, Vukovar, Vis, Vojnic,
  Vrborsko, Vrbovec, Vrgin-Most, Vrgorac, Zabok, Zadar, Zagreb (Grad Zagreb),
  Zelina (Sveti Ivan Zelina), Zlatar Bistrica, Zupanja
Independence:
  NA June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Constitution:
  adopted on 2 December 1991
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  Statehood Day, 30 May (1990)
Political parties and leaders:   Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Stjepan MESIC, chairman of the
executive
  council; Croatian People's Party (HNS), Savka DABCEVIC-KUCAR, president;
  Croatian Christian Democratic Party (HKDS), Ivan CESAR, president; Croatian
  Party of Rights, Dobroslav PARAGA; Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS),
  Drazen BUDISA, president; Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), leader NA; Istrian
  Democratic Assembly (IDS), leader NA; Social-Democratic Party (SDP), leader
  NA; Croatian National Party (PNS), leader NA
Other political or pressure groups:
  NA
Suffrage:
  16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 4 August 1992 (next to be held NA); Franjo TUDJMAN reelected with
  about 56% of the vote; Dobroslav PARAGA 5%
 House of Parishes:
  last held 7 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1997); seats - (68
  total; 63 elected, 5 presidentially appointed) HDZ 37, HSLS 16, HSS 5, IDS
  3, SDP 1, PNS 1

*Croatia, Government

 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held NA August 1992 (next to be held NA August 1996); seats - (138
  total) 87 HDZ
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, deputy prime ministers, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or House of Parishes
  (Zupanije Dom) and a lower house or Chamber of Deputies (Predstavnicke Dom)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Nikica VALENTIC (since NA April 1993); Deputy Prime Ministers
  Mate GRANIC, Vladimir SEKS, Borislav SKEGRO (since NA)
Member of:
  CEI, CSCE, ECE, ICAO, IMO, IOM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Peter A. SARCEVIC
 chancery:
  2356 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 543-5586
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb
 mailing address:   AMEMB Unit 25402, APO AE 09213-5080
 telephone:
  [38] (41) 444-800
 FAX:
  [38] (41) 440-235
Flag:
  red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms (red and
  white checkered)

*Croatia, Economy

Overview:
  Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the republic of Croatia, after
  Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area, with a per capita
  output roughly comparable to that of Portugal and perhaps one-third above
  the Yugoslav average. Croatian Serb Nationalists 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 monumental problems stemming
  from: the legacy of longtime Communist mismanagement of the economy; large
  foreign debt; damage during the fighting to bridges, factories, powerlines,
  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 salvage a desperate economic situation.
  However, peace and political stability must come first. As of June 1993,
  fighting continues among Croats, Serbs, and Muslims, and national boundaries
  and final political arrangements are still in doubt.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $26.3 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -25% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $5,600 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  50% (monthly rate, December 1992)
Unemployment rate:
  20% (December 1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $2.9 billion (1990)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment 30%, other manufacturers 37%, chemicals
  11%, food and live animals 9%, raw materials 6.5%, fuels and lubricants 5%
 partners:
  principally the other former Yugoslav republics
Imports:
  $4.4 billion (1990)
 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%
 partners:
  principally other former Yugoslav republics
External debt:
  $2.6 billion (will assume some part of foreign debt of former Yugoslavia)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -29% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
  3,570,000 kW capacity; 11,500 million kWh produced, 2,400 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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

*Croatia, Economy

Agriculture:
  Croatia normally produces a food surplus; most agricultural land in private
  hands and concentrated in Croat-majority districts in Slavonia and Istria;
  much of Slavonia's land has been put out of production by fighting; wheat,
  corn, sugar beets, sunflowers, alfalfa, and clover are main crops in
  Slavonia; central Croatian highlands are less fertile but support cereal
  production, orchards, vineyards, livestock breeding, and dairy farming;
  coastal areas and offshore islands grow olives, citrus fruits, and
  vegetables
Economic aid:
  $NA
Currency:
  1 Croatian dinar (CD) = 100 paras
Exchange rates:
  Croatian dinar per US $1 - 60.00 (April 1992)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Croatia, Communications

Railroads:
  2,592 km of standard guage (1.435 m) of which 864 km are electrified (1992);
  note - disrupted by territorial dispute
Highways:
  32,071 km total; 23,305 km paved, 8,439 km gravel, 327 km earth (1990); note
  - key highways note disrupted because of territorial dispute
Inland waterways:
  785 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
  crude oil 670 km, petroleum products 20 km, natural gas 310 km (1992); note
  - now disrupted because of territorial dispute
Ports:
  coastal - Rijeka, Split, Kardeljevo (Ploce); inland - Vukovar, Osijek,
  Sisak, Vinkovci
Merchant marine:
  18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 77,074 GRT/93,052 DWT; includes 4
  cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 10 passenger ferries, 2 bulk, 1 oil tanker; note
  - also controlled by Croatian shipowners are 198 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
  under flags of convenience - primarily Malta and St. Vincent - totaling
  2,602,678 GRT/4,070,852 DWT; includes 89 cargo, 9 roll-on/ roll-off, 6
  refrigerated cargo, 14 container, 3 multifunction large load carriers, 51
  bulk, 5 passenger, 11 oil tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 6 service vessel
Airports:
 total:
  75
 usable:
  72
 with permanent-surface runways:
  15
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  10
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  350,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 8 FM, 12 (2 repeaters) TV;
  1,100,000 radios; 1,027,000 TVs; NA submarine coaxial cables; satellite
  ground stations - none

*Croatia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,177,029; fit for military service 943,259; reach military
  age (19) annually 32,873 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  337-393 billion Croatian dinars, NA% of GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion
  of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate
  could produce misleading results

*Cuba, Geography

Location:
  in the northern Caribbean Sea, 145 km south of Key West (Florida)
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  110,860 km2
 land area:
  110,860 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
  total 29 km, US Naval Base at Guantanamo 29 km
 note:
  Guantanamo is leased and as such remains part of Cuba
Coastline:
  3,735 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  US Naval Base at Guantanamo is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US
  abandonment of the area can terminate the lease
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy
  season (May to October)
Terrain:
  mostly flat to rolling plains with rugged hills and mountains in the
  southeast
Natural resources:
  cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum
Land use:
 arable land:
  23%
 permanent crops:
  6%
 meadows and pastures:
  23%
 forest and woodland:
  17%
 other:
  31%
Irrigated land:
  8,960 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  averages one hurricane every other year
Note:
  largest country in Caribbean

*Cuba, People

Population:
  10,957,088 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  17.08 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.5 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  10.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.72 years
 male:
  74.59 years
 female:
  78.99 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Cuban(s)
 adjective:
  Cuban
Ethnic divisions:
  mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religions:
  nominally Roman Catholic 85% prior to Castro assuming power
Languages:
  Spanish
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  94%
 male:
  95%
 female:
  93%
Labor force:
  4,620,800 economically active population (1988); 3,578,800 in state sector
 by occupation:
  services and government 30%, industry 22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%,
  construction 10%, transportation and communications 7% (June 1990)

*Cuba, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Cuba
 conventional short form:
  Cuba
 local long form:
  Republica de Cuba
 local short form:
  Cuba
Digraph:
  CU
Type:
  Communist state
Capital:
  Havana
Administrative divisions:
  14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality*,   (municipio
especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La
  Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las,   Tunas, Matanzas,
Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa
  Clara
Independence:
  20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898
  to 1902)
Constitution:
  24 February 1976
Legal system:
  based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal
  theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)
Political parties and leaders:
  only party - Cuban Communist Party (PCC), Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary
Suffrage:
  16 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Assembly of People's Power:
  last held December 1986 (next to be held February 1993); results - PCC is
  the only party; seats - (510 total; after the February election, the
  National Assembly will have 590 seats) indirectly elected from slates
  approved by special candidacy commissions
Executive branch:
  president of the Council of State, first vice president of the Council of
  State, Council of State, president of the Council of Ministers, first vice
  president of the Council of Ministers, Executive Committee of the Council of
  Ministers, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly of the People's Power (Asamblea Nacional del
  Poder Popular)
Judicial branch:
  People's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo Popular)
Leaders:
 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)

*Cuba, Government

Member of:
  CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, 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)
 chancery:
  2630 and 2639 16th Street NW, US Interests Section, Swiss Embassy,
  Washington, DC 20009  telephone:
  (202) 797-8518 or 8519, 8520, 8609, 8610
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Principal Officer Alan H. FLANIGAN
 US Interests Section:
  USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada entre L Y M, Vedado Seccion, Havana
 mailing address:
  USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada Entre L Y M, Vedado, Havava
 telephone:
  32-0051, 32-0543
 FAX:
  no service available at this time
 note:
  protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland - US Interests Section, Swiss
  Embassy
Flag:
  five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white;
  a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white
  five-pointed star in the center

*Cuba, Economy

Overview:
  Since Castro's takeover of Cuba in 1959, the economy has been run in the
  Soviet style of government ownership of substantially all the means of
  production and government planning of all but the smallest details of
  economic activity. Thus, Cuba, like the former Warsaw Pact nations, has
  remained in the backwater of economic modernization. The economy contracted
  by about one-third between 1989 and 1992 as it absorbed the loss of $4
  billion of annual economic aid from the former Soviet Union and much smaller
  amounts from Eastern Europe. The government implemented numerous energy
  conservation measures and import substitution schemes to cope with a large
  decline in imports. To reduce fuel consumption, Havana has cut back bus
  service and imported approximately 1 million bicycles from China,
  domesticated nearly 200,000 oxen to replace tractors, and halted a large
  amount of industrial production. The government has prioritized domestic
  food production and promoted herbal medicines since 1990 to compensate for
  lower imports. Havana also has been shifting its trade away from the former
  Soviet republics and Eastern Europe toward the industrialized countries of
  Latin America and the OECD.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $14.9 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -15% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,370 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $12.46 billion; expenditures $14.45 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  sugar, nickel, shellfish, tobacco, medical products, citrus, coffee
 partners:
  Russia 30%, Canada 10%, China 9%, Japan 6%, Spain 4% (1992 est.)
Imports:
  $2.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals
 partners:
  Russia 10%, China 9%, Spain 9%, Mexico 5%, Italy 5%, Canada 4%, France 4%
  (1992 est.)
External debt:
  $6.8 billion (convertible currency, July 1989)
Industrial production:
  NA
Electricity:
  3,889,000 kW capacity; 16,248 million kWh produced, 1,500 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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

*Cuba, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for 11% of GNP (including fishing and forestry); 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 growing shortages
  of fuels and parts
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $710 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $18.5 billion
Currency:
  1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (linked to the US dollar)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Cuba, Communications

Railroads:
  12,947 km total; Cuban National Railways operates 5,053 km of 1.435-meter
  gauge track; 151.7 km electrified; 7,742 km of sugar plantation lines of
  0.914-m and 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
  26,477 km total; 14,477 km paved, 12,000 km gravel and earth surfaced (1989
  est.)
Inland waterways:
  240 km
Ports:
  Cienfuegos, Havana, Mariel, Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba; 7 secondary, 35
  minor
Merchant marine:
  73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 511,522 GRT/720,270 DWT; includes 42
  cargo, 10 refrigerated cargo, 1 cargo/training, 11 oil tanker, 1 chemical
  tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 4 bulk; note - Cuba beneficially owns an additional
  38 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 529,090 DWT under the registry of
  Panama, Cyprus, and Malta
Airports:
 total:
  186
 usable:
  166
 with permanent-surface runways:
  73
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  12
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  19
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - 150 AM, 5 FM, 58 TV; 1,530,000 TVs; 2,140,000 radios;
  229,000 telephones; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Cuba, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) - including Ground Forces, Revolutionary
  Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Ministry of the Armed Forces
  Special Troops, Border Guard Troops, Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth
  Labor Army (EJT)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 3,087,255; females age 15-49 3,064,663; males fit for
  military service 1,929,698; females fit for military service 1,910,733;
  males reach military age (17) annually 90,409; females reach military age
  (17) annually 87,274 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.2-1.4 billion; 10% of GNP in 1990 plan was for
  defense and internal security
Note:
  the breakup of the Soviet Union, the key military supporter and supplier of
  Cuba, has resulted in substantially less outside help for Cuba's defense
  forces

*Cyprus, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Mediterreanean Sea, 97 km west of Syria and 64 km west of
  Turkey
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  9,250 km2
 land area:
  9,240 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  648 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to 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 (60% of the island's land
  area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (35% of the island) that are separated by a
  narrow UN buffer zone; in addition, there are two UK sovereign base areas
  (about 5% of the island's land area)
Climate:
  temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters
Terrain:
  central plain with mountains to north and south
Natural resources:
  copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Land use:
 arable land:
  40%
 permanent crops:
  7%
 meadows and pastures:
  10%
 forest and woodland:
  18%
 other:
  25%
Irrigated land:
  350 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  moderate earthquake activity; water resource problems (no natural reservoir
  catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and most potable resources
  concentrated in the Turkish-Cypriot area)

*Cyprus, People

Population:
  723,371 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:   0.94% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  17.14 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.74 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.98 years
 male:
  73.75 years
 female:
  78.31 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.34 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Cypriot(s)
 adjective:
  Cypriot
Ethnic divisions:
  Greek 78%, Turkish 18%, other 4%
Religions:
  Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian, Apostolic, and other 4%
Languages:
  Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1987)
 total population:
  94%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  91%
Labor force:
 Greek area:
  282,000
 by occupation:
  services 57%, industry 29%, agriculture 14% (1991)
 Turkish area:
  72,000
 by occupation:
  services 57%, industry 22%, agriculture 21% (1991)

*Cyprus, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Cyprus
 conventional short form:
  Cyprus
Digraph:
  CY
Type:
  republic
 note:
  a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began
  after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further
  solidified following the Turkish invasion of the island in July 1974, which
  gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots
  control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983
  Turkish Cypriot President Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the
  formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), which has been
  recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for the resolution of
  intercommunal differences and creation of a new federal system of government
Capital:
  Nicosia
Administrative divisions:
  6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos
Independence:
  16 August 1960 (from UK)
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 in May 1985
Legal system:
  based on common law, with civil law modifications
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 October (15 November is celebrated as Independence Day
  in the Turkish area)
Political parties and leaders:
 Greek Cypriot:
  Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL; Communist Party), Dimitrios
  CHRISTOFIAS; Democratic Rally (DISY), Glafkos CLERIDES; 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; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ergun VEHBI; New
  Birth Party (YDP), Ali Ozkan ALTINISHIK; Free Democratic Party (HDP), Ismet
  KOTAK; Nationalist Justice Party (MAP), Zorlu TORE; United Sovereignty
  Party, Arif Salih KIRDAG; Democratic Party (DP), Hakki ATUN; Fatherland
  Party (VP), Orhan UCOK; CTP, TKP, and YDP joined in the coalition Democratic
  Struggle Party (DMP) for the 22 April 1990 legislative election; the CTP and
  TKP boycotted the byelection of 13 October 1991, in which 12 seats were at
  stake; the DMP was dissolved after the 1990 election

*Cyprus, Government

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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held February 1998); results -
  Glafkos CLERIDES 50.3%, George VASSILIOU 49.7%
 House of Representatives:
  last held 19 May 1991; 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: President:
  last held 22 April 1990 (next to be held April 1995); results - Rauf R.
  DENKTASH 66%, Ismail BOZKURT 32.05%
 Turkish Area: Assembly of the Republic:
  last held 6 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results - UBP
  (conservative) 54.4%, DMP 44.4% YKP 0.9%; seats - (50 total) UBP
  (conservative) 45, SDP 1, HDP 2, YDP 2; note - by-election of 13 October
  1991 was for 12 seats; DP delegates broke away from the UBP and formed their
  own party after the last election; seats as of July 1992 UBP 34, SPD 1, HDP
  1, YDP 2, DP 10, independents 2
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers (cabinet); note - there is a president,
  prime minister, and Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish area
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon); note - there is a
  unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi) in the Turkish area
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court; note - there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Glafkos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993)
 note:
  Rauf R. DENKTASH has been president of the Turkish area since 13 February
  1975; Dervish EROGLU has been prime minister of the Turkish area since 20
  July 1985
Member of:
  C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO,
  ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Michael E. SHERIFIS
 chancery:
  2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 462-5772
 consulate general:
  New York  note:
  Representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORMAN, office at 1667
  K Street, NW, Washington DC, telephone (202) 887-6198

*Cyprus, Government

US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert E. LAMB
 embassy:
  corner of Therissos Street and Dositheos Street, Nicosia
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09836
 telephone:
  [357] (2) 465151
 FAX:
  [357] (2) 459-571
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
  with a red crescent and red star on a white field

*Cyprus, Economy

Overview:
  The Greek Cypriot economy is small, diversified, and prosperous. Industry
  contributes 16.5% to GDP and employs 29% of the labor force, while the
  service sector contributes 62% to GDP and employs 57% of the labor force.
  Rapid growth in exports of agricultural and manufactured products and in
  tourism have played important roles in the average 6.8% rise in GDP between
  1986 and 1990. This progress was temporarily checked in 1991, because of the
  adverse effects of the Gulf War on tourism. Nevertheless in mid-1991, the
  World Bank "graduated" Cyprus off its list of developing countries. In
  contrast to the bright picture in the south, the Turkish Cypriot economy has
  less than half the per capita GDP and suffered a series of reverses in 1991.
  Crippled by the effects of the Gulf war, the collapse of the
  fruit-to-electronics conglomerate, Polly Peck, Ltd., and a drought, the
  Turkish area in late 1991 asked for a multibillion-dollar grant from Turkey
  to help ease the burden of the economic crisis. In addition, the Turkish
  government extended a $100 million loan in November 1992 to be used for
  economic development projects in 1993. Turkey normally underwrites a
  substantial portion of the Turkish Cypriot economy.
National product:
 Greek area:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.3 billion (1992)
 Turkish area:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $600 million (1990)
National product real growth rate:  Greek area:
  6.5% (1992)
 Turkish area:
  5.9% (1990)
National product per capita:
 Greek area:
  $11,000 (1992)
 Turkish area:
  $4,000 (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
 Greek area:
  5.1% (1991)
 Turkish area:
  69.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
 Greek area:
  2.4% (1991)
 Turkish area:
  1.5% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $2.2 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $350 million (1993)
Exports:
  $875 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes
 partners:
  UK 23%, Greece 10%, Lebanon 10%, Germany 5%
Imports:
  $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery
 partners:
  UK 13%, Japan 12%, Italy 10%, Germany 9.1%

*Cyprus, Economy

External debt:
  $1.9 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 0.4% (1991); accounts for 16.5% of GDP
Electricity:
  620,000 kW capacity; 1,770 million kWh produced, 2,530 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products
Agriculture:
  contributes 6% to GDP and employs 14% 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $292 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $250 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $62 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $24
  million
Currency:
  1 Cypriot pound (#C) = 100 cents; 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
Exchange rates:
  NA
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Cyprus, Communications

Highways:
  10,780 km total; 5,170 km paved; 5,610 km gravel, crushed stone, and earth
Ports:
  Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos
Merchant marine:
  1,299 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,045,037 GRT/37,119,933 DWT;
  includes 10 short-sea passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 463 cargo, 77
  refrigerated cargo, 24 roll-on/roll-off, 70 container, 4 multifunction large
  load carrier, 110 oil tanker, 3 specialized tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 26
  chemical tanker, 32 combination ore/oil, 422 bulk, 3 vehicle carrier, 48
  combination bulk, 1 railcar carrier, 2 passenger; note - a flag of
  convenience registry; Cuba owns 27 of these ships, Russia owns 36, Latvia
  also has 7 ships, Croatia owns 2, and Romania 5
Airports:
 total:
  13
 usable:
  13
 with permanent-surface runways:
  10
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  7
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  excellent in both the area controlled by the Cypriot Government (Greek
  area), and in the Turkish-Cypriot administered area; 210,000 telephones;
  largely open-wire and microwave radio relay; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 8
  FM, 1 (34 repeaters) TV in Greek sector and 2 AM, 6 FM and 1 TV in Turkish
  sector; international service by tropospheric scatter, 3 submarine cables,
  and satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean
  INTELSAT and EUTELSAT earth stations

*Cyprus, Defense Forces

Branches:
 Greek area:
  Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including air and naval elements), Greek
  Cypriot Police
 Turkish area:
  Turkish Cypriot Security Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 185,371; fit for military service 127,536; reach military
  age (18) annually 5,085 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $209 million, 5% of GDP (1990 est.)

*Czech Republic, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, between Germany and Slovakia
Map references:
  Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  78,703 km2
 land area:
  78,645 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
  total 1,880 km, Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km, Slovakia 214
  km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  Liechtenstein claims 620 square miles 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;
  unresolved property dispute issues with Slovakia over redistribution of
  Czech and Slovak Federal Republic's property; establishment of international
  border between Czech Republic and Slovakia
Climate:
  temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:
  two main regions: Bohemia in the west, consisting of rolling plains, hills,
  and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; and Moravia in the east,
  consisting of very hilly country
Natural resources:
  hard coal, kaolin, clay, graphite
Land use:
 arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:   NA%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  NA
Note:
  landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most
  significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military
  corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe

*Czech Republic, People

Population:
  10,389,256 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.16% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  9.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.64 years
 male:
  68.9 years
 female:
  76.58 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.85 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Czech(s)
 adjective:
  Czech
Ethnic divisions:
  Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian
  0.2%, other 1%
Religions:
  atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other
  13.4%
Languages:
  Czech, Slovak
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:   5.389 million
 by occupation:
  industry 37.9%, agriculture 8.1%, construction 8.8%, communications and
  other 45.2% (1990)

*Czech Republic, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Czech Republic
 conventional short form:
  none
 local long form:
  Ceska Republika
 local short form:
  Cechy
Digraph:
  EZ
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Prague
Administrative divisions:
  7 regions (kraje, kraj - singular); Severocesky, Zapadocesky, Jihocesky,
  Vychodocesky, Praha, Severomoravsky, Jihomoravsky
Independence:
  1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)
Constitution:
  ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
Legal system:
  civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with
  Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) obligations and to
  expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
National holiday:
  NA
Political parties and leaders:
  Civic Democratic Party, Vaclav KLAUS, chairman; Christian Democratic Union,
  leader NA; Civic Democratic Alliance, Jan KALVODA, chairman; Christian
  Democratic Party, Vaclav BENDA, chairman; Czech People's Party, Josef LUX;
  Czechoslovak Social Democracy, Milos ZEMAN, chairman; Left Bloc, leader NA;
  Republican Party, Miroslav SLADEK, chairman; Movement for Self-Governing
  Democracy for Moravia and Silesia, Jan STRYCER, chairman; Liberal Social
  Union, leader NA; Assembly for the Republic, leader NA
Other political or pressure groups:
  Czech Democratic Left Movement; Civic Movement
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 26 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998); results -
  Vaclav HAVEL elected by the National Council
 Senate:
  elections not yet held; seats (81 total)
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (200 total) Civic Democratic Party/Christian Democratic
  Party 76, Left Bloc 35, Czechoslovak Social Democracy 16, Liberal Social
  Union 16, Christian Democratic Union/Czech People's Party 15, Assembly for
  the Republic/Republican Party 14, Civic Democratic Alliance 14, Movement for
  Self-Governing Democracy for Moravia and Silesia 14
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet

*Czech Republic, Government

Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Council (Narodni rada) will consist of an upper house or
  Senate (which has not yet been established) and a lower house or Chamber of
  Deputies
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Vaclav HAVEL (since 26 January 1993)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers
  Ivan KOCARNIK, Josef LUX, Jan KALVODA (since NA June 1992)
Member of:
  BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
  IFC, IFCTU, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN (as of 8
  January 1993), UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, 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:
  (202) 363-6315 or 6316
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Adrian A. BASORA
 embassy:
  Trziste 15, 125 48, Prague 1
 mailing address:
  Unit 25402; APO AE 09213-5630
 telephone:
  [42] (2) 536-641/6
 FAX:
  [42] (2) 532-457
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles
  triangle based on the hoist side

*Czech Republic, Economy

Overview:
  The dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two independent nation states - the
  Czech Republic and Slovakia - on 1 January 1993 has complicated the task of
  moving toward a more open and decentralized economy. The old Czechoslovakia,
  even though highly industrialized by East European standards, suffered from
  an aging capital plant, lagging technology, and a deficiency in energy and
  many raw materials. In January 1991, approximately one year after the end of
  communist control of Eastern Europe, theCzech and Slovak Federal Republic
  launched a sweeping program to convert its almost entirely state-owned and
  controlled economy to a market system. In 1991-92 these measures resulted in
  privatization of some medium- and small-scale economic activity and the
  setting of more than 90% of prices by the market - but at a cost in
  inflation, unemployment, and lower output. For Czechoslovakia as a whole
  inflation in 1991 was roughly 50% and output fell 15%. In 1992, in the Czech
  lands, inflation dropped to an estimated 12.5% and GDP was down a more
  moderate 5%. For 1993 the government of the Czech Republic anticipates
  inflation of 15-20% and a rise in unemployment to perhaps 12% as some
  large-scale enterprises go into bankruptcy; GDP may drop as much as 3%,
  mainly because of the disruption of trade links with Slovakia. Although the
  governments of the Czech Republic and Slovakia had envisaged retaining the
  koruna as a common currency, at least in the short term, the two countries
  ended the currency union in February 1993.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $75.3 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $7,300 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  12.5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  3.1% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $8.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels,
  minerals, and metals
 partners:
  Slovakia, Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, France, US, UK, CIS
  republics
Imports:
  $8.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants, manfactured goods,
  raw materials, chemicals, agricultural products
 partners:
  Slovakia, CIS republics, Germany Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, UK,
  Italy
External debt:
  $3.8 billion hard currency indebtedness (December 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -4% (November 1992 over November 1991); accounts for over 60% of
  GDP
Electricity:
  16,500,000 kW capacity; 62,200 million kWh produced, 6,030 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Czech Republic, Economy

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:
  the former Czechoslovakia was a transshipment point for Southwest Asian
  heroin and was emerging as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine
  (1992)
Economic aid:
  the former Czechoslovakia was a donor - $4.2 billion in bilateral aid to
  non-Communist less developed countries (1954-89)
Currency:
  1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru
Exchange rates:
  koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 28.59 (December 1992), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991),
  17.95 (1990), 15.05 (1989), 14.36 (1988), 13.69 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Czech Republic, Communications

Railroads:
  9,434 km total (1988)
Highways:
  55,890 km total (1988)
Inland waterways:
  NA km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river
Pipelines:
  natural gas 5,400 km
Ports:
  coastal outlets are in Poland (Gdynia, Gdansk, Szczecin), Croatia (Rijeka),
  Slovenia (Koper), Germany (Hamburg, Rostock); principal river ports are
  Prague on the Vltava, Decin on the Elbe (Labe)
Merchant marine:
  the former Czechoslovakia had 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 290,185
  GRT/437,291 DWT; includes 13 cargo, 9 bulk; may be shared with Slovakia
Airports:
 total:
  75
 usable:
  75
 with permanent-surface runways:   8
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  NA

*Czech Republic, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,736,657; fit for military service 2,083,555; reach
  military age (18) annually 95,335 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  23 billion koruny, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense
  expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
  misleading results

*Denmark, Geography

Location:
  Northwestern Europe, bordering the North Sea on a peninsula north of Germany
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  43,070 km2
 land area:
  42,370 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Massachusetts
 note:
  includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of
  metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Land boundaries:
  total 68 km, Germany 68 km
Coastline:
  3,379 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  4 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to 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);
  dispute between Denmark and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic Ocean
  between Greenland and Jan Mayen is before the International Court of Justice
Climate:
  temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain:
  low and flat to gently rolling plains
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone
Land use:
 arable land:
  61%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  6%
 forest and woodland:
  12%
 other:
  21%
Irrigated land:
  4,300 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  air and water pollution
Note:
  controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

*Denmark, People

Population:
  5,175,922 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.23% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.5 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.42 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.51 years
 male:
  72.63 years
 female:
  78.56 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.68 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Dane(s)  adjective:
  Danish
Ethnic divisions:
  Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 2%, other 7%
  (1988)
Languages:
  Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect), German (small minority)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  2,553,900
 by occupation:
  private services 37.1%, government services 30.4%, manufacturing and mining
  20%, construction 6.3%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.6%,
  electricity/gas/water 0.6% (1991)

*Denmark, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Denmark
 conventional short form:
  Denmark
 local long form:
  Kongeriget Danmark
 local short form:
  Danmark
Digraph:
  DA
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Copenhagen
Administrative divisions:
  metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 1 city*,   (stad); Arhus, Bornholm,
Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kbenhavn, Nordjylland, Ribe,
  Ringkbing, Roskilde, Snderjylland, Staden Kbenhavn*, Storstrm, Vejle,,   Vestsjaelland, Viborg
 note:
  see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of
  the Danish realm and self-governing administrative divisions
Independence:
  1849 (became a constitutional monarchy)
Constitution:
  5 June 1953
Legal system:   civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory
  ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Political parties and leaders:
  Social Democratic Party, Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN; Conservative Party, Poul
  SCHLUETER; Liberal Party, Uffe ELLEMANN-JENSEN; Socialist People's Party,
  Holger K. NIELSEN; Progress Party, Pia KJAERSGAARD; 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
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Parliament:
  last held 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); results -
  Social Democratic Party 37.4%, Conservative Party 16.0%, Liberal 15.8%,
  Socialist People's Party 8.3%, Progress Party 6.4%, Center Democratic Party
  5.1%, Radical Liberal Party 3.5%, Christian People's Party 2.3%, other 5.2%;
  seats - (179 total; includes 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands)
  Social Democratic 69, Conservative 30, Liberal 29, Socialist People's 15,
  Progress Party 12, Center Democratic 9, Radical Liberal 7, Christian
  People's 4
Executive branch:
  monarch, heir apparent, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral parliament (Folketing)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court

*Denmark, Government

Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM,
  CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, PCA,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO,
  UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Peter Pedersen DYVIG
 chancery:
  3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 234-4300
 FAX:
  (202) 328-1470  consulates general:
  Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Richard B. STONE
 embassy:
  Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen O
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09716
 telephone:
  [45] (31) 42-31-44
 FAX:
  [45] (35) 43-0223
Flag:
  red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical
  part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of
  the DANNEBROG (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic
  countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

*Denmark, Economy

Overview:
  This 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's 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 EC's economic and
  monetary union (EMU) criteria by 1999, although Copenhagen won from the EC
  the right to opt out of the EMU if a national referendum rejects it. Denmark
  is, in fact, one of the few EC countries likely to fit into the EMU on time.
  Denmark is weathering the current worldwide slump better than many West
  European countries. As the EC's single market (formally established on 1
  January 1993) gets underway, Danish economic growth is expected to pickup to
  around 2% in 1993. Expected Danish approval of the Maastricht treaty on EC
  political and economic union in May 1993 would almost certainly reverse the
  drop in investment, further boosting growth. The current account surplus
  remains strong as limitations on wage increases and low inflation - expected
  to be around 1% in 1993 - improve export competitiveness. Although
  unemployment is high, it remains stable compared to most European countries.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $94.2 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  1% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $18,200 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):   1.5% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  11.4% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $48.8 billion; expenditures $55.3 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $37.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 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:
  $30.3 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  petroleum, machinery and equipment, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs,
  textiles, paper
 partners:
  EC 53.4% (Germany 23.1%, UK 8.2%, France 5.6%), Sweden 10.8%, Norway 5.4%,
  US 5.7%, Japan 4.1% (1992)
External debt:
  $40 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.9% (1992)

*Denmark, Economy

Electricity:
  11,215,000 kW capacity; 34,170 million kWh produced, 6,610 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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 and employs 5.6% of labor force (includes fishing and
  forestry); farm products account for nearly 15% of export revenues;
  principal products - meat, dairy, grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets, fish;
  self-sufficient in food production
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89) $5.9 billion
Currency:
  1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 re
Exchange rates:
  Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.236 (January 1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396
  (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Denmark, Communications

Railroads:
  2,770 km; Danish State Railways (DSB) operate 2,120 km (1,999 km rail line
  and 121 km rail ferry services); 188 km electrified, 730 km double tracked;
  650 km of standard-gauge lines are privately owned and operated
Highways:
  66,482 km total; 64,551 km concrete, bitumen, or stone block; 1,931 km
  gravel, crushed stone, improved earth
Inland waterways:
  417 km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas 700 km
Ports:
  Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia; numerous secondary and minor
  ports
Merchant marine:
  328 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,043,277 GRT/7,230,634 DWT; includes
  13 short-sea passenger, 102 cargo, 19 refrigerated cargo, 47 container, 37
  roll-on/roll-off, 1 railcar carrier, 33 oil tanker, 18 chemical tanker, 36
  liquefied gas, 4 livestock carrier, 17 bulk, 1 combination bulk; 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; by the end of 1990, 258 of the Danish-flag ships belonged
  to the DIS
Airports:
 total:
  118
 usable:
  109
 with permanent-surface runways:
  28
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  9
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  7
Telecommunications:
  excellent telephone, telegraph, and broadcast services; 4,509,000
  telephones; buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay support
  trunk network; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 50 TV; 19 submarine coaxial
  cables; 7 earth stations operating in INTELSAT, EUTELSAT, and INMARSAT

*Denmark, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,368,211; fit for military service 1,176,559; reach
  military age (20) annually 37,248 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.8 billion, 2% of GDP (1992)

*Djibouti, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Africa, at the entrance to the Red Sea between Ethiopia and Somalia
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  22,000 km2
 land area:
  21,980 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
  total 508 km, Erithea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline:
  314 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis
Climate:
  desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:
  coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Natural resources:
  geothermal areas
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  9%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  91%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  vast wasteland
Note:
  strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian
  oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia

*Djibouti, People

Population:
  401,579 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.7% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  43.05 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  16.06 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  113.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  48.78 years
 male:
  47.01 years
 female:
  50.59 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.27 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Djiboutian(s)
 adjective:
  Djiboutian
Ethnic divisions:
  Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
Religions:
  Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages:
  French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  48%
 male:
  63%
 female:
  34%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  a small number of semiskilled laborers at the port and 3,000 railway workers
 note:
  52% of population of working age (1983)

*Djibouti, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Djibouti
 conventional short form:   Djibouti
 former:
  French Territory of the Afars and Issas French Somaliland
Digraph:
  DJ
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Djibouti
Administrative divisions:
  5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); `Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti,
  Obock, Tadjoura
Independence:
  27 June 1977 (from France)
Constitution:
  multiparty constitution approved in referendum September 1992
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
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)
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  last held 18 December 1992; results - RPP is the only party; seats - (65
  total) RPP 65
 President:
  last held 24 April 1987 (next to be held April 1993); results - President
  Hassan GOULED Aptidon was reelected without opposition
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
  IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO,
  UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

*Djibouti, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Roble OLHAYE
 chancery:
  Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
 telephone:
  (202) 331-0270
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Charles R. BAQUET III
 embassy:
  Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
 mailing address:
  B. P. 185, Djibouti
 telephone:
  [253] 35-39-95
 FAX:
  [253] 35-39-40
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white
  isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star
  in the center

*Djibouti, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's
  strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa.
  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 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
  five years because of recession and a high population growth rate (including
  immigrants and refugees).
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $358 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1.2% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,030 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7.7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  over 30% (1989)
Budget:
  revenues $170 million; expenditures $203 million, including capital
  expenditures of $70 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $186 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:   hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
 partners:
  Africa 50%, Middle East 40%, Western Europe 9%
Imports:
  $360 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
 partners:
  Western Europe 54%, Middle East 20%, Asia 19%
External debt:
  $355 million (December 1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 10.0% (1990); manufacturing accounts for 11% of GDP
Electricity:
  115,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 580 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and
  mineral-water bottling
Agriculture:
  accounts for only 3% of GDP; scanty rainfall limits crop production to
  mostly fruit and vegetables; half of population pastoral nomads herding
  goats, sheep, and camels; imports bulk of food needs
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $39 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, including ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1
  billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $149 million; Communist countries
  (1970-89), $35 million
Currency:
  1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)

*Djibouti, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Djibouti, Communications

Railroads:
  the Ethiopian-Djibouti railroad extends for 97 km through Djibouti
Highways:
  2,900 km total; 280 km paved; 2,620 km improved or unimproved earth (1982)
Ports:
  Djibouti
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  13
 usable:
  11  with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the
  microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country;
  international connections via submarine cable to Saudi Arabia and by
  satellite to other countries; one ground station each for Indian Ocean
  INTELSAT and ARABSAT; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV

*Djibouti, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force), National Security
  Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 97,943; fit for military service 57,187 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $26 million, NA% of GDP (1989)

*Dominica, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and
  Tobago
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  750 km2
 land area:
  750 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  148 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:   none
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain:
  rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Natural resources:
  timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  9%
 permanent crops:
  13%
 meadows and pastures:
  3%
 forest and woodland:
  41%
 other:
  34%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  flash floods a constant hazard; occasional hurricanes

*Dominica, People

Population:
  86,547 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.31% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  20.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.06 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.72 years
 male:
  73.89 years
 female:
  79.71 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.03 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Dominican(s)
 adjective:
  Dominican
Ethnic divisions:
  black, Carib Indians
Religions:   Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%,
  Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other
  5%
Languages:
  English (official), French patois
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
 total population:
  94%
 male:
  94%
 female:
  94%
Labor force:
  25,000
 by occupation:
  agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% (1984)

*Dominica, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Commonwealth of Dominica
 conventional short form:
  Dominica
Digraph:
  DO
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Roseau
Administrative divisions:
  10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint
  Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Independence:
  3 November 1978 (from UK)
Constitution:
  3 November 1978
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Political parties and leaders:
  Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES; 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Assembly:
  last held 28 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected
  representatives) DFP 11, UWP 6, DLP 4
 President:
  last held 20 December 1988 (next to be held December 1993); results -
  President Sir Clarence Augustus SEIGNORET was reelected by the House of
  Assembly
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Sir Clarence Augustus SEIGNORET (since 19 December 1983)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21 July 1980, elected for a
  third term 28 May 1990)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  there is no chancery in the US
US diplomatic representation:
  no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados),
  but travels frequently to Dominica

*Dominica, Government

Flag:
  green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is
  yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top),
  black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk
  bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in
  yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

*Dominica, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to
  climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and employs
  40% of the labor force. Principal products include bananas, citrus, mangoes,
  root crops, and coconuts. In 1991, GDP grew by 2.1%. The tourist industry
  remains undeveloped because of a rugged coastline and the lack of an
  international airport.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $174 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2.1% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,100 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.5% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  15% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $70 million; expenditures $84 million, including capital
  expenditures of $26 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $66.0 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
 partners:
  UK 50%, CARICOM countries, US, Italy
Imports:
  $110.0 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
 partners:
  US 27%, CARICOM, UK, Canada
External debt:
  $87 million (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.5% in manufacturing (1988 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
  7,000 kW capacity; 16 million kWh produced, 185 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Agriculture:
  accounts for 26% of GDP; principal crops - bananas, citrus, mangoes, root
  crops, coconuts; bananas provide the bulk of export earnings; forestry and
  fisheries potential not exploited
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $120 million
Currency:
  1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Dominica, Communications

Highways:
  750 km total; 370 km paved, 380 km gravel and earth
Ports:
  Roseau, Portsmouth
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0  with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  4,600 telephones in fully automatic network; VHF and UHF link to Saint
  Lucia; new SHF links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; broadcast stations - 3
  AM, 2 FM, 1 cable TV

*Dominica, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force
Manpower availability:
  NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Dominican Republic, Geography

Location:
  in the northern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Cuba and Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  48,730 km2
 land area:
  48,380 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
  total 275 km, Haiti 275 km
Coastline:
  1,288 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the outer edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  6 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
Natural resources:
  nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use:
 arable land:
  23%
 permanent crops:
  7%
 meadows and pastures:
  43%
 forest and woodland:
  13%
 other:
  14%
Irrigated land:
  2,250 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  subject to occasional hurricanes (July to October); deforestation
Note:
  shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (western one-third is Haiti, eastern
  two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

*Dominican Republic, People

Population:
  7,683,940 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.86% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  25.68 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  53.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.98 years
 male:
  65.87 years
 female:
  70.21 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.89 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Dominican(s)
 adjective:
  Dominican
Ethnic divisions:
  mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
  Spanish
Literacy:   age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  83%
 male:
  85%
 female:
  82%
Labor force:
  2,300,000 to 2,600,000
 by occupation:
  agriculture 49%, services 33%, industry 18% (1986)

*Dominican Republic, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Dominican Republic
 conventional short form:
  none
 local long form:
  Republica Dominicana
 local short form:
  none
Digraph:
  DR
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions:
  29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito);,   Azua, Baoruco,
Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El,   Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor,
Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La
  Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata,
  Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San
  Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro De Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez,
  Valverde
Independence:
  27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
Constitution:
  28 November 1966
Legal system:
  based on French civil codes
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Political parties and leaders:
 Major parties:
  Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo; Dominican
  Liberation Party (PLD), 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
 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory or married persons regardless of
  age
 note:
  members of the armed forces and police cannot vote

*Dominican Republic, Government

Elections:
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (120 total) PLD 44, PRSC 41, PRD 33, PRI 2
 President:
  last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - Joaquin BALAGUER
  (PRSC) 35.7%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 34.4%
 Senate:
  last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (30 total) PRSC 16, PLD 12, PRD 2
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consists of an upper chamber
  or Senate (Senado) and lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de
  Diputados)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, fifth elected term
  began 16 August 1990); Vice President Carlos A. MORALES Troncoso (since 16
  August 1986)
Member of:
  ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
  ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jose del Carmen ARIZA Gomez
 chancery:
  1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:   (202) 332-6280
 consulates general:
  Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans,
  New York, Philadelphia, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
 consulates:
  Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville,
  Minneapolis, Mobile, Ponce (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert S. PASTORINO
 embassy:
  corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo
  Domingo
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34041-0008
 telephone:
  (809) 541-2171 and 541-8100
 FAX:
  (809) 686-7437
Flag:
  a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four
  rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are
  red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the
  cross

*Dominican Republic, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is largely dependent on trade; imported components average 60%
  of the value of goods consumed in the domestic market. Rapid growth of free
  trade zones has established a significant expansion of manufacturing for
  export, especially wearing apparel. Over the past decade, tourism has also
  increased in importance and is a major earner of foreign exchange and a
  source of new jobs. Agriculture remains a key sector of the economy. The
  principal commercial crop is sugarcane, followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa,
  and tobacco. Domestic industry is based on the processing of agricultural
  products, oil refining, minerals, and chemicals. Unemployment is officially
  reported at about 30%, but there is considerable underemployment.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $8.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,120 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  30% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $1.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
  $600 million (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:   ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa
 partners:
  US 60%, EC 19%, Puerto Rico 8% (1990)
Imports:
  $2 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals
 partners:
  US 50%
External debt:
  $4.7 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -1.5% (1991); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
  2,283,000 kW capacity; 5,000 million kWh produced, 660 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement,
  tobacco
Agriculture:
  accounts for 15% of GDP and employs 49% of labor force; sugarcane is the
  most important commercial crop, followed by 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $575 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $655 million
Currency:
  1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos

*Dominican Republic, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 12.7 (1992), 12.692 (1991), 8.525 (1990),
  6.340 (1989), 6.113 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Dominican Republic, Communications

Railroads:
  1,655 km total in numerous segments; 4 different gauges from 0.558 m to
  1.435 m
Highways:
  12,000 km total; 5,800 km paved, 5,600 km gravel and improved earth, 600 km
  unimproved
Pipelines:
  crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
Ports:
  Santo Domingo, Haina, San Pedro de Macoris, Puerto Plata
Merchant marine:   1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  36
 usable:
  30
 with permanent-surface runways:
  12
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  8
Telecommunications:
  relatively efficient domestic system based on islandwide microwave relay
  network; 190,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 120 AM, no FM, 18 TV, 6
  shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*Dominican Republic, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,064,244; fit for military service 1,302,644; reach
  military age (18) annually 80,991 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 0.7% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Ecuador, Geography

Location:
  Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator between
  Colombia and Peru
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  283,560 km2
 land area:
  276,840 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Nevada
 note:
  includes Galapagos Islands
Land boundaries:
  total 2,010 km, Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline:
  2,237 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:   claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute
Climate:
  tropical along coast becoming cooler inland
Terrain:
  coastal plain (Costa), inter-Andean central highlands (Sierra), and flat to
  rolling eastern jungle (Oriente)
Natural resources:
  petroleum, fish, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  6%
 permanent crops:
  3%
 meadows and pastures:
  17%
 forest and woodland:
  51%
 other:
  23%
Irrigated land:
  5,500 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity;
  deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; periodic droughts
Note:
  Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

*Ecuador, People

Population:
  10,461,072 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.54 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.8 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  40.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.61 years
 male:
  67.09 years
 female:
  72.25 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.19 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Ecuadorian(s)
 adjective:
  Ecuadorian
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
  Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  86%
 male:
  88%
 female:
  84%
Labor force:
  2.8 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%, commerce 16%, services and other
  activities 28% (1982)

*Ecuador, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Ecuador
 conventional short form:
  Ecuador
 local long form:
  Republica del Ecuador
 local short form:
  Ecuador
Digraph:
  EC
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Quito
Administrative divisions:
  21 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar,
  Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas,
  Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Pichincha,
  Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence:
  24 May 1822 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  10 August 1979
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:   Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence of Quito)
Political parties and leaders:
 Center-Right parties:
  Social Christian Party (PSC), Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president; Republican Unity
  Party (PUR), President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN, leader; Conservative Party (CE),
  Vice President Alberto DAHIK, president
 Center-Left parties:
  Democratic Left (ID), Andres VALLEJO Arcos, Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leaders;
  Popular Democracy (DP), Jamil MANUAD Witt, president; Ecuadorian Radical
  Liberal Party (PLRE), Carlos Luis PLAZA Aray, director; Radical Alfarista
  Front (FRA), Jaime ASPIAZU Seminario, director
 Populist parties:
  Roldista Party (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director; Concentration of
  Popular Forces (CFP), Rafael SANTELICES, director; Popular Revolutionary
  Action (APRE), Frank VARGAS Passos, leader; Assad Bucaram Party (PAB),
  Avicena BUCARAM, leader; People, Change, and Democracy (PCD), Raul AULESTIA,
  director
 Far-Left parties:
  Popular Democratic Movement (MPD), Jorge Fausto MORENO, director; Ecuadorian
  Socialist Party (PSE), Leon ROLDOS, leader; Broad Leftist Front (FADI), Jose
  Xavier GARAYCOA, president; Ecuadorian National Liberation (LN), Alfredo
  CASTILLO, director
 Communists:
  Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE, pro-North Korea), Rene Leon Mague
  MOSWUERRA, secretary general (5,00 members); Communist Party of
  Ecuador/Marxist-Leninist (PCMLE, Maoist), leader NA (3,000 members)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65,
  optional for other eligible voters

*Ecuador, Government

Elections:
 President:
  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
 National Congress:
  last held 17 May 1992 (next to be held NA May 1994); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (77 total) PSC 20, PRE 15, PUR 12, ID 7, PC 6, DP
  5, PSE 3, MPD 3, PLRE 2, CFP 2, FRA 1, APRE 1
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN (since 10 August 1992); Vice President Alberto
  DAHIK (since 10 August 1992)
Member of:
  AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS,
  NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edgar TERAN
 chancery:
  2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 234-7200
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San
  Francisco
 consulate:
  San Diego
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James F. MACK
 embassy:
  Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 538, Quito, or APO AA 34039-3420
 telephone:
  [593] (2) 562-890
 FAX:
  [593] (2) 502-052
 consulate general:
  Guayaquil
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the
  coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of
  Colombia that is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

*Ecuador, Economy

Overview:
  Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Growth
  has been uneven because of natural disasters, fluctuations in global oil
  prices, and government policies designed to curb inflation. Banana exports,
  second only to oil, have suffered as a result of EC import quotas and banana
  blight. The new President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN, has a much more favorable
  attitude toward foreign investment than did his predecessor. Ecuador has
  implemented trade agreements with Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela and
  has applied for GATT membership. At the end of 1991, Ecuador received a
  standby IMF loan of $105 million, which will permit the country to proceed
  with the rescheduling of Paris Club debt. In September 1992, the government
  launched a new, macroeconomic program that gives more play to market forces;
  as of March 1993, the program seemed to be paying off.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $11.8 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $1,100 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):   70% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  8% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $1.9 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $3.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  petroleum 42%, bananas, shrimp, cocoa, coffee
 partners:
  US 53.4%, Latin America, Caribbean, EC countries
Imports:
  $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  transport equipment, vehicles, machinery, chemicals
 partners:
  US 32.7%, Latin America, Caribbean, EC countries, Japan
External debt:
  $12.7 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3.9% (1991); accounts for almost 40% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
  2,921,000 kW capacity; 7,676 million kWh produced, 700 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal works, paper products, wood
  products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, timber
Agriculture:
  accounts for 18% of GDP and 35% of labor force (including fishing and
  forestry); leading producer and exporter of bananas and balsawood; other
  exports - coffee, cocoa, fish, shrimp; crop production - rice, potatoes,
  manioc, plantains, sugarcane; livestock sector - cattle, sheep, hogs, beef,
  pork, dairy products; net importer of foodgrains, dairy products, and sugar
Illicit drugs:
  minor illicit producer of coca following the successful eradication campaign
  of 1985-87; significant transit country, however, for derivatives of coca
  originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals
  used in production of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub

*Ecuador, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $498 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.15 billion;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $64 million
Currency:
  1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  sucres (S/) per US$1 - 1,453.8 (August 1992), 1,046.25 (1991), 869.54
  (December 1990), 767.75 (1990), 526.35 (1989), 301.61 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Ecuador, Communications

Railroads:
  965 km total; all 1.067-meter-gauge single track
Highways:
  28,000 km total; 3,600 km paved, 17,400 km gravel and improved earth, 7,000
  km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  1,500 km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
Ports:
  Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, Esmeraldas
Merchant marine:
  45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 333,380 GRT/483,862 DWT; includes 2
  passenger, 4 cargo, 17 refrigerated cargo, 4 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off,
  15 oil tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 1 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  174
 usable:
  173
 with permanent-surface runways:
  52
 with runway over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  6
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  21
Telecommunications:
  domestic facilities generally adequate; 318,000 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 272 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 39 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
  earth station

*Ecuador, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana), Air Force (Fuerza
  Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,655,520; fit for military service 1,798,122; reach
  military age (20) annually 109,413 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Egypt, Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, between
  Sudan and Libya
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1,001,450 km2
 land area:
  995,450 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
  total 2,689 km, Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273
  km
Coastline:
  2,450 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  not specified
 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 km2, the
  dispute over this area escalated in 1993
Climate:
  desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain:
  vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum,
  talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  95%
Irrigated land:
  25,850 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  Nile is only perennial water source; increasing soil salinization below
  Aswan High Dam; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring;
  water pollution; desertification
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; size and juxtaposition to Israel establish its
  major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics

*Egypt, People

Population:
  59,585,529 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.3% (1993 est.)
 note:
  the US Bureau of the Census has lowered its 1993 estimate of growth to 2.0%
  on the basis of a 1992 Egyptian government survey, whereas estimates of
  other observers go as high as 2.9%
Birth rate:
  33 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  NEGL
Infant mortality rate:
  78.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  60.46 years
 male:
  58.61 years
 female:
  62.41 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Egyptian(s)
 adjective:
  Egyptian
Ethnic divisions:
  Eastern Hamitic stock 90%, Greek, Italian, Syro-Lebanese 10%
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)
 total population:
  48%
 male:
  63%
 female:
  34%
Labor force:
  15 million (1989 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 (1988 est.)

*Egypt, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Arab Republic of Egypt
 conventional short form:
  Egypt
 local long form:
  Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Digraph:
  EG
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Cairo
Administrative divisions:
  26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al
  Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al
  Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al
  Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyu't, Bani Suwayf, Bur
  Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina, Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina, Suhaj
Independence:
  28 February 1922 (from UK)
Constitution:
  11 September 1971
Legal system:
  based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial
  review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of
  administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
  reservations
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Democratic Party (NDP), President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader,
  is the dominant party; legal opposition parties are Socialist Liberal Party
  (SLP), Kamal MURAD; Socialist Labor Party, Ibrahim SHUKRI; National
  Progressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid MUHYI-AL-DIN; Umma Party, Ahmad
  al-SABAHI; New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN; Misr al-Fatah Party
  (Young Egypt Party), Ali al-Din SALIH; The Greens Party, Hasan RAJABD;
  Nasserist Arab Democratic Party, Muhammad Rif'at al-MUHAMI; Democratic
  Unionist Party, Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Democratic Peoples' Party,
  Anwar AFISI
 note:
  formation of political parties must be approved by government
Other political or pressure groups:
  Islamic groups are illegal, but the largest one, the Muslim Brotherhood, is
  tolerated by the government; trade unions and professional associations are
  officially sanctioned
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 Advisory Council:
  last held 8 June 1989 (next to be held June 1995); results - NDP 100%; seats
  - (258 total, 172 elected) NDP 172

*Egypt, Government

 People's Assembly:
  last held 29 November 1990 (next to be held November 1995); results - NDP
  78.4%, NPUG 1.4%, independents 18.7%; seats - (437 total, 444 elected) NDP
  348, NPUG 6, independents 83; note - most opposition parties boycotted
 President:
  last held 5 October 1987 (next to be held October 1993); results - President
  Hosni MUBARAK was reelected
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral People's Assembly (Majlis al-Cha'b); note - there is an Advisory
  Council (Majlis al-Shura) that functions in a consultative role
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Constitutional Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (was made acting President on 6 October
  1981 upon the assassination of President SADAT and sworn in as president on
  14 October 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Atef Mohammed Najib SEDKY (since 12 November 1986)
Member of:
  ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer), AL, AMF, CAEU,
  CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, PCA,
  UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, UNRWA,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ahmed MAHER El Sayed
 chancery:
  2310 Decatur Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 232-5400
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert PELLETREAU
 embassy:
  Lazougi Street, Garden City, Cairo
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09839  telephone:
  [20] (2) 355-7371
 FAX:
  [20] (2) 355-7375
 consulate general:
  Alexandria
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the
  national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist
  side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in
  the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band;
  also similar to the flag of Syria that has two green stars and to the flag
  of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a
  horizontal line centered in the white band

*Egypt, Economy

Overview:
  Egypt has one of the largest public sectors of all the Third World
  economies, 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
  1991-92 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. In 1992-93 tourism has plunged 20% or so 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 1.4 million people a year to the already huge population
  of 60 million exerts enormous pressure on the 5% of the land area available
  for agriculture.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $41.2 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2.1% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $730 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  21% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  20% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $12.6 billion; expenditures $15.2 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $4 billion (FY92 est.)
Exports:
  $3.6 billion (f.o.b., FY92 est.)
 commodities:   crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal
  products, chemicals
 partners:
  EC, Eastern Europe, US, Japan
Imports:
  $10.0 billion (c.i.f., FY92 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumer
  goods, capital goods
 partners:
  EC, US, Japan, Eastern Europe
External debt:
  $38 billion (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7.3% (FY89 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
  14,175,000 kW capacity; 47,000 million kWh produced, 830 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum, construction,
  cement, metals

*Egypt, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for 20% of GDP and employs more than one-third of labor force;
  dependent on irrigation water from the Nile; world's sixth-largest cotton
  exporter; other crops produced include rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruit,
  vegetables; not self-sufficient in food for a rapidly expanding population;
  livestock - 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 and heroin from Lebanon and Syria
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15.7 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $10.1 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $2.9 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.4
  billion
Currency:
  1 Egyptian pound (#E) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates:
  Egyptian pounds (#E) per US$1 - 3.345 (November 1992), 2.7072 (1990), 2.5171
  (1989), 2.2233 (1988), 1.5183 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Egypt, Communications

Railroads:
  5,110 km total; 4,763 km 1,435-meter standard gauge, 347 km 0.750-meter
  gauge; 951 km double track; 25 km electrified
Highways:
  51,925 km total; 17,900 km paved, 2,500 km gravel, 13,500 km improved earth,
  18,025 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and
  numerous smaller canals in the delta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including
  approaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 meters of water
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km
Ports:
  Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, Bur Safajah, Damietta
Merchant marine:
  168 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,097,707 GRT/1,592,885 DWT; includes
  25 passenger, 6 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 88 cargo, 3
  refrigerated cargo, 14 roll-on/roll-off, 13 oil tanker, 16 bulk, 1 container
Airports:
 total:
  92
 usable:
  82
 with permanent-surface runways:
  66
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  44
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  24
Telecommunications:
  large system by Third World standards but inadequate for present
  requirements and undergoing extensive upgrading; about 600,000 telephones
  (est.) - 11 telephones per 1,000 persons; principal centers at Alexandria,
  Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable
  and microwave radio relay; international traffic is carried by satellite -
  one earth station for each of Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, Indian Ocean
  INTELSAT, ARABSAT and INMARSAT; by 5 coaxial submarine cables, microwave
  troposcatter (to Sudan), and microwave radio relay (to Libya, Israel, and
  Jordan); broadcast stations - 39 AM, 6 FM, and 41 TV

*Egypt, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 14,513,752; fit for military service 9,434,020; reach
  military age (20) annually 581,858 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.05 billion, 5% of GDP (FY92/93)

*El Salvador, Geography

Location:
  Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean between Guatemala and
  Honduras
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  21,040 km2
 land area:
  20,720 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
  total 545 km, Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:
  307 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm
International disputes:
  land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly resolved by 11 September 1992
  International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; ICJ referred the maritime
  boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in this century and
  advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and
  Nicaragua likely would be required
Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April)
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Natural resources:
  hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum
Land use:
 arable land:
  27%
 permanent crops:
  8%
 meadows and pastures:
  29%
 forest and woodland:
  6%
 other:
  30%
Irrigated land:
  1,200 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  the Land of Volcanoes; subject to frequent and sometimes very destructive
  earthquakes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Note:
  smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on
  Caribbean Sea

*El Salvador, People

Population:
  5,636,524 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.04% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  33.12 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -6.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  42.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  66.5 years
 male:
  63.93 years
 female:
  69.2 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.87 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Salvadoran(s)
 adjective:
  Salvadoran
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo 94%, Indian 5%, white 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 75%
 note:
  Roman Catholic about 75%; there is extensive activity by Protestant groups
  throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1
  million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages:
  Spanish, Nahua (among some Indians)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 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 manpower
  training programs improving situation (1984 est.)

*El Salvador, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of El Salvador
 conventional short form:
  El Salvador
 local long form:
  Republica de El Salvador
 local short form:
  El Salvador
Digraph:
  ES
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  San Salvador
Administrative divisions:
  14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan,
  Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan,
  San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  20 December 1983
Legal system:
  based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of
  legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
  with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Republican Alliance (Arena), Armando CALDERON Sol, president;
  Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Fidel CHAVEZ Mena, secretary general;
  National Conciliation Party (PCN), Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, president; Democratic
  Convergence (CD) is a coalition of three parties - the Social Democratic
  Party (PSD), Carlos Diaz BARRERA, secretary general; Democratic Nationalist
  Union (UDN), Mario AGUINADA Carranza, secretary general; and the Popular
  Social Christian Movement (MPSC), Dr. Ruben Ignacio ZAMORA Rivas; Authentic
  Christian Movement (MAC), Guillermo Antonia GUEVARA Lacayo, president;
  Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLM), Jorge Shafik HANDAL,
  general coordinator, has five factions - Popular Liberation Forces (FPL),
  Salvador SANCHEZ Ceren; Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN), Ferman
  CIENFUEGOS; People's Revolutionary Army (ERP), Joaquin VILLA LOBOS Huezo;
  Salvadoran Communist Party/Armed Forces of Liberation (PCES/FAL), Jorge
  Shafik HANDAL; and
  Central American Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRTC)/Popular Liberation
  Revolutionary Aermed Forces (FARLP), Francisco JOVEL
Other political or pressure groups:
 FMLN labor front organizations:
  National Union of Salvadoran Workers (UNTS), leftist umbrella front group,
  leads FMLN front network; National Federation of Salvadoran Workers
  (FENASTRAS), best organized of front groups and controlled by FMLN's
  National Resistance (RN); Social Security Institute Workers Union (STISSS),
  one of the most militant fronts, is controlled by FMLN's Armed Forces of
  National Resistance (FARN) and RN; Association of Telecommunications Workers
  (ASTTEL); Unitary Federation of Salvadoran Unions (FUSS), leftist; Treasury
  Ministry Employees (AGEMHA)

*El Salvador, Government

 FMLN nonlabor front organizations:
  Committee of Mothers and Families of Political Prisoners, Disappeared
  Persons, and Assassinated of El Salvador (COMADRES); Nongovernmental Human
  Rights Commission (CDHES); Committee of Dismissed and Unemployed of El
  Salvador (CODYDES); General Association of Salvadoran University Students
  (AGEUS); National Association of Salvadoran Educators (ANDES-21 DE JUNIO);
  Salvadoran Revolutionary Student Front (FERS), associated with the Popular
  Forces of Liberation (FPL); Association of National University Educators
  (ADUES); Salvadoran University Students Front (FEUS); Christian Committee
  for the Displaced of El Salvador (CRIPDES), an FPL front; The Association
  for Communal Development in El Salvador (PADECOES), controlled by the
  People's Revolutionary Army (ERP); Confederation of Cooperative Associations
  of El Salvador (COACES)
 labor organizations:
  Federation of Construction and Transport Workers Unions (FESINCONSTRANS),
  independent; Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasant association;
  Democratic Workers Central (CTD), moderate; General Confederation of Workers
  (CGT), moderate; National Union of Workers and Peasants (UNOC), moderate
  labor coalition of democratic labor organizations; United Workers Front
  (FUT)
 business organizations:
  National Association of Private Enterprise (ANEP), conservative; Productive
  Alliance (AP), conservative; National Federation of Salvadoran Small
  Businessmen (FENAPES), conservative
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  last held 10 March 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results - ARENA 44.3%,
  PDC 27.96%, CD 12.16%, PCN 8.99%, MAC 3.23%, UDN 2.68%; seats - (84 total)
  ARENA 39, PDC 26, PCN 9, CD 8, UDN 1, MAC 1
 President:
  last held 19 March 1989 (next to be held March 1994); results - Alfredo
  CRISTIANI (ARENA) 53.8%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 36.6%, other 9.6%
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President (Felix) Alfredo CRISTIANI Buchard (since 1 June 1989); Vice
  President (Jose) Francisco MERINO Lopez (since 1 June 1989)
Member of:
  BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),
  LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:  chief of mission:
  Ambassador Miguel Angel SALAVERRIA
 chancery:
  2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 265-9671 through 3482
 consulates general:
  Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco

*El Salvador, Government

US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Charge d'Affaires Peter F. ROMERO
 embassy:
  Final Boulevard, Station Antigua Cuscatlan, San Salvador
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34023
 telephone:
  [503] 78-4444
 FAX:
  [503] 78-6011
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the
  national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features
  a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA
  CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of
  arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the
  words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also
  similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X
  pattern centered in the white band

*El Salvador, Economy

Overview:
  The agricultural sector accounts for 24% of GDP, employs about 40% of the
  labor force, and contributes about 66% to total exports. Coffee is the major
  commercial crop, accounting for 45% of export earnings. The manufacturing
  sector, based largely on food and beverage processing, accounts for 18% of
  GDP and 15% of employment. Economic losses because of guerrilla sabotage
  total more than $2 billion since 1979. The costs of maintaining a large
  military seriously constrain the government's efforts to provide essential
  social services. Nevertheless, growth in national output during the period
  1990-92 exceeded growth in population for the first time since 1987.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5.9 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4.6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,060 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  17% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  7.5% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $846 million; expenditures $890 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $693 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  coffee 45%, sugar, shrimp, cotton
 partners:
  US 33%, Guatemala, Germany, Costa Rica
Imports:
  $1.47 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods
 partners:
  US 43%, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany
External debt:
  $2.6 billion (December 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.7% (1991); accounts for 22% of GDP
Electricity:
  713,800 kW capacity; 2,190 million kWh produced, 390 kWh per capita (1992)
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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $2.95 billion, plus $250 million
  for 1992-96; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
  (1970-89), $525 million
Currency:
  1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos

*El Salvador, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 - 8.7600 (January 1993), 9.1700 (1992),
  8.0300 (1991), fixed rate of 5.000 (1986-1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*El Salvador, Communications

Railroads:
  602 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 542 km in use
Highways:
  10,000 km total; 1,500 km paved, 4,100 km gravel, 4,400 km improved and
  unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports:
  Acajutla, Cutuco
Airports:
 total:
  105
 usable:
  74
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  nationwide trunk microwave radio relay system; connection into Central
  American Microwave System; 116,000 telephones (21 telephones per 1,000
  persons); broadcast stations - 77 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 Atlantic
  Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*El Salvador, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,305,853; fit for military service 836,192; reach military
  age (18) annually 71,101 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $104 million, 3%-4% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Equatorial Guinea, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cameroon and
  Gabon
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  28,050 km2
 land area:
  28,050 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  total 539 km, Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline:
  296 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over
  islands in Corisco Bay
Climate:
  tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
  coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Natural resources:
  timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium
Land use:
 arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  51%
 other:
  33%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to violent windstorms
Note:
  insular and continental regions rather widely separated

*Equatorial Guinea, People

Population:
  399,055 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.6% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  41.1 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  15.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  104.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  51.63 years
 male:
  49.56 years
 female:   53.76 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
 adjective:
  Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic divisions:
  Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang),
  Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions:
  nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages:
  Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  50%
 male:
  64%
 female:
  37%
Labor force:
  172,000 (1986 est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980)
 note:
  labor shortages on plantations; 58% of population of working age (1985)

*Equatorial Guinea, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Equatorial Guinea
 conventional short form:
  Equatorial Guinea
 local long form:
  Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
 local short form:
  Guinea Ecuatorial
 former:
  Spanish Guinea
Digraph:
  EK
Type:
  republic in transition to multiparty democracy
Capital:
  Malabo
Administrative divisions:
  7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko
  Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence:
  12 October 1968 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  new constitution 17 November 1991
Legal system:
  partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Political parties and leaders:
  ruling - Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig. Gen. (Ret.)
  Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leader
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Elections:
 President:
  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
 Chamber of People's Representatives:
  last held 10 July 1988 (next to be held 10 July 1993); results - PDGE is the
  only party; seats - (41 total) PDGE 41
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
  (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Representatives of the People (Camara de Representantes
  del Pueblo)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Tribunal
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August
  1979)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17 January 1992); Deputy Prime
  Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG MIFUMU (since 22 January 1992)

*Equatorial Guinea, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAS
  (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Damaso OBIANG NDONG
 chancery:
  (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553
 telephone:
  (914) 667-9664
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador John E. BENNETT
 embassy:
  Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo
 mailing address:   P.O. Box 597, Malabo
 telephone:
  [240] (9) 2185
 FAX:
  [240] (9) 2164
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue
  isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in
  the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars
  (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield
  bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto
  UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)

*Equatorial Guinea, Economy

Overview:
  The economy, devastated during the regime of former President Macias NGUEMA,
  is based on agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which account for about half
  of GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence agriculture predominates, with
  cocoa, coffee, and wood products providing income, foreign exchange, and
  government revenues. There is little industry. 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 deposits will
  provide a greater share of exports by 1995.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $144 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -1% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $380 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $26 million; expenditures $30 million, including capital
  expenditures of $3 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $37 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  coffee, timber, cocoa beans
 partners:
  Spain 38.2%, Italy 12.2%, Netherlands 11.4%, FRG 6.9%, Nigeria 12.4% (1988)
Imports:
  $63.0 million (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
 partners:
  France 25.9%, Spain 21.0%, Italy 16%, US 12.8%, Netherlands 8%, FRG 3.1%,
  Gabon 2.9%, Nigeria 1.8% (1988)
External debt:   $213 million (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 6.8% (1990 est.)
Electricity:
  23,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced, 160 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  fishing, sawmilling
Agriculture:
  cash crops - timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops -
  rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY81-89), $14 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89) $130 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $55 million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)

*Equatorial Guinea, Economy

Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Equatorial Guinea, Communications

Highways:
  Rio Muni - 2,460 km; Bioko - 300 km
Ports:
  Malabo, Bata
Merchant marine:
  2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,413 GRT/6,699 DWT; includes 1 cargo
  and 1 passenger-cargo
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  poor system with adequate government services; international communications
  from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; 2,000 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*Equatorial Guinea, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 84,323; fit for military service 42,812 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Eritrea, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea between Djibouti and Sudan
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  121,320 km2
 land area:
  121,320 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
  total 1,630 km, Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline:
  1,151 km (land and island coastline is 2,234 km)
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central
  highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in western hills and
  lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except on coast desert
Terrain:
  dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands,
  descending on the east to a coastal desert plan, on the northwest to hilly
  terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Natural resources:
  gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  2% (coffee)
 meadows and pastures:
  40%
 forest and woodland:
  5%  other:
  50%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  frequent droughts, famine; deforestation; soil eroision; overgrazing; loss
  of infrastructure from civil warfare
Note:
  strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes and
  close to Arabian oilfields, Eritrea retained the entire coastline of
  Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 27
  April 1993

*Eritrea, People

Population:
  3,467,087 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.46% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years
 female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman
Nationality:
 noun:
  Eritrean(s)
 adjective:
  Eritrean
Ethnic divisions:
  ethnic Tigrays 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast
  dwellers) 3%
Religions:
  Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages:
  Tigre and Kunama, Cushitic dialects, Tigre, Nora Bana, Arabic
Literacy:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

*Eritrea, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Eritrea
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Digraph:
  ER
Type:
  transitional government
 note:
  on 29 May 1991 ISSAIAS Afeworke, secretary general of the Eritrean People's
  Liberation Front (EPLF), 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 that was announced on 27 April 1993
Capital:
  Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions:
  NA
Independence:
  27 April 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea Autonomous Region)
Constitution:
  transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May (1993)
Political parties and leaders:
  Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) (Christian Muslim), ISSAIAS
  Aferworke, PETROS Soloman; Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) (Muslim),
  ABDULLAH Muhammed; Eritrean Liberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO),
  leader NA
Other political or pressure groups:
  Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP);
  numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since Mengistu's
  resignation, including several Islamic militant groups
Suffrage:
  NA
Elections:
  multinational election before 20 May 1997
Executive branch:
  president, Eritrean National Council
Legislative branch:
  National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Judiciary
Leaders:  Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President ISSAIAS Aferworke
Member of:
  OAU, UN, UNCTAD

*Eritrea, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  NA
 chancery:
  NA
 telephone:
  NA
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Joseph P. O'NEILL
 embassy:
  NA
 mailing address:
  NA
 telephone:
  251-4-113-720
 FAX:
  NA
Flag:
  red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two
  right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold
  wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the
  red triangle

*Eritrea, Economy

Overview:
  With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faces the bitter
  economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country. Most of the
  population will continue to depend on subsistence farming. Domestic output
  is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government
  revenues come from custom duties and income and sales taxes. Eritrea has
  inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia and has long-term prospects for
  revenues from the devlopment of offshore oil, offshore fishing and tourist
  development. For the time being, Ethiopia will be largely dependent on
  Eritrean ports for its foreign trade.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $400 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $115 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:   NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  NA kW capacity; NA kWh produced, NA kWh per capita
Industries:
  food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Agriculture:
  NA
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  NA
Exchange rates:
  NA
Fiscal year:
  NA

*Eritrea, Communications

Railroads:
  307 km total; 307 km 1.000-meter gauge; 307 km 0.950-meter gauge
  (nonoperational) linking Ak'ordat and Asmera with the port of Mits'iwe (1993
  est.)
Highways:
  3,845 km total; 807 km paved, 840 km gravel, 402 km improved earth, 1,796 km
  unimproved earth
Ports:
  Assab (formerly Aseb), Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine:
  14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,837 GRT/90,492 DWT; includes 9
  cargo, 1 roll-on/roll off, 1 livestock carrier, 2 oil tanker, 1 refrigerated
  cargo
Airports:
 total:
  5
 usable:
  5  with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  NA

*Eritrea, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA; reach military age (18)
  annually NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Estonia, Geography

Location:
  Northeastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  45,100 km2
 land area:
  43,200 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
 note:
  includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Land boundaries:
  total 557 km, Latvia 267 km, Russia 290 km
Coastline:
  1,393 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  international small border strips along the northern (Narva) and southern
  (Petseri) sections of eastern border with Russia ceded to Russia in 1945 by
  the Estonian SSR
Climate:
  maritime, wet, moderate winters
Terrain:
  marshy, lowlands
Natural resources:   shale oil, peat, phosphorite, amber
Land use:
 arable land:
  22%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  11%
 forest and woodland:
  31%
 other:
  36%
Irrigated land:
  110 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  air heavily polluted with sulphur dioxide from oil-shale burning power
  plants in northeast; radioactive wastes dumped in open reservoir in
  Sillamae, a few dozen meters from Baltic Sea; contamination of soil and
  ground water with petroleum products, chemicals at military bases

*Estonia, People

Population:
  1,608,469 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.52% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  14.05 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.13 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  19.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.75 years
 male:
  64.75 years
 female:
  74.99 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.01 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Estonian(s)
 adjective:
  Estonian
Ethnic divisions:
  Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.17%, Belarusian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%,
  other 2.13% (1989)
Religions:
  Lutheran
Languages:   Estonian (official), Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  796,000
 by occupation:
  industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38%
  (1990)

*Estonia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Estonia
 conventional short form:
  Estonia
 local long form:
  Eesti Vabariik
 local short form:
  Eesti
 former:
  Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  EN
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Tallinn
Administrative divisions:
  none (all districts are under direct republic jurisdiction)
Independence:
  6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Political parties and leaders:
  Popular Front of Estonia (Rahvarinne), NA chairman; Estonian Christian
  Democratic Party, Aivar KALA, chairman; Estonian Christian Democratic Union,
  Illar HALLASTE, chairman; Estonian Heritage Society (EMS), Trivimi VELLISTE,
  chairman; Estonian National Independence Party (ENIP), Lagle PAREK,
  chairman; Estonian Social Democratic Party, Marju LAURISTIN, chairman;
  Estonian Green Party, Tonu OJA; Independent Estonian Communist Party, Vaino
  VALJAS; People's Centrist Party, Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman; Estonian Royalist
  Party (ERP), Kalle KULBOK, chairman; Entrpreneurs' Party (EP), Tiit MADE;
  Estonian Fatherland Party, Mart LAAR, chairman; Safe Home; Moderates;
  Estonian Citizen
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held NA); results - no candidate
  received majority; newly elected Parliament elected Lennart MERI (NA October
  1992)
 Parliament:
  last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held NA); results - Fatherland 21%,
  Safe Home 14%, Popular Front 13%, Moderates 10%, Estonian National
  Independence Party 8%, Royalists 7%, Estonian Citizen 7%, Estonian
  Entrepreneurs 2%, other 18%; seats - (101 total) Fatherland 29, Safe Home
  18, Popular Front 15, Moderates 12, ENIP 10, Royalists 8, Estonian Citizen
  8, Estonian Entrepreneurs 1
 Congress of Estonia:
  last held March 1990 (next to be held NA); note - Congress of Estonia was a
  quasi-governmental structure which disbanded itself October 1992 after the
  new Parliament and government were installed
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, cabinet

*Estonia, Government

Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament (Riigikogu)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Lennart MERI (since NA October 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since NA October 1992)
Member of:
  CBSS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ILO, IMF, IMO, NACC,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Toomas Hendrik IIVES
 chancery:
  (temporary) 630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2415, New York, NY 10111
 telephone:
  (212) 247-2131
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert C. FRASURE
 embassy:
  Kentmanni 20, Tallin EE 0001
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  011-[358] (49) 303-182 (cellular)  FAX:
  [358] (49) 306-817 (cellular)
 note:
  dialing to Baltics still requires use of an international operator unless
  you use the cellular phone lines
Flag:
  pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal
  horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

*Estonia, Economy

Overview:
  As of June 1993 Estonia ranks first among the 15 former Soviet republics in
  moving from its obsolete command economy to a modern market economy. Yet
  serious problems remain. In contrast to the estimated 30% drop in output in
  1992, GDP should grow by a small percent in 1993. Of key importance has been
  the introduction of the kroon in August 1993 and the subsequent reductions
  in inflation to 1%-2% per month. Starting in July 1991, under a new law on
  private ownership, small enterprises, such as retail shops and restaurants,
  were sold to private owners. The auctioning of large-scale enterprises is
  progressing with the proceeds being held in escrow until the prior ownership
  (that is, Estonian or the Commonwealth of Independent States) can be
  established. Estonia ranks first in per capita consumption among the former
  Soviet republics. Agriculture is well developed, especially meat production,
  and provides a surplus for export. Only about one-fifth of the work force is
  in agriculture. The major share of the work force engages in manufacturing
  both capital and consumer goods based on raw materials and intermediate
  products from the other former Soviet republics. These manufactures are of
  high quality by ex-Soviet standards and are exported to the other republics.
  Estonia's mineral resources are limited to major deposits of shale oil (60%
  of the old Soviet total) and phosphorites (400 million tons). Estonia has a
  large, relatively modern port and produces more than half of its own energy
  needs at highly polluting shale oil power plants. It has advantages in the
  transition, not having suffered so long under the Soviet yoke and having
  better chances of developing profitable ties to the Nordic and West European
  countries. Like Latvia, but unlike Lithuania, the large portion of ethnic
  Russians (30%) in the population poses still another difficulty in the
  transition to an independent market economy.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -30% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1%-2% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  3% (March 1993); but large number of underemployed workers
Budget:
  revenues $223 million; expenditures $142 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:   textile 11%, wood products and timber 9%, dairy products 9%
 partners:
  Russia and the other former Soviet republics 50%, West 50% (1992)
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  machinery 45%, oil 13%, chemicals 12%
 partners:
  Finland 15%, Russia 18%
External debt:
  $650 million (end of 1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -40% (1992)
Electricity:
  3,700,000 kW capacity; 22,900 million kWh produced, 14,245 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Estonia, Economy

Industries:
  accounts for 30% of labor force; oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates,
  electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper,
  shoes, apparel
Agriculture:
  employs 20% of work force; very efficient; 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 to
  Western Europe; limited illicit opium producer; mostly for domestic
  production
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million
Currency:
  1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 NA; (introduced in August 1992)
Exchange rates:
  kroons (EEK) per US$1 - 12 (January 1993)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Estonia, Communications

Railroads:
  1,030 km (includes NA km electrified); does not include industrial lines
  (1990)
Highways:
  30,300 km total (1990); 29,200 km hard surfaced; 1,100 km earth
Inland waterways:
  500 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
  natural gas 420 km (1992)
Ports:   coastal - Tallinn, Novotallin, Parnu; inland - Narva
Merchant marine:
  68 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 394,501 GRT/526,502 DWT; includes 52
  cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off, 2 short-sea passenger, 6 bulk, 2 container
Airports:
 total:
  29
 useable:
  18
 with permanent-surface runways:
  11
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  10
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  8
Telecommunications:
  300,000 telephone subscribers in 1990 with international direct dial service
  available to Finland, Germany, Austria, UK and France; 21 telephone lines
  per 100 persons as of 1991; broadcast stations - 3 TV (provide Estonian
  programs as well as Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs);
  international traffic is carried to the other former USSR republics by
  landline or microwave and to other countries by leased connection to the
  Moscow international gateway switch via 19 incoming/20 outgoing
  international channels, by the Finnish cellular net, and by an old copper
  submarine cable to Finland soon to be replaced by an undersea fiber optic
  cable system; there is also a new international telephone exchange in
  Tallinn handling 60 channels via Helsinki; 2 analog mobile cellular networks
  with international roaming capability to Scandinavia are operating in major
  cities

*Estonia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Maritime Border Guard, National Guard (Kaitseliit), Security
  Forces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 387,733; fit for military service 306,056; reach military
  age (18) annually 11,570 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  124.4 million kroons, NA% of GDP (forecast for 1993); note - conversion of
  the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could
  produce misleading results

*Ethiopia, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Africa, between Somalia and Sudan
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:  total area:
  1,127,127 km2
 land area:
  1,119,683 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 5,311 km, Djibouti 337 km, Erithea 912 km, Kenya 830 km, Somalia 1,626
  km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline:
  none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
  none - landlocked
International disputes:
  southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative
  Line; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis;
  territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden
Climate:
  tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation; some areas prone
  to extended droughts
Terrain:
  high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
Natural resources:
  small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash
Land use:
 arable land:
  12%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  41%
 forest and woodland:
  24%
 other:
  22%
Irrigated land:
  1,620 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic
  eruptions; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
  frequent droughts; famine
Note:
  landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure
  independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993

*Ethiopia, People

Population:
  53,278,446 (July 1993 est.)
 note:
  Ethiopian demographic data, except population and population growth rate,
  include Eritrea
Population growth rate:
  3.41% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  14.23 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  2.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  108.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  52.21 years
 male:
  50.6 years
 female:
  53.88 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.88 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Ethiopian(s)
 adjective:
  Ethiopian
Ethnic divisions:
  Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar
  4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions:
  Muslim 45-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35-40%, animist 12%, other 5%
Languages:
  Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, English
  (major foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy:
  age 10 and over can read and write (1983)
 total population:
  62%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  18 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry
  and construction 8% (1985)

*Ethiopia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Ethiopia
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:   Ityop'iya
Digraph:
  ET
Type:
  transitional government
 note:
  on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
  toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took
  control in Addis Ababa; the Transitional Government of Ethiopia (TGE),
  announced a two-year transitional period
Capital:
  Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions:
  14 administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader
  akababi) Addis Ababa, Afar, Amhara, Benishangul, Gambela,
  Gurage-Hadiya-Kambata, Harer, Kefa, Omo, Oromo, Sidamo, Somali, Tigray,
  Wolayta
Independence:
  oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at
  least 2,000 years
Constitution:
  to be redrafted by 1993
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu regime)
Political parties and leaders:
  NA
Other political or pressure groups:
  Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP);
  numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since Mengistu's
  resignation, including several Islamic militant groups
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 10 September 1987; next election planned after new constitution
  drafted; results - MENGISTU Haile-Mariam elected by the now defunct National
  Assembly, but resigned and left Ethiopia on 21 May 1991
 Constituent Assembly:
  now planned for January 1994 (to ratify constitution to be drafted by end of
  1993)
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Constituent Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President MELES Zenawi (since 1 June 1991)

*Ethiopia, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister TAMIRAT Layne (since 6 June 1991)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, 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:
  (202) 234-2281 or 2282
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Marc A. BAAS
 embassy:
  Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
 telephone:
  [251] (1) 550-666
 FAX:
  [251] (1) 551-166
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red; Ethiopia is
  the oldest independent country in Africa, and the colors of her flag were so
  often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became
  known as the pan-African colors

*Ethiopia, Economy

Overview:
  With the independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993, Ethiopia continues to
  face difficult economic problems as one of the poorest and least developed
  countries in Africa. (The accompanying analysis and figures predate the
  independence of Eritrea.) Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture,
  which accounts for about 45% of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total
  employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. 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.
  Favorable agricultural weather largely explains the 4.5% growth in output in
  FY89, whereas drought and deteriorating internal security conditions
  prevented growth in FY90. In 1991 the lack of law and order, particularly in
  the south, interfered with economic development and growth. In 1992, because
  of some easing of civil strife and aid from the outside world, the economy
  substantially improved.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $6.6 billion (FY92 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6% (FY92 est.)
National product per capita:
  $130 (FY92 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7.8% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $2.3 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $565 million (FY91)
Exports:
  $276 million (f.o.b., FY90)
 commodities:
  coffee, leather products, gold, petroleum products
 partners:
  EC, Djibouti, Japan, Saudi Arabia, US
Imports:
  $1.0 billion (c.i.f., FY90)
 commodities:
  capital goods, consumer goods, fuel
 partners:
  EC, Eastern Europe, Japan, US
External debt:
  $3.48 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 2.3% (FY89 est.); accounts for 12% of GDP
Electricity:
  330,000 kW capacity; 650 million kWh produced, 10 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement
Agriculture:
  accounts for 47% of GDP and is the most important sector of the economy even
  though frequent droughts and poor cultivation practices keep farm output
  low; famines not uncommon; export crops of coffee and oilseeds grown partly
  on state farms; estimated 50% of agricultural production at subsistence
  level; principal crops and livestock - cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseeds,
  sugarcane, potatoes and other vegetables, hides and skins, cattle, sheep,
  goats

*Ethiopia, Economy

Illicit drugs:
  transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and
  destined for Europe and North America; cultivates qat (chat) for local use
  and regional export
Economic aid:
  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), $2.0
  billion
Currency:
  1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.0000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
  8 July - 7 July

*Ethiopia, Communications

Railroads:
  781 km total; 781 km 1.000-meter gauge; 307 km 0.950-meter gauge linking
  Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Djibouti; control of railroad is shared between
  Djibouti and Ethiopia
Highways:
  39,150 km total; 2,776 km paved, 7,504 km gravel, 2,054 km improved earth,
  26,816 km unimproved earth (1993 est.)
Ports:
  none; landlocked
Merchant marine:
  none; landlocked
Airports:
 total:
  121
 usable:
  82
 with permanent-surface runways:
  9
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  13
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  83 (1993 est.)
Telecommunications:
  open-wire and radio relay system adequate for government use; open-wire to
  Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; broadcast
  stations - 4 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 100,000 TV sets; 9,000,000 radios; satellite
  earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

*Ethiopia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 12,793,340; fit for military service 6,640,616; reach
  military age (18) annually 576,329 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Europa Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (possession of France)

*Europa Island, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, in the southern Mozambique Channel about halfway between
  Madagascar and Mozambique
Map references:
  Africa
Area:
 total area:
  28 km2
 land area:
  28 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  22.2 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claimed by Madagascar
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:
  NA
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA% (heavily wooded)
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  wildlife sanctuary

*Europa Island, People

Population:
  uninhabited

*Europa Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Europa Island
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Ile Europa
Digraph:
  EU
Type:
  French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic; resident in
  Reunion
Capital:
  none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence:
  none (possession of France)

*Europa Island, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Europa Island, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  0
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,439-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  1 meteorological station

*Europa Island, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Geography

Location:
  in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the southern coast of Argentina
Map references:
  Antarctic Region, South America
Area:
 total area:
  12,170 km2
 land area:
  12,170 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Connecticut
 note:
  includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small
  islands
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  1,288 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  100 m depth
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
Climate:
  cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than
  half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and
  February, but does not accumulate
Terrain:
  rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Natural resources:
  fish, wildlife
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  99%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:   1%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  poor soil fertility and a short growing season
Note:
  deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors

*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), People

Population:
  2,206 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.43% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years
 female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman
Nationality:
 noun:
  Falkland Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Falkland Island
Ethnic divisions:
  British
Religions:
  primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church,
  Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  1,100 (est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)

*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Colony of the Falkland Islands
 conventional short form:
  Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Digraph:
  FA
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  Stanley
Administrative divisions:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  3 October 1985
Legal system:
  English common law
National holiday:
  Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Council:
  last held 11 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (10 total, 8 elected) number of seats by party
  NA
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, Executive Council
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Governor David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992)
Member of:
  ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of
  the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major
  economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the
  islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs
  most of the work force. A few dairy herds are kept to meet domestic
  consumption of milk and milk products, and crops grown are primarily those
  for providing 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. In
  1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers
  operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees
  amount to more than $40 million per year and are a primary source of income
  for the government. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development
  Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the abundant
  wildlife and trout fishing.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7.4% (1980-87 average)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%; labor shortage
Budget:
  revenues $62.7 million; expenditures $41.8 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY90)
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, fuels, and machinery
 partners:
  UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.)
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  9,200 kW capacity; 17 million kWh produced, 8,940 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  wool and fish processing
Agriculture:
  predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds; some fodder and vegetable
  crops
Economic aid:   Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $277 million
Currency:
  1 Falkland pound (#F) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
  Falkland pound (#F) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652
  (1991), 0.5604 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988); note - the Falkland
  pound is at par with the British pound

*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Economy

Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Communications

Highways:
  510 km total; 30 km paved, 80 km gravel, and 400 km unimproved earth
Ports:
  Stanley
Airports:
 total:
  5
 usable:
  5
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio networks provide
  effective service to almost all points on both islands; 590 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station with links through London to other countries

*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Defense Forces

Branches:
  British Forces Falkland Islands (including Army, Royal Air Force, Royal
  Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Faroe Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (part of the Danish realm)

*Faroe Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the north Atlantic Ocean, located half way between Norway and Iceland
Map references:
  Arctic Region
Area:
 total area:
  1,400 km2
 land area:
  1,400 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  764 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain:
  rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  98%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands; archipelago
  of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets
Note:
  strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic

*Faroe Islands, People

Population:
  48,065 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.67% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  18.45 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.92 years
 male:
  74.51 years
 female:
  81.45 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.52 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Faroese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Faroese
Ethnic divisions:
  Scandinavian
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
  Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  17,585
 by occupation:
  largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce

*Faroe Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Faroe Islands  local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Foroyar
Digraph:
  FO
Type:
  part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of
  Denmark
Capital:
  Torshavn
Administrative divisions:
  none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Independence:
  none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative
  division of Denmark)
Constitution:
  Danish
Legal system:
  Danish
National holiday:
  Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Political parties and leaders:
 three-party ruling coalition:
  Social Democratic Party, Marita PETERSEN; Republican Party, Signer HANSEN;
  Home Rule Party, Hilmar KASS
 opposition:
  Cooperation Coalition Party, Pauli ELLEFSEN; Progressive and Fishing
  Industry Party-Christian People's Party (PFIP-CPP), leader NA; Progress
  Party, leader NA; People's Party, Jogvan SUND-STEIN
Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Danish Parliament:
  last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) Social Democratic 1, People's
  Party 1; note - the Faroe Islands elects two representatives to the Danish
  Parliament
 Faroese Parliament:
  last held 17 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results - Social
  Democratic 27.4%, People's Party 21.9%, Cooperation Coalition Party 18.9%,
  Republican Party 14.7%, Home Rule 8.8%, PFIP-CPP 5.9%, other 2.4%; seats -
  (32 total) two-party coalition 17 (Social Democratic 10, People's Party 7),
  Cooperation Coalition Party 6, Republican Party 4, Home Rule 3, PFIP-CPP 2
Executive branch:
  Danish monarch, high commissioner, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  Cabinet (Landsstyri)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament (Lgting)
Judicial branch:
  none

*Faroe Islands, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner
  Bent KLINTE (since NA)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Marita PETERSEN (since 18 January 1993)
Member of:
  none
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag:
  white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the
  flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
  style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)

*Faroe Islands, Economy

Overview:
  The Faroese, who have long enjoyed the affluent living standards of the
  Danes and other Scandinavians, now must cope with the decline of the
  all-important fishing industry and one of the world's heaviest per capita
  external debts of nearly $30,000. 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% VAT in 1993, and
  has agreed to an IMF economic-political stabilization plan. In addition to
  its annual subsidy, the Danish government has bailed out the second largest
  Faroe bank to the tune of $140 million since October 1992.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $662 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1989 est.)
National product per capita:
  $14,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
  5%-6% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $425 million; expenditures $480 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $386 million (f.o.b., 1990 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:
  $322 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment 24.4%, manufactures 24%, food and
  livestock 19%, fuels 12%, chemicals 6.5%
 partners:
  Denmark 43.8%, Norway 19.8%, Sweden 4.9%, Germany 4.2%, US 1.3%
External debt:
  $1.3 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  80,000 kW capacity; 280 million kWh produced, 5,760 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  fishing, shipbuilding, handicrafts
Agriculture:
  accounts for 27% of GDP and employs 27% of labor force; principal crops -
  potatoes and vegetables; livestock - sheep; annual fish catch about 360,000
  metric tons
Economic aid:
  receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $130 million

*Faroe Islands, Economy

Currency:
  1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 ore
Exchange rates:
  Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.236 (January 1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396
  (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Faroe Islands, Communications

Highways:
  200 km
Ports:
  Torshavn, Tvoroyri
Merchant marine:
  10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,015 GRT/24,007 DWT; includes 1
  short-sea passenger, 5 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off, 2 refrigerated cargo; note
  - a subset of the Danish register
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1  with runways over 3659 m:
  0
 with runways 2440-3659 m:
  0
 with runways 1220-2439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  good international communications; fair domestic facilities; 27,900
  telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 3 (10 repeaters) FM, 3 (29 repeaters)
  TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables

*Faroe Islands, Defense Forces

Branches:
  small Police Force, no organized native military forces
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of Denmark

*Fiji, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
  Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  18,270 km2
 land area:
  18,270 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  1,129 km
Maritime claims:
  (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Natural resources:
  timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential
Land use:  arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:
  5%
 meadows and pastures:
  3%
 forest and woodland:
  65%
 other:
  19%
Irrigated land:
  10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes from November to January; includes 332 islands of
  which approximately 110 are inhabited

*Fiji, People

Population:
  756,762 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.95% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  24.74 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.59 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -8.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  18.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  64.86 years
 male:
  62.62 years
 female:
  67.21 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.98 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Fijian(s)
 adjective:
  Fijian
Ethnic divisions:
  Fijian 49%, Indian 46%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese,
  and other 5%
Religions:
  Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%,
  other 2%
 note:
  Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim
  minority (1986)
Languages:   English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
 total population:
  86%
 male:
  90%
 female:
  81%
Labor force:
  235,000
 by occupation:
  subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)

*Fiji, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Fiji
 conventional short form:
  Fiji
Digraph:
  FJ
Type:
  republic
 note:
  military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a
  republic on 6 October 1987
Capital:
  Suva
Administrative divisions:
  4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western, Independence:
  10 October 1970 (from UK)
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 currently still under review (February 1993)
Legal system:
  based on British system
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 10 October (1970)
Political parties and leaders:
  Fijian Political Party (SVT - primarily Fijian), leader Maj. Gen. Sitivini
  RABUKA; National Federation Party (NFP; primarily Indian), Siddiq KOYA;
  Christian Fijian Nationalist Party (CFNP), Sakeasi BUTADROKA; Fiji Labor
  Party (FLP), Jokapeci KOROI; All National Congress (ANC), Apisai TORA;
  General Voters Party (GVP), Max OLSSON; 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
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held 23-29 May 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); 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 NA
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet, Great Councils of Chiefs (highest
  ranking members of the traditional chiefly system)
Legislative branch:
  the bicameral Parliament, consisting of an upper house or Senate and a lower
  house or House of Representatives, was dissolved following the coup of 14
  May 1987; the Constitution of 23 September 1988 provides for a bicameral
  Parliament
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu GANILAU (since 5 December 1987); Vice
  President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 14 April 1992); Vice President Ratu
  Sir Josaia TAIVAIQIA (since 14 April 1992)

*Fiji, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June 1992); Deputy Prime Minister
  Filipe BOLE (since 11 June 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Ratu Timoci VESIKULA
  (since 11 June 1993)
Member of:
  ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UPU, 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:
  (202) 337-8320
 consulate:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Evelyn I. H. TEEGEN
 embassy:
  31 Loftus Street, Suva
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 218, Suva
 telephone:
  [679] 314-466
 FAX:
  [679] 300-081
Flag:
  light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a
  yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George
  featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

*Fiji, Economy

Overview:
  Fiji's economy is primarily agricultural, with a large subsistence sector.
  Sugar exports are a major source of foreign exchange, and sugar processing
  accounts for one-third of industrial output. Industry, including sugar
  milling, contributes 13% to GDP. Fiji traditionally had earned considerable
  sums of hard currency from the 250,000 tourists who visited each year. In
  1987, however, after two military coups, the economy went into decline. GDP
  dropped by 7.8% in 1987 and by another 2.5% in 1988; political uncertainty
  created a drop in tourism, and the worst drought of the century caused sugar
  production to fall sharply. In contrast, sugar and tourism turned in strong
  performances in 1989, and the economy rebounded vigorously. In 1990 the
  economy received a setback from cyclone Sina, which cut sugar output by an
  estimated 21%. Sugar exports recovered in 1991-92.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,900 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  5.9% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $455 million; expenditures $546 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
  $435 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  sugar 40%, gold, clothing, copra, processed fish, lumber
 partners:
  EC 31%, Australia 21%, Japan 8%, US 6%
Imports:
  $553 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment 32%, food 15%, petroleum products,
  consumer goods, chemicals
 partners:
  Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6%
External debt:
  $428 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 8.4% (1991 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
Electricity:
  215,000 kW capacity; 420 million kWh produced, 560 kWh per capita (1992)
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:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89),
  $815 million
Currency:
  1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents

*Fiji, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.5809 (January 1993), 1.5029 (1992), 1.4756
  (1991), 1.4809 (1990), 1.4833 (1989), 1.4303 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Fiji, Communications

Railroads:
  644 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, belonging to the government-owned Fiji
  Sugar Corporation
Highways:
  3,300 km total; 1,590 km paved; 1,290 km gravel, crushed stone, or
  stabilized soil surface; 420 unimproved earth (1984)
Inland waterways:
  203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
Ports:
  Lambasa, Lautoka, Savusavu, Suva
Merchant marine:
  7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 40,072 GRT/47,187 DWT; includes 2
  roll-on/roll-off, 2 container, 1 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 cargo
Airports:
 total:
  25
 usable:
  22
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public
  and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities;
  regional radio center; important COMPAC cable link between US-Canada and New
  Zealand-Australia; 53,228 telephones (71 telephones per 1,000 persons);
  broadcast stations - 7 AM, 1 FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*Fiji, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Fiji Military Force (FMF; including a naval division, police)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 194,634; fit for military service 107,304; reach military
  age (18) annually 7,834 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $22.4 million, about 2% of GDP (FY91/92)

*Finland, Geography

Location:
  Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Russia
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  337,030 km2
 land area:
  305,470 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
  total 2,628 km, Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km
Coastline:
  1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  6 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive fishing zone:
  12 nm
 territorial sea:
  4 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of
  moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more
  than 60,000 lakes
Terrain:
  mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
Natural resources:
  timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
Land use:
 arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:   0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  76%
 other:
  16%
Irrigated land:
  620 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  permanently wet ground covers about 30% of land; population concentrated on
  small southwestern coastal plain
Note:
  long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on
  European continent

*Finland, People

Population:
  5,050,942 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.37% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.91 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  5.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.65 years
 male:
  71.85 years
 female:
  79.62 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.79 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Finn(s)
 adjective:
  Finnish
Ethnic divisions:
  Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%
Languages:
  Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small Lapp- and
  Russian-speaking minorities
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:   100%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  2.533 million
 by occupation:
  public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15.0%, finance, insurance,
  and business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and
  communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%

*Finland, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Finland
 conventional short form:
  Finland
 local long form:
  Suomen Tasavalta
 local short form:
  Suomi
Digraph:
  FI
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Helsinki
Administrative divisions:
  12 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi,
  Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa,
  Vaasa
Independence:
  6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  17 July 1919
Legal system:
  civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation
  interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
  reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Political parties and leaders:
 government coalition:
  Center Party, Esko AHO; National Coalition (conservative) Party, Perti
  SALOLAINEN; Swedish People's Party, (Johan) Ole NORRBACK; Finnish Christian
  League, Toimi KANKAANNIEMI
 other parties:
  Social Democratic Party, Antero KEKKONEN, Acting Chairman; Leftist Alliance
  (Communist) People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative, Claes
  ANDERSON; Green League, Pekka SAURI; Rural Party, Tina MAKELA; Liberal
  People's Party, Kalle MAATTA
Other political or pressure groups:   Finnish Communist Party-Unity, Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional
Rightist Party;
  Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 31 January - 1 February and 15 February 1988 (next to be held
  January 1994); results - Mauno KOIVISTO 48%, Paavo VAYRYNEN 20%, Harri
  HOLKERI 18%
 Parliament:
  last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1995); results - Center Party
  24.8%, Social Democratic Party 22.1%, National Coalition (Conservative)
  Party 19.3%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.1%, Green League 6.8%, Swedish
  People's Party 5.5%, Rural 4.8%, Finnish Christian League 3.1%, Liberal
  People's Party 0.8%; seats - (200 total) Center Party 55, Social Democratic
  Party 48, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 40, Leftist Alliance
  (Communist) 19, Swedish People's Party 12, Green League 10, Finnish
  Christian League 8, Rural 7, Liberal People's Party 1

*Finland, Government

Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of State
  (Valtioneuvosto)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament (Eduskunta)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Mauno KOIVISTO (since 27 January 1982)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Esko AHO (since 26 April 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Ilkka
  KANERVA (since 26 April 1991)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM
  (cooperating country), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA (associate), FAO, G-9,
  GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NAM (guest),
  NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
  UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTSO,
  UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jukka VALTASAARI
 chancery:
  3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
 telephone:
  (202) 363-2430
 FAX:
  (202) 363-8233
 consulates general:
  Los Angeles and New York
 consulates:   Chicago and Houston
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador John H. KELLY
 embassy:
  Itainen Puistotie 14A, SF-00140, Helsinki
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09723
 telephone:
  [358] (0) 171931
 FAX:
  [358] (0) 174681
Flag:
  white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical
  part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the DANNEBROG
  (Danish flag)

*Finland, Economy

Overview:
  Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free market economy, with per
  capita output two-thirds of the US figure. Its key economic sector is
  manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, and engineering industries.
  Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP.
  Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw
  materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of
  the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining
  self-sufficiency in basic products. The economy, which experienced an
  average of 4.9% annual growth between 1987 and 1989, sank into deep
  recession in 1991 as growth contracted by 6.5%. The recession - which
  continued in 1992 with growth contracting by 3.5% - 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 EC's
  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. By boosting the
  competitiveness of Finnish exports, these measures presumably have kept the
  economic downturn from being even more severe. Unemployment probably will
  remain a serious problem during the next few years - monthly figures in
  early 1993 are approaching 20% - with the majority of Finnish firms facing a
  weak domestic market and the troubled German and Swedish export markets.
  Declining revenues, increased transfer payments, and extensive funding to
  bail out the banking system are expected to push the central government's
  budget deficit to nearly 13% in 1993. Helsinki continues to harmonize its
  economic policies with those of the EC during Finland's current EC
  membership bid.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $79.4 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  -3.5% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $15,900 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.1% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  13.1% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $26.8 billion; expenditures $40.6 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $24.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  timber, paper and pulp, ships, machinery, clothing and footwear
 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:
  $21.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport
  equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder
  grains

*Finland, Economy

 partners:
  EC 47.2% (Germany 16.9%, UK 8.7%), EFTA 19.0% (Sweden 11.7%), US 6.1%, Japan
  5.5%, Russia 7.1% (1992)
External debt:
  $25 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7.6% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  13,500,000 kW capacity; 55,300 million kWh produced, 11,050 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  metal products, shipbuilding, forestry and wood processing (pulp, paper),
  copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 5% of GDP (including forestry); livestock production,
  especially dairy cattle, predominates; forestry is an important export
  earner and a secondary occupation for the rural population; main crops -
  cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; 85% self-sufficient, but short of foodgrains
  and fodder grains; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric tons
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.7 billion
Currency:
  1 markkaa (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia
Exchange rates:
  markkaa (FMk) per US$1 - 5.4193 (January 1993), 4.4794 (1992), 4.0440
  (1991), 3.8235 (1990), 4.2912 (1989), 4.1828 (1988)
Fiscal year:   calendar year

*Finland, Communications

Railroads:
  5,924 km total; Finnish State Railways (VR) operate a total of 5,863 km
  1.524-meter gauge, of which 480 km are multiple track and 1,445 km are
  electrified
Highways:
  about 103,000 km total, including 35,000 km paved (bituminous, concrete,
  bituminous-treated surface) and 38,000 km unpaved (stabilized gravel,
  gravel, earth); additional 30,000 km of private (state-subsidized) roads
Inland waterways:
  6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers
Pipelines:
  natural gas 580 km
Ports:
  Helsinki, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku
Merchant marine:
  87 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 935,260 GRT/973,995 DWT; includes 3
  passenger, 11 short-sea passenger, 17 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 26
  roll-on/roll-off, 14 oil tanker, 6 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 7 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  160
 usable:
  157
 with permanent-surface runways:
  66
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  25
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  22
Telecommunications:
  good service from cable and microwave radio relay network; 3,140,000
  telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 105 FM, 235 TV; 1 submarine cable;
  INTELSAT satellite transmission service via Swedish earth station and a
  receive-only INTELSAT earth station near Helsinki

*Finland, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,323,381; fit for military service 1,091,613; reach
  military age (17) annually 33,828 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.93 billion, about 2% of GDP (1992)

*France, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Spain and Germany
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  547,030 km2
 land area:
  545,630 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Colorado
 note:
  includes Corsica and the rest of metropolitan France, but excludes the
  overseas administrative divisions
Land boundaries:
  total 2,892.4 km, Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488
  km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km
Coastline:
  3,427 km (mainland 2,783 km, Corsica 644 km)
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  12-24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de
  Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims
  Tromelin Island; Seychelles claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of
  French Guiana; Mexico claims Clipperton Island; territorial claim in
  Antarctica (Adelie Land); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime
  boundary dispute between Canada and France
Climate:
  generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers
  along the Mediterranean
Terrain:
  mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is
  mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
Natural resources:
  coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash
Land use:
 arable land:
  32%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  23%
 forest and woodland:
  27%
 other:
  16%
Irrigated land:   11,600 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  most of large urban areas and industrial centers in Rhone, Garonne, Seine,
  or Loire River basins; occasional warm tropical wind known as mistral
Note:
  largest West European nation

*France, People

Population:
  57,566,091 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.48% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.24 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.3 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  78 years
 male:
  74.04 years
 female:
  82.16 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.8 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
 adjective:
  French
Ethnic divisions:
  Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque
  minorities
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (North African workers)
  1%, unaffiliated 6%
Languages:
  French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal,
  Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  24.17 million  by occupation:
  services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.2% (1987)

*France, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  French Republic
 conventional short form:
  France
 local long form:
  Republique Francaise
 local short form:
  France
Digraph:
  FR
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Paris
Administrative divisions:
  22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne,
  Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse,
  Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon,
  Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire,
  Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
 note:
  the 22 regions are subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for
  the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)
  and the territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
Dependent areas:
  Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French
  Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New
  Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna
 note:
  the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:
  486 (unified by Clovis)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962,
  ammended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992
Legal system:
  civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not
  legislative acts
National holiday:
  National Day, Taking of theBastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
  Rally for the Republic (RPR), Jacques CHIRAC; Union for French Democracy
  (UDF, federation of UREI, UC, RDE), Valery Giscard d'ESTAING; Republican
  Party (PR), Gerard LONGUET; Center for Social Democrats (CDS), Pierre
  MEHAIGNERIE; Radical (RAD), Yves GALLAND; Socialist Party (PS), Michel
  ROCARD; Left Radical Movement (MRG), Emile ZUCCARELLI; Communist Party
  (PCF), Georges MARCHAIS; National Front (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN; Union of
  Republican and Independents (UREI); Centrist Union (UC); (RDE)
Other political or pressure groups:
  Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) 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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

*France, Government

Elections:
 President:
  last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held by May 1995); results - Second Ballot
  Francois MITTERRAND 54%, Jacques CHIRAC 46%
 Senate:
  last held NA 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 (UREI 51, UC 68, RDE 23), PS 66, PCF 16, independents 2, other 4
 National Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of an upper house or Senate
  (Senat) and a lower house or National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
  Constitutional Court (Cour Constitutionnelle)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Edouard BALLADUR (since 29 March 1993)
Member of:
  ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB
  (non-regional), CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE,
  ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, FZ, GATT, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG,
  OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
  UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council,
  UNTSO, 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:   (202) 944-6000
 consulates 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 HARRIMAN
 embassy:
  2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08, Unit 21551
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09777
 telephone:
  [33] (1) 4296-12-02 or 4261-80-75
 FAX:
  [33] (1) 4266-9783
 consulates general:
  Bordeaux, Marseille, Strasbourg

*France, Government

Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as
  the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors have been the basis
  for a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote
  d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas

*France, Economy

Overview:
  One of the world's most developed economies, France has substantial
  agricultural resources and a highly 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. France is largely self-sufficient in agricultural products
  and 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. The French economy is entering its fourth
  consecutive year of sluggish growth after a strong expansion in the late
  1980s. Growth averaged only 1.3% in 1990-92 and is expected to drop to
  between zero and -0.5% in 1993. The government budget deficit rose to 3.2%
  of GDP in 1992 and is expected to be far larger than planned in the 1993
  budget. Paris remains committed to maintaining the franc-deutsch mark
  parity, which has kept French interest rates high despite France's low
  inflation. Although the pace of economic integration within the European
  Community has slowed down, integration presumably will remain a major force
  shaping the fortunes of the various economic sectors.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.08 trillion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  1.1% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $18,900 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.1% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  10.5% (end 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $220.5 billion; expenditures $249.1 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $47 billion (1993 budget)
Exports:
  $212.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 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%, former USSR 0.7% (1991 est.)
Imports:
  $230.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 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%, former USSR 1.3% (1991 est.)
External debt:
  $270 billion (December 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 0.2% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  110,000,000 kW capacity; 426,000 million kWh produced, 7,430 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics,
  mining, textiles, food processing, tourism

*France, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for 4% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); one of the world's
  top five wheat producers; other principal products - beef, dairy products,
  cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; self-sufficient for most
  temperate-zone foods; shortages include fats and oils and tropical produce,
  but overall net exporter of farm products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons
  ranks among world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1 billion
Currency:
  1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
  (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*France, Communications

Railroads:
  French National Railways (SNCF) operates 34,322 km 1.435-meter standard
  gauge; 12,434 km electrified, 15,132 km double or multiple track; 99 km of
  various gauges (1.000-meter), privately owned and operated
Highways:
  1,551,400 km total; 33,400 km national highway; 347,000 km departmental
  highway; 421,000 km community roads; 750,000 km rural roads; 5,401 km of
  controlled-access divided autoroutes; about 803,000 km paved
Inland waterways:
  14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled
Pipelines:
  crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km; natural gas 24,746 km
Ports:
  coastal - Bordeaux, Boulogne, Brest, Cherbourg, Dunkerque, Fos-Sur-Mer, Le
  Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Sete, Toulon; inland - Rouen
Merchant marine:
  130 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,224,945 GRT/5,067,252 DWT; includes
  7 short-sea passenger, 10 cargo, 20 container, 1 multifunction large-load
  carrier, 27 roll-on/roll-off, 36 oil tanker, 11 chemical tanker, 6 liquefied
  gas, 2 specialized tanker, 10 bulk; 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:
  471
 usable:
  461
 with permanent-surface runways:
  256
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  37
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  136
Telecommunications:
  highly developed; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks;
  large-scale introduction of optical-fiber systems; satellite systems for
  domestic traffic; 39,200,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 41 AM, 800
  (mostly repeaters) FM, 846 (mostly repeaters) TV; 24 submarine coaxial
  cables; 2 INTELSAT earth stations (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for the
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 3 for the Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT); HF radio
  communications with more than 20 countries; INMARSAT service; EUTELSAT TV
  service

*France, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy (including Naval Air), Air Force, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 14,662,761; fit for military service 12,247,950; reach
  military age (18) annually 386,504 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $36.6 billion, 3.1% of GDP (1993 est.)

*French Guiana, Header

Affiliation:
  (overseas department of France)

*French Guiana, Geography

Location:
  northern South America, bordering on the North Atlantic Ocean between
  Suriname and Brazil
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  91,000 km2
 land area:
  89,150 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
  total 1,183 km, Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline:
  378 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both
  headwaters of the Lawa)
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Natural resources:
  bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  82%
 other:
  18%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  mostly an unsettled wilderness

*French Guiana, People

Population:
  133,376 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  4.42% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.46 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.72 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  22.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  16.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  74.87 years
 male:
  71.59 years
 female:
  78.32 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.54 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  French Guianese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  French Guianese
Ethnic divisions:
  black or mulatto 66%, Caucasian 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%,
  other 10%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic
Languages:
  French
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
 total population:
  82%
 male:
  81%
 female:
  83%
Labor force:
  23,265
 by occupation:
  services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2%
  (1980)

*French Guiana, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Department of Guiana
 conventional short form:
  French Guiana
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Guyane
Digraph:
  FG
Type:
  overseas department of France
Capital:
  Cayenne
Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
  none (overseas department of France)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
  French legal system
National holiday:
  National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
  Guianese Socialist Party (PSG), Gerard HOLDER; Rally for the Republic (RPR),
  Paulin BRUNE; Union of the Center Rally (URC); Union for French Democracy
  (UDF), Claude Ho A CHUCK; Guyana Democratic Front (FDG), Georges OTHILY
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 French National Assembly:
  last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held March 1993); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PSG 1, RPR 1
 French Senate:
  last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1998); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) PSG 1
 Regional Council:
  last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (31 total) PSG 16
Executive branch:
  French president, commissioner of the republic
Legislative branch:
  unicameral General Council and a unicameral Regional Council
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeals (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction
  over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
 Head of Government:   Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA 1992)
Member of:
  FZ, WCL
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as an overseas department of France, the interests of French Guiana are
  represented in the US by France

*French Guiana, Government

US diplomatic representation:
  none (overseas department of France)
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

*French Guiana, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports.
  Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most
  important economic activities, with exports of fish and fish products
  (mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1987. The
  large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an
  expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation
  of crops - rice, cassava, bananas, and sugarcane - is limited to the coastal
  area, where the population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily
  dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem,
  particularly among younger workers.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $421 million (1986)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $4,390 (1986)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.1% (1987)
Unemployment rate:
  13% (1990)
Budget:
  revenues $735 million; expenditures $735 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1987)
Exports:
  $64.8 million (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence
 partners:
  France 36%, US 14%, Japan 6% (1990)
Imports:
  $435 million (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods, producer goods,
  petroleum
 partners:   France 62%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, US 4%, FRG 3% (1987)
External debt:
  $1.2 billion (1988)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  92,000 kW capacity; 185 million kWh produced, 1,450 kWh per capita (1992)
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:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $1.51 billion
Currency:
  1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
  (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*French Guiana, Communications

Highways:
  680 km total; 510 km paved, 170 km improved and unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river and coastal
  steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft
Ports:
  Cayenne
Airports:
 total:
  10
 usable:
  10
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  fair open-wire and microwave radio relay system; 18,100 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 FM, 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*French Guiana, Defense Forces

Branches:
  French Forces, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males 15-49 39,005; fit for military service 25,477 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*French Polynesia, Header

Affiliation:
  (overseas territory of France)

*French Polynesia, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, halfway between Australia and South America
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  3,941 km2
 land area:
  3,660 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  2,525 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical, but moderate
Terrain:
  mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Natural resources:
  timber, fish, cobalt
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  19%
 meadows and pastures:
  5%
 forest and woodland:   31%
 other:
  44%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  occasional cyclonic storm in January; includes five archipelagoes
Note:
  Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands
  in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
  Nauru

*French Polynesia, People

Population:
  210,333 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.26% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  27.89 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.27 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  15 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.33 years
 male:
  67.95 years
 female:
  72.84 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.32 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  French Polynesian(s)
 adjective:
  French Polynesian
Ethnic divisions:
  Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Religions:
  Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%
Languages:
  French (official), Tahitian (official)
Literacy:
  age 14 and over but definition of literacy not available (1977)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  98%
Labor force:
  76,630 employed (1988)

*French Polynesia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of French Polynesia
 conventional short form:
  French Polynesia
 local long form:
  Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
 local short form:
  Polynesie Francaise
Digraph:
  FP
Type:
  overseas territory of France since 1946
Capital:
  Papeete
Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative
  divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic
  divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des
  Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
 note:
  Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence:
  none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
  based on French system
National holiday:
  National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
  People's Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira; Gaullist), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian
  Union Party (Te Tiarama; centrist), Alexandre LEONTIEFF; New Fatherland
  Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Polynesian Liberation Front (Tavini
  Huiraatira), Oscar TEMARU; other small parties
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 French National Assembly:
  last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held 21 and 28 March 1993); results
  - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) People's Rally (Gaullist)
  1, New Fatherland Party 1
 French Senate:
  last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1998); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) party NA
 Territorial Assembly:
  last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1996); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (41 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 18,
  Polynesian Union Party 14, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4
Executive branch:
  French president, high commissioner of the republic, president of the
  Council of Ministers, vice president of the Council of Ministers, Council of
  Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Territorial Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal, Court of the First Instance, Court of Administrative Law

*French Polynesia, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); High Commissioner of the
  Republic Michel JAU (since NA 1992)
 Head of Government:
  President of the Council of Ministers Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991);
  Vice President of the Council of Ministers Joel BUILLARD (since 12 September
  1991)
Member of:
  ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as an overseas territory of France, French Polynesian interests are
  represented in the US by France
US diplomatic representation:
  none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

*French Polynesia, Economy

Overview:
  Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French
  Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high
  proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports
  the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary
  source of hard currency earnings.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $6,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.9% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
  14.9% (1988 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $614 million; expenditures $957 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1988)
Exports:
  $88.9 million (f.o.b., 1989)
 commodities:
  coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla, shark meat
 partners:
  France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17%
Imports:
  $765 million (c.i.f., 1989)
 commodities:
  fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
 partners:
  France 53%, US 11%, Australia 6%, NZ 5%
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  75,000 kW capacity; 275 million kWh produced, 1,330 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts
Agriculture:
  coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit; poultry, beef, dairy
  products
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88),
  $3.95 billion
Currency:
  1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 99.65 (January
  1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30
  (1988); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*French Polynesia, Communications

Highways:
  600 km (1982)
Ports:
  Papeete, Bora-bora
Merchant marine:
  3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,127 GRT/6,710 DWT; includes 2
  passenger-cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo; note - a captive subset of the French
  register
Airports:
 total:
  43
 usable:
  41
 with permanent-surface runways:
  23
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2  with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  12
Telecommunications:
  33,200 telephones; 84,000 radio receivers; 26,400 TV sets; broadcast
  stations - 5 AM, 2 FM, 6 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*French Polynesia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  French forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Note:
  defense is responsibility of France

*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Header

Affiliation:
  (overseas territory of France)

*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Geography

Location:
  in the southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica,
  and Australia
Map references:
  Antarctic Region, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  7,781 km2
 land area:
  7,781 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware
 note:
  includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Crozet;
  excludes Terre Adelie claim of about 500,000 km2 in Antarctica that is not
  recognized by the US
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  1,232 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm from Iles Kerguelen only
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the US
Climate:
  antarctic
Terrain:   volcanic
Natural resources:
  fish, crayfish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Note:
  remote location in the southern Indian Ocean

*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, People

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

*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
 conventional short form:
  French Southern and Antarctic Lands
 local long form:
  Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
 local short form:
  Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
Digraph:
  FS
Type:
  overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High Administrator
  Bernard de GOUTTES (since May 1990), who is assisted by a 7-member
  Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific Council
Capital:
  none; administered from Paris, France
Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative
  divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts named
  Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes Terre
  Adelie claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Independence:   none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Economy

Overview:
  Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical
  research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fishing catches
  landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and
  Reunion.
Budget:
  revenues $17.5 million; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of
  $NA (1992)

*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:
  16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 292,490 GRT/514,389 DWT; includes 2
  cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 oil tanker, 3 bulk,
  1 multifunction large load carrier; note - a captive subset of the French
  register
Telecommunications:
  NA

*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France


*Gabon, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator between the
  Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  267,670 km2
 land area:
  257,670 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:   total 2,551 km, Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline:
  885 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed
  sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Climate:
  tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
  narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Natural resources:
  petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  18%
 forest and woodland:
  78%
 other:
  2%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  deforestation

*Gabon, People

Population:
  1,122,550 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.45% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  28.63 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  14.08 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  97.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  54.19 years
 male:
  51.46 years  female:
  57.01 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.02 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Gabonese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Gabonese
Ethnic divisions:
  Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou,
  Bateke), Africans and Europeans 100,000, including 27,000 French
Religions:
  Christian 55-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist
Languages:
  French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 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%
 note:
  58% of population of working age (1983)

*Gabon, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Gabonese Republic
 conventional short form:
  Gabon
 local long form:
  Republique Gabonaise
 local short form:
  Gabon
Digraph:
  GB
Type:
  republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)
Capital:
  Libreville
Administrative divisions:
  9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga,
  Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence:
  17 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  21 February 1961, revised 15 April 1975
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
National holiday:
  Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese Democratic Party established)
Political parties and leaders:
  Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG, former sole party), El Hadj Omar BONGO,
  president; National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons);
  Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP); National Recovery Movement
  (Morena-Original); Association for Socialism in Gabon (APSG); Gabonese
  Socialist Union (USG); Circle for Renewal and Progress (CRP); Union for
  Democracy and Development (UDD)
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  last held on 28 October 1990 (next to be held by NA); results - percent of
  vote NA; seats - (120 total, 111 elected) PDG 62, National Recovery Movement
  - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons) 19, PGP 18, National Recovery Movement
  (Morena-Original) 7, APSG 6, USG 4, CRP 1, independents 3
 President:
  last held on 9 November 1986 (next to be held December 1993); results -
  President Omar BONGO was reelected without opposition
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Casimir OYE-MBA (since 3 May 1990)

*Gabon, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 chancery:
  2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 797-1000
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:   Ambassador John C. WILSON IV
 embassy:
  Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
 mailing address:
  B. P. 4000, Libreville
 telephone:
  (241) 762003/4, or 743492
 FAX:
  [241] 745-507
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

*Gabon, Economy

Overview:
  The economy, dependent on timber and manganese until the early 1970s, is now
  dominated by the oil sector. In 1981-85, oil accounted for about 45% of GDP,
  80% of export earnings, and 65% of government revenues on average. The high
  oil prices of the early 1980s contributed to a substantial increase in per
  capita national income, stimulated domestic demand, reinforced migration
  from rural to urban areas, and raised the level of real wages to among the
  highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. The subsequent slide of Gabon's economy,
  which began with falling oil prices in 1985, was reversed in 1989-90, but
  debt servicing obligations continue to limit prospects for further domestic
  development. Real growth in 1991-92 was weak because of a combination of an
  overstaffed bureaucracy, a large budget deficit, and the continued
  underdevelopment of the whole economy outside the petroleum sector.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.6 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  13% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $4,200 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $247 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  crude oil 80%, manganese 7%, wood 7%, uranium 2%
 partners:
  France 48%, US 15%, Germany 2%, Japan 2%
Imports:
  $702 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products, construction materials,
  manufactures, machinery
 partners:
  France 64%, African countries 7%, US 5%, Japan 3%
External debt:   $4.4 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate - 10% (1988 est.); accounts for 45% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
  315,000 kW capacity; 995 million kWh produced, 920 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  petroleum, food and beverages, lumbering and plywood, textiles, mining -
  manganese, uranium, gold, cement
Agriculture:
  accounts for 10% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); cash crops -
  cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $68 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $2,342 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $27 million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

*Gabon, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Gabon, Communications

Railroads:
  649 km 1.437-meter standard-gauge single track (Transgabonese Railroad)
Highways:
  7,500 km total; 560 km paved, 960 km laterite, 5,980 km earth
Inland waterways:
  1,600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
  crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
Ports:
  Owendo, Port-Gentil, Libreville
Merchant marine:
  2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,563 GRT/25,330 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  68
 usable:
  56
 with permanent-surface runways:
  10
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0  with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  22
Telecommunications:
  adequate system of cable, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and
  radiocommunication stations; 15,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6
  FM, 3 (5 repeaters) TV; satellite earth stations - 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
  and 12 domestic satellite

*Gabon, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, National
  Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 269,066; fit for military service 135,836; reach military
  age (20) annually 9,680 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $102 million, 3.2% of GDP (1990 est.)

*The Gambia, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely
  surrounded by Senegal
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  11,300 km2
 land area:
  10,000 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
  total 740 km, Senegal 740 km
Coastline:
  80 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  18 nm
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
Climate:
  tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November
  to May)
Terrain:
  flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  16%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  9%
 forest and woodland:
  20%
 other:
  55%
Irrigated land:
  120 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  deforestation
Note:
  almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

*The Gambia, People

Population:
  930,249 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  46.85 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  16.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  126.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  49.61 years
 male:
  47.41 years
 female:
  51.87 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Gambian(s)
 adjective:
  Gambian
Ethnic divisions:
  African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other
  4%), non-Gambian 1%
Religions:
  Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
  English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 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%
 note:
  55% population of working age (1983)

*The Gambia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of The Gambia
 conventional short form:
  The Gambia
Digraph:
  GA
Type:
  republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
  Banjul
Administrative divisions:
  5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank,,   Upper River,
Western
Independence:
  18 February 1965 (from UK; The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12
  December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be
  known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
Constitution:
  24 April 1970
Legal system:
  based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law;
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Political parties and leaders:
  People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general;
  National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA; 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
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held by March 1992); results - PPP
  56.6%, NCP 27.6%, GPP 14.7%, PDOIS 1%; seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP
  31, NCP 5
 President:
  last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results - Sir Dawda
  JAWARA (PPP) 61.1%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 25.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA
  (GPP) 13.7%
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice
  President Saihou SABALLY (since NA)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH

*The Gambia, Government

 chancery:
  Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
 telephone:
  (202) 842-1356 or 842-1359
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Arlene RENDER
 embassy:
  Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul
 mailing address:
  P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
 telephone:
  [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971
 FAX:
  (220) 92475
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

*The Gambia, Economy

Overview:
  The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a
  limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a
  per capita income of about $325. 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. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia
  imports one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods.
  Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $292 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $325 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  12% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $94 million; expenditures $80 million, including capital
  expenditures of $25 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $133 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
 commodities:
  peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
 partners:
  Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)
Imports:
  $174 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport
  equipment
 partners:
  Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)
External debt:
  $336 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)
Electricity:
  30,000 kW capacity; 65 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly,
  woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports
  one-third of food requirements; 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $535 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million
Currency:
  1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs
Exchange rates:
  dalasi (D) per US$1 - 8.673 (October 1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990),
  7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987)

*The Gambia, Economy

Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*The Gambia, Communications

Highways:
  3,083 km total; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite, and 2,151 km
  unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  400 km
Ports:
  Banjul
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  adequate network of radio relay and wire; 3,500 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 3 AM, 2 FM; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*The Gambia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 201,026; fit for military service 101,642 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Gaza Strip, Header

Note:
  The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended with Israel in
  control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Sinai, and the Golan
  Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David accords and reaffirmed by
  President Bush's post-Gulf crisis peace initiative, the final status of the
  West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a
  peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the
  concerned parties. Camp David further specifies that these negotiations will
  resolve the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process,
  it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
  has yet to be determined. In the US view, the term West Bank describes all
  of the area west of the Jordan River under Jordanian administration before
  the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. With respect to negotiations envisaged in the
  framework agreement, however, it is US policy that a distinction must be
  made between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank because of the city's
  special status and circumstances. Therefore, a negotiated solution for the
  final status of Jerusalem could be different in character from that of the
  rest of the West Bank.

*Gaza Strip, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
  Israel
Map references:
  Middle East
Area:
 total area:
  380 km2
 land area:
  380 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 62 km, Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline:
  40 km
Maritime claims:
  Israeli occupied with status to be determined
International disputes:
  Israeli occupied with status to be determined
Climate:
  temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain:
  flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  13%
 permanent crops:
  32%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  55%
Irrigated land:   200 km2
Environment:
  desertification

*Gaza Strip, People

Population:
  705,834 (July 1993 est.)
 note:
  in addition, there are 4,000 Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip (1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.56% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -4.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  38.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.26 years
 male:
  66.01 years
 female:
  68.57 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  7.51 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  NA
 adjective:
  NA
Ethnic divisions:
  Palestinian Arab and other 99.8%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:
  Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.3%
Languages:
  Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English (widely understood)
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  small industry, commerce and business 32.0%, construction 24.4%, service and
  other 25.5%, agriculture 18.1% (1984)
 note:
  excluding Israeli Jewish settlers

*Gaza Strip, Government

Note:
  The Gaza Strip is currently governed by Israeli military authorities and
  Israeli civil administration. It is US policy that the final status of the
  Gaza Strip will be determined by negotiations among the concerned parties.
  These negotiations will determine how this area is to be governed.
Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Gaza Strip
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Qita Ghazzah
Digraph:
  GZ

*Gaza Strip, Economy

Overview:
  In 1990 roughly 40% of Gaza Strip workers were employed across the border by
  Israeli industrial, construction, and agricultural enterprises, with worker
  remittances accounting for about one-third of GNP. The construction,
  agricultural, and industrial sectors account for about 15%, 12%, and 8% of
  GNP, respectively. Gaza depends upon Israel for some 90% of its external
  trade. Unrest in the territory in 1988-93 (intifadah) has raised
  unemployment and substantially lowered the standard of living of Gazans. The
  Persian Gulf crisis and its aftershocks also have dealt severe blows to Gaza
  since August 1990. Worker remittances from the Gulf states have plunged,
  unemployment has increased, and exports have fallen dramatically. The area's
  economic outlook remains bleak.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $380 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -30% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $590 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  9% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  20% (1990 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $33.8 million; expenditures $33.3 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY88)
Exports:
  $30 million (f.o.b., 1989)
 commodities:
  citrus
 partners:   Israel, Egypt
Imports:
  $255 million (c.i.f., 1989)
 commodities:
  food, consumer goods, construction materials
 partners:
  Israel, Egypt
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate 10% (1989); accounts for about 8% of GNP
Electricity:
  power supplied by Israel
Industries:
  generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood
  carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some
  small-scale modern industries in an industrial center
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 12% of GNP; olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables,
  beef, dairy products
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates:
  new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.6480 (November 1992), 2.4591 (1992),
  2.2791 (1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year (since 1 January 1992)

*Gaza Strip, Communications

Railroads:
  one line, abandoned and in disrepair, some trackage remains
Highways:
  small, poorly developed indigenous road network
Ports:
  facilities for small boats to service the city of Gaza
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  0
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - no AM, no FM, no TV

*Gaza Strip, Defense Forces

Branches:
  NA
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 136,311; fit for military service NA (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Georgia, Header

Note:
  Georgia is currently besieged by conflicts driven by separatists in its
  Abkazian and South Ossetian enclaves, and supporters of ousted President
  GAMAKHURDIA control much of western Georgia

*Georgia, Geography

Location:
  Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Map references:
  Africa, Asia, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  69,700 km2
 land area:
  69,700 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
  total 1,461 km, Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252
  km
Coastline:
  310 km
Maritime claims:
 note:
  12 nm in 1973 USSR-Turkish Protocol concerning the sea boundary between the
  two states in the Black Sea; Georgia claims the coastline along the Black
  Sea as its international waters, although it cannot control this area and
  the Russian navy and commercial ships transit freely
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain:
  largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser
  Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhida Lowland opens to the Black Sea in
  the west; Kura 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:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  4,660 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  air pollution, particularly in Rustavi; heavy pollution of Kura River, Black
  Sea

*Georgia, People

Population:
  5,634,296 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.85% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  16.48 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.68 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) note - this data may be low
  because of movement of Ossetian, Russian, and Abkhaz refugees due to ongoing
  conflicts
Infant mortality rate:
  24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.58 years
 male:
  68.89 years
 female:
  76.46 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.21 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Georgian(s)
 adjective:
  Georgian
Ethnic divisions:
  Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz
  1.8%, other 5%
Religions:   Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Muslim 11%, Armenian Orthodox
  8%, unknown 6%
Languages:
  Armenian 7%, Azerbaijani 6%, Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, other 7%
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  2.763 million
 by occupation:
  industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry 25%, other 44%
  (1990)

*Georgia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Georgia
 conventional short form:
  Georgia
 local long form:
  Sakartvelo Respublika
 local short form:
  Sakartvelo
 former:
  Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  GG
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  T'bilisi (Tbilisi)
Administrative divisions:
  2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika);
  Abkhazia (Sukhumi), Ajaria (Batumi)
 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; also included is the South Ossetia Autonomous
  Oblast
Independence:
  9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted NA 1921; currently amending constitution for Parliamentary and
  popular review by late 1995
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 9 April 1991
Political parties and leaders:
  All-Georgian Merab Kostava Society, Vazha ADAMIA, chairman; All-Georgian
  Traditionalists' Union, Akakiy ASATIANI, chairman; Georgian National Front -
  Radical Union, Ruslan GONGADZE, chairman; Georgian Social Democratic Party,
  Guram MUCHAIDZE, chairman; Green Party, Zurab ZHVANIA, chairman;
  Monarchist-Conservative Party (MCP), Temur ZHORZHOLIANI, chairman; Georgian
  Popular Front (GPF), Nodar NATADZE, chairman; National Democratic Party
  (NDP), Georgi CHANTURIA, chairman; National Independence Party (NIP), Irakli
  TSERETELI and Irakli BATIASHVILI, chairmen; Charter 1991 Party, Tedo
  PAATASHVILI, chairman; Democratic Georgia Party, Georgiy SHENGELAYA,
  Chairman; Peace Bloc; Unity; October 11
Other political or pressure groups:
  supporters of ousted President GAMSAKHURDIA boycotted the October elections
  and remain an important source of opposition and instability
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Chairman of Parliament:
  last held NA October 1992 (next to be held NA); results - Eduard
  SHEVARDNADZE 95%

*Georgia, Government

 Georgian Parliament (Supreme Soviet):
  last held 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (225 total) number of seats by party NA; note -
  representatives of 26 parties elected; Peace Bloc, October 11, Unity,
  National Democratic Party, and the Greens Party won the largest
  representation
Executive branch:
  chairman of Parliament, Council of Ministers, prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Chairman of Parliament Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (since 10 March
  1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Tengiz SIGUA (since NA January 1992); First Deputy Prime
  Minister Roman GOTSIRIDZE (since NA); Deputy Prime Ministers Aleksandr
  KAVADZE, Avtandil MARGIANI, Zurab KERVALISHVILI (since NA)
Member of:
  BSEC, CSCE, EBRD, IBRD, IMF, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  NA
 chancery:
  NA
 telephone:
  NA
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:   Ambassador Kent N. BROWN
 embassy:
  #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09862
 telephone:
  (7) 8832-74-46-23
Flag:
  maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle
  divided horizontally with black on top, white below

*Georgia, Economy

Overview:
  Among the former Soviet republics, Georgia has been noted for its Black Sea
  tourist industry, its large output of citrus fruits and tea, and an
  industrial sector that accounted, however, for less than 2% of the USSR's
  output. Another salient characteristic of the economy has been a flourishing
  private sector (compared with the other republics). About 25% of the labor
  force is employed in agriculture. Mineral resources consist of manganese and
  copper, and, to a lesser extent, molybdenum, arsenic, tungsten, and mercury.
  Except for very small quantities of domestic oil, gas, and coal, fuel must
  be imported from neighboring republics. Oil and its products have been
  delivered by pipeline from Azerbaijan to the port of Batumi for export and
  local refining. Gas has been supplied in pipelines from Krasnodar and
  Stavropol'. The dismantling of central economic controls has been delayed by
  political factionalism, marked by bitter armed struggles. In early 1993 the
  Georgian economy was operating at well less than half capacity due to
  disruptions in fuel supplies and vital transportation links as a result of
  conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, antigovernment activity in Western
  Georgia, and Azerbaijani pressure against Georgian assistance for Armenia.
  To restore economic viability, Georgia must establish domestic peace and
  must maintain economic ties to the other former Soviet republics while
  developing new links to the West.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -35% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  50% per month (January 1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  3% but large numbers of underemployed workers
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  citrus fruits, tea, other agricultural products; diverse types of machinery;
  ferrous and nonferrous metals; textiles
 partners:
  Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan (1992)
Imports:   $NA
 commodities:
  machinery and parts, fuel, transport equipment, textiles
 partners:
  Russia, Ukraine (1992)
External debt:
  $650 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -50% (1992)
Electricity:
  4,875,000 kW capacity; 15,800 million kWh produced, about 2,835 kWh per
  capita (1992)

*Georgia, Economy

Industries:
  heavy industrial products include raw steel, rolled steel, cement, lumber;
  machine tools, foundry equipment, electric mining locomotives, tower cranes,
  electric welding equipment, machinery for food preparation, meat packing,
  dairy, and fishing industries; air-conditioning electric motors up to 100 kW
  in size, electric motors for cranes, magnetic starters for motors; devices
  for control of industrial processes; trucks, tractors, and other farm
  machinery; light industrial products, including cloth, hosiery, and shoes
Agriculture:
  accounted for 97% of former USSR citrus fruits and 93% of former USSR tea;
  berries and grapes; sugar; vegetables, grains, potatoes; cattle, pigs,
  sheep, goats, poultry; tobacco
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for domestic consumption;
  used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  coupons introduced in April 1993 to be followed by introduction of the lari
  at undetermined future date; Russian ruble remains official currency until
  introduction of the lari
Exchange rates:
  rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Georgia, Communications

Railroads:
  1,570 km, does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  33,900 km total; 29,500 km hard surfaced, 4,400 km earth (1990)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 370 km, refined products 300 km, natural gas 440 km (1992)
Ports:
  coastal - Batumi, Poti, Sukhumi
Merchant marine:   47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 658,192 GRT/1,014,056 DWT; includes 16
  bulk cargo, 30 oil tanker, and 1 specialized liquid carrier
Airports:
 total:
  37
 useable:
  26
 with permanent-surface runways:
  19
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  10
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  9
Telecommunications:
  poor telephone service; as of 1991, 672,000 republic telephone lines
  providing 12 lines per 100 persons; 339,000 unsatisfied applications for
  telephones (31 January 1992); international links via landline to CIS
  members and Turkey; low capacity satellite earth station and leased
  international connections via the Moscow international gateway switch;
  international electronic mail and telex service established
Note:
  transportation network is disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities,
  and fuel shortages

*Georgia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, National Guard, Interior Ministry Troops
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,338,606; fit for military service 1,066,309; reach
  military age (18) annually 43,415 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GNP
Note:
  Georgian forces are poorly organized and not fully under the government's
  control

*Germany, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, bordering the North Sea between France and Poland
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  356,910 km2
 land area:
  349,520 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Montana
 note:
  includes the formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany, the German
  Democratic Republic, and Berlin following formal unification on 3 October
  1990
Land boundaries:
  total 3,621 km, Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km,
  Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland
  456 km, Switzerland 334 km
Coastline:
  2,389 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm in North Sea and Schleswig-Holstein coast of Baltic Sea (extends, at
  one point, to 16 nm in the Helgolander Bucht); 12 nm in remainder of Baltic
  Sea
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional
  warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity
Terrain:
  lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
Natural resources:
  iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt,
  nickel
Land use:
 arable land:
  34%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  16%
 forest and woodland:
  30%
 other:
  19%
Irrigated land:
  4,800 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  air and water pollution; groundwater, lakes, and air quality in eastern
  Germany are especially bad; significant deforestation in the eastern
  mountains caused by air pollution and acid rain

*Germany, Geography

Note:
  strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the
  Baltic Sea

*Germany, People

Population:
  80,767,591 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.4% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  11 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76 years
 male:
  73 years
 female:
  79 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  German(s)
 adjective:
  German
Ethnic divisions:
  German 95.1%, Turkish 2.3%, Italians 0.7%, Greeks 0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other
  1.1% (made up largely of people fleeing the war in the former Yugoslavia)
Religions:
  Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 37%, unaffiliated or other 18%
Languages:
  German
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1977 est.)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  36.75 million
 by occupation:
  industry 41%, agriculture 6%, other 53% (1987)

*Germany, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Federal Republic of Germany  conventional short form:
  Germany
 local long form:
  Bundesrepublik Deutschland
 local short form:
  Deutschland
Digraph:
  GM
Type:
  federal republic
Capital:
  Berlin
 note:
  the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take place over a period of years with
  Bonn retaining many administrative functions and several ministries
Administrative divisions:
  16 states (laender, singular - land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin,
  Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen,
  Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt,
  Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringen
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, provisional constitution known as Basic Law
Legal system:
  civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative
  acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  German Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
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); Green Party, Ludger VOLMER,
  Christine WEISKE, co-chairmen (after the 2 December 1990 election the East
  and West German Green Parties united); Alliance 90 united to form one party
  in September 1991, Petra MORAWE, chairwoman; Party of Democratic Socialism
  (PDS), Gregor GYSI, chairman; Republikaner, Franz SCHOENHUBER; National
  Democratic Party (NPD), Walter BACHMANN; Communist Party (DKP), Rolf PRIEMER
Other political or pressure groups:
  expellee, refugee, and veterans groups
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

*Germany, Government

Elections:
 Federal Diet:   last held 2 December 1990 (next to be held October 1994); results - CDU
  36.7%, SPD 33.5%, FDP 11.0%, CSU 7.1%, Green Party (West Germany) 3.9%, PDS
  2.4%, Republikaner 2.1%, Alliance 90/Green Party (East Germany) 1.2%, other
  2.1%; seats - (662 total, 656 statutory with special rules to allow for
  slight expansion) CDU 268, SPD 239, FDP 79, CSU 51, PDS 17, Alliance
  90/Green Party (East Germany) 8; note - special rules for this election
  allowed former East German parties to win seats if they received at least 5%
  of vote in eastern Germany
Executive branch:
  president, chancellor, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral parliament (no official name for the two chambers as a whole)
  consists of an upper chamber or Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower
  chamber or Federal Diet (Bundestag)
Judicial branch:
  Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Dr. Richard von WEIZSACKER (since 1 July 1984)
 Head of Government:
  Chancellor Dr. Helmut KOHL (since 4 October 1982)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB
  (non-regional), CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-5,
  G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
  MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNHCR, UNTAC, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Juergen RUHFUS
 chancery:
  4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
 telephone:
  (202) 298-4000
 consulates general:
  Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
  San Francisco, Seattle
 consulates:
  Manila (Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands) and Wellington (America
  Samoa)
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert M. KIMMITT
 embassy:
  Deichmanns Avenue, 5300 Bonn 2, Unit 21701
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09080
 telephone:
  [49] (228) 3391
 FAX:
  [49] (228) 339-2663
 branch office:
  Berlin
 consulates general:
  Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and yellow

*Germany, Economy

Overview:
  With the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, prospects seemed
  bright for a fairly rapid incorporation of East Germany into the highly
  successful West German economy. The Federal Republic, however, continues to
  experience difficulties in integrating and modernizing eastern Germany, and
  the tremendous costs of unification have sunk western Germany deeper into
  recession. The western German economy grew by less than 1% in 1992 as the
  Bundesbank set high interest rates to offset the inflationary effects of
  large government deficits and high wage settlements. Eastern Germany grew by
  6.8% in 1992 but this was from a shrunken base. Despite government transfers
  to the east amounting to nearly $110 billion annually, a self-sustaining
  economy in the region is still some years away. The bright spots are eastern
  Germany's construction, transportation, telecommunications, and service
  sectors, which have experienced strong growth. Western Germany has an
  advanced market economy and is a world leader in exports. It has a highly
  urbanized and skilled population that enjoys excellent living standards,
  abundant leisure time, and comprehensive social welfare benefits. Western
  Germany 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 activity, and raw
  materials and semimanufactured goods constitute a large portion of imports.
  In recent years, manufacturing has accounted for about 31% of GDP, with
  other sectors contributing lesser amounts. Gross fixed investment in 1992
  accounted for about 21.5% of GDP. GDP in the western region is now $20,000
  per capita, or 85% of US per capita GDP. Eastern Germany's economy appears
  to be changing from one anchored on manufacturing into a more
  service-oriented economy. The German government, however, is intent on
  maintaining a manufacturing base in the east and is considering a policy for
  subsidizing industrial cores in the region. Eastern Germany's share of
  all-German GDP is only 7% and eastern productivity is just 30% that of the
  west even though eastern wages are at roughly 70% of western levels. The
  privatization agency for eastern Germany, Treuhand, has privatized more than
  four-fifths of the almost 12,000 firms under its control and will likely
  wind down operations in 1994. Private investment in the region continues to
  be lackluster, resulting primarily from the deepening recession in western
  Germany and excessively high eastern wages. Eastern Germany has one of the
  world's largest reserves of low-grade lignite coal but little else in the
  way of mineral resources. The quality of statistics from eastern Germany is
  improving, yet many gaps remain; the federal government began producing
  all-German data for select economic statistics at the start of 1992. The
  most challenging economic problem is promoting eastern Germany's economic
  reconstruction - specifically, finding the right mix of fiscal, monetary,
  regulatory, and tax policies that will spur investment in eastern Germany -
  without destabilizing western Germany's economy or damaging relations with
  West European partners. The government hopes a "solidarity pact" among labor
  unions, business, state governments, and the SPD opposition will provide the
  right mix of wage restraints, investment incentives, and spending cuts to
  stimulate eastern recovery. Finally, the homogeneity of the German economic
  culture has been changed by the admission of large numbers of immigrants.
National product:
 Germany:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.398 trillion (1992)
 western:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.294 trillion (1992)
 eastern:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $104 billion (1992)

*Germany, Economy

National product real growth rate:
 Germany:
  1.5% (1992)
 western:
  0.9% (1992)
 eastern:
  8% (1992)
National product per capita:
 Germany:
  $17,400 (1992)
 western:
  $20,000 (1992)
 eastern:
  $6,500 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
 western:
  4% (1992)
 eastern:
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
 western:
  7.1% (1992)
 eastern:
  13.5% (December 1992)
Budget:
 western (federal, state, local):
  revenues $684 billion; expenditures $704 billion, including capital
  expenditures $NA (1990)
 eastern:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $378.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  manufactures 86.6% (including machines and machine tools, chemicals, motor
  vehicles, iron and steel products), agricultural products 4.9%, raw
  materials 2.3%, fuels 1.3%
 partners:
  EC 54.3% (France 12.9%, Netherlands 8.3%, Italy 9.3%, UK 7.7%,
  Belgium-Luxembourg 7.4%), other Western Europe 17.0%, US 6.4%, Eastern
  Europe 5.6%, OPEC 3.4% (1992)
Imports:
  $354.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:   manufactures 68.5%, agricultural products 12.0%, fuels 9.7%, raw materials
  7.1%
 partners:
  EC 52.0 (France 12.0%, Netherlands 9.6%, Italy 9.2%, UK 6.8%,
  Belgium-Luxembourg 7.0%), other Western Europe 15.2%, US 6.6%, Eastern
  Europe 5.5%, OPEC 2.4% (1992)
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
 western:
  growth rates -5% (1992 est.)
 eastern:
  $NA
Electricity:
  134,000,000 kW capacity; 580,000 million kWh produced, 7,160 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Germany, Economy

Industries:
 western:
  among world's largest 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 2% 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; fish catch of 202,000 metric tons in 1987
 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;
  fish catch of 193,600 metric tons in 1987
Illicit drugs:
  source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors
Economic aid:
 western:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.5 billion
 eastern:
  donor - $4.0 billion extended bilaterally to non-Communist less developed
  countries (1956-89)
Currency:
  1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige
Exchange rates:
  deutsche marks (DM) per US$1 - 1.6158 (January 1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595
  (1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800 (1989), 1.7562 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Germany, Communications

Railroads:
 western:
  31,443 km total; 27,421 km government owned, 1.435-meter standard gauge
  (12,491 km double track, 11,501 km electrified); 4,022 km nongovernment
  owned, including 3,598 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (214 km electrified)
  and 424 km 1.000-meter gauge (186 km electrified)
 eastern:
  14,025 km total; 13,750 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 275 km 1.000-meter or
  other narrow gauge; 3,830 (est.) km 1.435-meter standard gauge double-track;
  3,475 km overhead electrified (1988)
Highways:
 western:
  466,305 km total; 169,568 km primary, includes 6,435 km autobahn, 32,460 km
  national highways (Bundesstrassen), 65,425 km state highways
  (Landesstrassen), 65,248 km county roads (Kreisstrassen); 296,737 km of
  secondary communal roads (Gemeindestrassen)
 eastern:
  124,604 km total; 47,203 km concrete, asphalt, stone block, of which 1,855
  km are autobahn and limited access roads, 11,326 km are trunk roads, and
  34,022 km are regional roads; 77,401 km municipal roads (1988)
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:
  coastal - Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Cuxhaven, Emden, Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel,
  Lubeck, Wilhelmshaven, Rostock, Wismar, Stralsund, Sassnitz; inland - 31
  major on Rhine and Elbe rivers
Merchant marine:
  565 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,928,759 GRT/6,292,193 DWT; includes
  5 short-sea passenger, 3 passenger, 303 cargo, 10 refrigerated cargo, 134
  container, 28 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 railcar carrier, 7 barge carrier, 9
  oil tanker, 21 chemical tanker, 17 liquefied gas tanker, 5 combination
  ore/oil, 6 combination bulk, 12 bulk; note - the German register includes
  ships of the former East and West Germany; during 1991 the fleet underwent
  major restructuring as surplus ships were sold off
Airports:
 total:
  499
 usable:
  492
 with permanent-surface runways:
  271
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  5
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  59  with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  67

*Germany, Communications

Telecommunications:
 western:
  highly developed, modern telecommunication service to all parts of the
  country; fully adequate in all respects; 40,300,000 telephones; intensively
  developed, highly redundant cable and microwave radio relay networks, all
  completely automatic; broadcast stations - 80 AM, 470 FM, 225 (6,000
  repeaters) TV; 6 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 12
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT antennas, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT antennas,
  EUTELSAT, and domestic systems; 2 HF radiocommunication centers;
  tropospheric links
 eastern:
  badly needs modernization; 3,970,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 23 AM,
  17 FM, 21 TV (15 Soviet TV repeaters); 6,181,860 TVs; 6,700,000 radios; 1
  satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT and Intersputnik systems

*Germany, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 20,295,655; fit for military service 17,577,570; reach
  military age (18) annually 411,854 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $42.4 billion, 2.2% of GDP (1992)

*Ghana, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cote d'Ivoire and
  Togo
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  238,540 km2
 land area:
  230,020 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
  total 2,093 km, Burkina 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline:
  539 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:   24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in
  southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain:
  mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Natural resources:
  gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber
Land use:
 arable land:
  5%
 permanent crops:
  7%
 meadows and pastures:
  15%
 forest and woodland:
  37%
 other:
  36%
Irrigated land:
  80 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  recent drought in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities;
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; dry, northeasterly harmattan wind
  (January to March)
Note:
  Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake

*Ghana, People

Population:
  16,699,105 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.12% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  44.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  84.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  55.19 years
 male:   53.27 years
 female:
  57.17 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.21 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Ghanaian(s)
 adjective:
  Ghanaian
Ethnic divisions:
  black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga
  8%), European and other 0.2%
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
Languages:
  English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe,
  and Ga)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 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%
 note:
  48% of population of working age (1983)

*Ghana, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Ghana
 conventional short form:
  Ghana
 former:
  Gold Coast
Digraph:
  GH
Type:
  constitutional democracy
Capital:
  Accra
Administrative divisions:
  10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern,
  Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence:
  6 March 1957 (from UK)
Constitution:
  new constitution approved 28 April 1992
Legal system:
  based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory
  ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
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
Suffrage:
  universal at 18
Elections:
 President:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA)
 National Assembly:
  last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA)
Executive branch:
  president, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 3 November 1992)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
  ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM,
  UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Dr. Joseph ABBEY
 chancery:
  3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 686-4520
 consulate general:
  New York

*Ghana, Government

US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Kenneth L. BROWN
 embassy:
  Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 194, Accra
 telephone:
  [233] (21) 775348, 775349, 775295 or 775298
 FAX:   [233] (21) 776008
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large
  black five-pointed star centered in the gold band; uses the popular
  pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a
  coat of arms centered in the yellow band

*Ghana, Economy

Overview:
  Supported by substantial international assistance, Ghana has been
  implementing a steady economic rebuilding program since 1983, including
  moves toward privatization and relaxation of government controls. Heavily
  dependent on cocoa, gold, and timber exports, economic growth so far has not
  spread substantially to other areas of the economy. The costs of sending
  peacekeeping forces to Liberia and preparing for the transition to a
  democratic government have boosted government expenditures and undercut
  structural adjustment reforms. Ghana opened a stock exchange in 1990.
  Meanwhile, declining world commodity prices for Ghana's exports has placed
  the government under severe financial pressure.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $6.6 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3.9% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $410 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  10% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  10% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $1.0 billion; expenditures $905 million, including capital
  expenditures of $200 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  cocoa 45%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, and aluminum
 partners:
  Germany 29%, UK 12%, US 12%, Japan 5%
Imports:
  $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum 16%, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods, capital equipment
 partners:
  UK 23%, US 11%, Germany 10%, Japan 6%
External debt:
  $4.6 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.6% in manufacturing (1991); accounts for almost 15% of GDP
Electricity:
  1,180,000 kW capacity; 4,490 million kWh produced, 290 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum, food processing
Agriculture:   accounts for about 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $455 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.6 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $78 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $106
  million
Currency:
  1 cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Exchange rates:
  ceolis per US$1 - 437 (July 1992)

*Ghana, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Ghana, Communications

Railroads:
  953 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 32 km double track; railroads undergoing
  major renovation
Highways:
  32,250 km total; 6,084 km concrete or bituminous surface, 26,166 km gravel,
  laterite, and improved earth surfaces
Inland waterways:
  Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for
  launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder
  waterways
Pipelines:
  none
Ports:
  Tema, Takoradi
Merchant marine:
  6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,293 GRT/78,246 DWT; includes 5
  cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo
Airports:
 total:
  10
 usable:
  9
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  6
Telecommunications:
  poor to fair system handled primarily by microwave radio relay links; 42,300
  telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 4 (8 translators) TV; 1
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Ghana, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Civil Defense
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 3,766,073; fit for military service 2,105,865; reach
  military age (18) annually 171,145 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $30 million, less than 1% of GDP (1989 est.)

*Gibraltar, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*Gibraltar, Geography

Location:
  Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the
  North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of
  Spain
Map references:
  Africa, Europe
Area:
 total area:
  6.5 km2
 land area:
  6.5 km2
 comparative area:
  about 11 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 1.2 km, Spain 1.2 km
Coastline:
  12 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  3 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  source of occasional friction between Spain and the UK
Climate:
  Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain:
  a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  natural freshwater sources are meager, so large water catchments (concrete
  or natural rock) collect rain water
Note:
  strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic
  Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

*Gibraltar, People

Population:
  31,508 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.53% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.68 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.89 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.06 years
 male:
  73.18 years
 female:
  78.91 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Gibraltarian(s)
 adjective:
  Gibraltar
Ethnic divisions:
  Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Moslem
  8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Languages:
  English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian,
  Portuguese, Russian
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
 note:
  UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the
  labor force

*Gibraltar, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Gibraltar
Digraph:
  GI
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  Gilbraltar
Administrative divisions:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  30 May 1969
Legal system:
  English law
National holiday:
  Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Political parties and leaders:
  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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or
  more
Elections:
 House of Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, chief minister, Gibraltar Council, Council of
  Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and
  Commander in Chief Adm. Sir Derek REFFELL (since NA 1989)
 Head of Government:
  Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)
Member of:
  INTERPOL (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
  two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a
  three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the
  castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

*Gibraltar, Economy

Overview:
  The economy depends heavily on British defense expenditures, revenue from
  tourists, fees for services to shipping, and revenues from banking and
  finance activities. 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. Construction workers are particularly affected when government
  expenditures are cut.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $182 million (FY87)
National product real growth rate:
  5% (FY87)
National product per capita:
  $4,600 (FY87)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.6% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $136 million; expenditures $139 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY88)
Exports:
  $82 million (f.o.b., 1988)
 commodities:
  (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
 partners:
  UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Imports:
  $258 million (c.i.f., 1988)
 commodities:
  fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
 partners:
  UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
External debt:
  $318 million (1987)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  47,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 6,740 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK
  naval and air bases; transit trade and supply depot in the port; light
  manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral waters, candy, beer,
  and canned fish
Agriculture:
  none
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $0.8 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $188 million
Currency:
  1 Gibraltar pound (#G) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
  Gibraltar pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992),
  0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988); note - the
  Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Gibraltar, Communications

Railroads:
  1.000-meter-gauge system in dockyard area only
Highways:
  50 km, mostly good bitumen and concrete
Pipelines:
  none
Ports:
  Gibraltar
Merchant marine:
  32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 642,446 GRT/1,141,592 DWT; includes 4
  cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container, 18 oil tanker, 2 chemical tanker,
  5 bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0  with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international
  radiocommunication and microwave facilities; 9,400 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Gibraltar, Defense Forces

Branches:
  British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Glorioso Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (possession of France)

*Glorioso Islands, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, in the Indian Ocean just north of Madagascar
Map references:
  Africa
Area:
 total area:
  5 km2
 land area:
  5 km2
 comparative area:
  about 8.5 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  35.2 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  12 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claimed by Madagascar
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:   NA
Natural resources:
  guano, coconuts
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  subject to periodic cyclones

*Glorioso Islands, People

Population:
  unihabited

*Glorioso Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Glorioso Islands
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Iles Glorieuses
Digraph:
  GO
Type:
  French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in
  Reunion
Capital:
  none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence:
  none (possession of France)

*Glorioso Islands, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Glorioso Islands, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  0
 with runsways over 3,6359 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1

*Glorioso Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Greece, Geography

Location:
  Southern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and Bulgaria
Map references:
  Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  131,940 km2
 land area:
  130,800 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
  total 1,210 km, Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia
  228 km
Coastline:
  13,676 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 territorial sea:
  6 nm, but Greece has threatened to claim 12 nm
International disputes:
  air, continental shelf, and territorial water disputes with Turkey in Aegean
  Sea; Cyprus question; northern Epirus question with Albania; Macedonia
  question with Bulgaria and Macedonia
Climate:
  temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of
  islands
Natural resources:
  bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble
Land use:
 arable land:
  23%
 permanent crops:
  8%
 meadows and pastures:
  40%
 forest and woodland:
  20%
 other:
  9%
Irrigated land:
  11,900 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to severe earthquakes; air pollution
Note:
  strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to
  Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about
  2,000 islands

*Greece, People

Population:
  10,470,460 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.95% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  10.42 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.36 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  8.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.5 years
 male:
  75.02 years
 female:
  80.12 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.44 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Greek(s)
 adjective:   Greek
Ethnic divisions:
  Greek 98%, other 2%
 note:
  the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
Religions:
  Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:
  Greek (official), English, French
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  93%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  89%
Labor force:
  3,966,900
 by occupation:
  services 45%, agriculture 27%, industry 28% (1990)

*Greece, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Hellenic Republic
 conventional short form:
  Greece
 local long form:
  Elliniki Dhimokratia
 local short form:
  Ellas
 former:
  Kingdom of Greece
Digraph:
  GR
Type:
  presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by referendum 8
  December 1974
Capital:
  Athens
Administrative divisions:
  52 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos); Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia,
  Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Dhrama, Evritania, Evros,
  Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina,
  Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki,
  Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa,
  Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Piraievs,
  Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki,
  Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos, autonomous region: Agion Oros (Mt.
  Athos)
Independence:
  1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Constitution:
  11 June 1975
Legal system:
  based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and
  administrative courts
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)
Political parties and leaders:
  New Democracy (ND; conservative), Konstantinos MITSOTAKIS; Panhellenic
  Socialist Movement (PASOK), Andreas PAPANDREOU; Left Alliance, Maria
  DAMANAKI; Democratic Renewal (DIANA), Konstantinos STEFANOPOULOS; Communist
  Party (KKE), Aleka PAPARIGA; Ecologist-Alternative List, leader rotates
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 President:
  last held 4 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results - Konstantinos
  KARAMANLIS was elected by Parliament
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held 8 April 1990 (next must be held by May 1994); results - ND 46.89%,
  PASOK 38.62%, Left Alliance 10.27%, PASOK/Left Alliance 1.02%,
  Ecologist-Alternative List 0.77%, DIANA 0.67%, Muslim independents 0.5%;
  seats - (300 total) ND 150, PASOK 123, Left Alliance 19, PASOK-Left Alliance
  4, Muslim independents 2, DEANA 1, Ecologist-Alternative List 1
 note:
  deputies shifting from one party to another and the dissolution of party
  coalitions have resulted in the following seating arrangement: ND 152, PASOK
  124, Left Alliance 14, KKE 7, Muslim deputies 2, Ecologist-Alternative List
  1

*Greece, Government

Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Greek Chamber of Deputies (Vouli ton Ellinon)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Judicial Court, Special Supreme Tribunal
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Konstantinos KARAMANLIS (since 5 May 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Konstantinos MITSOTAKIS (since 11 April 1990)
Member of:
  Australian Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB,
  FAO, G-6, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR,
  NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Christos ZACHARAKIS
 chancery:
  2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008  telephone:
  (202) 939-5800
 FAX:
  (202) 939-5824
 consulates general:
  Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
 consulate:
  New Orleans
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James A. WILLIAMS
 embassy:
  91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens
 mailing address:
  PSC 108, Box 56, APO AE 09842
 telephone:
  [30] (1) 721-2951 or 721-8401
 FAX:
  [30] (1) 645-6282
 consulate general:
  Thessaloniki
Flag:
  nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a
  blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross
  symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country

*Greece, Economy

Overview:
  Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the basic entrepreneurial system
  overlaid in 1981-89 by a socialist system that enlarged the public sector
  from 55% of GDP in 1981 to about 70% when Prime Minister MITSOTAKIS took
  office. Tourism continues as a major source of foreign exchange, and
  agriculture is self-sufficient except for meat, dairy products, and animal
  feedstuffs. Since 1986, real GDP growth has averaged only 1.6% a year,
  compared with the Europen Community average of 3%. The MITSOTAKIS government
  has made little progress during its two and one-half years in power in
  coming to grips with Greece's main economic problems: an inflation rate
  still four times the EC average, a large public sector deficit, and a
  fragile current account position. In early 1991, the government secured a
  three-year, $2.5 billion assistance package from the EC under the strictest
  terms yet imposed on a member country, as the EC finally ran out of patience
  with Greece's failure to put its financial affairs in order. On the advice
  of the EC Commission, Greece delayed applying for the second installment
  until 1993 because of the failure of the government to meet the 1992
  targets. Although MITSOTAKIS faced down the unions in mid-1992 in a dispute
  over privatization plans, social security reform, and tax and price
  increases, and his new economics czar, Stephanos MANOS, is a respected
  economist committed to renovating the ailing economy. However, a national
  elections due by May 1994 will probably prompt MITSOTAKIS to backtrack on
  economic reform. In 1993, the GDP growth rate likely will remain low; the
  inflation rate probably will continue to fall, while remaining the highest
  in the EC.
National product:   GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $82.9 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  1.2% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $8,200 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  15.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  9.1% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $37.6 billion; expenditures $45.1 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $5.4 billion (1993)
Exports:
  $6.8 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods 53%, foodstuffs 31%, fuels 9%
 partners:
  Germany 24%, France 18%, Italy 17%, UK 7%, US 6%
Imports:
  $21.5 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods 71%, foodstuffs 14%, fuels 10%
 partners:
  Germany 20%, Italy 14%, France 8%, UK 5%, US 4%
External debt:
  $23.7 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -1.0% (1991); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
  10,500,000 kW capacity; 36,400 million kWh produced, 3,610 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Greece, Economy

Industries:
  food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism,
  mining, petroleum
Agriculture:
  including fishing and forestry, accounts for 15% of GDP and 27% of the labor
  force; principal products - wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives,
  tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; self-sufficient in food except meat,
  dairy products, and animal feedstuffs; fish catch of 116,600 metric tons in
  1988
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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $525 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,390 million
Currency:
  1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta
Exchange rates:
  drachma (Dr) per US$1 - 215.82 (January 1993), 190.62 (1992), 182.27 (1991),
  158.51 (1990), 162.42 (1989), 141.86 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Greece, Communications

Railroads:
  2,479 km total; 1,565 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, of which 36 km
  electrified and 100 km double track; 892 km 1.000-meter gauge; 22 km
  0.750-meter narrow gauge; all government owned
Highways:
  38,938 km total; 16,090 km paved, 13,676 km crushed stone and gravel, 5,632
  km improved earth, 3,540 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the Corinth Canal
  (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth
  with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to
  Piraievs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers
Pipelines:
  crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports:
  Piraievs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki
Merchant marine:
  998 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,483,768 GRT/47,047,285 DWT;
  includes 14 passenger, 66 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 128 cargo,
  26 container, 15 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 1 vehicle
  carrier, 214 oil tanker, 19 chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 42 combination
  ore/oil, 3 specialized tanker, 424 bulk, 22 combination bulk, 1 livestock
  carrier; note - ethnic Greeks also own large numbers of ships under the
  registry of Liberia, Panama, Cyprus, Malta, and The Bahamas
Airports:
 total:
  78
 usable:
  77
 with permanent-surface runways:
  63
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  20
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  24
Telecommunications:
  adequate, modern networks reach all areas; 4,080,000 telephones; microwave
  radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine
  cables to off-shore islands; broadcast stations - 29 AM, 17 (20 repeaters)
  FM, 361 TV; tropospheric links, 8 submarine cables; 1 satellite earth
  station operating in INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean antenna),
  and EUTELSAT systems

*Greece, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard, Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,606,267; fit for military service 1,996,835; reach
  military age (21) annually 73,541 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $4.2 billion, 5.1% of GDP (1992)

*Greenland, Header

Affiliation:
  (part of the Danish realm)

*Greenland, Geography

Location:
  in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Canada and Norway
Map references:
  Arctic Region, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  2,175,600 km2
 land area:
  341,700 km2 (ice free)
 comparative area:
  slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  44,087 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan
  Mayen
Climate:
  arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain:
  flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous,
  barren, rocky coast
Natural resources:
  zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:   0%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  99%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; continuous
  permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Note:
  dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe

*Greenland, People

Population:
  56,533 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.84% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  19.62 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  66.19 years
 male:
  61.79 years
 female:
  70.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Greenlander(s)
 adjective:
  Greenlandic
Ethnic divisions:
  Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians), Danish 14%
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
  Eskimo dialects, Danish
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%  female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  22,800
 by occupation:
  largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding

*Greenland, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Greenland
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Kalaallit Nunaat
Digraph:
  GL
Type:
  part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division
Capital:
  Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions:
  3 municipalities (kommuner, singular - kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland,
  Vestgronland
Independence:
  none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative
  division)
Constitution:
  Danish
Legal system:
  Danish
National holiday:
  Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Political parties and leaders:
  two-party ruling coalition; Siumut (a moderate socialist party that
  advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from
  Denmark), Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA; a
  Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather
  than home rule), Arqaluk LYNGE; Atassut Party (a more conservative party
  that favors continuing close relations with Denmark), leader NA; Polar Party
  (conservative-Greenland nationalist), Lars CHEMNITZ; Center Party (a new
  nonsocialist protest party), leader NA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Danish Folketing:
  last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); Greenland
  elects two representatives to the Folketing; results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (2 total) Siumut 1, Atassut 1
 Landsting:
  last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held 5 March 1995); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit
  Ataqatigiit 5, Center Party 2, Polar Party 1
Executive branch:
  Danish monarch, high commissioner, home rule chairman, prime minister,
  Cabinet (Landsstyre)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament (Landsting)
Judicial branch:
  High Court (Landsret)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner
  Torben Hede PEDERSEN (since NA)

*Greenland, Government

 Head of Government:
  Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991)
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly
  to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom
  half is white

*Greenland, Economy

Overview:
  Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult and unemployment
  increases. Prospects for economic growth in the immediate future are not
  bright. The Home Rule Government's economic restraint measures introduced in
  the late 1980s have assisted in shifting red figures into a balance in the
  public budget. Foreign trade produced a surplus in 1989 and 1990, but has
  now returned to a deficit. Following the closing of the Black Angel lead and
  zinc mine in 1989, Greenland today is fully dependent on fishing and fish
  processing, this 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 HRG
  and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in
  Greenland accounting for about two thirds of total employment. About half
  the government's revenues come from grants from the Danish Government.
National product:
  GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $500 million (1988)
National product real growth rate:
  -10% (1990)
National product per capita:
  $9,000 (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):   1.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  9% (1990 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $381 million; expenditures $381 million, including capital
  expenditures of $36 million (1989)
Exports:
  $340.6 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  fish and fish products 95%
 partners:
  Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%
Imports:
  $403 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment 24%, food and live
  animals 12.4%, petroleum products 12%
 partners:
  Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%, Sweden 2.4%
External debt:
  $480 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  84,000 kW capacity; 176 million kWh produced, 3,060 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead and zinc mining, handicrafts, some
  small shipyards, potential for platinum and gold mining
Agriculture:
  sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops limited to forage and
  small garden vegetables; 1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 re

*Greenland, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.236 (January 1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396
  (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Greenland, Communications

Highways:
  80 km
Ports:
  Kangerluarsoruseq (Faeringehavn), Paamiut (Frederikshaab), Nuuk (Godthaab),
  Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Julianehaab, Maarmorilik, North Star Bay
Airports:  total:
  11
 usable:
  8
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave
  radio relay; 17,900 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 (35 repeaters)
  FM, 4 (9 repeaters) TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station

*Greenland, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is responsibility of Denmark

*Grenada, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 150 im north of Trinidad and Tobago
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  340 km2
 land area:
  340 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  121 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
  volcanic in origin with central mountains
Natural resources:
  timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use:
 arable land:
  15%
 permanent crops:
  26%
 meadows and pastures:
  3%
 forest and woodland:
  9%
 other:
  47%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
Note:
  islands of the Grenadines group are divided politically with Saint Vincent
  and the Grenadines

*Grenada, People

Population:
  93,830 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.24% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  30.85 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.46 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -21.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.15 years
 male:
  67.79 years
 female:
  72.54 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Grenadian(s)
 adjective:
  Grenadian
Ethnic divisions:
  black African
Religions:
  Roman Catholic, Anglican, other Protestant sects
Languages:   English (official), French patois
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  98%
Labor force:
  36,000
 by occupation:
  services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32%
  (1985)

*Grenada, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Grenada
Digraph:
  GJ
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Saint George's
Administrative divisions:
  6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew,,   Saint David, Saint
George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
Independence:
  7 February 1974 (from UK)
Constitution:
  19 December 1973
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nicholas BRATHWAITE; 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; New Jewel Movement (NJM), Bernard COARD
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held on 13 March 1990 (next to be held by NA March 1996); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) NDC 8, GULP 3, TNP 2, NNP 2
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Ministers of Government
  (cabinet)
Legislative branch:   bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
  or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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 Nicholas BRATHWAITE (since 13 March 1990)
Member of:
  ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, 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:
  (202) 265-2561

*Grenada, Government

 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Charge d'Affaires Annette T. VELER
 embassy:
  Ross Point Inn, Saint George's
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 54, Saint George's
 telephone:
  (809) 444-1173 through 1178
 FAX:
  (809) 444-4820
Flag:
  a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and
  green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red border around the
  flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with three centered in the
  top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red
  disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg
  pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest
  producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven
  administrative divisions

*Grenada, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the traditional
  production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture accounts for about 16%
  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 stalled in
  1992. Unemployment remains high at about 25%.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $250 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -0.4% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $3,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.6% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  25% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $78 million; expenditures $51 million, including capital
  expenditures of $22 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $30 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  nutmeg 36%, cocoa beans 9%, bananas 14%, mace 8%, textiles 5%
 partners:
  US 12%, UK, FRG, Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago (1989)
Imports:
  $110 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6%
  (1989)
 partners:
  US 29%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1989)
External debt:
  $104 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.8% (1989 est.); accounts for 9% of GDP
Electricity:
  12,500 kW capacity; 26 million kWh produced, 310 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  food and beverage, textile, light assembly operations, tourism, construction
Agriculture:
  accounts for 16% 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-size farms
  predominate, growing a variety of citrus fruits, avocados, root crops,
  sugarcane, corn, and vegetables
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY84-89), $60 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $70 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $32 million
Currency:
  1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Grenada, Communications

Highways:
  1,000 km total; 600 km paved, 300 km otherwise improved; 100 km unimproved
Ports:
  Saint George's
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  automatic, islandwide telephone system with 5,650 telephones; new SHF radio
  links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to
  Trinidad and Carriacou; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

*Grenada, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
Manpower availability:
  NA
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP

*Guadeloupe, Header

Affiliation:
  (overseas department of France)

*Guadeloupe, Geography

Location:
  in the Caribbean Sea, 500 km southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  1,780 km2  land area:
  1,760 km2
 comparative area:
  10 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  306 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high humidity
Terrain:
  Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is
  low limestone formation
Natural resources:
  cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Land use:
 arable land:
  18%
 permanent crops:
  5%
 meadows and pastures:
  13%
 forest and woodland:
  40%
 other:
  24%
Irrigated land:
  30 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano

*Guadeloupe, People

Population:
  422,114 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.67% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  18.18 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  4.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  9.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:   76.72 years
 male:
  73.67 years
 female:
  79.9 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.08 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Guadeloupian(s)
 adjective:
  Guadeloupe
Ethnic divisions:
  black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages:
  French, creole patois
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
 total population:
  90%
 male:
  90%
 female:
  91%
Labor force:
  120,000
 by occupation:
  services, government, and commerce 53.0%, industry 25.8%, agriculture 21.2%

*Guadeloupe, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Department of Guadeloupe
 conventional short form:
  Guadeloupe
 local long form:
  Departement de la Guadeloupe
 local short form:
  Guadeloupe
Digraph:
  GP
Type:
  overseas department of France
Capital:
  Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
  none (overseas department of France)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
  French legal system
National holiday:
  National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
  Rally for the Republic (RPR), Marlene CAPTANT; Communist Party of Guadeloupe
  (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE; Socialist Party (PS), Dominique LARIFLA;
  Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Independent
  Republicans; Union for French Democracy (UDF); Union for the Center Rally
  (URC coalition of the PS, RPR, and UDF); Guadeloupe Objective (OG), Lucette
  MICHAUX-CHEVRY
Other political or pressure groups:
  Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Popular 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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 French National Assembly:
  last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held March 1993); Guadeloupe
  elects four representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (4 total) PS 2 seats, RPR 1 seat, PCG 1 seat
 French Senate:
  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, PS 1
 General Council:
  last held 25 September and 8 October 1988 (next to be held by NA 1992);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) PS 26, URC 16
 Regional Council:
  last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be held by 16 March 1998); results - OG
  33.1%, PSG 28.7%, PCG 23.8%, UDF 10.7%, other 3.7%; seats - (41 total) OG
  15, PSG 12, PCG 10, UDF 4
Executive branch:
  government commissioner
Legislative branch:
  unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council

*Guadeloupe, Government

Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French
  Guiana, and Martinique
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Prefect Franck PERRIEZ (since NA 1992)
Member of:
  FZ, WCL
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as an overseas department of France, the interests of Guadeloupe are
  represented in the US by France
US diplomatic representation:
  none (overseas department of France)
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

*Guadeloupe, Economy

Overview:
  The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services.
  It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is
  a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly
  large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important
  sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas
  (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers.
  Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption,
  although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly
  from France. Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production.
  Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially
  high among the young.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.5 billion (1989)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $4,700 (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.7% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  31.3% (1990)
Budget:
  revenues $333 million; expenditures $671 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports:
  $168 million (f.o.b., 1988)
 commodities:
  bananas, sugar, rum
 partners:
  France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987)
Imports:
  $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
 commodities:
  vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer goods, construction
  materials, petroleum products
 partners:
  France 64%, Italy, FRG, US (1987)
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  171,500 kW capacity; 441 million kWh produced, 1,080 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Agriculture:   cash crops - bananas, sugarcane; other products include tropical fruits and
  vegetables; livestock - cattle, pigs, goats; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.235 billion
Currency:
  1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
  (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Guadeloupe, Communications

Railroads:
  privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Highways:
  1,940 km total; 1,600 km paved, 340 km gravel and earth
Ports:
  Pointe-a-Pitre, Basse-Terre
Airports:
 total:
  9
 usable:
  9
 with permanent-surface runways:
  8
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  domestic facilities inadequate; 57,300 telephones; interisland microwave
  radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique; broadcast
  stations - 2 AM, 8 FM (30 private stations licensed to broadcast FM), 9 TV;
  1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT ground station

*Guadeloupe, Defense Forces

Branches:
  French Forces, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 98,069; fit for military service NA (1993 est.)
Note:
  defense is responsibility of France

*Guam, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Guam, Geography

Location:
  in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,955 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about
  three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  541.3 km2
 land area:
  541.3 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  125.5 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade
  winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December;
  little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coraline
  limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep coastal cliffs and
  narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in
  south
Natural resources:
  fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use:
 arable land:
  11%
 permanent crops:
  11%
 meadows and pastures:
  15%
 forest and woodland:
  18%
 other:   45%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to 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

*Guam, People

Population:
  145,935 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.53% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.16 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  74.29 years
 male:
  72.42 years
 female:
  76.13 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.44 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Guamanian(s)
 adjective:
  Guamanian
Ethnic divisions:
  Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and
  other 18%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages:
  English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  96%
 male:
  96%
 female:
  96%
Labor force:   46,930 (1990)
 by occupation:
  federal and territorial government 40%, private 60% (trade 18%, services
  15.6%, construction 13.8%, other 12.6%) (1990)

*Guam, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of Guam
 conventional short form:
  Guam
Digraph:
  GQ
Type:
  organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between
  Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and
  International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital:
  Agana
Administrative divisions:
  none (territory of the US)
Independence:
  none (territory of the US)
Constitution:
  Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system:
  modeled on US; federal laws apply
National holiday:
  Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March); Liberation Day, 21 July
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the
  Governor)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential
  elections
Elections:
 Governor:
  last held on 6 November 1990 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -
  Joseph F. ADA reelected
 Legislature:
  last held on 9 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) Democratic 14, Republican 7
 US House of Representatives:
  last held 9 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); Guam elects
  one delegate; results - Robert UNDERWOOD was elected as delegate; seats - (1
  total) Democrat 1
Executive branch:
  US president, governor, lieutenant governor, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislature
Judicial branch:
  Federal District Court, Territorial Superior Court
Leaders:  Chief of State:
  President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
  Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
 Head of Government:
  Governor Joseph A. ADA (since November 1986); Lieutenant Governor Frank F.
  BLAS (since NA)
Member of:
  ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territory of the US)

*Guam, Government

Flag:
  territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides;
  centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach
  scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM
  superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag

*Guam, Economy

Overview:
  The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenues from
  tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown rapidly,
  creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones.
  Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1992. 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.
National product:
  GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $2 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $14,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $525 million; expenditures $395 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $34 million (f.o.b., 1984)
 commodities:
  mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials,
  fish, food and beverage products
 partners:
  US 25%, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12%
Imports:
  $493 million (c.i.f., 1984)
 commodities:
  petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
 partners:
  US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  500,000 kW capacity; 2,300 million kWh produced, 16,300 kWh per capita
  (1990)
Industries:
  US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete
  products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Agriculture:
  relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs,
  pork, poultry, beef, copra
Economic aid:
  although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive large transfer
  payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into which
  Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special
  law of Congress, the Guamanian Treasury, rather than the US Treasury,
  receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal
  employees stationed in Guam
Currency:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*Guam, Communications

Highways:
  674 km all-weather roads
Ports:
  Apra Harbor
Airports:
 total:
  5
 usable:
  4
 with permanent-surface runways:
  3
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,200-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  26,317 telephones (1989); broadcast stations - 3 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV; 2 Pacific
  Ocean INTELSAT ground stations

*Guam, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Guatemala, Geography

Location:
  Central America, between Honduras and Mexico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  108,890 km2
 land area:
  108,430 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
  total 1,687 km, Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico
  962 km
Coastline:
  400 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  the outer edge of the continental shelf
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  border with Belize in dispute; negotiations to resolve the dispute have
  begun
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau
  (Peten)
Natural resources:
  petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle
Land use:
 arable land:
  12%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:
  12%
 forest and woodland:
  40%
 other:
  32%
Irrigated land:
  780 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes;
  Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms;
  deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Note:
  no natural harbors on west coast

*Guatemala, People

Population:
  10,446,015 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.63% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  36.19 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.74 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  55.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  63.99 years
 male:
  61.46 years
 female:
  66.65 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.9 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Guatemalan(s)
 adjective:
  Guatemalan
Ethnic divisions:
  Ladino 56% (mestizo - mixed Indian and European ancestry), Indian 44%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan
Languages:
  Spanish 60%, Indian language 40% (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche,
  Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  55%
 male:
  63%
 female:
  47%
Labor force:
  2.5 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 60%, services 13%, manufacturing 12%, commerce 7%, construction
  4%, transport 3%, utilities 0.8%, mining 0.4% (1985)

*Guatemala, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Guatemala
 conventional short form:
  Guatemala
 local long form:
  Republica de Guatemala
 local short form:
  Guatemala
Digraph:
  GT
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Guatemala
Administrative divisions:
  22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja
  Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala,
  Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche,
  Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez,
  Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986
 note:
  suspended on 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated on 5 June 1993
  following ouster of president
Legal system:
  civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Centrist Union (UCN), Jorge CARPIO Nicolle; Solidarity Action
  Movement (MAS), Jorge SERRANO Elias; 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 SOLARZANO Martinez; Popular Alliance 5 (AP-5),
  Max ORLANDO Molina; Revolutionary Party (PR), Carlos CHAVARRIA; National
  Authentic Center (CAN), Hector MAYORA Dawe; Democratic Institutional Party
  (PID), Oscar RIVAS; Nationalist United Front (FUN), Gabriel GIRON;
  Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), Efrain RIOS Montt
Other political or pressure groups:
  Federated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Congress:
  last held on 11 November 1990 (next to be held 11 November 1995); results -
  UCN 25.6%, MAS 24.3%, DCG 17.5%, PAN 17.3%, MLN 4.8%, PSD/AP-5 3.6%, PR
  2.1%; seats - (116 total) UCN 38, DCG 27, MAS 18, PAN 12, Pro - Rios Montt
  10, MLN 4, PR 1, PSD/AP-5 1, independent 5

*Guatemala, Government

 President:
  runoff held on 11 January 1991 (next to be held 11 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 five-year term which expires in 1995
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Ramiro DE LEON Carpio (since 6 June 1993); Vice President Arturo
  HERBRUGER (since 18 June 1993)
Member of:
  BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU,
  LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Juan Jose CASO-FANJUL
 chancery:
  2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 745-4952 through 4954
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San
  Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Marilyn MCAFEE (since 28 May 1993)
 embassy:
  7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34024
 telephone:
  [502] (2) 31-15-41
 FAX:
  [502] (2) 318855
Flag:   three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue
  with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes
  a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the
  inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of
  independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a
  pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath

*Guatemala, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on family and corporate agriculture, which accounts for
  26% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds of
  exports. Manufacturing, predominantly in private hands, accounts for about
  18% 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 4% as government policies favoring competition and
  foreign trade and investment took stronger hold.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $12.6 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4.2% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $1,300 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  14% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  6.5% (1991 est.), with 30-40% underemployment
Budget:
  revenues $604 million; expenditures $808 million, including capital
  expenditures of $134 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  coffee 26%, sugar 13%, bananas 7%, beef 3%
 partners:
  US 36%, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras
Imports:
  $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles
 partners:
  US 40%, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Germany
External debt:
  $2.5 billion (December 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.9% (1991 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
  847,600 kW capacity; 2,500 million kWh produced, 260 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals,
  rubber, tourism
Agriculture:
  accounts for 26% 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:
  illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug
  trade; the government has an active eradication program for cannabis and
  opium poppy; transit country for cocaine shipments
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $1.1 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.92 billion
Currency:
  1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos

*Guatemala, Economy

Exchange rates:
  free market quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 5.2850 (December 1993), 5.1706 (1992),
  5.0289 (1991), 2.8161 (1989), 2.6196 (1988); note - black-market rate 2.800
  (May 1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Guatemala, Communications

Railroads:
  1,019 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 917 km government owned, 102 km
  privately owned
Highways:
  26,429 km total; 2,868 km paved, 11,421 km gravel, and 12,140 unimproved
Inland waterways:
  260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water
  season
Pipelines:
  crude oil 275 km
Ports:
  Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,129 GRT/6,450 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  474
 usable:
  418
 with permanent-surface runways:
  11
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  21
Telecommunications:
  fairly modern network centered in Guatemala [city]; 97,670 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 91 AM, no FM, 25 TV, 15 shortwave; connection into
  Central American Microwave System; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Guatemala, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,410,760; fit for military service 1,576,569; reach
  military age (18) annually 115,178 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $121 million, 1% of GDP (1993)

*Guernsey, Header

Affiliation:
  (British crown dependency)

*Guernsey, Geography

Location:
  in the English Channel, 52 km west of France between UK and France
Map references:
  Europe
Area:
 total area:
  194 km2
 land area:
  194 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  50 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Terrain:
  mostly level with low hills in southwest
Natural resources:
  cropland
Land use:
 arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

*Guernsey, People

Population:
  63,075 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.02% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.1 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.08 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  7.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.96 years
 male:
  75.27 years
 female:
  80.68 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.66 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Channel Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Channel Islander
Ethnic divisions:
  UK and Norman-French descent
Religions:
  Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
Languages:
  English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:   NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

*Guernsey, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Bailiwick of Guernsey
 conventional short form:
  Guernsey
Digraph:
  GK
Type:
  British crown dependency
Capital:
  Saint Peter Port
Administrative divisions:
  none (British crown dependency)
Independence:
  none (British crown dependency)
Constitution:
  unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
  English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
National holiday:
  Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Political parties and leaders:
  none; all independents
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Assembly of the States:
  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
Executive branch:
  British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff, deputy bailiff
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Assembly of the States
Judicial branch:
  Royal Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Lt. Gen. Sir Michael WILKINS
  (since NA 1990); Bailiff Mr. Graham Martyn DOREY (since February 1992)
Member of:
  none
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (British crown dependency)
US diplomatic representation:   none (British crown dependency)
Flag:
  white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending
  to the edges of the flag

*Guernsey, Economy

Overview:
  Tourism is a major source of revenue. Other economic activity includes
  financial services, breeding the world-famous Guernsey cattle, and growing
  tomatoes and flowers for export.
National product:
  GDP - $NA
National product real growth rate:
  9% (1987)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $208.9 million; expenditures $173.9 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1988)
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
 partners:
  UK (regarded as internal trade)
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  coal, gasoline, and oil
 partners:
  UK (regarded as internal trade)
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  173,000 kW capacity; 525 million kWh produced, 9,060 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, banking
Agriculture:
  tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses), sweet peppers, eggplant,
  other vegetables, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 Guernsey (#G) pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
  Guernsey pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652
  (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988); note - the Guernsey
  pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Guernsey, Communications

Ports:
  Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Airports:
 total:
  2
 useable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 41,900 telephones; 1 submarine cable

*Guernsey, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Guinea, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea-Bissau and
  Sierra Leone
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  245,860 km2
 land area:
  245,860 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
  total 3,399 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Liberia 563 km,
  Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
Coastline:
  320 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:   200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with
  southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly
  harmattan winds
Terrain:
  generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Natural resources:
  bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  6%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  12%
 forest and woodland:
  42%
 other:
  40%
Irrigated land:
  240 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season;
  deforestation

*Guinea, People

Population:
  6,236,506 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.46% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  44.76 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  20.13 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  141.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  43.68 years
 male:
  41.49 years
 female:
  45.93 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.9 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:  noun:
  Guinean(s)
 adjective:
  Guinean
Ethnic divisions:
  Fulani 35%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, indigenous tribes 15%
Religions:
  Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages:
  French (official); each tribe has its own language
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  24%
 male:
  35%
 female:
  13%
Labor force:
  2.4 million (1983)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 82.0%, industry and commerce 11.0%, services 5.4%
 note:
  88,112 civil servants (1987); 52% of population of working age (1985)

*Guinea, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Guinea
 conventional short form:
  Guinea
 local long form:
  Republique de Guinee
 local short form:
  Guinee
 former:
  French Guinea
Digraph:
  GV
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Conakry
Administrative divisions:
  33 administrative regions (regions administratives, singular - region
  administrative); Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba,
  Dinguiraye, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane,
  Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola,
  Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue,
  Yomou
Independence:
  2 October 1958 (from France)
Constitution:   23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes
  currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)
Political parties and leaders:
  political parties were legalized on 1 April 1992
 pro-government:
  Party for Unity and Progress (PUP), leader NA
 other:
  Rally for the Guinean People (RPG), Alpha CONDE; Union for a New Republic
  (UNR), Mamadon BAH; Party for Renewal and Progress (PRP), Siradion DIALLO
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
  none
Executive branch:
  president, Transitional Committee for National Recovery (Comite
  Transitionale de Redressement National or CTRN) replaced the Military
  Committee for National Recovery (Comite Militaire de Redressement National
  or CMRN); Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral People's National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire) was
  dissolved after the 3 April 1984 coup; framework established in December
  1991 for a new National Assembly with 114 seats
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  Gen. Lansana CONTE (since 5 April 1984)

*Guinea, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Ansoumane CAMARA
 chancery:
  2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 483-9420
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Dane F. SMITH, Jr.
 embassy:
  2nd Boulevard and 9th Avenue, Conakry
 mailing address:
  B. P. 603, Conakry
 telephone:   (224) 44-15-20 through 24
 FAX:
  (224) 44-15-22
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the
  popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Rwanda, which
  has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band

*Guinea, Economy

Overview:
  Although possessing many natural resources and considerable potential for
  agricultural development, Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the
  world. The agricultural sector contributes about 40% to GDP and employs more
  than 80% of the work force, while industry accounts for 27% of GDP. Guinea
  possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves; exports of bauxite and
  alumina accounted for about 70% of total exports in 1989.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3 billion (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4.3% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $410 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  19.6% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $449 million; expenditures $708 million, including capital
  expenditures of $361 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $788 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  alumina, bauxite, diamonds, coffee, pineapples, bananas, palm kernels
 partners:
  US 33%, EC 33%, USSR and Eastern Europe 20%, Canada
Imports:
  $692 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs,
  textiles, and other grain
 partners:
  US 16%, France, Brazil
External debt:
  $2.6 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for 27% of GDP
Electricity:
  113,000 kW capacity; 300 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries:
  bauxite mining, alumina, gold, diamond mining, 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $227 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,465 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $120 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $446
  million
Currency:
  1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 675 (1990), 618 (1989), 515 (1988), 440
  (1987), 383 (1986)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Guinea, Communications

Railroads:
  1,045 km; 806 km 1.000-meter gauge, 239 km 1.435-meter standard gauge
Highways:
  30,100 km total; 1,145 km paved, 12,955 km gravel or laterite (of which
  barely 4,500 km are currently all-weather roads), 16,000 km unimproved earth
  (1987)
Inland waterways:
  1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Ports:
  Conakry, Kamsar
Airports:
 total:
  15
 usable:
  15
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  10
Telecommunications:
  poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiocommunication stations,
  and new radio relay system; 15,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM 1
  FM, 1 TV; 65,000 TV sets; 200,000 radio receivers; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
  earth station

*Guinea, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force, Presidential Guard,
  Republican Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,403,776; fit for military service 708,078 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.2% of GDP (1988)

*Guinea-Bissau, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea and
  Senegal
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  36,120 km2
 land area:
  28,000 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
  total 724 km, Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline:
  350 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 12 November 1991 rendered its
  decision on the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal maritime boundary in favor of Senegal
Climate:
  tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to
  November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with
  northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain:
  mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Natural resources:
  unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite, phosphates, fish, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  11%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  43%
 forest and woodland:
  38%
 other:
  7%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

*Guinea-Bissau, People

Population:
  1,072,439 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.38% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  41.26 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  17.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  122.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  47.03 years
 male:
  45.38 years
 female:
  48.73 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.6 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Guinea-Bissauan(s)
 adjective:
  Guinea-Bissauan
Ethnic divisions:
  African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%),
  European and mulatto less than 1%
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5%
Languages:
  Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  36%
 male:
  50%
 female:
  24%
Labor force:
  403,000 (est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 90%, industry, services, and commerce 5%, government 5%
 note:
  population of working age 53% (1983)

*Guinea-Bissau, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Guinea-Bissau
 conventional short form:
  Guinea-Bissau
 local long form:
  Republica de Guine-Bissau
 local short form:
  Guine-Bissau
 former:
  Portuguese Guinea
Digraph:
  PU
Type:
  republic highly centralized multiparty since mid-1991; the African Party for
  the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) held an
  extraordinary party congress in December 1990 and established a two-year
  transition program during which the constitution will be revised, allowing
  for multiple political parties and a presidential election in 1993
Capital:
  Bissau
Administrative divisions:
  9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama,
  Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
Independence:
  10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
Constitution:
  16 May 1984
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 10 September (1974)
Political parties and leaders:
  African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC),
  President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader; Democratic Social Front (FDS),
  Rafael BARBOSA, leader; Bafata Movement, Domingos Fernandes GARNER, leader;
  Democratic Front, Aristides MENEZES, leader
 note:
  PAIGC is still the major party (of 10 parties) and controls all aspects of
  the government
Suffrage:
  15 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National People's Assembly:
  last held 15 June 1989 (next to be held 15 June 1994); results - PAIGC is
  the only party; seats - (150 total) PAIGC 150, appointed by Regional
  Councils
 President of Council of State:
  last held 19 June 1989 (next to be held NA 1993); results - Gen. Joao
  Bernardo VIEIRA was reelected without opposition by the National People's
  Assembly
Executive branch:
  president of the Council of State, vice presidents of the Council of State,
  Council of State, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:   unicameral National People's Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)
Judicial branch:
  none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council of Ministers

*Guinea-Bissau, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President of the Council of State Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power
  14 November 1980 and elected President of Council of State on 16 May 1984)
Member of:
  ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
  UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, 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:
  (202) 872-4222
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Roger A. MAGUIRE
 embassy:
  17 Avenida Domingos Ramos, Bissau
 mailing address:
  1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau
 telephone:
  [245] 20-1139, 20-1145, 20-1113
 FAX:
  [245] 20-1159
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red
  band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the
  red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the
  flag of Cape Verde, which has the black star raised above the center of the
  red band and is framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell

*Guinea-Bissau, Economy

Overview:
  Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world, with a per
  capita GDP of roughly $200. 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. The government's
  four-year plan (1988-91) targeted agricultural development as the top
  priority.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $210 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:   2.3% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $210 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  55% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $33.6 million; expenditures $44.8 million, including capital
  expenditures of $.57 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $20.4 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels
 partners:
  Portugal, Senegal, France, The Gambia, Netherlands, Spain
Imports:
  $63.5 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  capital equipment, consumer goods, semiprocessed goods, foods, petroleum
 partners:
  Portugal, Netherlands, Senegal, USSR, Germany
External debt:
  $462 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.0% (1989 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP (1989 est.)
Electricity:
  22,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks
Agriculture:
  accounts for over 50% 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $615 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $68
  million
Currency:
  1 Guinea-Bissauan peso (PG) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1 - 1987.2 (1989), 1363.6 (1988), 851.65
  (1987), 238.98 (1986)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Guinea-Bissau, Communications

Highways:
  3,218 km; 2,698 km bituminous, remainder earth
Inland waterways:
  scattered stretches are important to coastal commerce
Ports:
  Bissau
Airports:
 total:
  33
 usable:
  15
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  poor system of radio relay, open-wire lines, and radiocommunications; 3,000
  telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 1 TV

*Guinea-Bissau, Defense Forces

Branches:
  People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; including Army, Navy, Air Force),
  paramilitary force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 235,931; fit for military service 134,675 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $9.3 million, 5%-6% of GDP (1987)

*Guyana, Geography

Location:
  Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Suriname
  and Venezuela
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  214,970 km2
 land area:
  196,850 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries:
  total 2,462 km, Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Coastline:
  459 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the outer edge of 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/Koetari Rivers
  (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons
  (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)
Terrain:
  mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Natural resources:
  bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  6%
 forest and woodland:
  83%
 other:
  8%
Irrigated land:
  1,300 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  flash floods a constant threat during rainy seasons; water pollution

*Guyana, People

Population:
  734,640 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -0.68% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  20.47 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.39 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -19.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  49.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  64.7 years
 male:
  61.46 years
 female:
  68.1 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:   Guyanese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Guyanese
Ethnic divisions:
  East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%, European and Chinese 2%
Religions:
  Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%
Languages:
  English, Amerindian dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended scool (1990)
 total population:
  95%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  96%
Labor force:
  268,000
 by occupation:
  industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture 33.8%, services 21.7%
 note:
  public-sector employment amounts to 60-80% of the total labor force (1985)

*Guyana, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Co-operative Republic of Guyana
 conventional short form:
  Guyana
 former:
  British Guiana
Digraph:
  GY
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Georgetown
Administrative divisions:
  10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East
  Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice,
  Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper
  Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Independence:
  26 May 1966 (from UK)
Constitution:
  6 October 1980
Legal system:
  based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has
  not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Political parties and leaders:   People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE; People's
Progressive
  Party (PPP), Cheddi JAGAN; 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Executive President:
  last held on 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
 National Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  executive president, first vice president, prime minister, first deputy
  prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Judicature

*Guyana, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Executive President Cheddi JAGAN (since 5 October 1992); First Vice
  President Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992)
Member of:
  ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Dr. Odeen ISHMAEL
 chancery:
  2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 265-6900
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:   Ambassador George Jones
 embassy:
  99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Georgetown
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
 telephone:
  [592] (2) 54900 through 54909 and 57960 through 57969
 FAX:
  [592] (2) 58497
Flag:
  green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed
  on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black border between the red
  and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and the green

*Guyana, Economy

Overview:
  Guyana is one of the world's poorest countries with a per capita income less
  than one-fifth the South American average. After growing on average at less
  than 1% a year in 1986-87, GDP dropped by 5% a year in 1988-90. The decline
  resulted from bad weather, labor trouble in the cane fields, and flooding
  and equipment problems in the bauxite industry. Consumer prices rose about
  100% in 1989 and 75% in 1990, and the current account deficit widened
  substantially as sugar and bauxite exports fell. Moreover, electric power
  has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in
  national output. The government, in association with international financial
  agencies, seeks to reduce its payment arrears and to raise new funds. The
  government's stabilization program - aimed at establishing realistic
  exchange rates, reasonable price stability, and a resumption of growth -
  requires considerable public administrative abilities and continued patience
  by consumers during a long incubation period. Buoyed by a recovery in mining
  and agriculture, the economy posted 6% growth in 1991 and 7% growth in 1992,
  according to official figures. A large volume of illegal and quasi-legal
  economic activity is not captured in estimates of the country's total
  output.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $267.5 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  7% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $370 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  15% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  12%-15% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $121 million; expenditures $225 million, including capital
  expenditures of $50 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $268 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  sugar, bauxite/alumina, rice, gold, shrimp, molasses, timber, rum
 partners:
  UK 28%, US 25%, FRG 8%, Canada 7%, Japan 6% (1989)
Imports:
  $242.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  manufactures, machinery, food, petroleum
 partners:
  US 40%, Trinidad & Tobago 13%, UK 11%, Japan 5%, Netherland Antilles 3%
  (1989)
External debt:
  $2 billion including arrears (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 12% (1990 est.); accounts for about 24% of GDP
Electricity:
  253,500 kW capacity; 276 million kWh produced, 370 kWh per capita (1992)
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

*Guyana, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $116 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $325 million;
  Communist countries 1970-89, $242 million
Currency:
  1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 125.8 (January 1993) 125.0 (1992), 111.8
  (1991), 39.533 (1990), 27.159 (1989), 10.000 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Guyana, Communications

Railroads:
  187 km total, all single track 0.914-meter gauge
Highways:
  7,665 km total; 550 km paved, 5,000 km gravel, 1,525 km earth, 590 km
  unimproved
Inland waterways:
  6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo
  Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km,
  respectively
Ports:
  Georgetown, New Amsterdam
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT
Airports:  total:
  53
 usable:
  48
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  13
Telecommunications:
  fair system with radio relay network; over 27,000 telephones; tropospheric
  scatter link to Trinidad; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 3 FM, no TV, 1
  shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Guyana, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Guyana Defense Force (GDF; including the Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Air
  Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana National Service (GNS)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 196,960; fit for military service 149,583 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP

*Haiti, Geography

Location:
  in the northern Caribbean Sea, about 90 km southeast of Cuba
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  27,750 km2
 land area:
  27,560 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  total 275 km, Dominican Republic 275 km
Coastline:
  1,771 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:   12 nm
International disputes:
  claims US-administered Navassa Island
Climate:
  tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Terrain:
  mostly rough and mountainous
Natural resources:
  bauxite
Land use:
 arable land:
  20%
 permanent crops:
  13%
 meadows and pastures:
  18%
 forest and woodland:
  4%
 other:
  45%
Irrigated land:
  750 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from
  June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; deforestation; soil
  erosion
Note:
  shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is
  Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

*Haiti, People

Population:
  6,384,877 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.68% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  40.77 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  18.88 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -5.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  109.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  45.45 years
 male:
  43.88 years
 female:
  47.11 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.05 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:  noun:
  Haitian(s)
 adjective:
  Haitian
Ethnic divisions:
  black 95%, mulatto and European 5%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 80% (of which an overwhelming majority also practice Voodoo),
  Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none
  1%, other 3% (1982)
Languages:
  French (official) 10%, Creole
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  53%
 male:
  59%
 female:
  47%
Labor force:
  2.3 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%
 note:
  shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)

*Haiti, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Haiti
 conventional short form:
  Haiti
 local long form:
  Republique d'Haiti
 local short form:
  Haiti
Digraph:
  HA
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Port-au-Prince
Administrative divisions:
  9 departments, (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre,
  Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Independence:
  1 January 1804 (from France)
Constitution:
  27 August 1983, suspended February 1986; draft 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
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Front for Change and Democracy (FNCD), including National Congress
  of Democratic Movements (CONACOM), Victor BENOIT, and National Cooperative
  Action Movement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH; 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
Other political or pressure groups:
  Democratic Unity Confederation (KID); Roman Catholic Church; Confederation
  of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers Trade Unions (FOS);
  Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National Popular Assembly (APN)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held 16 December 1990, with runoff held 20 January 1991 (next to be
  held by December 1994); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (83 total)
  FNCD 27, ANDP 17, PDCH 7, PAIN 6, RDNP 6, MDN 5, PNT 3, MKN 2, MODELH 2, MRN
  1, independents 5, other 2
 President:
  last held 16 December 1990 (next election to be held by December 1995);
  results - Rev. Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 67.5%, Marc BAZIN 14.2%, Louis DEJOIE
  4.9%

*Haiti, Government

 Senate:
  last held 18 January 1993, widely condemned as illegitimate (next to be held
  December 1994); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (27 total) FNCD 12,
  ANDP 8, PAIN 2, MRN 1, RDNP 1, PNT 1, independent 2
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) consisting of an upper
  house or Senate and a lower house or Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February 1991), ousted in a coup
  in September 1991, but still recognized by international community as Chief
  of State
 Head of Government:   de facto Prime Minister Marc BAZIN (since NA June 1992)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, CARICOM (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
  LAES, LORCS, 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:
  (202) 332-4090 through 4092
 consulates general:
  Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Special Charge d'Affaires Charles REDMAN
 embassy:
  Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
 telephone:
  [509] 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, or 22-0612
 FAX:
  [509] 23-9007
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white
  rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by
  flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE
  (Union Makes Strength)

*Haiti, Economy

Overview:
  About 75% of the population live in abject poverty. Agriculture is mainly
  small-scale subsistence farming and employs nearly three-fourths of the work
  force. The majority of the population does not have ready access to safe
  drinking water, adequate medical care, or sufficient food. Few social
  assistance programs exist, and the lack of employment opportunities remains
  one of the most critical problems facing the economy, along with soil
  erosion and political instability. Trade sanctions applied by the
  Organization of American States in response to the September 1991 coup
  against President ARISTIDE have further damaged the economy.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -4% (FY91 est.)
National product per capita:
  $340 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  20% (FY91 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  25-50% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $300 million; expenditures $416 million, including capital
  expenditures of $145 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $146 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  light manufactures 65%, coffee 19%, other agriculture 8%, other 8%
 partners:
  US 84%, Italy 4%, France 3%, other industrial countries 6%, less developed
  countries 3% (1987)
Imports:
  $252 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%, petroleum products
  14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9%
 partners:
  US 64%, Netherlands Antilles 5%, Japan 5%, France 4%, Canada 3%, Germany 3%
  (1987)
External debt:
  $838 million (December 1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -2.0% (1991 est.); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity:
  217,000 kW capacity; 480 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  sugar refining, textiles, flour milling, cement manufacturing, tourism,
  light assembly industries based on imported parts
Agriculture:
  accounts for 28% of GDP and employs around 70% 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $700 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $770 million
Currency:
  1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes

*Haiti, Economy

Exchange rates:
  gourdes (G) per US$1 - 8.4 (December 1991), fixed rate of 5.000 through
  second quarter of 1991)
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*Haiti, Communications

Railroads:
  40 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge, single-track, privately owned industrial
  line
Highways:
  4,000 km total; 950 km paved, 900 km otherwise improved, 2,150 km unimproved
Inland waterways:
  negligible; less than 100 km navigable
Ports:
  Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien
Airports:
 total:
  13
 usable:
  10
 with permanent-surface runways:
  3
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  domestic facilities barely adequate, international facilities slightly
  better; 36,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 33 AM, no FM, 4 TV, 2
  shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Haiti, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (including Police), Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,289,310; fit for military service 695,997; reach military
  age (18) annually 60,588 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $34 million, 1.5% of GDP (1988 est.)

*Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of Australia)

*Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the Indian Ocean, 4,100 km southwest of Australia
Map references:
  Antarctic Region
Area:
 total area:
  412 km2
 land area:
  412 km2  comparative area:
  slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  101.9 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  antarctic
Terrain:
  Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with an extinct volcano; McDonald
  Islands - small and rocky
Natural resources:
  none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  primarily used for research stations

*Heard Island and McDonald Islands, People

Population:
  uninhabited

*Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
 conventional short form:
  Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Digraph:
  HM
Type:
  territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for Arts, Sport, the
  Environment, Tourism and Territories
Capital:
  none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Independence:
  none (territory of Australia)

*Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only

*Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of Australia

*Holy See (Vatican City), Geography

Location:
  Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome - central Italy
Map references:
  Europe
Area:
 total area:
  0.44 km2
 land area:
  0.44 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 3.2 km, Italy 3.2 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers
  (May to September)
Terrain:
  low hill
Natural resources:   none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  urban
Note:
  landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the
  Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer
  residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights

*Holy See (Vatican City), People

Population:
  811 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.15% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years
 female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman
Nationality:
 noun:
  none
 adjective:
  none
Ethnic divisions:
  Italians, Swiss
Religions:
  Roman Catholic
Languages:   Italian, Latin, various other languages
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside
  the Vatican

*Holy See (Vatican City), Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
 conventional short form:
  Holy See (Vatican City)
 local long form:
  Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
 local short form:
  Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Digraph:
  VT
Type:
  monarchical-sacerdotal state
Capital:
  Vatican City
Independence:
  11 February 1929 (from Italy)
Constitution:
  Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II)
 note:
  Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Political parties and leaders:
  none
Other political or pressure groups:
  none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
Suffrage:
  limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Elections:
 Pope:
  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
Executive branch:
  pope
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch:
  none; normally handled by Italy
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978)
 Head of Government:
  Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA)
Member of:
  CSCE, IAEA, ICFTU, IMF (observer), INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS
  (observer), 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:
  (202) 333-7121

*Holy See (Vatican City), Government

US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN
 embassy:
  Villino Pacelli, Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome
 mailing address:
  PSC 59, APO AE 09624
 telephone:
  [396] 46741
 FAX:
  [396] 638-0159
Flag:
  two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of
  Saint Peter and the papal tiara centered in the white band

*Holy See (Vatican City), Economy

Overview:
  This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions
  (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale
  of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and
  the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers
  are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work
  in the city of Rome.
Budget:
  revenues $86 million; expenditures $178 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Electricity:
  5,000 kW standby capacity (1992); power supplied by Italy
Industries:   printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms;
  worldwide banking and financial activities
Currency:
  1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates:
  Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992),
  1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988); note - the
  Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Holy See (Vatican City), Communications

Railroads:
  850 m, 750 mm gauge (links with Italian network near the Rome station of
  Saint Peter's)
Highways:
  none; all city streets
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, no TV; 2,000-line automatic telephone
  exchange; no communications satellite systems

*Holy See (Vatican City), Defense Forces

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

*Honduras, Geography

Location:
  Central America, between Guatemala and Nicaragua
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  112,090 km2
 land area:
  111,890 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
  total 1,520 km, Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km
Coastline:
  820 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:   200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 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; ICJ referred the maritime
  boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in this century and
  advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and
  Nicaragua likely would be required
Climate:
  subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain:
  mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Natural resources:
  timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  14%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  30%
 forest and woodland:
  34%
 other:
  20%
Irrigated land:
  900 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging hurricanes
  and floods along Caribbean coast; deforestation; soil erosion

*Honduras, People

Population:
  5,170,108 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.8% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  35.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  47.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.17 years
 male:
  64.82 years
 female:   69.62 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.87 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Honduran(s)
 adjective:
  Honduran
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
Languages:
  Spanish, Indian dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  73%
 male:
  76%
 female:
  71%
Labor force:
  1.3 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6%
  (1985)

*Honduras, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Honduras
 conventional short form:
  Honduras
 local long form:
  Republica de Honduras
 local short form:
  Honduras
Digraph:
  HO
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions:
  18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida,
  Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan,
  Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque,
  Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
Legal system:
  rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English common law;
  accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Political parties and leaders:
  Liberal Party (PLH), Carlos Roberto REINA, presidential candidate, Rafael
  PINEDA Ponce, president; National Party (PN) has two factions: Movimiento
  Nacional de Reivindication Callejista (Monarca), Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS,
  and Oswaldista, Oswaldo RAMOS SOTO, presidential candidate; National
  Innovation and Unity Party (PINU), German LEITZELAR, 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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 26 November 1989 (next to be held November 1993); results -
  Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS (PNH) 51%, Carlos FLORES Facusse (PLH) 43.3%, other
  5.7%
 National Congress:
  last held on 26 November 1989 (next to be held November 1993); results - PNH
  51%, PLH 43%, PDCH 1.9%, PINU-SD 1.5%, other 2.6%; seats - (128 total) PNH
  71, PLH 55, PINU-SD 2
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

*Honduras, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS Romero (since 26 January 1990)
Member of:
  BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS,
  OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Rene Arturo BENDANA-VALENZUELA
 chancery:
  3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 966-7702
 consulates general:   Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
 consulates:
  Baton Rouge, Boston, Detroit, Houston, and Jacksonville
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador William Bryce (since 28 May 1993)
 embassy:
  Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpa
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
 telephone:
  [504] 32-3120
 FAX:
  [504] 32-0027
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue
  five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the
  stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central
  America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua;
  similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled
  by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the
  white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle
  encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on
  the bottom, centered in the white band

*Honduras, Economy

Overview:
  Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
  Agriculture, the most important sector of the economy, accounts for more
  than 25% of GDP, employs 62% of the labor force, and produces two-thirds of
  exports. Productivity remains low. Industry, still in its early stages,
  employs nearly 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 nearly 20% of the labor force. Basic
  problems facing the economy include rapid population growth, high
  unemployment, 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 President CALLEJAS in 1990 is beginning to take
  hold.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5.5 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3.6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,090 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  15% (30-40% underemployed) (1989)
Budget:
  revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $511 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber
 partners:
  US 65%, Germany 9%, Japan 8%, Belgium 7%
Imports:
  $1.3 billion (c.i.f. 1991)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, chemical products, manufactured goods,
  fuel and oil, foodstuffs
 partners:
  US 45%, Japan 9%, Netherlands 7%, Mexico 7%, Venezuela 6%
External debt:
  $2.8 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 0.8% (1990 est.); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity:
  575,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 390 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  agricultural processing (sugar and coffee), textiles, clothing, wood
  products
Agriculture:
  most important sector, accounting for more than 25% 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:
  illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally
  for local consumption; transshipment point for cocaine
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion

*Honduras, Economy

Currency:
  1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  lempiras (L) per US$1 - 5.4 (fixed rate); 5.70 parallel black-market rate
  (November 1990); the lempira was allowed to float in 1992; current rate
  about US$1 - 5.65
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Honduras, Communications

Railroads:
  785 km total; 508 km 1.067-meter gauge, 277 km 0.914-meter gauge
Highways:
  8,950 km total; 1,700 km paved, 5,000 km otherwise improved, 2,250 km
  unimproved earth
Inland waterways:   465 km navigable by small craft
Ports:
  Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo
Merchant marine:
  252 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 819,100 GRT/1,195,276 DWT; includes 2
  passenger-cargo, 162 cargo, 20 refrigerated cargo, 10 container, 6
  roll-on/roll-off cargo, 22 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 specialized
  tanker, 22 bulk, 3 passenger, 2 short-sea passenger; note - a flag of
  convenience registry; Russia owns 10 ships under the Honduran flag
Airports:
 total:
  165
 usable:
  137
 with permanent-surface runways:
  11
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  14
Telecommunications:
  inadequate system with only 7 telephones per 1,000 persons; international
  services provided by 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earch stations and the
  Central American microwave radio relay system; broadcast stations - 176 AM,
  no FM, 7 SW, 28 TV

*Honduras, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, Public Security Forces (FUSEP)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,185,072; fit for military service 706,291; reach military
  age (18) annually 58,583 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $45 million, about 1% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Hong Kong, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*Hong Kong, Geography

Location:
  East Asia, on the southeast coast of China bordering the South China Sea
Map references:
  Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:  total area:
  1,040 km2
 land area:
  990 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 30 km, China 30 km
Coastline:
  733 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  3 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring
  through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain:
  hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Natural resources:
  outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use:
 arable land:
  7%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  12%
 other:
  79%
Irrigated land:
  20 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  more than 200 islands; occasional typhoons

*Hong Kong, People

Population:
  5,552,965 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -0.06% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.27 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.68 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -7.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  79.99 years
 male:
  76.55 years
 female:
  83.64 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.34 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Chinese
 adjective:
  Chinese
Ethnic divisions:
  Chinese 98%, other 2%
Religions:
  eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages:
  Chinese (Cantonese), English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
 total population:
  77%
 male:
  90%
 female:
  64%
Labor force:
  2.8 million (1990)
 by occupation:
  manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels
  27.9%, services 17.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate 9.2%, transport
  and communications 4.5%, construction 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989)

*Hong Kong, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Hong Kong
Abbreviation:
  HK
Digraph:
  HK
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK scheduled to revert to China in 1997
Capital:
  Victoria
Administrative divisions:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed an agreement with China
  on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997; in the
  joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing social and
  economic systems and lifestyle)
Constitution:
  unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; new Basic Law
  approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:
  Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)
Political parties and leaders:
  United Democrats of Hong Kong, Martin LEE, chairman; Democratic Alliance for
  the Betterment of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Democratic Foundation
Other political or pressure groups:
  Cooperative Resources Center, Allen LEE, chairman; Meeting Point, Anthony
  CHEUNG, chairman; Association of Democracy and People's Livelihood,
  Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman; Liberal Democratic Federation, HEUNG Yee
  Kuk; Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China); Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade
  Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Unions (prodemocracy);
  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; Hong Kong
  Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China
Suffrage:
  direct election 21 years of age; universal as a permanent resident 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
Elections:
 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 in September 1995
  when the number of directly-elected seats increases to 20); 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
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, chief secretary of the Executive Council
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Council

*Hong Kong, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Governor Chris PATTEN (since NA July 1992); Chief Secretary Sir David Robert
  FORD (since NA February 1987)
Member of:   APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU, IMO (associate), INTERPOL
  (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as a dependent territory of the UK, the interests of Hong Kong in the US are
  represented by the UK
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Consul General Richard L. WILLIAMS
 embassy:
  Consulate General at 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
 mailing address:
  Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96522-0002
 telephone:
  [852] 239-011
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the Hong
  Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag;
  the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) held by
  a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another
  lion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the
  shield

*Hong Kong, Economy

Overview:
  Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariff
  barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be
  imported. Manufacturing accounts for about 18% of GDP, employs 28% of the
  labor force, and exports about 90% of its output. 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 and 5.9% in 1992. 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. Short-term prospects remain
  bright so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably
  prosperous.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $86 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  5.9% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $14,600 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  9.4% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $17.4 billion; expenditures $14.7 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY92)
Exports:
  $118 billion, including reexports of $85.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical appliances,
  watches and clocks, toys
 partners:   US 29%, China 21%, Germany 8%, UK 6%, Japan 5% (1990)
Imports:
  $120 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum
 partners:
  China 37%, Japan 16%, Taiwan 9%, US 8% (1990)
External debt:
  $9.5 billion (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  9,566,000 kW capacity; 29,400 million kWh produced, 4,980 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Agriculture:
  minor role in the economy; rice, vegetables, dairy products; less than 20%
  self-sufficient; shortages of rice, wheat, water
Illicit drugs:
  a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and major financial
  and money-laundering center
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $152 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $923 million
Currency:
  1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents

*Hong Kong, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1992), 7.771 (1991), 7.790 (1990),
  7.800 (1989), 7.810 (1988), 7.760 (1987); note - linked to the US dollar at
  the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Hong Kong, Communications

Railroads:
  35 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned
Highways:
  1,100 km total; 794 km paved, 306 km gravel, crushed stone, or earth
Ports:
  Hong Kong
Merchant marine:
  176 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 5,870,007 GRT/10,006,390 DWT;
  includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 20 cargo, 6 refrigerated cargo,
  29 container, 15 oil tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 6 combination ore/oil, 5
  liquefied gas, 88 bulk, 2 combination bulk; note - a flag of convenience
  registry; ships registered in Hong Kong fly the UK flag, and an estimated
  500 Hong Kong-owned ships are registered elsewhere
Airports:
 total:
  2
 useable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services;
  3,000,000 telephones; microwave transmission links and extensive optical
  fiber transmission network; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 British
  Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) repeater station and 1 British Forces
  Broadcasting Service repeater station; 2,500,000 radio receivers; 1,312,000
  TV sets (1,224,000 color TV sets); satellite earth stations - 1 Pacific
  Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; 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

*Hong Kong, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Headquarters of British Forces, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Hong Kong
  Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,635,516; fit for military service 1,256,057; reach
  military age (18) annually 43,128 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $300 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989 est.); this
  represents one-fourth of the total cost of defending itself, the remainder
  being paid by the UK
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Howland Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Howland Island, Geography

Location:
  in the North Pacific Ocean, 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu, just north of
  the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
Map references:   Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  1.6 km2
 land area:
  1.6 km2
 comparative area:
  about 2.7 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  6.4 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or the depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
  low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing
  reef; depressed central area
Natural resources:
  guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  5%
 other:
  95%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing
  shrubs; small area of trees in the center; lacks fresh water; primarily a
  nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine
  wildlife; feral cats

*Howland Island, People

Population:
  uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air
  and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World
  War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit
  only and generally restricted to scientists and educators

*Howland Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Howland Island
Digraph:
  HQ
Type:
  unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife
  Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
  Wildlife Refuge System
Capital:
  none; administered from Washington, DC

*Howland Island, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Howland Island, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle of the
  west coast
Airports:
  airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the
  round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left Lae,
  New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is
  no longer serviceable
Note:
  Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was
  partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt in
  memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart

*Howland Island, Defense Forces

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

*Hungary, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, between Slovakia and Romania
Map references:
  Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
Area:
 total area:
  93,030 km2
 land area:
  92,340 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
  total 1,952 km, Austria 366 km, Croatia 292 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia and
  Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km, Slovenia 82 km,
  Ukraine 103 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia; Vojvodina taken from Hungary and
  awarded to the former Yugoslavia by treaty of Trianon in 1920
Climate:
  temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain:
  mostly flat to rolling plains
Natural resources:
  bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Land use:
 arable land:
  50.7%
 permanent crops:
  6.1%
 meadows and pastures:
  12.6%
 forest and woodland:
  18.3%
 other:
  12.3%
Irrigated land:
  1,750 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  levees are common along many streams, but flooding occurs almost every year
Note:
  landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western
  Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean
  basin

*Hungary, People

Population:
  10,324,018 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -0.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.33 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  13.02 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.86 years
 male:
  66.81 years
 female:
  75.12 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Hungarian(s)
 adjective:
  Hungarian
Ethnic divisions:
  Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%
Languages:
  Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  99%
 female:
  98%
Labor force:
  5.4 million
 by occupation:
  services, trade, government, and other 44.8%, industry 29.7%, agriculture
  16.1%, construction 7.0% (1991)

*Hungary, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Hungary
 conventional short form:
  Hungary
 local long form:
  Magyar Koztarsasag
 local short form:
  Magyarorszag
Digraph:   HU
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Budapest
Administrative divisions:
  38 counties (megyek, singular - megye) and 1 capital city* (fovaros);,   Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya,
Bekes, Bekescsaba, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest*,,   Csongrad, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Fejer,
Gyor, Gyor-Moson-Sopron,
  Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Hodmezovasarhely, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar,
  Kecskemet, Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza,
  Pecs, Pest, Somogy, Sopron, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged, Szekesfehervar,
  Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala, Zalaegerszeg
Independence:
  1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
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
National holiday:
  October 23 (1956) (commemorates the Hungarian uprising)
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Forum, Jozsef ANTALL, chairman, Dr. Lajos FUR, executive
  chairman; Independent Smallholders (FKGP), Jozsef TORGYAN, president;
  Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), Gyula HORN, chairman; 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 (MSP) in October 1989;
  there is still a small (fringe) MSZMP
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  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
 National Assembly:
  last held on 25 March 1990 (first round, with the second round held 8 April
  1990); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (386 total) Democratic
  Forum 162, Free Democrats 90, Independent Smallholders 45, Hungarian
  Socialist Party (MSP) 33, Young Democrats 22, Christian Democrats 21,
  independents or jointly sponsored candidates 13

*Hungary, Government

Executive branch:
  president, prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Orszaggyules)
Judicial branch:
  Constitutional Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim president
  from 2 May 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Jozsef ANTALL (since 21 May 1990)
Member of:
  Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-9, GATT,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Pal TAR
 chancery:
  3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 362-6730
 FAX:
  (202) 966-8135
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Charles H. THOMAS
 embassy:
  V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
 mailing address:
  Am Embassy, Unit 25402, APO AE 09213-5270
 telephone:
  [36] (1) 112-6450
 FAX:
  [36] (1) 132-8934
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

*Hungary, Economy

Overview:
  Hungary is in the midst of a difficult transition from a command to a market
  economy. Agriculture is an important sector, providing sizable export
  earnings and meeting domestic food needs. Industry accounts for about 40% of
  GDP and 30% of employment. Hungary claims that less than 25% of foreign
  trade is now with former CEMA countries, while about 70% is with OECD
  members. Hungary's economic reform programs during the Communist era gave it
  a head start in creating a market economy and attracting foreign investment.
  In 1991, Hungary received 60% of all foreign investment in Eastern Europe,
  and in 1992 received the largest single share. The growing private sector
  accounts for about one-third of national output according to unofficial
  estimates. Privatization of state enterprises is progressing, although
  excessive red tape, bureaucratic oversight, and uncertainties about pricing
  have slowed the process. Escalating unemployment and high rates of inflation
  may impede efforts to speed up privatization and budget reform, while
  Hungary's heavy foreign debt will make the government reluctant to introduce
  full convertibility of the forint before 1994 and to rein in inflation. The
  government is projecting an end to the 5-year recession in 1993, and GDP is
  forecast to grow 0%-3%.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $55.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $5,380 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  23% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  12.3% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $13.2 billion; expenditures $15.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
  $10.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals 35.5%, machinery 13.5%, light
  industry 23.3%, food and agricultural 24.8%, fuels and energy 2.8%
 partners:
  OECD 70.7%, (EC 50.1%, EFTA 15.0%), LDCs 5.1%, former CEMA members 23.2%,
  others 1.0% (1991)
Imports:
  $11.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  fuels and energy 14.9%, raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals 37.6%,
  machinery 19.7%, light industry 21.5%, food and agricultural 6.3%
 partners:
  OECD 71.0%, (EC 45.4%, EFTA 20.0%), LDCs 3.9%, former CEMA members 23.9%,
  others 1.2% (1991)
External debt:
  $23.5 billion (September 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -10% (1992)
Electricity:
  7,200,000 kW capacity; 30,000 million kWh produced, 3,000 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles,
  chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), buses, automobiles

*Hungary, Economy

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 transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
  recipient - $9.1 billion in assistance from OECD countries (from 1st quarter
  1990 to end of 2nd quarter 1991)
Currency:
  1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates:
  forints per US$1 - 83.97 (December 1992), 78.99 (1992), 74.74 (1991), 63.21
  (1990), 59.07 (1989), 50.41 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Hungary, Communications

Railroads:
  7,765 km total; 7,508 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 222 km narrow gauge
  (mostly 0.760-meter), 35 km 1.520-meter broad gauge; 1,236 km double track,
  2,249 km electrified; all government owned (1990)
Highways:
  130,218 km total; 29,919 km national highway system (27,212 km asphalt, 126
  km concrete, 50 km stone and road brick, 2,131 km macadam, 400 km unpaved);
  58,495 km country roads (66% unpaved), and 41,804 km other roads (70%
  unpaved) (1988)
Inland waterways:
  1,622 km (1988)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
Ports:
  Budapest and Dunaujvaros are river ports on the Danube; coastal outlets are
  Rostock (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Gdynia (Poland), Szczecin (Poland),
  Galati (Romania), and Braila (Romania)
Merchant marine:
  12 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) and 1 bulk totaling 83,091 GRT/115,950
  DWT
Airports:
 total:
  92
 usable:
  92
 with permanent-surface runways:
  25
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  20
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  28
Telecommunications:
  automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system; 1,128,800
  phones (1991); telephone density is at 19.4 per 100 inhabitants; 49% of all
  phones are in Budapest; 608,000 telephones on order (1991); 12-15 year wait
  for a phone; 14,213 telex lines (1991); broadcast stations - 32 AM, 15 FM,
  41 TV (8 Soviet TV repeaters); 4.2 million TVs (1990); 1 satellite ground
  station using INTELSAT and Intersputnik

*Hungary, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, Territorial Defense
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,630,552; fit for military service 2,101,637; reach
  military age (18) annually 91,979 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  66.5 billion forints, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense
  expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
  misleading results

*Iceland, Geography

Location:
  in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland and Norway
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Europe, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  103,000 km2
 land area:
  100,250 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  4,988 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK
  (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Climate:
  temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp,
  cool summers
Terrain:
  mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply
  indented by bays and fiords
Natural resources:
  fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%  permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  20%
 forest and woodland:
  1%
 other:
  78%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity
Note:
  strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European
  country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

*Iceland, People

Population:
  261,270 (July 1993 est.)
 note:
  population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly
  from official population data because of volatile migration rates
Population growth rate:
  0.88% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  16.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.74 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  78.69 years
 male:
  76.45 years
 female:
  81.04 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Icelander(s)
 adjective:
  Icelandic
Ethnic divisions:
  homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none 1%
  (1988)
Languages:
  Icelandic
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  127,900
 by occupation:
  commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%, manufacturing 12.5%, fishing
  and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.8%, agriculture 4.0% (1990)

*Iceland, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Iceland
 conventional short form:
  Iceland
 local long form:
  Lyoveldio Island
 local short form:
  Island
Digraph:
  IC
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Reykjavik
Administrative divisions:
  23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns*,   (kaupstadhir, singular -
kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla,,   Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla,
Austur-Skaftafellssysla,
  Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla,
  Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*,,   Myrasysla,
Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la,,   Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla,
Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*,,   Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*,,
Skagafjardharsysla,
  Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla,
  Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla,,   Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
Independence:
  17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
Constitution:
  16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system:
  civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)
Political parties and leaders:
  Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party,
  Steingrimur HERMANNSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON;
  People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON; Women's List
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996); results - there
  was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed
 Althing:
  last held on 20 April 1991 (next to be held by April 1995); results -
  Independence Party 38.6%, Progressive Party 18.9%, Social Democratic Party
  15.5%, People's Alliance 14.4%, Womens List 8.3%, Liberals 1.2%, other 3.1%;
  seats - (63 total) Independence 26, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10,
  People's Alliance 9, Womens List 5
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament (Althing)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Haestirettur)

*Iceland, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
Member of:
  Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA,
  NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 chancery:
  2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 265-6653 through 6655
 FAX:
  (202) 265-6656
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
   (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jon GUNDERSEN
 embassy:
  Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavik
 mailing address:
  USEMB, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
 telephone:
  [354] (1) 29100
 FAX:   [354] (1) 29139
Flag:
  blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the
  flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
  style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

*Iceland, Economy

Overview:
  Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with an
  extensive welfare system, relatively low unemployment, and comparatively
  even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing
  industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of
  the workforce. In the absence of other natural resources - except energy -
  Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. Iceland's
  economy has been in recession since 1988. The recession deepened in 1992 due
  to severe cutbacks in fishing quotas and falling world prices for the
  country's main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon.
  Real GDP declined 3.3% in 1992 and is forecast to contract another 1.5% in
  1993. The center-right government's economic goals include 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 recession has led to a
  wave of bankruptcies and mergers throughout the economy, as well as the
  highest unemployment of the post-World War II period. The national
  unemployment rate reached 5% in early 1993, with some parts of the country
  experiencing unemployment in the 9-10% range. Inflation, previously a
  serious problem, declined from double digit rates in the 1980s to only 3.7%
  in 1992.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.5 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  -3.3% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $17,400 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  5% (first quarter 1993)
Budget:
  revenues $1.8 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $191 million (1992)
Exports:
  $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite
 partners:
  EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)
Imports:
  $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs,
  textiles
 partners:   EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)
External debt:
  $3.9 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.75% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
  1,063,000 kW capacity; 5,165 million kWh produced, 19,940 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production, geothermal
  power

*Iceland, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for about 25% of GDP; fishing is most important economic activity,
  contributing nearly 75% to export earnings; principal crops - potatoes,
  turnips; livestock - cattle, sheep; self-sufficient in crops; fish catch of
  about 1.4 million metric tons in 1989
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million
Currency:
  1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar
Exchange rates:
  Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 63.789 (January 1993), 57.546 (1992),
  58.996 (1991), 58.284 (1990), 57.042 (1989), 43.014 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Iceland, Communications

Highways:
  11,543 km total; 2,690 km hard surfaced, 8,853 km gravel and earth
Ports:
  Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik, Seydhisfjordhur,
  Siglufjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:
  10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,832 GRT/53,037 DWT; includes 3
  cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1
  chemical tanker
Airports:
 total:
  90
 usable:
  84
 with permanent-surface runways:
  8
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:   12
Telecommunications:
  adequate domestic service; coaxial and fiber-optical cables and microwave
  radio relay for trunk network; 140,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 5
  AM, 147 (transmitters and repeaters) FM, 202 (transmitters and repeaters)
  TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station carries all
  international traffic; a second INTELSAT earth station is scheduled to be
  operational in 1993

*Iceland, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Police, Coast Guard
 note:
  no armed forces, Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic
  Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 69,499; fit for military service 61,798 (1993 est.); no
  conscription or compulsory military service
Defense expenditures:
  none

*India, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between
  Bangladesh and Pakistan
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  3,287,590 km2
 land area:
  2,973,190 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries:
  total 14,103 km, Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China
  3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline:
  7,000 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  boundaries with Bangladesh and China; status of Kashmir with Pakistan;
  water-sharing problems with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the Ganges
  and Pakistan over the Indus
Climate:
  varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain:
  upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the
  Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
Natural resources:
  coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica,
  bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone
Land use:
 arable land:
  55%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  23%
 other:
  17%
Irrigated land:
  430,390 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common; deforestation; soil
  erosion; overgrazing; air and water pollution; desertification
Note:
  dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes

*India, People

Population:
  903,158,968 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.86% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  29.11 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  58.12 years
 male:
  57.69 years
 female:
  58.59 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.57 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:   Indian(s)
 adjective:
  Indian
Ethnic divisions:
  Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3%
Religions:
  Hindu 82.6%, Muslim 11.4%, 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 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  48%
 male:
  62%
 female:
  34%
Labor force:
  284.4 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 67% (FY85)

*India, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of India
 conventional short form:
  India
Digraph:
  IN
Type:
  federal republic
Capital:
  New Delhi
Administrative divisions:
  25 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra,   Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar,   Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa,,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
  Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh,,   Maharashtra, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*,,   Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu,
Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Independence:   15 August 1947 (from UK)
Constitution:
  26 January 1950
Legal system:
  based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative acts;
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 26 January (1950)
Political parties and leaders:
  Congress (I) Party, P. V. Narasimha RAO, president; Bharatiya Janata Party,
  M. M. JOSHI; Janata Dal Party; Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M),
  Harkishan Singh SURJEET; Communist Party of India (CPI), C. Rajeswara RAO;
  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),
  JAYALALITHA Jeyaram; Samajwadi Janata Party, CHANDRA SHEKHAR; Shiv Sena, Bal
  THACKERAY; Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY; Bahujana
  Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM; Congress (S) Party, leader NA; Communist
  Party of India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Satyanarayan SINGH; 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;
  Asom Gana Parishad (a regional party in Assam), Prafulla MAHANTA
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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 People's Assembly:
  last held 21 May, 12 and 15 June 1991 (next to be held by November 1996);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (545 total, 543 elected, 2
  appointed) Congress (I) Party 245, Bharatiya Janata Party 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
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, prime minister, Council of Ministers

*India, Government

Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament (Sansad) consists of an upper house or Council of
  States (Rajya Sabha) and a lower house or People's Assembly (Lok Sabha)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 25 July 1992); Vice President K.R.
  NARAYANAN (since 21 August 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since 21 June 1991)
Member of:
  AG (observer), AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-19, AfDB, G-24,
  G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
  ONUSAL, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ,
  UNTAC, 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:
  (202) 939-7000
 consulates general:
  Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering
 embassy:
  Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  [91] (11) 600651
 FAX:
  [91] (11) 687-2028, 687-2391
 consulates general:
  Bombay, Calcutta, Madras
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a blue
  chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of
  Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

*India, Economy

Overview:
  India's economy is a mixture of traditional village farming, modern
  agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude
  of support services. Faster economic growth in the 1980s permitted a
  significant increase in real per capita private consumption. A large share
  of the population, perhaps as much as 40%, remains too poor to afford an
  adequate diet. Financial strains in 1990 and 1991 prompted government
  austerity measures that slowed industrial growth but permitted India to meet
  its international payment obligations without rescheduling its debt. Policy
  reforms since 1991 have extended earlier economic liberalization and greatly
  reduced government controls on production, trade, and investment.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $240 billion (FY93 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4% (FY93 est.)
National product per capita:
  $270 (FY93 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  11.9% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $39.2 billion; expenditures $41.06 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $10.2 billion (FY92)
Exports:
  $19.8 billion (f.o.b., FY93 est.)
 commodities:
  gems and jewelry, clothing, engineering goods, leather manufactures, cotton
  yarn, and fabric
 partners:
  USSR 16.1%, US 14.7%, West Germany 7.8% (FY91)
Imports:
  $25.5 billion (c.i.f., FY93 est.)
 commodities:
  crude oil and petroleum products, gems, fertilizer, chemicals, machinery
 partners:
  US 12.1%, West Germany 8.0%, Japan 7.5% (FY91)
External debt:
  $73 billion (March 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 2.5% (FY93 est.); accounts for about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
  82,000,000 kW capacity; 310,000 million kWh produced, 340 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment,
  cement, mining, petroleum, machinery
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 30% of GDP and employs 67% of labor force; 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 some opium
  is diverted to illicit international drug markets; major transit country for
  illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of
  hashish

*India, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $31.7 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $315 million; USSR (1970-89), $11.6 billion;
  Eastern Europe (1970-89), $105 million
Currency:
  1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise
Exchange rates:
  Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1 - 26.156 (January 1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742
  (1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*India, Communications

Railroads:
  61,850 km total (1986); 33,553 km 1.676-meter broad gauge, 24,051 km
  1.000-meter gauge, 4,246 km narrow gauge (0.762 meter and 0.610 meter);
  12,617 km is double track; 6,500 km is electrified
Highways:
  1,970,000 km total (1989); 960,000 km surfaced and 1,010,000 km gravel,
  crushed stone, or earth
Inland waterways:
  16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels
Pipelines:
  crude oil 3,497 km; petroleum products 1,703 km; natural gas 902 km (1989)
Ports:
  Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Kandla, Madras, New Mangalore, Port Blair (Andaman
  Islands)
Merchant marine:
  306 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,278,672 GRT/10,446,073 DWT;
  includes 1 short-sea passenger, 6 passenger-cargo, 87 cargo, 1
  roll-on/roll-off, 8 container, 63 oil tanker, 10 chemical tanker, 8
  combination ore/oil, 114 bulk, 2 combination bulk, 6 liquefied gas
Airports:
 total:
  336
 usable:
  285
 with permanent-surface runways:
  205
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  58
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  90
Telecommunications:
  domestic telephone system is poor providing only one telephone for about 200
  persons on average; long distance telephoning has been improved by a
  domestic satellite system which also carries TV; international service is
  provided by 3 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations and by submarine cables
  to Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates; broadcast stations - 96 AM, 4 FM,
  274 TV (government controlled)

*India, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Security or Paramilitary Forces (including Border
  Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 242,866,053; fit for military service 143,008,471; about
  9,466,323 reach military age (17) annually (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $5.8 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY93/94)

*Indian Ocean, Geography

Location:
  body of water between Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica
Map references:
  Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  73.6 million km2
 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, Java Sea, Persian Gulf,
  Red Sea, Straight of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Coastline:
  66,526 km
International disputes:
  some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Climate:
  northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October);
  tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the north
  Indian Ocean and January/February in the south Indian Ocean
Terrain:
  surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of
  currents) in the south Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in
  the north 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:
  endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales;
  oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea
Note:
  major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of
  Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait; ships
  subject to superstructure icing in extreme south near Antarctica from May to
  October

*Indian Ocean, Government

Digraph:
  XO

*Indian Ocean, Economy

Overview:
  The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East,
  Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a
  particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from the oil
  fields 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 marine life,
  minerals, oil and gas production, fishing, sand and gravel aggregates,
  placer deposits

*Indian Ocean, Communications

Ports:
  Bombay (India), Calcutta (India), Madras (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka),
  Durban (South Africa), Fremantle (Australia), Jakarta (Indonesia), Melbourne
  (Australia), Richard's Bay (South Africa)
Telecommunications:
  submarine cables from India to United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, and from
  Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia

*Indonesia, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, between Malaysia and Australia
Map references:
  Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1,919,440 km2
 land area:
  1,826,440 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 2,602 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Coastline:
  54,716 km
Maritime claims:
  measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province) disputed with Portugal
  and not recognized by the UN; two islands in dispute with Malaysia
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
  mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
Natural resources:
  petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils,
  coal, gold, silver
Land use:
 arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:
  3%
 meadows and pastures:
  7%
 forest and woodland:
  67%
 other:
  15%
Irrigated land:
  75,500 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited); occasional floods, severe
  droughts, and tsunamis; deforestation
Note:
  straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from
  Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

*Indonesia, People

Population:
  197,232,428 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.61% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  24.84 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.73 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  69.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  60.26 years
 male:
  58.28 years
 female:
  62.34 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:   2.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Indonesian(s)
 adjective:
  Indonesian
Ethnic divisions:
  Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%
Religions:
  Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other
  1% (1985)
Languages:
  Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay; official), English, Dutch, local
  dialects the most widely spoken of which is Javanese
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  77%
 male:
  84%
 female:
  68%
Labor force:
  67 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%, construction 4%, transport and
  communications 3% (1985 est.)

*Indonesia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Indonesia
 conventional short form:
  Indonesia
 local long form:
  Republik Indonesia
 local short form:
  Indonesia
 former name:
  Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
Digraph:
  ID
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Jakarta
Administrative divisions:
  24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special regions*,   (daerah-daerah
istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital
  city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya,,   Jakarta Raya**,,
Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan
  Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Lampung,
  Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan,
  Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera
  Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*, Independence:
  17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949, Indonesia
  became legally independent from the Netherlands)
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
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Political parties and leaders:
  GOLKAR (quasi-official party based on functional groups), Lt. Gen. (Ret.)
  WAHONO, general chairman; Indonesia Democracy Party (PDI - federation of
  former Nationalist and Christian Parties), SOERYADI, chairman; Development
  Unity Party (PPP, federation of former Islamic parties), Ismail Hasan
  METAREUM, chairman
Suffrage:
  17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  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 appointed) GOLKAR
  282, PPP 62, PDI 56
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR); 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

*Indonesia, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung)
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Abdul Rachman RAMLY
 chancery:
  2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036  telephone:
  (202) 775-5200
 consulates general:
  Houston, New York, and Los Angeles
 consulates:
  Chicago and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert L. BARRY
 embassy:
  Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Jakarta
 mailing address:
  APO AP 96520
 telephone:
  [62] (21) 360-360
 FAX:
  [62] (21) 360-644
 consulates:
  Medan, Surabaya
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of
  Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white
  (top) and red

*Indonesia, Economy

Overview:
  Indonesia is a mixed economy with many 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 poor country. Real GDP growth in 1985-92
  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 almost 20% 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. Of these, the oil sector dominates the
  external economy, generating more than 20% of the government's revenues and
  40% of export earnings in 1989. However, 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 is estimated to have stayed at
  6%.
National product:   GDP - exchange rate conversion - $133 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $680 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  3% ; underemployment 45% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $17.2 billion; expenditures $23.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $8.9 billion (FY91)
Exports:
  $29.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  petroleum and liquefied natural gas 40%, timber 15%, textiles 7%, rubber 5%,
  coffee 3%
 partners:
  Japan 37%, Europe 13%, US 12%, Singapore 8% (1991)
Imports:
  $24.6 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  machinery 39%, chemical products 19%, manufactured goods 16%
 partners:
  Japan 25%, Europe 23%, US 13%, Singapore 5% (1991)
External debt:
  $50.5 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 11.6% (1989 est.); accounts for almost 40% of GDP

*Indonesia, Economy

Electricity:
  11,600,000 kW capacity; 38,000 million kWh produced, 200 kWh per capita
  (1990)
Industries:
  petroleum and natural gas, textiles, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers,
  plywood, food, rubber
Agriculture:
  accounts for almost 20% 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $25.9 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $213 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $175
  million
Currency:
  1 Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen (sen no longer used)
Exchange rates:
  Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1 - 2,064.7 (January 1993), 2,029.9 (1992),
  1,950.3 (1991), 1,842.8 (1990), 1,770.1 (1989), 1,685.7 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Indonesia, Communications

Railroads:
  6,964 km total; 6,389 km 1.067-meter gauge, 497 km 0.750-meter gauge, 78 km
  0.600-meter gauge; 211 km double track; 101 km electrified; all government
  owned
Highways:
  119,500 km total; 11,812 km state, 34,180 km provincial, and 73,508 km
  district roads
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, Ujungpandang, Semarang,
  Surabaya
Merchant marine:
  401 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,766,201 GRT/2,642,529 DWT; includes
  6 short-sea passenger, 13 passenger-cargo, 238 cargo, 10 container, 4
  roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 vehicle carrier, 78 oil tanker, 6 chemical tanker,
  6 liquefied gas, 7 specialized tanker, 1 livestock carrier, 26 bulk, 2
  passenger
Airports:
 total:
  435
 usable:
  411
 with permanent-surface runways:
  119
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  11
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  67
Telecommunications:
  interisland microwave system and HF police net; domestic service fair,
  international service good; radiobroadcast coverage good; 763,000 telephones
  (1986); broadcast stations - 618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV; satellite earth stations -
  1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station; and 1 domestic satellite communications system

*Indonesia, Defense Forces

Branches:   Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 53,160,364; fit for military service 31,395,254; reach
  military age (18) annually 2,148,927 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, 1.5% of GNP (FY93/94 est.)

*Iran, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, between the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea
Map references:
  Asia, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1.648 million km2
 land area:
  1.636 million km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
  total 5,440 km, Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan (north) 432
  km, Azerbaijan (northwest) 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey
  499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline:
  2,440 km
 note:
  Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 exclusive fishing zone:
  50 nm in the Sea of Oman; continental shelf limit, continental shelf
  boundaries, 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; periodic disputes with
  Afghanistan over Helmand water rights,
Climate:
  mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain:   rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small,
  discontinuous plains along both coasts
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese,
  zinc, sulfur
Land use:
 arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  27%
 forest and woodland:
  11%

*Iran, Geography

 other:
  54%
Irrigated land:
  57,500 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  deforestation; overgrazing; desertification

*Iran, People

Population:
  63,369,809 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.49% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  43 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.06 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  62.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  65.26 years
 male:
  64.37 years
 female:
  66.19 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Iranian(s)
 adjective:
  Iranian
Ethnic divisions:
  Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%,
  Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
Religions:
  Shi'a Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and
  Baha'i 1%
Languages:
  Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish
  9%, Luri 2%, Baloch 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  54%
 male:
  64%
 female:
  43%
Labor force:
  15.4 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%
 note:
  shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)

*Iran, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Islamic Republic of Iran
 conventional short form:
  Iran
 local long form:
  Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
 local short form:
  Iran
Digraph:
  IR
Type:
  theocratic republic
Capital:
  Tehran
Administrative divisions:
  24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
  Azarbayjan-e Khavari, 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
Independence:
  1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
Constitution:
  2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and
  eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system:
  the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
National holiday:
  Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Political parties and leaders:
  there are at least 18 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,
  Hojjatiyeh Society, 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
Suffrage:
  15 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held July 1989 (next to be held 11 June 1993); results - Ali Akbar
  HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI was elected with only token opposition
 Islamic Consultative Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  supreme leader (velay-t-e faqih), president, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court

*Iran, Government

Leaders:
 Supreme Leader 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)
Member of:
  CCC, CP, ESCAP, ECO, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, 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 Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007
 telephone:
  (202) 965-4990
US diplomatic representation:
  protecting power in Iran is Switzerland
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national
  emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red is centered in
  the white band; Allah Alkbar (God is Great) in white Arabic script is
  repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along
  the top edge of the red band

*Iran, Economy

Overview:
  Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and
  other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private
  trading and service ventures. After a decade of economic decline, Iran's
  real GDP grew by 10% in FY90 and 6% in FY91, according to Iranian Government
  statistics. An oil windfall in 1990 combined with a substantial increase in
  imports contributed to Iran's recent economic growth. Iran has also begun
  implementing a number of economic reforms to reduce government intervention
  (including subsidies) and has allocated substantial resources to development
  projects in the hope of stimulating the economy. Lower oil revenues in 1991
  - oil accounts for more than 90% of export revenues - together with a surge
  in imports greatly weakened Iran's international financial position. By
  mid-1992 Iran was unable to meet its obligations to foreign creditors.
  Subsequently the government has tried to boost oil exports, curb imports
  (especially of consumer goods), and renegotiate terms of its foreign debts.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $90 billion (FY92)
National product real growth rate:
  6% (FY91)
National product per capita:
  $1,500 (FY91)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  23.7% (September 1991-September 1992)
Unemployment rate:
  30% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $63 billion; expenditures $80 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $23 billion (FY90 est.)
Exports:
  $17.2 billion (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides
 partners:
  Japan, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg, Spain, and Germany
Imports:
  $21.0 billion (c.i.f., FY91 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals,
  technical services, refined oil products
 partners:
  Germany, Japan, Italy, UK, France
External debt:
  $17 billion (FY91 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 12% (1990 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP, including
  petroleum
Electricity:   15,649,000 kW capacity; 43,600 million kWh produced, 710 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other building materials,
  food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production),
  metal fabricating
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

*Iran, Economy

Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and international drug
  trade; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1.0 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.675 billion;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $976 million; note - aid fell sharply
  following the 1979 revolution
Currency:
  1 Iranian rial (IR) = 10 tomans
Exchange rates:
  Iranian rials (IR) per US$1 - 67.095 (January 1993), 65.552 (1992), 67.505
  (1991), 68.096 (1990), 72.015 (1989), 68.683 (1988); black-market rate 1,400
  (January 1991); note - in March 1993 the Iranian government announced a new
  single-parity exchange rate system with a new official rate of 1,538 rials
  per dollar
Fiscal year:
  21 March - 20 March

*Iran, Communications

Railroads:
  4,852 km total; 4,760 km 1.432-meter gauge, 92 km 1.676-meter gauge; 480 km
  under construction from Bafq to Bandar-e Abbas, rail construction from Bafq
  to Sirjan has been completed and is operational; section from Sirjan to
  Bandar-e Abbas still under construction
Highways:
  140,200 km total; 42,694 km paved surfaces; 46,866 km gravel and crushed
  stone; 49,440 km improved earth; 1,200 km (est.) rural road network
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), Bandar Beheshti,
  Bandar-e Abbas, Bandar-e Bushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni, Bandar-e Torkeman
  (Caspian Sea port), Khorramshahr (repaired after being largely destroyed in
  fighting during 1980-88 war) has been in limited operation since November
  1992
Merchant marine:
  135 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,480,726 GRT/8,332,593 DWT; includes
  39 cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 32 oil tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 3
  refrigerated cargo, 48 bulk, 2 combination bulk, 1 liquefied gas
Airports:
 total:
  219
 usable:
  194
 with permanent-surface runways:
  83
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  16
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  20
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  70
Telecommunications:
  microwave radio relay extends throughout country; system centered in Tehran;
  2,143,000 telephones (35 telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations -
  77 AM, 3 FM, 28 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and
  1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey,
  Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber optic
  cable to UAE

*Iran, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force,
  Revolutionary Guards (including Basij militia and own ground, air, and naval
  forces), Law Enforcement Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 13,812,367; fit for military service 8,218,286; reach
  military age (21) annually 575,392 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  hard currency expenditures on defense are 7-10% of total hard currency
  expenditures; rial expenditures on defense are 8-13% of total rial
  expenditures (1992 est.)
 note:
  conversion of rial expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing
  exchange rate could produce misleading results

*Iraq, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, between Iran and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
  Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  437,072 km2  land area:
  432,162 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:
  total 3,631 km, Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi Arabia
  814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Coastline:
  58 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to
  work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their
  eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom
  of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in April 1991
  official Iraqi acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 687, which
  demands that Iraq accept the inviolability of the boundary set forth in its
  1963 agreement with Kuwait, ending earlier claims to Bubiyan and Warbah
  Islands or to all of Kuwait; the 20 May 1993 final report of the UN
  Iraq/Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission was welcomed by the Security
  Council in Resolution 833 of 27 May 1993, which also reaffirmed that the
  decisions of the commission on the boundary were final, bringing to a
  completion the official demarcation of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary; Iraqi
  officials still make public statements claiming Kuwait; periodic disputes
  with upstream riparian Syria over Euphrates water rights; potential dispute
  over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Climate:
  mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers;
  northernmost regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold
  winters with occasionally heavy snows
Terrain:
  mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains along borders
  with Iran and Turkey
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:
 arable land:
  12%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  9%
 forest and woodland:
  3%
 other:
  75%
Irrigated land:
  25,500 km2 (1989 est)

*Iraq, Geography

Environment:
  development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements
  with upstream riparians (Syria, Turkey); air and water pollution; soil
  degradation (salinization) and erosion; desertification

*Iraq, People

Population:
  19,161,956 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.73% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  44.57 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  71.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  64.96 years
 male:
  64.2 years
 female:
  65.76 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Iraqi(s)
 adjective:
  Iraqi
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%
Religions:
  Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60-65%, Sunni 32-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages:
  Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  60%
 male:
  70%
 female:
  49%
Labor force:
  4.4 million (1989)
 by occupation:
  services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22%
 note:
  severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about 1,600,000 (July
  1990); since then, it has declined substantially

*Iraq, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Iraq
 conventional short form:
  Iraq
 local long form:
  Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
 local short form:
  Al Iraq
Digraph:
  IZ
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Baghdad
Administrative divisions:
  18 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al
  Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil,
  Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din,
  Wasit
Independence:
  3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Constitution:
  22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (interim 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
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
Political parties and leaders:
  Ba'th Party
Other political or pressure groups:
  political parties and activity severely restricted; possibly some opposition
  to regime from disaffected members of the regime, Army officers, and Shi'a
  religious and Kurdish ethnic dissidents; the Green Party
  (government-controlled)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council,
  vice chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, prime minister, first
  deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani)
Judicial branch:
  Court of Cassation

*Iraq, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi
  al-Din MA'RUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN
  (since 23 March 1991)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since 13 September 1991); Deputy
  Prime Minister Tariq 'AZIZ (since NA 1979)
Member of:
  ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
  ISO, ITU, LORCS, 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:
  (202) 483-7500
 FAX:
  (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 or 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green
  five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the
  phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the
  right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was
  added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of
  Syria that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a
  plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic
  eagle centered in the white band

*Iraq, Economy

Overview:
  The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning and management of
  industrial production and foreign trade while leaving some small-scale
  industry and services and most agriculture to private enterprise. The
  economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally
  provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial
  problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and
  damage to oil export facilities by Iran, led the government to implement
  austerity measures and to borrow heavily and later reschedule foreign debt
  payments. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually
  increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged
  facilities. Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages,
  salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and
  collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded high
  priority by the government, also was under financial constraints. Iraq's
  seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic
  embargoes, and military action by an international coalition beginning in
  January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture. Industrial and
  transportation facilities suffered severe damage and have been only
  partially restored. Oil exports remain at less than 10% of the previous
  level. Shortages of spare parts continue. Living standards deteriorated even
  further in 1992 and early 1993; consumer prices at least tripled in 1992.
  The UN-sponsored economic embargo has reduced exports and imports and has
  contributed to the sharp rise in prices. 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 early 1993 is far below the 1989-90 level, but
  no reliable estimate is available.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $35 billion (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  10% (1989 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,940 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  200% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  less than 5% (1989 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $10.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur
 partners:
  US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands, Spain (1990)
Imports:
  $6.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  manufactures, food
 partners:
  Germany, US, Turkey, France, UK (1990)
External debt:
  $45 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt of about $35 billion owed to Arab
  Gulf states
Industrial production:   NA%; manufacturing accounts for 10% of GNP (1989)

*Iraq, Economy

Electricity:
  7,300,000 kW available out of 9,902,000 kW capacity due to Gulf war; 12,900
  million kWh produced, 700 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum production and refining, chemicals, textiles, construction
  materials, food processing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 11% of GNP and 30% of labor force; principal products - wheat,
  barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other fruit, cotton, wool; livestock -
  cattle, sheep; not self-sufficient in food output
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $647 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $3.9 billion
Currency:
  1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates:
  Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 3.2 (fixed official rate since 1982);
  black-market rate (April 1993) US$1 = 53.5 Iraqi dinars
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Iraq, Communications

Railroads:
  2,457 km 1.435-meter standard gauge
Highways:
  34,700 km total; 17,500 km paved, 5,500 km improved earth, 11,700 km
  unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about
  130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use; Tigris and
  Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt
  al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991
  because of the Persian Gulf war
Pipelines:
  crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural gas 1,360 km
Ports:
  Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, Al Basrah (closed since 1980)
Merchant marine:
  41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 930,780 GRT/1,674,878 DWT; includes 1
  passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 15 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 3
  roll-on/roll-off cargo, 19 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker; note - none of the
  Iraqi flag merchant fleet was trading internationally as of 1 January 1993
Airports:
 total:
  114
 usable:   99
 with permanent-surface runways:
  74
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  9
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  52
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  12
Telecommunications:
  reconstitution of damaged telecommunication facilities began after Desert
  Storm, most damaged facilities have been rebuilt; the network consists of
  coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links; 632,000 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 16 AM, 1 FM, 13 TV; satellite earth stations - 1
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean GORIZONT
  in the Intersputnik system and 1 ARABSAT; coaxial cable and microwave radio
  relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey, Kuwait line is probably
  non-operational

*Iraq, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army and Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard
  Force, Internal Security Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 4,235,321; fit for military service 2,379,999; reach
  military age (18) annually 211,776 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GNP

*Ireland, Geography

Location:
  in the North Atlantic Ocean, across the Irish Sea from Great Britain
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  70,280 km2
 land area:
  68,890 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
  total 360 km, UK 360 km
Coastline:
  1,448 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf dispute
  involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a
  boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Climate:
  temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool
  summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain:
  mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low
  mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Natural resources:
  zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone,
  dolomite, peat, silver
Land use:
 arable land:
  14%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  71%
 forest and woodland:
  5%
 other:
  10%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  deforestation
Note:
  strategic location on major air and sea routes between North American and
  northern Europe

*Ireland, People

Population:
  3,529,566 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.26% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  14.39 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.38 years
 male:
  72.56 years
 female:   78.36 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.02 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)
 adjective:
  Irish
Ethnic divisions:
  Celtic, English
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981)
Languages:
  Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard,
  English is the language generally used
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  1.37 million
 by occupation:
  services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%, agriculture, forestry,
  and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5% (1992)

*Ireland, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Ireland
Digraph:
  EI
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Dublin
Administrative divisions:
  26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry,
  Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath,
  Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath,
  Wexford, Wicklow
Independence:
  6 December 1921 (from UK)
Constitution:
  29 December 1937; adopted 1937
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
National holiday:
  Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS; Labor
  Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland,
  Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond
  O'MALLEY
 note:
  Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna Fail and
  the Labor Party
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary
  Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
 Senate:
  last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held 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:
  last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June 1995); 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
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of an upper house or Senate
  (Seanad Eireann) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Dail
  Eireann)

*Ireland, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992)
Member of:
  Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, COCOM (cooperating country), CSCE, EBRD, EC,
  ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG,
  OECD, ONUSAL, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM,
  UNPROFRO, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER  chancery:
  2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 462-3939
 consulates general:
  Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador William Henry G. FITZGERALD; Ambassador Designate Jean Kennedy
  SMITH (17 March 1993)
 embassy:
  42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  [353] (1) 687122
 FAX:
  [353] (1) 689946
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar
  to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors
  reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag
  of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and
  red

*Ireland, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most
  important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 37% of GDP,
  about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Since 1987, real
  GDP growth, led by exports, has averaged 4% annually. Over the same period,
  inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have been
  transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment, at 22.7% 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. After five years of fiscal restraint, total government
  debt still exceeds GDP. Growth probably will moderate in 1993 as the heavily
  indebted and trade-dependent economy is highly sensitive to changes in
  exchange rates and world interest rates. Exports to the UK, Ireland's major
  export market, probably will be hurt by the recent appreciation of the Irish
  currency against sterling - for the first time since 1979 the value of the
  Irish pound exceeds that of its British counterpart.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $42.4 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  2% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $12,000 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.5% (1992)
Unemployment rate:   22.7% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $16.0 billion; expenditures $16.6 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $1.6 billion (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $28.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery, live animals,
  animal products
 partners:
  EC 75% (UK 32%, Germany 13%, France 10%), US 9%
Imports:
  $23.3 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum
  products, machinery, textiles, clothing
 partners:
  EC 66% (UK 41%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 4%), US 15%
External debt:
  $15 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 8.0% (1992 est.); accounts for 37% of GDP
Electricity:
  5,000,000 kW capacity; 14,500 million kWh produced, 4,120 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
  machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal

*Ireland, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for 11% of GDP and 13% of the labor force; 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
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million
Currency:
  1 Irish pound (#Ir) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
  Irish pounds (#Ir) per US$1 - 0.6118 (January 1993), 0.5864 (1992), 0.6190
  (1991), 0.6030 (1990), 0.7472 (1989), 0.6553 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Ireland, Communications

Railroads:
  Irish National Railways (CIE) operates 1,947 km 1.602-meter gauge,
  government owned; 485 km double track; 37 km electrified
Highways:   92,294 km total; 87,422 km paved, 4,872 km gravel or crushed stone
Inland waterways:
  limited for commercial traffic
Pipelines:
  natural gas 225 km
Ports:
  Cork, Dublin, Waterford
Merchant marine:
  57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 154,647 GRT/186,432 DWT; includes 4
  short-sea passenger, 33 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 4 container, 3 oil
  tanker, 3 specialized tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 5 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  40
 usable:
  39
 with permanent-surface runways:
  13
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  6
Telecommunications:
  modern system using cable and digital microwave circuits; 900,000
  telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 45 FM, 86 TV; 2 coaxial submarine
  cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Ireland, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda
  Siochana)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 903,536; fit for military service 731,085; reach military
  age (17) annually 33,932 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $569 million, 1-2% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Israel, Header

Affiliation:
  (also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
Note:
  The Arab territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included
  in the data below. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords and reaffirmed
  by President Bush's post-Gulf crisis peace initiative, the final status of
  the West Bank and Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a
  peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the
  concerned parties. The Camp David Accords further specify that these
  negotiations will resolve the location of the respective boundaries. Pending
  the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of the
  West Bank and Gaza Strip has yet to be determined (see West Bank and Gaza
  Strip entries). On 25 April 1982, Israel relinquished control of the Sinai
  to Egypt. Statistics for the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are included in
  the Syria entry.

*Israel, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
  Lebanon
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  20,770 km2
 land area:
  20,330 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
  total 1,006 km, Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79
  km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline:
  273 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  to depth of exploitation
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank by the 1949 Armistice Line;
  differences with Jordan over the location of the 1949 Armistice Line that
  separates the two countries; West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied
  with status to be determined; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli
  troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; water-sharing issues with Jordan
Climate:
  temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain:
  Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift
  Valley
Natural resources:
  copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese,
  small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
Land use:
 arable land:
  17%
 permanent crops:
  5%
 meadows and pastures:
  40%
 forest and woodland:
  6%
 other:   32%
Irrigated land:
  2,140 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; limited arable land and
  natural water resources pose serious constraints; deforestation
Note:
  there are 175 Jewish settlements in the West Bank, 38 in the
  Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 18 in the Gaza Strip, and 14 Israeli-built
  Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem

*Israel, People

Population:
  4,918,946 (July 1993 est.)
 note:
  includes 102,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 14,000 in the
  Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 4,000 in the Gaza Strip, and 134,000 in East
  Jerusalem (1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.08% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  20.72 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  16.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.77 years
 male:
  75.72 years
 female:
  79.93 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Israeli(s)
 adjective:
  Israeli
Ethnic divisions:
  Jewish 83%, non-Jewish 17% (mostly Arab)
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 (1983)
 total population:   92%
 male:
  95%
 female:
  89%
Labor force:
  1.4 million (1984 est.)
 by occupation:
  public services 29.3%, industry, mining, and manufacturing 22.8%, commerce
  12.8%, finance and business 9.5%, transport, storage, and communications
  6.8%, construction and public works 6.5%, personal and other services 5.8%,
  agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.5%, electricity and water 1.0% (1983)

*Israel, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  State of Israel
 conventional short form:
  Israel
 local long form:
  Medinat Yisra'el
 local short form:
  Yisra'el
Digraph:
  IS
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Jerusalem
 note:
  Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the US, like nearly all
  other countries, 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)
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
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)
Political parties and leaders:
 members of the government:
  Labor Party, Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN; MERETZ, Minister of Education
  Shulamit ALONI; SHAS, Minister of Interior Arieh DERI
 opposition parties:
  Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael EITAN; National Religious
  Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry, Avraham SHAPIRA; Democratic Front
  for Peace and Equality (Hadash), Hashim MAHAMID; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI;
  Arab Democratic Party, Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAH
 note:
  Israel currently has a coalition government comprising 3 parties that hold
  62 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats
Other political or pressure groups:
  Gush Emunim, Jewish nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West
  Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now, critical of government's West Bank/Gaza
  Strip and Lebanon policies
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 24 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - Ezer
  WEIZMAN elected by Knesset

*Israel, Government

 Knesset:
  last held June 1992 (next to be held by NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (120 total) Labor Party 44, Likud bloc 32, Meretz 12,
  Tzomet 8, National Religious Party 6, Shas 6, United Torah Jewry 4,
  Democratic Front for Peace and Equality 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party
  2
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, vice prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral parliament (Knesset)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN (since July 1992)
Member of:
  AG (observer), CCC, CERN (oberver), 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:
  (202) 364-5500
 consulates general:
  Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
  Philadelphia, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:  chief of mission:
  Acting Ambassador William BROWN
 embassy:
  71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09830
 telephone:
  [972] (3) 654338
 FAX:
  [972] (3) 663449
 consulate general:
  Jerusalem
Flag:
  white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen
  David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands
  near the top and bottom edges of the flag

*Israel, Economy

Overview:
  Israel has a market economy with substantial government participation. It
  depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military
  equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively
  developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years.
  Industry employs about 20% of Israeli workers, agriculture 5%, and services
  most of the rest. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural
  products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports. Israel usually posts
  balance-of-payments deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments
  from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's $17
  billion 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 400,000 during the period 1990-92, has increased
  unemployment, intensified housing problems, and widened the government
  budget deficit. At the same time, a considerable number of the immigrants
  bring to the economy valuable scientific and professional expertise.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $57.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6.4% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $12,100 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  10% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  11% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $33.9 billion; expenditures $36.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $9.3 billion (FY93)
Exports:
  $11.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  polished diamonds, citrus and other fruits, textiles and clothing, processed
  foods, fertilizer and chemical products, military hardware, electronics
 partners:
  US, EC, Japan, Hong Kong, Switzerland
Imports:
  $19.6 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  military equipment, rough diamonds, oil, chemicals, machinery, iron and
  steel, cereals, textiles, vehicles, ships, aircraft
 partners:
  US, EC, Switzerland, Japan, South Africa, Canada, Hong Kong
External debt:
  $25 billion of which government debt is $17 billion (December 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 9.4% (1992 est.); accounts for about 20% of GDP
Electricity:
  5,835,000 kW capacity; 21,840 million kWh produced, 4,600 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles, clothing,
  chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transport equipment,
  electrical equipment, miscellaneous machinery, potash mining,
  high-technology electronics, tourism

*Israel, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for about 3% of GDP; largely self-sufficient in food production,
  except for grains; principal products - citrus and other fruits, vegetables,
  cotton; livestock products - beef, dairy, poultry
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $18.2 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.8 billion
Currency:
  1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates:
  new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.8000 (December 1992), 2.4591 (1992),
  2.2791 (1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year (since 1 January 1992)

*Israel, Communications

Railroads:
  600 km 1.435-meter gauge, single track; diesel operated
Highways:
  4,750 km; majority is bituminous surfaced
Pipelines:
  crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89 km
Ports:
  Ashdod, Haifa
Merchant marine:
  35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 678,584 GRT/785,220 DWT; includes 8
  cargo, 24 container, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off; note - Israel
  also maintains a significant flag of convenience fleet, which is normally at
  least as large as the Israeli flag fleet; the Israeli flag of convenience
  fleet typically includes all of its oil tankers
Airports:
 total:
  53
 usable:
  46
 with permanent-surface runways:
  28
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  7
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  12
Telecommunications:
  most highly developed in the Middle East although not the largest; good
  system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; 1,800,000 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 14 AM, 21 FM, 20 TV; 3 submarine cables; satellite
  earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

*Israel, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Israel Defense Forces (including ground, naval, and air components)
 note:
  historically, there have been no separate Israeli military services
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,240,757; females age 15-49 1,218,610; males fit for
  military service 1,018,212; females fit for military service 996,089; males
  reach military age (18) annually 46,131; females reach military age (18)
  annually 44,134 (1993 est.); both sexes are liable for military service
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $12.5 billion, 18% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Italy, Geography

Location:
  Southern Europe, a peninsula in the central Mediterranean Sea
Map references:
  Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  301,230 km2
 land area:
  294,020 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Arizona
 note:
  includes Sardinia and Sicily
Land boundaries:
  total 1,899.2 km, Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2
  km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline:
  4,996 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  small vocal minority in northern Italy seeks the return of parts of
  southwestern Slovenia
Climate:
  predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain:
  mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Natural resources:
  mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling natural gas and crude oil
  reserves, fish, coal
Land use:
 arable land:
  32%
 permanent crops:
  10%
 meadows and pastures:
  17%
 forest and woodland:
  22%
 other:
  19%
Irrigated land:
  31,000 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  regional risks include landslides, mudflows, snowslides, earthquakes,
  volcanic eruptions, flooding, pollution; land sinkage in Venice
Note:
  strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea
  and air approaches to Western Europe

*Italy, People

Population:
  58,018,540 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.2% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  10.65 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.43 years
 male:
  74.22 years
 female:
  80.85 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Italian(s)
 adjective:
  Italian
Ethnic divisions:
  Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians
  in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south),
  Sicilians, Sardinians
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 100%
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)
 total population:
  97%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  96%
Labor force:
  23.988 million
 by occupation:
  services 58%, industry 32.2%, agriculture 9.8% (1988)

*Italy, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Italian Republic
 conventional short form:
  Italy
 local long form:
  Repubblica Italiana
 local short form:
  Italia
 former:
  Kingdom of Italy
Digraph:
  IT
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Rome
Administrative divisions:
  20 regions (regioni, singular - regione); Abruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria,
  Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia,
  Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto
  Adige, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto
Independence:
  17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed)
Constitution:
  1 January 1948
Legal system:
  based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law influence; appeals
  treated as trials de novo; judicial review under certain conditions in
  Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946)
Political parties and leaders:
  Christian Democratic Party (DC), Fermo Mino MARTINAZZOLI, general secretary;
  Rosa Russo JERVOLINO, president; Socialist Party (PSI), Giorgio BENVENUTO,
  party secretary; Social Democratic Party (PSDI), Enrico FERRI, party
  secretary; Liberal Party (PLI); Democratic Party of the Left (PDS - was
  Communist Party, or PCI, until January 1991), Achille OCCHETTO, secretary
  general; Italian Social Movement (MSI), Gianfranco FINI, national secretary;
  Republican Party (PRI), Giorgio BOGI, political secretary; Lega Nord
  (Northern League), Umberto BOSSI, president; Communist Renewal (RC), Sergio
  GARAVINI
Other political or pressure groups:
  the Roman Catholic Church; three major trade union confederations (CGIL -
  formerly Communist dominated, CISL - Christian Democratic, and UIL - Social
  Democratic, Socialist, and Republican); Italian manufacturers association
  (Confindustria); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age, universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum
  age is 25)
Elections:
 Senate:
  last held 5-6 April 1992 (next to be held by April 1997); results - DC
  27.3%, PDS 17.0%, PSI 13.6%, Northern Leagues 8.2%, other 33.9%; seats -
  (326 total; 315 elected, 11 appointed senators-for-life) DC 107, PDS 64, PSI
  49, Leagues 25, other 70

*Italy, Government

 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held 5-6 April 1992 (next to be held by April 1997); results - DC
  29.7%, PDS 16.1%, PSI 13.6%, Northern Leagues 8.7%, RC 5.6%, MSI 5.4%, PRI
  4.4%, PLI 2.8%, PSDI 2.7%, other 11%; seats - (630 total) DC 206, PDS 107,
  PSI 92, Northern Leagues 55, RC 35, MSI 34, PRI 27, PLI 17, PSDI 16, other
  41
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister (president of the Council of Ministers)
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament (Parlamento) consists of an upper chamber or Senate of
  the Republic (Senato della Repubblica) and a lower chamber or Chamber of
  Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)
Judicial branch:
  Constitutional Court (Corte Costituzionale)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Oscar Luigi SCALFARO (since 28 May 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI (29 April 1993)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, AsDB, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional),
  CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-7, G-10,
  GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IEA, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),
  LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, 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:
  (202) 328-5500
 consulates general:
  Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San
  Francisco
 consulates:
  Detroit, New Orleans, and Newark (New Jersey)
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  Via Veneto 119/A, 00187, Rome
 mailing address:
  PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
 telephone:
  [39] (6) 46741
 FAX:
  [39] (6) 488-2672
 consulates general:
  Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Palermo (Sicily)
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to
  the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and
  orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors
  reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green

*Italy, Economy

Overview:
  Since World War II the 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 annual average
  rate of 3% in 1983-90, growth slowed to about 1% in 1991 and 1992. In the
  second half of 1992, Rome became unsettled by the prospect of not qualifying
  to participate in EC plans for economic and monetary union later in the
  decade; thus it finally began to address its huge fiscal imbalances. Thanks
  to the determination of Prime Minister AMATO, the government adopted a
  fairly stringent budget for 1993, 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, who were forced to withdraw the lira from the European monetary
  system in September 1992 when it came under extreme pressure in currency
  markets, remain committed to bringing the currency back into the grid as
  soon as conditions warrant. For the 1990s, Italy faces the problems of
  refurbishing a tottering communications system, curbing pollution in major
  industrial centers, and adjusting to the new competitive forces accompanying
  the ongoing economic integration of the European Community.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.012 trillion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  0.9% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $17,500 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5.4% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  11% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $447 billion; expenditures $581 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $46 billion (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $168.8 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  textiles, wearing apparel, metals, production machinery, motor vehicles,
  transportation equipment, chemicals, other
 partners:
  EC 58.3%, US 6.8%, OPEC 5.1% (1992)
Imports:
  $169.7 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  petroleum, industrial machinery, chemicals, metals, food, agricultural
  products
 partners:
  EC 58.8%, OPEC 6.1%, US 5.5% (1992)
External debt:
  $42 billion (September 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -0.5% (1992 est.); accounts for almost 35% of GDP
Electricity:
  58,000,000 kW capacity; 235,000 million kWh produced, 4,060 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Italy, Economy

Industries:
  machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor
  vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 4% of GDP and about 10% of the work force;
  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:
  increasingly important gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering
  the European market
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $25.9 billion
Currency:
  1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates:
  Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992),
  1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Italy, Communications

Railroads:
  20,011 km total; 16,066 km 1.435-meter government-owned standard gauge
  (8,999 km electrified); 3,945 km privately owned - 2,100 km 1.435-meter
  standard gauge (1,155 km electrified) and 1,845 km 0.950-meter narrow gauge
  (380 km electrified)
Highways:
  298,000 km total; autostrada (expressway) 6,000 km, state highways 46,000
  km, provincial highways 103,000 km, communal highways 143,000 km; 270,000 km
  paved, 23,000 km gravel and crushed stone, 5,000 km earth
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:
  Cagliari (Sardinia), Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples, Palermo (Sicily),
  Taranto, Trieste, Venice
Merchant marine:
  536 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,788,938 GRT/10,128,468 DWT;
  includes 15 passenger, 36 short-sea passenger, 87 cargo, 4 refrigerated
  cargo, 21 container, 69 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 8 vehicle carrier, 1
  multifunction large-load carrier, 138 oil tanker, 34 chemical tanker, 45
  liquefied gas, 10 specialized tanker, 9 combination ore/oil, 57 bulk, 2
  combination bulk
Airports:
 total:
  137
 usable:   133
 with permanent-surface runways:
  92
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  36
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  39
Telecommunications:
  modern, well-developed, fast; 25,600,000 telephones; fully automated
  telephone, telex, and data services; high-capacity cable and microwave radio
  relay trunks; broadcast stations - 135 AM, 28 (1,840 repeaters) FM, 83
  (1,000 repeaters) TV; 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

*Italy, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 14,898,913; fit for military service 12,989,142; reach
  military age (18) annually 425,286 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $24.5 billion, 2% of GDP (1992)

*Jamaica, Geography

Location:
  in the northern Caribbean Sea, about 160 km south of Cuba
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  10,990 km2
 land area:
  10,830 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  1,022 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:   none
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Natural resources:
  bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Land use:
 arable land:
  19%
 permanent crops:
  6%
 meadows and pastures:
  18%
 forest and woodland:
  28%
 other:
  29%
Irrigated land:
  350 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes (especially July to November); deforestation; water
  pollution
Note:
  strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea
  lanes for Panama Canal

*Jamaica, People

Population:
  2,529,981 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.96% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  22.24 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.72 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -6.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  74.09 years
 male:
  71.92 years
 female:
  76.36 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Jamaican(s)
 adjective:   Jamaican
Ethnic divisions:
  African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian and Afro-East Indian 3%,
  white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%, other 1.2%
Religions:
  Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%, Baptist 10%, Anglican 7.1%,
  Seventh-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%, Methodist 3.1%, United Church
  2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%, other, including some spiritual cults
  39.1% (1982)
Languages:
  English, Creole
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  99%
Labor force:
  1,062,100
 by occupation:
  services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry 19%, unemployed 17.5% (1989)

*Jamaica, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Jamaica
Digraph:
  JM
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Kingston
Administrative divisions:
  14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint
  Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint
  Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
Independence:
  6 August 1962 (from UK)
Constitution:
  6 August 1962
Legal system:
  based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day (first Monday in August)
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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held 30 March 1993 (next to be held by February 1998); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) PNP 52, JLP 8
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
  or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-19, G-77, GATT, G-15, IADB, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO,
  ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Richard BERNAL
 chancery:
  Suite 355, 1850 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
 telephone:
  (202) 452-0660

*Jamaica, Government

 consulates general:
  Miami and New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Glen A. HOLDEN
 embassy:
  Kingston
 mailing address:
  3rd Floor, Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, Kingston
 telephone:
  (809) 929-4850 through 4859
 FAX:
  (809) 926-6743
Flag:
  diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and
  bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side)

*Jamaica, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on sugar, bauxite, and tourism. In 1985 it suffered a
  setback with the closure of some facilities in the bauxite and alumina
  industry, a major source of hard currency earnings. Since 1986 an economic
  recovery has been under way. In 1987 conditions began to improve for the
  bauxite and alumina industry because of increases in world metal prices. The
  recovery has also been supported by growth in the manufacturing and tourism
  sectors. In September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert inflicted severe damage on
  crops and the electric power system, a sharp but temporary setback to the
  economy. By October 1989 the economic recovery from the hurricane was
  largely complete, and real growth was up about 3% for 1989. In 1991,
  however, growth dropped to 0.2% as a result of the US recession, lower world
  bauxite prices, and monetary instability. In 1992, growth was 1.5%,
  supported by a recovery in tourism and stabilization of the Jamaican dollar
  in the second half of 1992.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.7 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  52% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  15.4% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $600 million; expenditures $736 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum
 partners:
  US 39%, UK 14%, Canada 12%, Netherlands 8%, Norway 7%
Imports:
  $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  fuel, other raw materials, construction materials, food, transport
  equipment, other machinery and equipment
 partners:
  US 51%, UK 6%, Venezuela 5%, Canada 5%, Japan 4.5%
External debt:
  $4.4 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 2.0% (1990); accounts for almost 25% of GDP
Electricity:
  1,127,000 kW capacity; 2,736 million kWh produced, 1,090 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, bauxite mining, textiles, food processing, light manufactures
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 9% 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:
  illicit cultivation of cannabis; transshipment point for cocaine from
  Central and South America to North America; government has an active
  cannabis eradication program

*Jamaica, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.2 billion; other countries,
  ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.6 billion
Currency:
  1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 - 22.173 (September 1992), 12.116 (1991),
  7.184 (1990), 5.7446 (1989), 5.4886 (1988), 5.4867 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Jamaica, Communications

Railroads:
  294 km, all 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track
Highways:
  18,200 km total; 12,600 km paved, 3,200 km gravel, 2,400 km improved earth
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 10 km
Ports:
  Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio
Merchant marine:
  4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,619 GRT/16,302 DWT; includes 1
  roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 oil tanker, 2 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  36
 usable:
  23
 with permanent-surface runways:
  10
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  fully automatic domestic telephone network; 127,000 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 10 AM, 17 FM, 8 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; 3
  coaxial submarine cables

*Jamaica, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Jamaica Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Air Wing),
  Jamaica Constabulary Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 651,931; fit for military service 461,980 (1993 est.); no
  conscription; 26,445 reach minimum volunteer age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $19.3 million, 1% of GDP (FY91/92)

*Jan Mayen, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of Norway)

*Jan Mayen, Geography

Location:
  in the North Atlantic Ocean, north of the Arctic Circle about 590 km
  north-northeast of Iceland, between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea
Map references:
  Arctic Region
Area:
 total area:
  373 km2
 land area:
  373 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  124.1 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  10 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  4 nm
International disputes:
  Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan
  Mayen
Climate:
  arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain:
  volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is the highest peak,
  with an elevation of 2,277 meters
Natural resources:
  none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  barren volcanic island with some moss and grass; volcanic activity resumed
  in 1970

*Jan Mayen, People

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

*Jan Mayen, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Jan Mayen
Digraph:
  JN
Type:
  territory of Norway
Capital:
  none; administered from Oslo, Norway, through a governor (sysselmann)
  resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
Independence:
  none (territory of Norway)

*Jan Mayen, Economy

Overview:
  Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources.
  Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's
  radio and meteorological stations located on the island.
Electricity:
  15,000 kW capacity; 40 million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita (1992)

*Jan Mayen, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  0
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  radio and meteorological station

*Jan Mayen, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of Norway

*Japan, Geography

Location:
  Northeast Asia, off the southeast coast of Russia and east of the Korean
  peninsula
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  377,835 km2
 land area:
  374,744 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than California
 note:
  includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima,
  Okinotori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands
  (Kazan-retto)
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  29,751 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:   12 nm
  3 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and
  Eastern and Western channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
International disputes:
  Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan Islands and the Habomai island group
  occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, claimed by
  Japan; Liancourt Rocks disputed with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku
  Islands) claimed by China and Taiwan
Climate:
  varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain:
  mostly rugged and mountainous
Natural resources:
  negligible mineral resources, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  13%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  67%
 other:
  18%
Irrigated land:
  28,680 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences
  (mostly tremors) every year; subject to tsunamis
Note:
  strategic location in northeast Asia

*Japan, People

Population:
  124,711,551 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.32% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  10.31 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.17 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  79.18 years
 male:
  76.35 years
 female:
  82.15 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.54 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Japanese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Japanese
Ethnic divisions:
  Japanese 99.4%, other 0.6% (mostly Korean)
Religions:
  Shinto 95.8%, Buddhist 76.3%, Christian 1.4%, other 12%
 note:
  most Japanese observe both Shinto and Buddhist rites so the percentages add
  to more than 100%
Languages:
  Japanese
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  63.33 million
 by occupation:
  trade and services 54%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 33%,
  agriculture, forestry, and fishing 7%, government 3% (1988)

*Japan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Japan
Digraph:
  JA
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Tokyo
Administrative divisions:
  47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka,
  Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa,
  Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi,
  Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka,
  Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori,
  Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Independence:
  660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
Constitution:
  3 May 1947
Legal system:
  modled after European civil law system with English-American influence;
  judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory
  ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933)
Political parties and leaders:
  Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Kiichi MIYAZAWA, president; Seiroku
  KAJIYAMA, secretary general; Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ), Sadao
  YAMAHANA, Chairman; Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), Keizo OUCHI, chairman;
  Japan Communist Party (JCP), Tetsuzo FUWA, Presidium chairman; Komeito
  (Clean Government Party, CGP), Koshiro ISHIDA, chairman; Japan New Party
  (JNP), Morihiro HOSOKAWA, chairman
Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Councillors:
  last held on 26 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1995); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (252 total) LDP 106, SDPJ 73, CGP 24, DSP 12,
  JCP 11, JNP 4, other 22
 House of Representatives:
  last held on 18 February 1990 (next to be held by NA February 1994); results
  - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (512 total) LDP 274, SDPJ 137, CGP
  46, JCP 16, DSP 13, others 5, independents 6, vacant 15
Executive branch:
  Emperor, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Diet (Kokkai) consists of an upper house or House of Councillors
  (Sangi-in) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Shugi-in)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Kiichi MIYAZAWA (since 5 November 1991)

*Japan, Government

Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, COCOM, CP, CSCE
  (observer), EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NEA, NSG,
  OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNRWA,
  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:
  (202) 939-6700
 consulates general:   Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas
  City (Missouri), Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Seattle,
  and Portland (Oregon)
 consulates:
  Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Michael H. ARMACOST
 embassy:
  10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku (107), Tokyo
 mailing address:
  APO AP 96337-0001
 telephone:
  [81] (3) 3224-5000
 FAX:
  [81] (3) 3505-1862
 consulates general:
  Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
 consulate:
  Fukuoka
Flag:
  white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the
  center

*Japan, Economy

Overview:
  Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, and a comparatively
  small defense allocation have helped Japan advance with extraordinary
  rapidity, notably in high-technology fields. Industry, the most important
  sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and
  fuels. 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 slowed markedly
  in 1992 largely because of contractionary domestic policies intended to
  wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets. At the
  same time, the stronger yen and slower global growth are containing export
  growth. Unemployment and inflation remain low at 2%. Japan continues to run
  a huge trade surplus - $107 billion in 1992, up nearly 40% from the year
  earlier - which supports extensive investment in foreign assets. The
  crowding of its habitable land area and the aging of its population are two
  major long-run problems.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.468 trillion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  1.5% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $19,800 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.1% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  2.2% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $490 billion; expenditures $579 billion, including capital
  expenditures (public works only) of about $68 billion (FY93)
Exports:
  $339.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  manufactures 97% (including machinery 40%, motor vehicles 18%, consumer
  electronics 10%)
 partners:
  Southeast Asia 31%, US 29%, Western Europe 23%, Communist countries 4%,
  Middle East 3%
Imports:
  $232.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  manufactures 44%, fossil fuels 33%, foodstuffs and raw materials 23%
 partners:
  Southeast Asia 25%, US 22%, Western Europe 17%, Middle East 12%, former
  Communist countries and China 8%
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate -6.0% (1992); accounts for 30% of GDP
Electricity:
  196,000,000 kW capacity; 835,000 million kWh produced, 6,700 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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

*Japan, Economy

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 (1970-89), $83.2 billion; ODA outlay of $9.1
  billion in 1990 (est.)
Currency:
  1 yen (Y) = 100 sen
Exchange rates:
  yen (Y) per US$1 - 125.01 (January 1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991),
  144.79 (1990), 137.96 (1989), 128.15 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Japan, Communications

Railroads:
  27,327 km total; 2,012 km 1.435-meter standard gauge and 25,315 km
  predominantly 1.067-meter narrow gauge; 5,724 km doubletrack and multitrack
  sections, 9,038 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge electrified, 2,012 km
  1.435-meter standard-gauge electrified (1987)
Highways:
  1,111,974 km total; 754,102 km paved, 357,872 km gravel, crushed stone, or
  unpaved; 4,400 km national expressways; 46,805 km national highways; 128,539
  km prefectural roads; and 930,230 km city, town, and village roads, 6,400 km
  other
Inland waterways:
  about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal inland seas
Pipelines:
  crude oil 84 km; petroleum products 322 km; natural gas 1,800 km
Ports:
  Chiba, Muroran, Kitakyushu, Kobe, Tomakomai, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,
  Yokkaichi, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Niigata, Fushiki-Toyama, Shimizu, Himeji,
  Wakayama-Shimozu, Shimonoseki, Tokuyama-Shimomatsu
Merchant marine:
  950 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,080,149 GRT/32,334,270 DWT;
  includes 10 passenger, 39 short-sea passenger, 1 passenger cargo, 81 cargo,
  43 container, 43 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 87 refrigerated cargo, 97 vehicle
  carrier, 240 oil tanker, 11 chemical tanker, 39 liquefied gas, 9 combination
  ore/oil, 2 specialized tanker, 247 bulk, 1 multi-function large load
  carrier; note - Japan also owns a large flag of convenience fleet, including
  up to 44% of the total number of ships under the Panamanian flag
Airports:
 total:
  162
 usable:
  159
 with permanent-surface runways:
  132
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  32
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  50
Telecommunications:
  excellent domestic and international service; 64,000,000 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 318 AM, 58 FM, 12,350 TV (196 major - 1 kw or greater);
  satellite earth stations - 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean
  INTELSAT; submarine cables to US (via Guam), Philippines, China, and Russia

*Japan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
  (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force), Maritime Safety Agency
  (Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 32,134,496; fit for military service 27,689,029; reach
  military age (18) annually 1,002,998 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $37 billion, 0.94% of GDP (FY93/94 est.)

*Jarvis Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Jarvis Island, Geography

Location:
  in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,090 km south of Honolulu, just south of the
  Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  4.5 km2
 land area:
  4.5 km2
 comparative area:
  about 7.5 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  8 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
  sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Natural resources:
  guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:   0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; lacks fresh
  water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
  shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

*Jarvis Island, People

Population:
  uninhabited; note - Millersville settlement on western side of island
  occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it
  was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year
  by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use permit only
  and generally restricted to scientists and educators

*Jarvis Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Jarvis Island
Digraph:
  DQ
Type:
  unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife
  Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
  Wildlife Refuge System
Capital:
  none; administered from Washington, DC

*Jarvis Island, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Jarvis Island, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only - one boat landing area in the middle of the
  west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island
Note:
  there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

*Jarvis Island, Defense Forces

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

*Jersey, Header

Affiliation:
  (British crown dependency)

*Jersey, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, 27 km from France in the English Channel
Map references:
  Europe
Area:
 total area:
  117 km2
 land area:
  117 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  70 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain:
  gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Natural resources:
  agricultural land
Land use:
 arable land:
  57%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:   NA%
Environment:
  about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
Note:
  largest and southernmost of Channel Islands

*Jersey, People

Population:
  85,450 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.7% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.79 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.23 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  4.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.4 years
 male:
  73.28 years
 female:
  79.86 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.42 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Channel Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Channel Islander
Ethnic divisions:
  UK and Norman-French descent
Religions:
  Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist,
  Presbyterian
Languages:
  English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in
  country districts
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

*Jersey, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Bailiwick of Jersey
 conventional short form:
  Jersey
Digraph:
  JE
Type:
  British crown dependency
Capital:
  Saint Helier
Administrative divisions:
  none (British crown dependency)
Independence:
  none (British crown dependency)
Constitution:
  unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
  English law and local statute
National holiday:
  Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Political parties and leaders:
  none; all independents
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Elections:
 Assembly of the States:
  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
Executive branch:
  British monarch, lieutenant governor, bailiff
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Assembly of the States
Judicial branch:
  Royal Court
Leaders:
 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 J. CRILL (since NA)
Member of:
  none
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (British crown dependency)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (British crown dependency)
Flag:
  white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland)
  extending to the corners of the flag

*Jersey, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and
  tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are
  important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy
  cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export earner. Milk
  products go to the UK and other EC countries. In 1986 the finance sector
  overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP, accounting for 40% of the
  island's output. In recent years the government has encouraged light
  industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry
  has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw
  material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of
  Jersey's food needs.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  8% (1987 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8% (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $308.0 million; expenditures $284.4 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1985)
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
 partners:
  UK
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral
  fuels, chemicals
 partners:
  UK
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  50,000 kW standby capacity (1992); power supplied by France
Industries:
  tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Agriculture:
  potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle farming
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 Jersey pound (#J) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
  Jersey pounds (#J) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652
  (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988); the Jersey pound is at
  par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Jersey, Communications

Ports:
  Saint Helier, Gorey, Saint Aubin
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  63,700 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 3 submarine
  cables

*Jersey, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Johnston Atoll, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Johnston Atoll, Geography

Location:
  in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,430 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about
  one-third of the way between Hawaii and the Marshall Islands
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  2.8 km2
 land area:
  2.8 km2
 comparative area:   about 4.7 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  10 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little
  seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  mostly flat with a maximum elevation of 4 meters
Natural resources:
  guano (deposits worked until about 1890)
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  some low-growing vegetation
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)

*Johnston Atoll, People

Population:
  no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 1,400 US Government personnel
  and contractors

*Johnston Atoll, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Johnston Atoll
Digraph:
  JQ
Type:
  unincorportated territory of the US administered by the US Defense Nuclear
  Agency (DNA) and managed cooperatively by DNA and the Fish and Wildlife
  Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
  Wildlife Refuge system
Capital:
  none; administered from Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territory of the US)
Flag:
  the flag of the US is used

*Johnston Atoll, Economy

Overview:
  Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel
  and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must
  be imported.
Electricity:
  supplied by the management and operations contractor

*Johnston Atoll, Communications

Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440 to 3,659 m:
  1 with TACAN and beacon
 with runways 1,220 to 2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  excellent system including 60-channel submarine cable, Autodin/SRT terminal,
  digital telephone switch, Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station),
  commercial satellite television system, and UHF/VHF air-ground radio

*Johnston Atoll, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Jordan, Header

Affiliation:
  (also see separate West Bank entry)

*Jordan, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, between Israel and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  89,213 km2
 land area:
  88,884 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
  total 1,619 km, Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km, Syria 375
  km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline:
  26 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  differences with Israel over the location of the 1949 Armistice Line that
  separates the two countries; water-sharing issues with Israel
Climate:
  mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain:
  mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley
  separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Natural resources:
  phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use:
 arable land:
  4%
 permanent crops:
  0.5%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  0.5%
 other:
  94%
Irrigated land:   570 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  lack of natural water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
  desertification

*Jordan, People

Population:
  3,823,636 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.57% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  39.48 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.32 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  33.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  71.61 years
 male:
  69.83 years
 female:
  73.51 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.79 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Jordanian(s)
 adjective:
  Jordanian
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 8%
Languages:
  Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  80%
 male:
  89%
 female:
  70%
Labor force:
  572,000 (1988)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 20%, manufacturing and mining 20% (1987 est.)

*Jordan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
 conventional short form:
  Jordan
 local long form:
  Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
 local short form:
  Al Urdun
 former:
  Transjordan
Digraph:
  JO
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Amman
Administrative divisions:
  8 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al
  Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Ma'an
Independence:
  25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Constitution:
  8 January 1952
Legal system:
  based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts
  in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Political parties and leaders:
  approximately 24 parties have been formed since the National Charter, but
  the number fluctuates; after the 1989 parliamentary elections, King Hussein
  promised to allow the formation of political parties; a national charter
  that sets forth the ground rules for democracy in Jordan - including the
  creation of political parties - was approved in principle by the special
  National Conference on 9 June 1991, but its specific provisions have yet to
  be passed by National Assembly
Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held 8 November 1989 (next to be held November 1993); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (80 total) Muslim Brotherhood (fundamentalist)
  22, Independent Islamic bloc (generally traditionalist) 6, Democratic bloc
  (mostly leftist) 9, Constitutionalist bloc (traditionalist) 17, Nationalist
  bloc (traditionalist) 16, independent 10
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-'Umma) consists of an upper house or
  House of Notables (Majlis al-A'ayan) and a lower house or House of
  Representatives (Majlis al-Nuwaab); note - the House of Representatives has
  been convened and dissolved by the King several times since 1974 and in
  November 1989 the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held
Judicial branch:
  Court of Cassation

*Jordan, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  King HUSSEIN Ibn Talal Al Hashemi (since 11 August 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Zayd bin SHAKIR (since 21 November 1991)
Member of:
  ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNRWA, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Fayez A. TARAWNEH
 chancery:
  3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 966-2664
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Roger Gram HARRISON
 embassy:
  Jebel Amman, Amman
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 354, Amman, or APO AE 09892
 telephone:
  [962] (6) 644-371
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red
  isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small white
  seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the seven
  fundamental laws of the Koran

*Jordan, Economy

Overview:
  Jordan benefited from increased Arab aid during the oil boom of the late
  1970s and early 1980s, when its annual GNP growth averaged more than 10%. In
  the remainder of the 1980s, however, reductions in both Arab aid and worker
  remittances slowed economic growth to an average of roughly 2% per year.
  Imports - mainly oil, capital goods, consumer durables, and food - have been
  outstripping 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 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 and worker remittances have plunged, and refugees have
  flooded the country, straining government resources. Economic recovery is
  unlikely without substantial foreign aid, debt relief, and economic reform.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.6 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,100 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  9% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  40% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $1.3 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $440 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures
 partners:
  India, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, UAE, China
Imports:
  $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live animals, manufactured
  goods
 partners:
  EC countries, US, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey
External debt:
  $9 billion (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
  1,030,000 kW capacity; 3,814 million kWh produced, 1,070 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 7% of GDP; principal products are wheat, barley, citrus
  fruit, tomatoes, melons, olives; livestock - sheep, goats, poultry; large
  net importer of food

*Jordan, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.5 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $44
  million
Currency:
  1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates:
  Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.6890 (January 1993), 0.6797 (1992),
  0.6808 (1991), 0.6636 (1990), 0.5704 (1989), 0.3709 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Jordan, Communications

Railroads:
  789 km 1.050-meter gauge, single track
Highways:
  7,500 km; 5,500 km asphalt, 2,000 km gravel and crushed stone
Pipelines:
  crude oil 209 km
Ports:
  Al 'Aqabah
Merchant marine:
  2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 60,378 GRT/113,557 DWT; includes 1
  cargo and 1 oil tanker
Airports:
 total:
  19
 usable:
  15
 with permanent-surface runways:
  14
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  13
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  adequate telephone system of microwave, cable, and radio links; 81,500
  telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 FM, 8 TV; satellite earth stations
  - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, 1 domestic
  TV receive-only; 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

*Jordan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, Royal Naval Force,
  Public Security Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 936,213; fit for military service 664,095; reach military
  age (18) annually 42,093 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $434.8 million, 7.9% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Juan de Nova Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (possession of France)

*Juan de Nova Island, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, in the central Mozambique Channel about one-third of the
  way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Map references:
  Africa
Area:
 total area:
  4.4 km2
 land area:
  4.4 km2
 comparative area:
  about 7.5 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  24.1 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  12 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claimed by Madagascar
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:
  NA
Natural resources:
  guano deposits and other fertilizers
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  90%
 other:
  10%
Irrigated land:   0 km2
Environment:
  subject to periodic cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

*Juan de Nova Island, People

Population:
  uninhibited

*Juan de Nova Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Juan de Nova Island
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Ile Juan de Nova
Digraph:
  JU
Type:
  French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in
  Reunion
Capital:
  none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence:
  none (possession of France)

*Juan de Nova Island, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Juan de Nova Island, Communications

Railroads:
  short line going to a jetty
Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permament-surface runways:
  0  with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,439-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1

*Juan de Nova Island, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Kazakhstan, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, between Russia and Uzbekistan, bordering on the Caspian Sea and
  the Aral Sea
Map references:
  Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard
  Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  2,717,300 km2
 land area:
  2,669,800 km2
 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
 note:
  Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea (1,015 km) and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)
Maritime claims:
  landlocked, but boundaries with Uzbekistan in the Sea of Azov and with
  Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea are yet to be
  determined
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  continental, arid and semiarid
Terrain:
  extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western
  Siberia to oasis and desert in Central Asia
Natural resources:
  petroleum, coal, iron, manganese, chrome, nickel, cobalt, copper,
  molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium, iron
Land use:
 arable land:
  15%
 permanent crops:   0%
 meadows and pastures:
  57%
 forest and woodland:
  4%
 other:
  24%
Irrigated land:
  23,080 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  drying up of Aral Sea is causing increased concentrations of chemical
  pesticides and natural salts; industrial pollution
Note:
  landlocked

*Kazakhstan, People

Population:
  17,156,370 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.65% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  19.55 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.95 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -5.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.83 years
 male:
  63.17 years
 female:
  72.73 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.45 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Kazakhstani(s)
 adjective:
  Kazakhstani
Ethnic divisions:
  Kazakh (Qazaq) 41.9%, Russian 37%, Ukrainian 5.2%, German 4.7%, Uzbek 2.1%,
  Tatar 2%, other 7.1%
Religions:
  Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 15%, Protestant 2%, other 36%
Languages:
  Kazakh (Qazaq; official language), Russian (language of interethnic
  communication)
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:   100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  7.563 million
 by occupation:
  industry and construction 32%, agriculture and forestry 23%, other 45%
  (1990)

*Kazakhstan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Kazakhstan
 conventional short form:
  Kazakhstan
 local long form:
  Kazakhstan Respublikasy
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  KZ
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Almaty (Alma-Ata)
Administrative divisions:
  19 oblasts (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 1 city (qalalar, singular -
  qala)*; Almaty*, Almaty, Aqmola, Aqtobe, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan, Kokshetau,,   Mangghystau,
Ongtustik Qazaqstan, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Pavlodar,
  Semey, Shyghys Qazaqstan, Soltustik Qazaqstan, Taldyqorghan, Torghay,
  Zhambyl, Zhezqazghan,
Independence:
  16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted 18 January 1993
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 16 December
Political parties and leaders:
  Peoples Congress, Olzhas SULEYMENOV and Mukhtar SHAKHANOV, co-chairmen;
  Kazakh Socialist Party (former Communist Party), Nursultan NAZARBAYEV,
  chairman; December (Zheltoksan) Movement, Khasan KOZHAKMETOV, chairman;
  Freedom (AZAT) Party, Kamal ORMANTAYEV, chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
  Independent Trade Union Center (Birlesu; an association of independent trade
  union and business associations), Leonid SOLOMIN, president
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); percent of vote by
  party NA; Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV ran unopposed
 Supreme Council:
  last held NA April 1990 (next to be held NA December 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (358 total) Socialist Party 338
Executive branch:
  president, cabinet of ministers, prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Supreme Soviet
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (sinceNA April 1990); Vice President Yerik
  ASANBAYEV (since 1 December 1991)

*Kazakhstan, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Sergey TERESHENKO (since 14 October 1991); First Deputy Prime
  Minister Davlat SEMBAYEV (since NA November 1990); Supreme Council Chairman
  Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN (since NA July 1991)
Member of:
  CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, IBRD, IDA, IMF, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Alim S. DJAMBOURCHINE
 chancery:
  3421 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20007
 telephone:
  (202) 333-4504
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador William H. COURTNEY
 embassy:
  Furumanova 99/97, Almaty
 mailing address:
  US Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20521-7030
 telephone:
  (3272) 63-24-26
Flag:
  sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays
  soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a
  "national ornamentation" in yellow

*Kazakhstan, Economy

Overview:
  The second-largest in area of the 15 former Soviet republics, Kazakhstan has
  vast oil, coal, and agricultural resources. Kazakhstan is highly dependent
  on trade with Russia, exchanging its natural resources for finished consumer
  and industrial goods. Kazakhstan now finds itself with serious pollution
  problems, backward technology, and little experience in foreign markets. The
  government in 1992 continued to push privatization of the economy and freed
  many prices. Output in 1992 dropped because of problems common to the
  ex-Soviet Central Asian republics, especially the cumulative effects of the
  disruption of old supply channels and the slow process of creating new
  economic institutions. Kazakhstan lacks the funds, technology, and
  managerial skills for a quick recovery of output. US firms have been
  enlisted to increase oil output but face formidable obstacles; for example,
  oil can now reach Western markets only through pipelines that run across
  independent former Soviet republics. Finally, the end of monolithic
  Communist control has brought ethnic grievances into the open. The 6 million
  Russians in the republic, formerly the favored class, now face the hostility
  of a society dominated by Muslims. Ethnic rivalry will be just one of the
  formidable obstacles to the prioritization of national objectives and the
  creation of a productive, technologically advancing society.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -15% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  28% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  0.4% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of
  underemployed workers
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $1.76
  billion (1991)
Exports:
  $1.5 billion to outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
 commodities:
  oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, grain, wool, meat (1991)
 partners:
  Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Imports:
  $500 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and parts, industrial materials
 partners:
  Russia and other former Soviet republics, China
External debt:
  $2.6 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -15% (1992 est.); accounts for 30% of net material product
Electricity:
  19,135,000 kW capacity; 81,300 million kWh produced, 4,739 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  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

*Kazakhstan, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for almost 40% of net material product; employs about 25% of the
  labor force; grain, mostly spring wheat; meat, cotton, wool
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited
  government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit
  drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
  recipient of limited foreign aid (1992)
Currency:
  retaining Russian ruble as currency (May 1993)
Exchange rates:
  rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Kazakhstan, Communications

Railroads:
  14,460 km (all 1.520-meter gauge); does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  189,000 km total; 108,100 km hard surfaced (paved or gravel), 80,900 km
  earth (1990)
Inland waterways:
  Syr Darya
Pipelines:
  crude oil 2,850 km, refined products 1,500 km, natural gas 3,480 km (1992)
Ports:
  inland - Atyrau (Guryev; on Caspian Sea)
Airports:
 total:
  365
 useable:
  152
 with permanent-surface runways:
  49
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  8
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  38
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  71
Telecommunications:
  telephone service is poor, with only about 6 telephones for each 100
  persons; of the approximately 1 million telephones, Almaty (Alma-Ata) has
  184,000; 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; satellite earth stations - INTELSAT and Orbita
  (TV receive only); new satellite ground station established at Almaty with
  Turkish financial help (December 1992) with 2500 channel band width

*Kazakhstan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 4,349,509; fit for military service 3,499,718; reach
  military age (18) annually 154,727 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  69,326 million 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, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern India Ocean between Tanzania and
  Somalia
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  582,650 km2
 land area:
  569,250 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries:
  total 3,446 km, Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769
  km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline:
  536 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international
  boundary; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis
Climate:
  varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Terrain:
  low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile
  plateau in west
Natural resources:
  gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets,
  wildlife
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%  permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  7%
 forest and woodland:
  4%
 other:
  85%
Irrigated land:
  520 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and
  economic value; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; glaciers on
  Mt. Kenya
Note:
  the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural
  production regions in Africa

*Kenya, People

Population:
  27,372,266 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.18% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  43.18 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  74.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  54.07 years
 male:
  52.27 years
 female:
  55.92 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.06 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Kenyan(s)
 adjective:
  Kenyan
Ethnic divisions:
  Kikuyu 21%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 11%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%,
  Asian, European, and Arab 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 28%, Protestant (including Anglican) 26%, indigenous beliefs
  18%, Muslim 6%
Languages:
  English (official), Swahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  69%
 male:
  80%
 female:
  58%
Labor force:
  9.2 million (includes unemployed); the total employed is 1,370,000 (14.8% of
  the labor force)
 by occupation:
  services 54.8%, industry 26.2%, agriculture 19.0% (1989)

*Kenya, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Kenya
 conventional short form:
  Kenya
 former:
  British East Africa
Digraph:
  KE
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Nairobi
Administrative divisions:
  8 provinces; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift
  Valley, Western
Independence:
  12 December 1963 (from UK)
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
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Political parties and leaders:
  ruling party is Kenya African National Union (KANU), Daniel T. arap MOI,
  president; opposition parties include Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
  (FORD-Kenya), Oginga ODINGA; FORD-Asili, Kenneth MATIBA; Democratic Party of
  Kenya (DP), Mwai KIBAKI; Kenya National Congress (KNC), Titus MBATHI; Kenya
  Social Congress (KSC), George ANYONA; Kenya National Democratic Alliance
  (KENYA), Mukara NG'ANG'A; Party for Independent Candidates of Kenya (PKK),
  Otieno OTOERA
Other political or pressure groups:
  labor unions; exile opposition - Mwakenya and other groups
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 29 December 1992; 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%
 National Assembly:
  last held on 29 December 1992; results - (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
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Bunge)
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal, High Court

*Kenya, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Daniel Teroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President
  George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
  MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Denis Daudi AFANDE
 chancery:
  2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 387-6101
 consulates general:
  Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Smith HEMPSTONE, Jr.
 embassy:
  corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 30137, Nairobi or APO AE 09831
 telephone:
  [254] (2) 334141
 FAX:
  [254] (2) 340838
 consulate:
  Mombasa
Flag:   three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is
  edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is
  superimposed at the center

*Kenya, Economy

Overview:
  Kenya's 3.6% annual population growth rate - one of the highest in the world
  - presents a serious problem for the country's economy. In the meantime, GDP
  growth in the near term has kept slightly ahead of population - annually
  averaging 4.9% in the 1986-90 period. Undependable weather conditions and a
  shortage of arable land hamper long-term growth in agriculture, the leading
  economic sector. In 1991, deficient rainfall, stagnant export volume, and
  sagging export prices held economic growth below the all-important
  population growth figure, and in 1992 output fell.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $8.3 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -1% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $320 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  30% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $2.4 billion; expenditures $2.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $0.74 billion (FY90)
Exports:
  $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  tea 25%, coffee 18%, petroleum products 11% (1990)
 partners:
  EC 44%, Africa 25%, Asia 5%, US 5%, Middle East 4% (1990)
Imports:
  $2.05 billion (f.o.b., 1992 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 45%, Asia 11%, Middle East 12%, US 5% (1988)
External debt:
  $7 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.4% (1989 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
Electricity:
  730,000 kW capacity; 2,540 million kWh produced, 100 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap,
  cigarettes, flour), agricultural processing, oil refining, cement, tourism
Agriculture:
  most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and 65% of exports; cash
  crops - coffee, tea, sisal, pineapple; food products - corn, wheat,
  sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs;
  food output not keeping pace with population growth, and crop production has
  been extended into marginal land
Illicit drugs:
  widespread wild, small-plot cultivation of marijuana and gat; 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

*Kenya, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $839 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7,490 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $74 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $83
  million
Currency:
  1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1 -36.227 (January 1993), 32.217 (1992),
  27.508 (1991), 22.915 (1990), 20.572 (1989), 17.747 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Kenya, Communications

Railroads:
  2,040 km 1.000-meter gauge
Highways:
  64,590 km total; 7,000 km paved, 4,150 km gravel, remainder improved earth
Inland waterways:
  part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 483 km
Ports:
  coastal - Mombasa, Lamu; inland - Kisumu
Merchant marine:
  1 oil tanker ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,727 GRT/5,558 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  247
 usable:
  208
 with permanent-surface runways:
  18
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  43
Telecommunications:
  in top group of African systems; consists primarily of radio relay links;
  over 260,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 16 AM; 4 FM, 6 TV; satellite
  earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

*Kenya, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 5,912,744; fit for military service 3,654,738 (1993 est.);
  no conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $294 million, 4.9% of GDP (FY88/89 est.)

*Kingman Reef, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Kingman Reef, Geography

Location:
  in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu, about
  halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  1 km2
 land area:
  1 km2
 comparative area:
  about 1.7 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  3 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain:   low and nearly level with a maximum elevation of about 1 meter
Natural resources:
  none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; wet or awash most of the time
Note:
  maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes this a navigational hazard; closed
  to the public

*Kingman Reef, People

Population:
  uninhabited

*Kingman Reef, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Kingman Reef
Digraph:
  KQ
Type:
  unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy
Capital:
  none; administered from Washington, DC

*Kingman Reef, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Kingman Reef, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
  lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by
  Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938

*Kingman Reef, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Kiribati, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between
  Hawaii and Australia
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  717 km2
 land area:
  717 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix
  Islands
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  1,143 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
  mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Natural resources:
  phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  51%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%  forest and woodland:
  3%
 other:
  46%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; 20 of the 33
  islands are inhabited
Note:
  Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock
  islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia
  and Nauru

*Kiribati, People

Population:
  76,320 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.03% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  32.03 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.31 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  98.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  54.16 years
 male:
  52.56 years
 female:
  55.78 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.82 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  I-Kiribati
Ethnic divisions:
  Micronesian
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%, Seventh-Day
  Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)
Languages:
  English (official), Gilbertese
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%  female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

*Kiribati, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Kiribati
 conventional short form:
  Kiribati
 former:
  Gilbert Islands
Digraph:
  KR
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Tarawa
Administrative divisions:
  3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
 note:
  a new administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts,
  Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been
  changed to 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named
  Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton,
  Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa,
  Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina
Independence:
  12 July 1979 (from UK)
Constitution:
  12 July 1979
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
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
 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - Teatao
  TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28%
 House of Assembly:
  last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party
  NA
Executive branch:
  president (Beretitenti), vice president (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti), Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal, High Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991); Vice President Taomati IUTA
  (since 8 July 1991)

*Kiribati, Government

Member of:
  ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU,
  SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
US diplomatic representation:
  the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati
Flag:
  the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising
  sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to
  represent the ocean

*Kiribati, Economy

Overview:
  The country 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 8% 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 17%. The upturn in economic growth came from an increase in
  copra production and a good fish catch. Following the strong surge in output
  in 1988, GNP increased 1% in both 1989 and 1990.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $36.8 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $525 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.8% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $29.9 million; expenditures $16.3 million, including capital
  expenditures of $14.0 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $5.8 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  copra 18%, fish 17%, seaweed 13%
 partners:
  EC 50%, Fiji 22%, US 18% (1990)
Imports:
  $26.7 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
 partners:
  Australia 33%, Japan 24%, Fiji 19%, NZ 6%, US 6% (1990)
External debt:
  $2 million (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 0% (1988 est.); accounts for less than 4% of GDP
Electricity:
  5,000 kW capacity; 13 million kWh produced, 190 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  fishing, handicrafts
Agriculture:
  accounts for 15% of GDP (including fishing); copra and fish contribute about
  95% to exports; subsistence farming predominates; food crops - taro,
  breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $273 million
Currency:
  1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992),
  1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  NA

*Kiribati, Communications

Highways:
  640 km of motorable roads
Inland waterways:
  small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands
Ports:
  Banaba and Betio (Tarawa)
Airports:
 total:
  21
 useable:
  20
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m :
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0  with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  1,400 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station

*Kiribati, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties;
  there are small police posts on all islands); no military force is
  maintained
Manpower availability:
  NA
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP

*Korea, North, Geography

Location:
  Northeast Asia, between China and South Korea
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  120,540 km2
 land area:
  120,410 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries:
  total 1,673 km, China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline:
  2,495 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 military boundary line:
  50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the
  Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are
  banned
International disputes:
  short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with
  South Korea
Climate:
  temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain:
  mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains
  wide in west, discontinuous in east
Natural resources:   coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold,
  pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land use:
 arable land:
  18%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  74%
 other:
  7%
Irrigated land:
  14,000 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely
  populated; late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding
Note:
  strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia

*Korea, North, People

Population:
  22,645,811 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.86% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  24.09 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  28.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.51 years
 male:
  66.42 years
 female:
  72.75 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Korean(s)
 adjective:
  Korean
Ethnic divisions:
  racially homogeneous
Religions:
  Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and syncretic Chondogyo
 note:   autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored
  religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Languages:
  Korean
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  99%
 female:
  99%
Labor force:
  9.615 million
 by occupation:
  agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
 note:
  shortage of skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)

*Korea, North, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
 conventional short form:
  North Korea
 local long form:
  Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
 local short form:
  none
Abbreviation:
  DPRK
Digraph:
  KN
Type:
  Communist state; Stalinist dictatorship
Capital:
  P'yongyang
Administrative divisions:
  9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (jikhalsi,,   singular and plural);
Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North
  Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto
  (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province),
  Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si*,   (Namp'o City),
P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo
  (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do,   (Yanggang Province)
Independence:
  9 September 1948
 note:
  15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in
  North Korea as National Liberation Day
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
National holiday:
  DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Political parties and leaders:
  major party - Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Il-song, general secretary,
  and his son, KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee; Korean Social
  Democratic Party, KIM Yong-ho, vice-chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, CHONG
  Sin-hyok, chairman
Suffrage:
  17 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 24 May 1990 (next to be held by NA 1994); results - President KIM
  Il-song was reelected without opposition
 Supreme People's Assembly:
  last held on 7-9 April 1993 (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
Executive branch:
  president, two vice presidents, premier, ten vice premiers, State
  Administration Council (cabinet)

*Korea, North, Government

Legislative branch:
  unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui)
Judicial branch:
  Central Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President KIM Il-song (national leader since 1948, president since 28
  December 1972); designated successor KIM Chong-il (son of president, born 16
  February 1942)
 Head of Government:
  Premier KANG Song-san (since December 1992)
Member of:
  ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, IFAD, IMF (observer), IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none
US diplomatic representation:
  none
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red
  band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk
  with a red five-pointed star

*Korea, North, Economy

Overview:
  More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is
  collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods.
  State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a Communist
  country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the
  strict rule of KIM Il-song and 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 10-15%, as the economy felt the
  cumulative effect of the reduction in outside support. The leadership
  insisted in 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 WWII. 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. Five consecutive years of poor harvests, coupled with
  distribution problems, have led to chronic food shortages. North Korea
  remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards.
National product:
  GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $22 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -10% to -15% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $18.5 billion; expenditures $18.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products,
  manufactures (including armaments)
 partners:
  China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico
Imports:
  $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods
 partners:
  China, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore
External debt:
  $8 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -15% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  7,300,000 kW capacity; 26,000 million kWh produced, 1,160 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Korea, North, Economy

Industries:
  machine building, military products, electric power, chemicals, mining,
  metallurgy, textiles, food processing
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 25% of GNP 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; fish catch estimated at 1.7
  million metric tons in 1987
Economic aid:
  Communist countries, $1.4 billion a year in the 1980s
Currency:
  1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
Exchange rates:
  North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1
  (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989), 2.13 (December 1988), 0.94 (March 1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Korea, North, Communications

Railroads:
  4,915 km total; 4,250 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 665 km 0.762-meter
  narrow gauge; 159 km double track; 3,084 km electrified; government owned
  (1989)
Highways:
  about 30,000 km (1991); 92.5% gravel, crushed stone, or earth surface; 7.5%
  paved
Inland waterways:
  2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Pipelines:
  crude oil 37 km
Ports:
  primary - Ch'ongjin, Hungnam (Hamhung), Najin, Namp'o, Wonsan; secondary -
  Haeju, Kimchaek, Kosong, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang
Merchant marine:
  80 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 675,666 GRT/1,057,815 DWT; includes 1
  passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 67 cargo, 2 oil tanker,
  5 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 container
Airports:
 total:
  55
 usable :
  55 (est.)
 with permanent-surface runways:
  about 30
 with runways over 3,659 m:   fewer than 5
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  20
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  30
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - 18 AM, no FM, 11 TV; 300,000 TV sets (1989); 3,500,000
  radio receivers; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Korea, North, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Korean People's Army (including the Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security
  Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 6,567,684; fit for military service 3,996,893; reach
  military age (18) annually 208,132 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - about $5 billion, 20-25% of GNP (1991 est.); note
  - the officially announced but suspect figure is $1.9 billion (1991) 8% of
  GNP (1991 est.)

*Korea, South, Geography

Location:
  Northeast Asia, between North Korea and Japan
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  98,480 km2
 land area:
  98,190 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Indiana
Land boundaries:
  total 238 km, North Korea 238 km
Coastline:
  2,413 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 territorial sea:
  12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait
International disputes:
  Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt Rocks claimed by Japan
Climate:
  temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
Terrain:
  mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
Natural resources:
  coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower
Land use:
 arable land:
  21%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  67%
 other:
  10%
Irrigated land:
  13,530 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; earthquakes in southwest;
  air pollution in large cities

*Korea, South, People

Population:
  44,613,993 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.05% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.72 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.16 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  22.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.29 years
 male:
  67.1 years
 female:
  73.68 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.64 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Korean(s)
 adjective:
  Korean
Ethnic divisions:
  homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions:
  Christianity 48.6%, Buddhism 47.4%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion
  (Shamanism), Chondogyo (religion of the heavenly way) 0.2%
Languages:
  Korean, English widely taught in high school
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  96%
 male:
  99%
 female:
  94%
Labor force:
  19 million
 by occupation:
  services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%, agriculture, fishing,
  forestry 21% (1991)

*Korea, South, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Korea
 conventional short form:
  South Korea
 local long form:
  Taehan-min'guk
 local short form:
  none
Abbreviation:
  ROK
Digraph:
  KS
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Seoul
Administrative divisions:
  9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 6 special cities* (jikhalsi,,   singular and plural);
Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo,
  Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo, Inch'on-jikhalsi*, Kangwon-do,,   Kwangju-jikhalsi*,,
Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo,
  Pusan-jikhalsi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-jikhalsi*, Taejon-jikhalsi*, Independence:
  15 August 1948
Constitution:
  25 February 1988
Legal system:
  combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American
  law, and Chinese classical thought
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 August (1948)
Political parties and leaders:
 majority party:
  Democratic Liberal Party (DLP), KIM Young Sam, president
 opposition:
  Democratic Party (DP), LEE Ki Taek, executive chairman; United People's
  Party (UPP), CHUNG Ju Yung, 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
Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 18 December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1997); results -
  KIM Young Sam (DLP) 41.9%, KIM Dae Jung (DP) 33.8%, CHUNG Ju Yung (UPP)
  16.3%, other 8%

*Korea, South, Government

 National Assembly:
  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 May 1993 was DLP 167, DP 95, UPP 14, other 23
 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
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, State Council
  (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Kuk Hoe)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President KIM Young Sam (since 25 February 1993)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister HWANG In Sung (since 25 February 1993); Deputy Prime Minister
  LEE Kyung Shick (since 25 February 1993) and Deputy Prime Minister HAN Wan
  Sang (since 25 February 1993)
Member of:
  AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, COCOM (cooperating country), CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO,
  G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, OAS (observer), UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador HAN Seung Soo
 chancery:
  2370 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 939-5600
 consulates general:   Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles,
  New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant), Charge d'Affaires Raymond BURGHARDT
 embassy:
  82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul, AMEMB, Unit 15550
 mailing address:
  APO AP 96205-0001
 telephone:
  [82] (2) 732-2601 through 2618
 FAX:
  [82] (2) 738-8845
 consulate:
  Pusan
Flag:
  white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a
  different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each
  corner of the white field

*Korea, South, Economy

Overview:
  The driving force behind the economy's dynamic growth has been the planned
  development of an export-oriented economy in a vigorously entrepreneurial
  society. Real GNP 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, focusing attention on slowing
  the growth rate of inflation and reducing the deficit is leading to a
  slow-down in growth. The economy remains the envy of the great majority of
  the world's peoples.
National product:
  GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $287 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $6,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  2.4% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $48.4 billion; expenditures $48.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993)
Exports:
  $76.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  textiles, clothing, electronic and electrical equipment, footwear,
  machinery, steel, automobiles, ships, fish
 partners:
  US 24%, Japan 15% (1992)
Imports:
  $81.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport
  equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains
 partners:
  Japan 24%, US 22% (1992)
External debt:
  $42 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.0% (1992 est.); accounts for about 45% of GNP
Electricity:
  24,000,000 kW capacity; 105,000 million kWh produced, 2,380 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing, chemicals, steel,
  electronics, automobile production, shipbuilding
Agriculture:
  accounts for 8% of GNP 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.9 billion; non-US countries
  (1970-89), $3.0 billion
Currency:
  1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chon (theoretical)

*Korea, South, Economy

Exchange rates:
  South Korean won (W) per US$1 - 791.99 (January 1993), 780.65 (1992), 733.35
  (1991), 707.76 (1990), 671.46 (1989), 731.47 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Korea, South, Communications

Railroads:
  3,091 km total (1991); 3,044 km 1.435 meter standard gauge, 47 km
  0.610-meter narrow gauge, 847 km double track; 525 km electrified,
  government owned
Highways:
  63,201 km total (1991); 1,551 expressways, 12,190 km national highway,
  49,460 km provincial and local roads
Inland waterways:
  1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 455 km
Ports:
  Pusan, Inchon, Kunsan, Mokpo, Ulsan
Merchant marine:
  431 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,689,227 GRT/11,016,014 DWT;
  includes 2 short-sea passenger, 138 cargo, 61 container, 11 refrigerated
  cargo, 9 vehicle carrier, 45 oil tanker, 12 chemical tanker, 13 liquefied
  gas, 2 combination ore/oil, 135 bulk, 2 combination bulk, 1 multifunction
  large-load carrier
Airports:
 total:
  103
 usable:
  93
 with permanent-surface runways:
  59
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  22
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  18
Telecommunications:
  excellent domestic and international services; 13,276,449 telephone
  subscribers; broadcast stations - 79 AM, 46 FM, 256 TV (57 of 1 kW or
  greater); satellite earth stations - 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian
  Ocean INTELSAT

*Korea, South, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 13,286,969; fit for military service 8,542,640; reach
  military age (18) annually 432,434 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $12.2 billion, 3.6% of GNP (1993 est.)

*Kuwait, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, at the head of the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  17,820 km2
 land area:
  17,820 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
  total 464 km, Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline:
  499 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:   not specified
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  in April 1991 Iraq officially accepted UN Security Council Resolution 687,
  which demands that Iraq accept the inviolability of the boundary set forth
  in its 1963 agreement with Kuwait, ending earlier claims to Bubiyan and
  Warbah Islands, or to all of Kuwait; the 20 May 1993 final report of the UN
  Iraq/Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission was welcomed by the Security
  Council in Resolution 833 of 27 May 1993, which also reaffirmed that the
  decisions of the commission on the boundary were final, bringing to a
  completion the official demarcation of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary; Iraqi
  officials still make public statements claiming Kuwait; ownership of Qaruh
  and Umm al Maradim Islands disputed by Saudi Arabia
Climate:
  dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain:
  flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Natural resources:
  petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  8%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  92%
Irrigated land:
  20 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities
  provide most of water; air and water pollution; desertification
Note:
  strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

*Kuwait, People

Population:
  1,698,077 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  8.67% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  30.29 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  2.39 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  58.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:  total population:
  74.62 years
 male:
  72.47 years
 female:
  76.87 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.11 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Kuwaiti(s)
 adjective:
  Kuwaiti
Ethnic divisions:
  Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions:
  Muslim 85% (Shi'a 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and
  other 15%
Languages:
  Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  73%
 male:
  77%
 female:
  67%
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 was non-Kuwaiti (1986)

*Kuwait, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  State of Kuwait
 conventional short form:
  Kuwait
 local long form:
  Dawlat al Kuwayt
 local short form:
  Al Kuwayt
Digraph:
  KU
Type:
  nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Kuwait
Administrative divisions:
  5 governorates (mu'hafaz'at, singular - muh'afaz'ah); Al Ah'madi, Al Jahrah,
  Al Kuwayt, 'Hawalli; Farwaniyah
Independence:
  19 June 1961 (from UK)
Constitution:
  16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29 August 1962)
Legal system:
  civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not
  accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 25 February
Political parties and leaders:
  none
Other political or pressure groups:
  40,000 Palestinian community; small, clandestine leftist and Shi'a
  fundamentalist groups are active; several groups critical of government
  policies are active
Suffrage:
  adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male descendants at
  age 21
 note:
  out of all citizens, only 10% are eligible to vote and only 5% actually vote
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  dissolved 3 July 1986; new elections were held on 5 October 1992 with a
  second election in the 14th and 16th constituencies scheduled for 15
  February 1993
Executive branch:
  amir, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al 'umma) dissolved 3 July 1986;
  elections for new Assembly held 5 October 1992
Judicial branch:
  High Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Amir Shaykh JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 31 December 1977)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister and Crown Prince SA'D al-'Abdallah al-Salim al-Sabah (since 8
  February 1978); Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah
  (since 17 October 1992)

*Kuwait, Government

Member of:
  ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, 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:
  (202) 966-0702
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edward (Skip) GNEHM, Jr.
 embassy:
  Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Kuwait International Hotel), Kuwait City
 mailing address:
  P.O. Box 77 SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; APO AE 09880
 telephone:
  [965] 242-4151 through 4159
 FAX:
  [956] 244-2855
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black
  trapezoid based on the hoist side

*Kuwait, Economy

Overview:
  Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with proven crude oil reserves
  of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Kuwait is rebuilding
  its war-ravaged petroleum sector and the increase in crude oil production to
  nearly 2.0 million barrels per day by the end of 1992 led to an enormous
  increase in GDP for the year. The government ran a cumulative fiscal deficit
  of approximately $70 billion over its last two fiscal years, reducing its
  foreign asset position and increasing its public debt to roughly $40
  billion. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP and over 90% of export
  and government revenue.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $15.3 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  80% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $11,100 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NEGL% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $7.1 billion; expenditures $10.5 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY88)
Exports:
  $750 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  oil
 partners:
  France 16%, Italy 15%, Japan 12%, UK 11%
Imports:
  $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
 partners:   US 35%, Japan 12%, UK 9%, Canada 9%
External debt:
  $7.2 billion (December 1989 est.)
 note:
  external debt has grown substantially in 1991 and 1992 to pay for
  restoration of war damage
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
  6,873,000 kW available out of 7,398,000 kW capacity due to Persian Gulf war;
  12,264 million kWh produced, 8,890 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, building
  materials, salt, construction
Agriculture:
  practically none; dependent on imports for food; about 75% of potable water
  must be distilled or imported
Economic aid:
  donor - pledged $18.3 billion in bilateral aid to less developed countries
  (1979-89)
Currency:
  1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates:
  Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.3044 (January 1993), 0.2934 (1992), 0.2843
  (1991), 0.2915 (1990), 0.2937 (1989), 0.2790 (1988)

*Kuwait, Economy

Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Kuwait, Communications

Railroads:
  none
Highways:
  3,900 km total; 3,000 km bituminous; 900 km earth, sand, light gravel
Pipelines:
  crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km
Ports:
  Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Mina' al 'Ahmadi
Merchant marine:
  42 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 1,996,052 GRT/3,373,088 DWT; includes
  7 cargo, 4 livestock carrier, 24 oil tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 3 container
Airports:
 total:
  7
 usable:
  4
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:   0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  civil network suffered extensive damage as a result of Desert Storm and
  reconstruction is still under way with some restored international and
  domestic capabilities; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 0 FM, 3 TV; satellite
  earth stations - destroyed during Persian Gulf War and not rebuilt yet;
  temporary mobile satellite ground stations provide international
  telecommunications; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia;
  service to Iraq is nonoperational

*Kuwait, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 498,254; fit for military service 298,865; reach military
  age (18) annually 14,459 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion, 7.3% of GDP (FY92/93)

*Kyrgyzstan, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, between China and Kazakhstan
Map references:
  Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard
  Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  198,500 km2
 land area:
  191,300 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
  total 3,878 km, China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km,
  Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southern boundary in Isfara Valley
  area
Climate:
  dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in south (Fergana
  Valley)
Terrain:   peaks of Tien Shan rise to 7,000 meters, and associated valleys and basins
  encompass entire nation
Natural resources:
  small amounts of coal, natural gas, oil, nepheline, rare earth metals,
  mercury, bismuth, gold, lead, zinc, hydroelectric power
Land use:
 arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  10,320 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  NA
Note:
  landlocked

*Kyrgyzstan, People

Population:
  4,625,954 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.56% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.69 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  47.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.71 years
 male:
  63.47 years
 female:
  72.15 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.39 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Kirghiz(s)
 adjective:
  Kirghiz
Ethnic divisions:
  Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 21.5%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%,
  other 8.3%
Religions:
  Muslim 70%, Russian Orthodox NA%
Languages:
  Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  1.748 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture and forestry 33%, industry and construction 28%, other 39%
  (1990)

*Kyrgyzstan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Kyrgyzstan
 conventional short form:
  Kyrgyzstan
 local long form:
  Kyrgyzstan Respublikasy
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  KG
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Bishkek (Frunze)
Administrative divisions:
  6 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'); Chu, Jalal-Abad, Ysyk-Kul', Naryn,
  Osh, Talas
Independence:
  31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted 5 May 1993
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  National Day, 2 December
Political parties and leaders:
  Kyrgyz Democratic Movement, Kazat AKMAKOV, chairman; Civic Accord, Coalition
  representing nonnative minority groups; National Revived Asaba (Banner)
  Party, Asan ORMUSHEV, chairman; Communist Party was banned but has
  registered as political party 18 September 1992
Other political or pressure groups:   National Unity Democratic Movement; Peasant Party; Council of
Free Trade
  Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 12 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Askar AKAYEV
  won in uncontested election with 95% of vote with 90% of electorate voting;
  note - president elected by Supreme Soviet 28 October 1990, then by popular
  vote 12 October 1991
 Zhogorku Keneshom:
  last held 25 February 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next to be held no later
  than NA November 1994 for the Zhgorku Keneshom); results - Commnunists 90%;
  seats - (350 total) Communists 310
Executive branch:
  president, Cabinet of Ministers, prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Zhogorku Keneshom
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990); Vice President Feliks KULOV
  (since 12 October 1992)

*Kyrgyzstan, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Tursenbek CHYNGYSHEV (since 2 March 1992); Deputy Prime
  Minister Abdygani ERKEBAYEV; Supreme Soviet Chairman Medetkan SHERIMKULOV
  (since NA)
Member of:
  CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, IDA, ILO, IMF, NACC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Roza OTUNBAYEVA
 chancery:
  1511 K Street, NW, Washington, DC
 telephone:
  (202) 347-5029
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edward HURWITZ
 embassy:
  (temporary) Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09721
 telephone:
  7-3312 22-26-93, 22-35-51, 22-29-20
 FAX:
  7-3312 22-35-51
Flag:
  red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40
  Krygyz 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 Kyrgyz yurt

*Kyrgyzstan, Economy

Overview:
  Kyrgyzstan's small economy (less than 1% of the total for the former Soviet
  Union) is oriented toward agriculture, producing mainly livestock such as
  goats and sheep, as well as cotton, grain, and tobacco. Industry,
  concentrated around Bishkek, produces small quantities of electric motors,
  livestock feeding equipment, washing machines, furniture, cement, paper, and
  bricks. Mineral extraction is small, the most important minerals being coal,
  rare earth metals and gold. Kyrgyzstan is a net importer of many types of
  food and fuel but is a net exporter of electricity. In 1992, the Kirghiz
  leadership made progress on reform, primarily by privatizing business,
  granting life-long tenure to farmers, and freeing most prices. Nonetheless,
  in 1992 overall industrial and livestock output declined because of acute
  fuel shortages and a widespread lack of spare parts.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -25% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  29% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  0.1% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of
  underemployed workers
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  wool, chemicals, cotton, ferrous and nonferrous metals, shoes, machinery,
  tobacco
 partners:
  Russia 70%, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and others
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles,
  footwear
 partners:
  other CIS republics
External debt:
  $650 million (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA% (1992)
Electricity:
  4,100,000 kW capacity; 11,800 million kWh produced, 2,551 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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 producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited
  government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit
  drugs to Western Europel
Economic aid:
  $300 million official and commitments by foreign donors (1992)

*Kyrgyzstan, Economy

Currency:
  introduced national currency, the som (10 May 1993)
Exchange rates:
  rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Kyrgyzstan, Communications

Railroads:
  370 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  30,300 km total; 22,600 km paved or graveled, 7,700 km earth(1990)
Pipelines:
  natural gas 200 km
Ports:
  none; landlocked
Airports:
 total:
  52
 useable:
  27
 with permanent-surface runways:
  12
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  13
Telecommunications:
  poorly developed; 56 telephones per 1000 persons (December 1990);
  connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave and with other
  countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch;
  satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only); new
  intelsat earth station provide TV receive-only capability for Turkish
  broadcasts

*Kyrgyzstan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil Defense
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,093,694; fit for military service 890,961 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP

*Laos, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, between Vietnam and Thailand
Map references:
  Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  236,800 km2
 land area:
  230,800 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
  total 5,083 km, Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754
  km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  boundary dispute with Thailand
Climate:
  tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to
  April)
Terrain:
  mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Natural resources:
  timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:
 arable land:
  4%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  3%
 forest and woodland:
  58%
 other:
  35%
Irrigated land:
  1,200 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  deforestation; soil erosion; subject to floods
Note:
  landlocked

*Laos, People

Population:
  4,569,327 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.86% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  43.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  15.22 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  104.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  51.18 years
 male:
  49.67 years
 female:
  52.77 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
 adjective:
  Lao or Laotian
Ethnic divisions:
  Lao 50%, Phoutheung (Kha) 15%, tribal Thai 20%, Meo, Hmong, Yao, and other
  15%
Religions:
  Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15%
Languages:
  Lao (official), French, English
Literacy:
  age 15-45 can read and write (1985)
 total population:
  84%
 male:
  92%
 female:
  76%
Labor force:
  1-1.5 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 85-90% (est.)

*Laos, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Lao People's Democratic Republic
 conventional short form:
  Laos
 local long form:
  Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
 local short form:
  none
Digraph:
  LA
Type:
  Communist state
Capital:
  Vientiane
Administrative divisions:
  16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng,   nakhon, singular and
plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamsai, Champasak,
  Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang Namtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali,
  Saravan, Savannakhet, Sekong, Vientiane, Vientiane*, Xaignabouri,,   Xiangkhoang
Independence:
  19 July 1949 (from France)
Constitution:
  promulgated August 1991
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic
  Republic)
Political parties and leaders:
  Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president;
  includes Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC); other parties moribund
Other political or pressure groups:
  non-Communist political groups moribund; most leaders fled the country in
  1975
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Third National Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister and two deputy prime ministers, Council of
  Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme People's Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President NOUHAK Phoumsavan (since 25 November 1992)
 Head of Government:   Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 15 August 1991)
Member of:
  ACCT (associate), AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

*Laos, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador HIEM Phommachanh
 chancery:
  2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 332-6416 or 6417
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Charles B. SALMON, Jr.
 embassy:
  Rue Bartholonie, Vientiane
 mailing address:
  B. P. 114, Vientiane, or AMEMB, Box V, APO AP 96546
 telephone:
  (856) 2220, 2357, 2384
 FAX:
  (856) 4675
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a
  large white disk centered in the blue band

*Laos, Economy

Overview:
  One of the world's poorest nations, Laos has had a Communist centrally
  planned economy with government ownership and control of productive
  enterprises of any size. In recent years, however, the government has been
  decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise. Laos is a
  landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure; that is, it has no
  railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited external and internal
  telecommunications, and electricity available in only a limited area.
  Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation, accounting for over 60% of
  GDP and providing about 85-90% of total employment. The predominant crop is
  rice. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend for its
  survival on foreign aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid
  from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has been cut sharply.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $900 million (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  4% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $200 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):   10% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  21% (1989 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $83 million; expenditures $188.5 million, including capital
  expenditures of $94 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
  $72 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  electricity, wood products, coffee, tin
 partners:
  Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, USSR, US, China
Imports:
  $238 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures
 partners:
  Thailand, USSR, Japan, France, Vietnam, China
External debt:
  $1.1 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 12% (1991 est.); accounts for about 18% of GDP (1991 est.)
Electricity:
  226,000 kW capacity; 990 million kWh produced, 220 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing,
  construction
Agriculture:
  accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the work force; subsistence
  farming predominates; normally self-sufficient in nondrought years;
  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,
  third-largest opium producer

*Laos, Economy

Economic aid:
  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
Currency:
  1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates:
  new kips (NK) per US$1 - 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September
  1990), 576 (1989), 385 (1988), 200 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Laos, Communications

Railroads:
  none
Highways:
  about 27,527 km total; 1,856 km bituminous or bituminous treated; 7,451 km
  gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 18,220 km unimproved earth and
  often impassable during rainy season mid-May to mid-September
Inland waterways:
  about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional
  kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 136 km
Ports:
  none
Airports:
 total:
  54
 usable:
  41
 with permanent-surface runways:
  8
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  15
Telecommunications:
  service to general public practically non-existant; radio communications
  network provides generally erratic service to government users; 7,390
  telephones (1986); broadcast stations - 10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite
  earth station

*Laos, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Lao People's Army (LPA; including naval, aviation, and militia elements),
  Air Force, National Police Department
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 980,274; fit for military service 528,450; reach military
  age (18) annually 43,849 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Latvia, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, bordering on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:   64,100 km2
 land area:
  64,100 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
  total 1,078 km, Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217
  km
Coastline:
  531 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  the Abrene section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
  to Russia in 1944
Climate:
  maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain:
  low plain
Natural resources:
  minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use:
 arable land:
  27%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  13%
 forest and woodland:
  39%
 other:
  21%
Irrigated land:
  160 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  heightened levels of 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

*Latvia, People

Population:
  2,735,573 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.5% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.73 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:   3.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  22 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.23 years
 male:
  64.15 years
 female:
  74.55 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Latvian(s)
 adjective:
  Latvian
Ethnic divisions:
  Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Belarusian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%,
  other 4.2%
Religions:
  Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages:
  Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  1.407 million
 by occupation:
  industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43%
  (1990)

*Latvia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Latvia
 conventional short form:
  Latvia
 local long form:
  Latvijas Republika
 local short form:
  Latvija
 former:
  Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  LG
Type:   republic
Capital:
  Riga
Administrative divisions:
  none (all districts are under direct republic jurisdiction)
Independence:
  6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted NA May 1922, considering rewriting constitution
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Labor Party of Latvia, Juris BOJARS, chairman; Inter-Front of the
  Working People of Latvia, Igor LOPATIN, chairman (Inter-Front was banned
  after the coup); Latvian National Movement for Independence, Eduards
  BERKLAVS, chairman; Latvian Democratic Party, Janis DINEVICS, chairman;
  Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party, Uldis BERZINS, chairman; Latvian
  People's Front, Uldis AUGST-KALNS, chairman; Latvian Liberal Party, Georg
  LANSMANIS, chairman
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held October 1988 (next to be held NA); note - Anatolijs V. GORBUNOVS
  elected by Supreme Soviet; elected to restyled post of Chairman of the
  Supreme Council on 3 May 1990; new elections have not been scheduled
 Supreme Council:
  last held 18 March 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next to be held 5-6 June
  1993 for the Saeima); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (234
  total) Latvian Communist Party 59, Latvian Democratic Workers Party 31,
  Social Democratic Party of Latvia 4, Green Party of Latvia 7, Latvian
  Farmers Union 7, Latvian Popular Front 126; note - the Supreme Council is an
  interim 201-seats legislative body; a new parliament or Saiema to be elected
  in June 1993
 Congress of Latvia:
  last held April 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (231 total) number of seats by party NA; note - the
  Congress of Latvia is a quasi-governmental structure
Executive branch:
  Chairman of Supreme Council (president), prime minister, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Supreme Council

*Latvia, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Chairman Supreme Council Anatolijs V. GORBUNOVS (since NA October 1988)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Ivars GODMANIS (since NA May 1990)
Member of:
  CBSS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, ILO, IMF, IOM (observer), ITU,
  NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ojars KALNINS
 chancery:
  4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
 telephone:
  (202) 726-8213 and 8214
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ints M, SILINS;
 embassy:
  Raina Boulevard 7, Riga 226050
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09862
 telephone:
  0-11 [358] (49) 311-348 (cellular)
 FAX:
  [358] (49) 314-665 (cellular), (7) (01-32) 220-502
 note:
  dialing to the Baltics still requires use of an international operator,
  unless you use the cellular phone lines
Flag:
  two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle, narrower
  than other two bands)

*Latvia, Economy

Overview:
  Latvia is in the process of reforming the centrally planned economy
  inherited from the former USSR into a market economy. Prices have been
  freed, and privatization of shops and farms has begun. Latvia lacks natural
  resources, aside from its arable land and small forests. Its most valuable
  economic asset is its work force, which is better educated and disciplined
  than in most of the former Soviet republics. Industrial production is highly
  diversified, with products ranging from agricultural machinery to consumer
  electronics. One conspicuous vulnerability: Latvia produces only 10% of its
  electric power needs. Latvia in the near term must retain key commercial
  ties to Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine while moving in the long run toward
  joint ventures with technological support from, and trade ties to the West.
  Because of the efficiency of its mostly individual farms, Latvians enjoy a
  diet that is higher in meat, vegetables, and dairy products and lower in
  grain and potatoes than diets in the 12 non-Baltic republics of the former
  USSR. Good relations with Russia are threatened by animosity between ethnic
  Russians (34% of the population) and native Latvians. The cumulative
  difficulties in replacing old sources of supply and old markets, together
  with the phasing out of the Russian ruble as the medium of exchange, help
  account for the sharp 30% drop in GDP in 1992.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -30% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  3.6% (March 1993); but large numbers of underemployed workers
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $650 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -35% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  2,140,000 kW capacity; 5,800 million kWh produced, 2,125 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  employs 33% of labor force; 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

*Latvia, Economy

Agriculture:
  employs 16% of labor force; 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 to
  Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic
  consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  1 lat = 100 NA; introduced NA March 1993
Exchange rates:
  lats per US$1 - 1.32 (March 1993)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Latvia, Communications

Railroads:
  2,400 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  59,500 km total; 33,000 km hard surfaced 26,500 km earth (1990)
Inland waterways:
  300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
  crude oil 750 km, refined products 780 km, natural gas 560 km (1992)
Ports:
  coastal - Riga, Ventspils, Liepaja; inland - Daugavpils
Merchant marine:
  96 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 905,006 GRT/1,178,844 DWT; includes 14
  cargo, 27 refrigerated cargo, 2 container, 9 roll-on/roll-off, 44 oil tanker
Airports:
 total:
  50
 useable:
  15
 with permanent-surface runways:
  11
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  7
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  7
Telecommunications:
  NMT-450 analog cellular network is operational covering Riga, Ventspils,
  Daugavpils, Rezekne, and Valmiera; broadcast stations - NA; international
  traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway
  switch and through new independent international automatic telephone
  exchange in Riga and the Finnish cellular net

*Latvia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Security Forces (internal and border
  troops), Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 648,273; fit for military service 511,297; reach military
  age (18) annually 18,767 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  176 million rubles, 3-5% of GDP; note - conversion of the military budget
  into US$ using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

*Lebanon, Header

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 in October 1990. 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, is the only significant group
  that retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of
  Lebanon. Israel 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 1992,
  Syria maintained about 30,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based
  mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment
  was legitimized by the Arab League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the
  Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests,
  and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the
  constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to
  withdraw its troops from Beirut.

*Lebanon, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  10,400 km2
 land area:
  10,230 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
  total 454 km, Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline:
  225 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Israeli troops in southern
  Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern
  Lebanon since October 1976
Climate:
  Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon
  mountians experience heavy winter snows
Terrain:
  narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and
  Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Natural resources:   limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region
Land use:
 arable land:
  21%
 permanent crops:
  9%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  8%
 other:
  61%
Irrigated land:
  860 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous
  factional groups based on religion, clan, ethnicity; deforestation; soil
  erosion; air and water pollution; desertification
Note:
  Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international
  boundary

*Lebanon, People

Population:
  3,552,369 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.81% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  27.86 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  41 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.01 years
 male:
  66.63 years
 female:
  71.52 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Lebanese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Lebanese
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions:
  Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Alawite or Nusayri, Druze,
  Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legally recognized Christian
  groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6 Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
Languages:
  Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  80%
 male:
  88%
 female:
  73%
Labor force:
  650,000
 by occupation:
  industry, commerce, and services 79%, agriculture 11%, government 10% (1985)

*Lebanon, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Lebanon
 conventional short form:
  Lebanon
 local long form:
  Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
 local short form:
  none
Digraph:
  LE
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Beirut
Administrative divisions:
  5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Biqa, 'Al Janub, Ash
  Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
Independence:
  22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French
  administration)
Constitution:
  26 May 1926 (amended)
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
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
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
Suffrage:   21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21
  with elementary education
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet; 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
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab, French - Assemblee
  Nationale)
Judicial branch:
  four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and
  one court for criminal cases)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI (since 22 October 1992)

*Lebanon, Government

Member of:
  ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Simon KARAM
 chancery:
  2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 939-6300
 consulates general:
  Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER
 mailing embassy:
  Antelias, Beirut
 address:
  P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut, or Box B, FPO AE 09836
 telephone:
  [961] 417774 or 415802, 415803, 402200, 403300
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a
  green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band

*Lebanon, Economy

Overview:
  Since 1975 civil war has 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. Following October
  1990, however, 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 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. Hope for restoring economic
  momentum in 1993 rests with the new, business-oriented Prime Minister
  HARIRI.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.8 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $1,400 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  100% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  35% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $533 million; expenditures $1.3 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $490 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 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:
  $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  Consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
 partners:
  Italy 14%, France 12%, US 6%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%
External debt:
  $400 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  1,300,000 kW capacity; 3,413 million kWh produced, 990 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil refining, chemicals,
  jewelry, some metal fabricating
Agriculture:
  accounts for about one-third of GDP; principal products - citrus fruits,
  vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish), sheep, goats; not
  self-sufficient in grain

*Lebanon, Economy

Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of opium, hashish, and heroin for the international drug
  trade; opium poppy production in Al Biqa almost completely eradicated this
  year; hashish production is shipped to Western Europe, Israel, US, the
  Middle East, and South America
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $356 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $664 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $962 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $9
  million
Currency:
  1 Lebanese pound (#L) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates:
  Lebanese pounds (#L) per US$1 - 1,742.00 (April 1993), 1,712.80 (1992),
  928.23 (1991), 695.09 (1990), 496.69 (1989), 409.23 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Lebanon, Communications

Railroads:
  system in disrepair, considered inoperable
Highways:
  7,300 km total; 6,200 km paved, 450 km gravel and crushed stone, 650 km
  improved earth
Pipelines:
  crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
Ports:
  Beirut, Tripoli, Ra'Sil'ata, Juniyah, Sidon, Az Zahrani, Tyre, Jubayl,
  Shikka Jadidah
Merchant marine:
  63 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 270,505 GRT/403,328 DWT; includes 39
  cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 2 vehicle carrier, 3 roll-on/roll-off, 1
  container, 9 livestock carrier, 2 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 4
  bulk, 1 combination bulk
Airports:
 total:
  9
 usable:
  8
 with permanent-surface runways:
  6
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding still
  underway; 325,000 telephones (95 telephones per 1,000 persons); domestic
  traffic carried primarily by microwave radio relay and a small amount of
  cable; international traffic by satellite - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station (erratic operations),
  coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond
  Syria to Jordan, 3 submarine coaxial cables; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3
  FM, 13 TV (numerous AM and FM stations are operated sporadically by various
  factions)

*Lebanon, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; including Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 798,299; fit for military service 495,763 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $271 million, 8.2% of GDP (1992 budget)

*Lesotho, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  30,350 km2
 land area:
  30,350 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  total 909 km, South Africa 909 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
  mostly highland with some plateaus, hills, and mountains
Natural resources:
  some diamonds and other minerals, water, agricultural and grazing land
Land use:
 arable land:
  10%
 permanent crops:
  0%  meadows and pastures:
  66%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  24%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in
  overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion; desertification
Note:
  landlocked; surrounded by South Africa; Highlands Water Project will
  control, store, and redirect water to South Africa

*Lesotho, People

Population:
  1,896,484 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.52% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  34.64 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  71.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  61.73 years
 male:
  59.91 years
 female:
  63.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.6 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
 adjective:
  Basotho
Ethnic divisions:
  Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
Religions:
  Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
Languages:
  Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1966)
 total population:
  59%
 male:   44%
 female:
  68%
Labor force:
  689,000 economically active
 by occupation:
  86.2% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 60%
  of active male labor force works in South Africa

*Lesotho, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Lesotho
 conventional short form:
  Lesotho
 former:
  Basutoland
Digraph:
  LT
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Maseru
Administrative divisions:
  10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek,
  Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence:
  4 October 1966 (from UK)
Constitution:
  4 October 1966, suspended January 1970
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
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Political parties and leaders:
  Basotho National Party (BNP), Evaristus SEKHONYANA; Basutoland 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), JCOB M. KENA
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  dissolved following the military coup in January 1986; military has pledged
  elections will take place in March 1993
Executive branch:
  monarch, chairman of the Military Council, Military Council, Council of
  Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  none - the bicameral Parliament was dissolved following the military coup in
  January 1986; note - a National Constituent Assembly convened in June 1990
  to rewrite the constitution and debate issues of national importance, but it
  has no legislative authority
Judicial branch:
  High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  King LETSIE III (since 12 November 1990 following dismissal of his father,
  exiled King MOSHOESHOE II, by Maj. Gen. LEKHANYA)
 Head of Government:
  Chairman of the Military Council Gen. Elias Phisoana RAMAEMA (since 30 April
  1991)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

*Lesotho, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Designate Teboho KITLEI
 chancery:
  2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 797-5534
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Leonard H.O. SPEARMAN, Sr.
 embassy:
  address NA, Maseru
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100 Lesotho
 telephone:
  [266] 312-666
 FAX:
  (266) 310-116
Flag:
  divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white
  bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club;
  the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner

*Lesotho, Economy

Overview:
  Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no important natural
  resources other than water. Its economy is based on agriculture, light
  manufacturing, and remittances from laborers employed in South Africa ($439
  million in 1991). The great majority of households gain their livelihoods
  from subsistence farming and migrant labor. Manufacturing depends largely on
  farm products to support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries;
  other industries include textile, clothing, and construction (in particular,
  a major water improvement project which will permit the sale of water to
  South Africa). Industry's share of GDP rose from 6% in 1982 to 15% in 1989.
  Political and economic instability in South Africa raises uncertainty for
  Lesotho's economy, especially with respect to migrant worker remittances -
  recently the equivalent of nearly three-fourths of domestic output.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $620 million (1991 est.)
 note:
  GNP of $1.0 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  5.3% (1991 est.); GNP 2.2% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $340 (1991 est.); GNP $570 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  17.9% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  at least 55% among adult males (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $388 million; expenditures $399 million, including capital
  expenditures of $132 million (FY93)
Exports:
  $57 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  wool, mohair, wheat, cattle, peas, beans, corn, hides, skins, baskets
 partners:
  South Africa 53%, EC 30%, North and South America 13% (1989)
Imports:
  $805 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles, machinery, medicines,
  petroleum
 partners:
  South Africa 95%, EC 2% (1989)
External debt:
  $358 million (for public sector) (December 1990/91 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.0% (1991 est.); accounts for 11% of GDP
Electricity:
  power supplied by South Africa
Industries:
  food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts, tourism
Agriculture:
  accounts for 19% of GDP (1990 est.) and employs 60-70% of all households;
  exceedingly primitive, mostly subsistence farming and livestock; principal
  crops corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $268 million; US, $10.3 million
  (1992), $10.1 million (1993 est.); 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

*Lesotho, Economy

Currency:
  1 loti (L) = 100 lisente
Exchange rates:
  maloti (M) per US$1 - 3.1576 (May 1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991),
  2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988); note - the Basotho loti is at
  par with the South African rand
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Lesotho, Communications

Railroads:
  2.6 km; owned, operated by, and included in the statistics of South Africa
Highways:
  7,215 km total; 572 km paved; 2,337 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized
  soil; 1,806 km improved earth, 2,500 km unimproved earth
Airports:
 total:
  28
 usable:
  28
 with permanent-surface runways:
  3
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  rudimentary system consisting of a few landlines, a small microwave system,
  and minor radio communications stations; 5,920 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Lesotho, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Lesotho Defense Force (RLDF; including Army, Air Wing), Royal Lesotho
  Mounted Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 422,802; fit for military service 228,102 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 13% of GDP (1990 est.)

*Liberia, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Pacific Ocean between Cote d'Ivoire and
  Sierra Leone
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:  total area:
  111,370 km2
 land area:
  96,320 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
  total 1,585 km, Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
Coastline:
  579 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights;
  wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain:
  mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low
  mountains in northeast
Natural resources:
  iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  3%
 meadows and pastures:
  2%
 forest and woodland:
  39%
 other:
  55%
Irrigated land:
  20 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  West Africa's largest tropical rain forest, subject to deforestation

*Liberia, People

Population:
  2,874,881 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.37% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  43.9 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:   115.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  57.28 years
 male:
  54.88 years
 female:
  59.76 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.42 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Liberian(s)
 adjective:
  Liberian
Ethnic divisions:
  indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo,
  Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians
  5% (descendants of repatriated slaves)
Religions:
  traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%
Languages:
  English 20% (official), Niger-Congo language group about 20 local languages
  come from this group
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 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; 52% of population of working age

*Liberia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Liberia
 conventional short form:
  Liberia
Digraph:
  LI
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Monrovia
Administrative divisions:   13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand
Kru,
  Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
Independence:
  26 July 1847
Constitution:
  6 January 1986
Legal system:
  dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the
  modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for
  indigenous sector
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL), Augustus CAINE, chairman;
  Liberian Action Party (LAP), Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman; Unity Party (UP),
  Carlos SMITH, chairman; United People's Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus
  MATTHEWS, chairman
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA); results - Gen. Dr. Samuel
  Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP) 26.4%, other 22.7%; note -
  President Doe was killed by rebel forces on 9 September 1990
 Senate:
  last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (26 total) NDPL 21, LAP 3, UP 1, UPP 1
 House of Representatives:
  last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (64 total) NDPL 51, LAP 8, UP 3, UPP 2
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower
  house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  People's Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  interim President Dr. Amos SAWYER (since 15 November 1990)
 note:
  this is an interim government appointed by the Economic Community of West
  African States (ECOWAS) that will be replaced after elections are held under
  a West African-brokered peace plan; a rebel faction led by Charles TAYLOR is
  challenging the SAWYER government's legitimacy; former president, Gen. Dr.
  Samuel Kanyon DOE, was killed on 9 September 1990 by Prince Y. JOHNSON

*Liberia, Government

Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:  chief of mission:
  Ambassador James TARPEH
 chancery:
  5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
 telephone:
  (202) 723-0437 through 0440
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador William H. TWADDELL
 embassy:
  111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 98, Monrovia, or APO AE 09813
 telephone:
  [231] 222991 through 222994
 FAX:
  (231) 223710
Flag:
  11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
  there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side
  corner; the design was based on the US flag

*Liberia, Economy

Overview:
  Civil war since 1990 has destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the
  infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Businessmen have fled the country,
  taking capital and expertise with them. Many will not return. Richly endowed
  with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to
  agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products,
  while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope.
  Political instability threatens prospects for economic reconstruction and
  repatriation of some 750,000 Liberian refugees who have fled to neighboring
  countries. The political impasse between the interim government and rebel
  leader Charles Taylor has prevented restoration of normal economic life,
  including the re-establishment of a strong central government with effective
  economic development programs.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $988 million (1988)
National product real growth rate:
  1.5% (1988)
National product per capita:
  $400 (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  12% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
  43% urban (1988)
Budget:
  revenues $242.1 million; expenditures $435.4 million, including capital
  expenditures of $29.5 million (1989)
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:
  rice, mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, other
  foodstuffs
 partners:
  US, EC, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS
External debt:
  $1.6 billion (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.5% in manufacturing (1987); accounts for 22% of GDP
Electricity:
  410,000 kW capacity; 750 million kWh produced, 275 kWh per capita (1991)
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:
  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

*Liberia, Economy

Currency:
  1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 1.00 (fixed rate since 1940); unofficial
  parallel exchange rate of L$7 = US$1, January 1992
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Liberia, Communications

Railroads:
  480 km total; 328 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 152 km 1.067-meter narrow
  gauge; all lines single track; rail systems owned and operated by foreign
  steel and financial interests in conjunction with Liberian Government
Highways:
  10,087 km total; 603 km bituminous treated, 2,848 km all weather, 4,313 km
  dry weather; there are also 2,323 km of private, laterite-surfaced roads
  open to public use, owned by rubber and timber companies
Ports:   Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville, Harper (or Cape Palmas)
Merchant marine:
  1,618 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 57,769,476 DWT/ 101,391,576 DWT;
  includes 20 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 132 cargo, 56 refrigerated
  cargo, 21 roll-on/roll-off, 58 vehicle carrier, 97 container, 3 barge
  carrier, 499 oil tanker, 108 chemical, 68 combination ore/oil, 62 liquefied
  gas, 6 specialized tanker, 456 bulk, 31 combination bulk; note - a flag of
  convenience registry; all ships are foreign owned; the top 4 owning flags
  are US 16%, Japan 14%, Norway 11%, and Hong Kong 9%
Airports:
 total:
  59
 usable:
  41
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  telephone and telegraph service via radio relay network; main center is
  Monrovia; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
  earth station; most telecommunications services inoperable due to insurgency
  movement

*Liberia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  the ultimate structure of the Liberian military force will depend on who is
  the victor in the ongoing civil war
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 684,681; fit for military service 365,518 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Libya, Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, between
  Egypt and Tunisia
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1,759,540 km2
 land area:
  1,759,540 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
  total 4,383 km, Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km,
  Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline:
  1,770 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
 Gulf of Sidra closing line:
  32 degrees 30 minutes north
International disputes:
  claims and occupies the Aozou Strip in northern Chad; maritime boundary
  dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims part of northern Niger and part of
  southeastern Algeria
Climate:
  Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:
  mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  8%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  90%
Irrigated land:
  2,420 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in
  spring and fall; desertification; sparse natural surface-water resources
Note:
  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

*Libya, People

Population:
  4,872,598 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.73% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.37 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:   65.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  63.47 years
 male:
  61.35 years
 female:
  65.7 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.44 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Libyan(s)
 adjective:
  Libyan
Ethnic divisions:
  Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis,
  Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages:
  Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  64%
 male:
  75%
 female:
  50%
Labor force:
  1 million includes about 280,000 resident foreigners
 by occupation:
  industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18%

*Libya, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
 conventional short form:
  Libya
 local long form:
  Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishirakiyah
 local short form:
  none
Digraph:
  LY
Type:
  Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace
  through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Capital:
  Tripoli
Administrative divisions:   25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular - baladiyat); Ajdabiya, Al
'Aziziyah,
  Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al
  Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan,
  Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq,
  Yafran, Zlitan
Independence:
  24 December 1951 (from Italy)
Constitution:
  11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system:
  based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious
  courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts;
  has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Political parties and leaders:
  none
Other political or pressure groups:
  various Arab nationalist movements and the Arab Socialist Resurrection
  (Ba'th) party with almost negligible memberships may be functioning
  clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
  national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples' committees
Executive branch:
  revolutionary leader, chairman of the General People's Committee (premier),
  General People's Committee (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral General People's Congress
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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) Abu Zayd 'umar DURDA
  (since 7 October 1990)

*Libya, Government

Member of:
  ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none
US diplomatic representation:
  none
Flag:
  plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)

*Libya, Economy

Overview:
  The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil
  sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about
  one-third of GDP. In 1990 per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at
  $5,410, but GDP growth rates have slowed and fluctuate sharply in response
  to changes in the world oil market. Import restrictions and inefficient
  resource allocations have led to shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs,
  although the reopening of the Libyan-Tunisian border in April 1988 and the
  Libyan-Egyptian border in December 1989 have eased shortages. Austerity
  budgets and a lack of trained technicians have undermined the government's
  ability to implement a number of planned infrastructure development
  projects. Windfall revenues from the hike in world oil prices in late 1990
  improved the foreign payments position and resulted in a current account
  surplus for the first time in five years. 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 about 20% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils
  severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food
  requirements.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $26.1 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0.2% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $5,800 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $8.1 billion; expenditures $9.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $3.1 billion (1989 est.)
Exports:
  $9.71 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas
 partners:
  Italy, former USSR, Germany, Spain, France, Belgium/Luxembourg, Turkey
Imports:
  $8.66 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods
 partners:
  Italy, former USSR, Germany, UK, Japan, Korea
External debt:
  $3.5 billion excluding military debt (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 10.5%; accounts for 7.6% of GDP (not including oil) (1990)
Electricity:
  4,935,000 kW capacity; 14,385 million kWh produced, 2,952 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Agriculture:
  5% of GNP; cash crops - wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus fruits,
  peanuts; 75% of food is imported

*Libya, Economy

Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
  $242 million; no longer a recipient
Currency:
  1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams
Exchange rates:
  Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.2998 (January 1993), 0.3013 (1992), 0.2684
  (1991), 0.2699 (1990), 0.2922 (1989), 0.2853 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Libya, Communications

Railroads:
  Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems
  having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a standard gauge
  (1.435 m) 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, progress
  unknown
Highways:
  19,300 km total; 10,800 km bituminous/bituminous treated, 8,500 km crushed
  stone or earth
Inland waterways:
  none
Pipelines:
  crude oil 4,383 km; natural gas 1,947 km; petroleum products 443 km
  (includes liquified petroleum gas 256 km)
Ports:
  Tobruk, Tripoli, Banghazi, Misratah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Ra's al
  Unif
Merchant marine:
  32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 694,883 GRT/1,215,494 DWT; includes 4
  short-sea passenger, 11 cargo, 4 roll-on/roll-off, 10 oil tanker, 1 chemical
  tanker, 2 liquefied gas
Airports:
 total:
  138
 usable:
  124
 with permanent-surface runways:
  56
 with runways over 3,659 m:   9
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  27
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  47
Telecommunications:
  modern telecommunications system using radio relay, coaxial cable,
  tropospheric scatter, and domestic satellite stations; 370,000 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 17 AM, 3 FM, 12 TV; satellite earth stations - 1
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 14 domestic; submarine
  cables to France and Italy; radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric
  scatter to Greece; planned ARABSAT and Intersputnik satellite stations

*Libya, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Armed Peoples of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah (including Army, Navy, Air and
  Air Defense Command)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,058,134; fit for military service 628,285; reach military
  age (17) annually 50,997 (1993 est.); conscription now being implemented
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $3.3 billion, 15% of GDP (1989 est.)

*Liechtenstein, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  160 km2
 land area:
  160 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 78 km, Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  claims 620 square miles of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family
  in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before
  February 1948, when the Communists seized power
Climate:
  continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to
  moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:
  mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Natural resources:
  hydroelectric potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  25%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  38%
 forest and woodland:
  19%
 other:
  18%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
Note:
  landlocked

*Liechtenstein, People

Population:
  29,894 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.32% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.15 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.62 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  6.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.29 years
 male:
  73.65 years
 female:
  80.9 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.45 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Liechtensteiner(s)
 adjective:
  Liechtenstein
Ethnic divisions:
  Alemannic 95%, Italian and other 5%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%, other 2.8% (1988)
Languages:
  German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
  age 10 and over can read and write (1981)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  19,905 of which 11,933 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and
  Switzerland to work each day
 by occupation:
  industry, trade, and building 53.2%, services 45%, agriculture, fishing,
  forestry, and horticulture 1.8% (1990)

*Liechtenstein, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Principality of Liechtenstein
 conventional short form:
  Liechtenstein
 local long form:
  Furstentum Liechtenstein
 local short form:
  Liechtenstein
Digraph:
  LS
Type:
  hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Vaduz
Administrative divisions:
  11 communes (gemeinden, singular - gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin,
  Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
  23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)
Constitution:
  5 October 1921
Legal system:
  local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
  reservations
National holiday:
  Assumption Day, 15 August
Political parties and leaders:
  Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Otto HASLER; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP),
  Emanuel VOGT; Free Electoral List (FL)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Diet:
  last held on 7 February 1993 (next to be held by March 1997); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total) FBP 12, VU 11, FL 2
Executive branch:   reigning prince, hereditary prince, head of government, deputy head of
  government
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Diet (Landtag)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal cases, Superior Court
  (Obergericht) for civil cases
Leaders:
 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:
  Markus BUECHEL (since 7 February 1993); Deputy Head of Government Dr.
  Herbert WILLE (since 2 February 1986)
Member of:
  CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN,
  UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the
  Swiss Embassy

*Liechtenstein, Government

US diplomatic representation:
  the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein, but the US
  Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the
  hoist side of the blue band

*Liechtenstein, Economy

Overview:
  The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale light industry and
  tourism. Industry accounts for 53% of total employment, the service sector
  45% (mostly based on tourism), and agriculture and forestry 2%. The sale of
  postage stamps to collectors is estimated at $10 million annually. 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. Such companies, incorporated
  solely for tax purposes, provide 30% of state revenues. The economy is tied
  closely to Switzerland's economy in a customs union, and incomes and living
  standards parallel those of the more prosperous Swiss groups.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $630 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $22,300 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  1.5% (1990)
Budget:
  revenues $259 million; expenditures $292 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1990)
Exports:
  $1.6 billion
 commodities:
  small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery
 partners:
  EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland 15.4%), EC countries 42.7%, other 36.4%
  (1990)
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  23,000 kW capacity; 150 million kWh produced, 5,230 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food
  products, precision instruments, tourism
Agriculture:
  livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates:
  Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.4781 (January 1993),
  1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Liechtenstein, Communications

Railroads:
  18.5 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, electrified; owned, operated, and
  included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways
Highways:
  130.66 km main roads, 192.27 km byroads
Airports:
  none
Telecommunications:
  limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system; 25,400 telephones;
  linked to Swiss networks by cable and radio relay for international
  telephone, radio, and TV services

*Liechtenstein, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is responsibility of Switzerland

*Lithuania, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia
Map references:
  Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  65,200 km2
 land area:
  65,200 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
  total 1,273 km, Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia
  (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:
  108 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) over the position of the Neman
  River border presently located on the Lithuanian bank and not in midriver as
  by international standards
Climate:
  maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain:
  lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Natural resources:
  peat
Land use:
 arable land:
  49.1%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  22.2%
 forest and woodland:
  16.3%
 other:
  12.4%
Irrigated land:
  430 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  risk of accidents from the two Chernobyl-type reactors at the Ignalina
  Nuclear Power Plant; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum
  products and chemicals at military bases

*Lithuania, People

Population:
  3,819,638 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.76% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  14.95 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  16.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  71.12 years
 male:
  66.39 years
 female:
  76.08 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.03 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Lithuanian(s)
 adjective:
  Lithuanian
Ethnic divisions:
  Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%, Belarusian 1.5%, other 2.1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic, Lutheran, other
Languages:
  Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  1.836 million
 by occupation:
  industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40%
  (1990)

*Lithuania, Government

Names:  conventional long form:
  Republic of Lithuania
 conventional short form:
  Lithuania
 local long form:
  Lietuvos Respublika
 local short form:
  Lietuva
 former:
  Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  LH
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Vilnius
Administrative divisions:
  NA districts
Independence:
  6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 16 February
Political parties and leaders:
  Christian Democratic Party, Egidijus KLUMBYS, chairman; Democratic Labor
  Party of Lithuania, Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman; Lithuanian
  Democratic Party, Sauluis PECELIUNAS, chairman; Lithuanian Green Party,
  Irena IGNATAVICIENE, chairwoman; Lithuanian Humanism Party, Vytautas
  KAZLAUSKAS, chairman; Lithuanian Independence Party, Virgilijus CEPAITIS,
  chairman; Lithuanian Liberty League, Antanas TERLECKAS; Lithuanian Liberal
  Union, Vytautus RADZVILAS, chairman; Lithuanian Nationalist Union, Rimantas
  SMETONA, chairman; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, Aloizas SAKALAS,
  chairman; Union of the Motherland, Vytavtas LANDSBERGIS, chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
  Sajudis; Lithuanian Future Forum; Farmers Union
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held NA); results - Algirdas
  BRAZAUSKAS was elected
 Seimas (parliament):
  last held 26 October and 25 November 1992 (next to be held NA); results -
  Democratic Labor Party 51%; seats - (141 total) Democratic Labor Party 73
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Seimas (parliament)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Court of Appeals
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Seimas Chairman and Acting President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 15
  November 1992); Deputy Seimas Chairmen Aloyzas SAKALAS (since NA December
  1992) and Egidius BICKAUSKAS (since NA December 1992)

*Lithuania, Government

 Head of Government:
  Premier Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS (since NA)
Member of:
  CBSS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, NACC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Stasys LOZORAITIS, Jr.
 chancery:
  2622 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 234-5860, 2639
 FAX:
  (202) 328-0466
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Darryl N. JOHNSON
 embassy:
  Akmenu 6, Vilnius 232600
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09723
 telephone:
  011 [7] (012-2) 222-031
 FAX:
  011 [7] (012-2) 222-779
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

*Lithuania, Economy

Overview:
  Lithuania is striving to become an independent privatized economy. Although
  it was substantially above average in living standards and technology in the
  old USSR, Lithuania historically lagged behind Latvia and Estonia in
  economic development. The country has no important natural resources aside
  from its arable land and strategic location. Industry depends entirely on
  imported materials that have come from the republics of the former USSR.
  Lithuania benefits from its ice-free port at Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea and
  its rail and highway hub at Vilnius, which provides land communication
  between Eastern Europe and Russia, Latvia, Estonia, and Belarus. Industry
  produces a small assortment of high-quality products, ranging from complex
  machine tools to sophisticated consumer electronics. Because of nuclear
  power, Lithuania is presently self-sufficient in electricity, exporting its
  surplus to Latvia and Belarus; the nuclear facilities inherited from the
  USSR, however, have come under world scrutiny as seriously deficient in
  safety standards. Agriculture is efficient compared with most of the former
  Soviet Union. Lithuania held first place in per capita consumption of meat,
  second place for eggs and potatoes, and fourth place for milk and dairy
  products. Grain must be imported to support the meat and dairy industries.
  Lithuania is pressing ahead with plans to privatize at least 60% of
  state-owned property (industry, agriculture, and housing), having already
  sold almost all housing and many small enterprises using a voucher system.
  Other government priorities include encouraging foreign investment by
  protecting the property rights of foreign firms and redirecting foreign
  trade away from Eastern markets to the more competitive Western markets. For
  the moment, Lithuania will remain highly dependent on Russia for energy, raw
  materials, grains, and markets for its products. In 1992, output plummeted
  by 30% because of cumulative problems with inputs and with markets, problems
  that were accentuated by the phasing out of the Russian ruble as the medium
  of exchange.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -30% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  10%-20% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  1% (February 1993); but large numbers of underemployed workers
Budget:
  revenues $258.5 million; expenditures $270.2 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  electronics 18%, petroleum products 5%, food 10%, chemicals 6% (1989)
 partners:
  Russia 40%, Ukraine 16%, other former Soviet republics 32%, West 12%
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  oil 24%, machinery 14%, chemicals 8%, grain NA% (1989)
 partners:
  Russia 62%, Belarus 18%, former Soviet republics 10%, West 10%
External debt:
  $650 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -50% (1992 est.)

*Lithuania, Economy

Electricity:
  5,925,000 kW capacity; 25,000 million kWh produced, 6,600 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  employs 25% of the labor force; shares in the total production of the former
  USSR are: 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 20% of labor force; sugar, grain, potatoes, sugarbeets,
  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 to
  Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic
  consumption
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-86), $NA million;
  Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million
Currency:
  using talonas as temporary currency (March 1993), but planning introduction
  of convertible litas (late 1993)
Exchange rates:
  NA
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Lithuania, Communications

Railroads:
  2,100 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  44,200 km total 35,500 km hard surfaced, 8,700 km earth (1990)
Inland waterways:
  600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
  crude oil 105 km, natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports:
  coastal - Klaipeda; inland - Kaunas
Merchant marine:
  46 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 282,633 GRT/332,447 DWT; includes 31
  cargo, 3 railcar carrier, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 11 combination bulk
Airports:
 total:
  96
 useable:
  19
 with permanent-surface runways:
  12
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  5
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  11
Telecommunications:
  better developed than in most other former USSR republics; operational
  NMT-450 analog cellular network in Vilnius; fiber optic cable installed
  beween Vilnius and Kaunas; 224 telephones per 1000 persons; broadcast
  stations - 13 AM, 26 FM, 1 SW, 1 LW, 3 TV; landlines or microwave to former
  USSR republics; leased connection to the Moscow international switch for
  traffic with other countries; satellite earth stations - (8 channels to
  Norway); new international digital telephone exchange in Kaunas for direct
  access to 13 countries via satellite link out of Copenhagen, Denmark

*Lithuania, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Security Forces (internal and border
  troops), National Guard (Skat)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 933,245; fit for military service 739,400; reach military
  age (18) annually 27,056 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, 5.5% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Luxembourg, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, between Belgium and Germany
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  2,586 km2
 land area:
  2,586 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
  total 359 km, Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:
  mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to
  slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle floodplain in
  the southeast
Natural resources:
  iron ore (no longer exploited)
Land use:
 arable land:
  24%
 permanent crops:   1%
 meadows and pastures:
  20%
 forest and woodland:
  21%
 other:
  34%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  deforestation
Note:
  landlocked

*Luxembourg, People

Population:
  398,220 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.04% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.96 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.56 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  6.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.43 years
 male:
  72.71 years
 female:
  80.3 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.63 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Luxembourger(s)
 adjective:
  Luxembourg
Ethnic divisions:
  Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and
  European (guest and worker residents)
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
Languages:
  Luxembourgisch, German, French, English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  100%
 male:   100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  177,300 one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal,
  Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany
 by occupation:
  services 65%, industry 31.6%, agriculture 3.4% (1988)

*Luxembourg, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
 conventional short form:
  Luxembourg
 local long form:
  Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
 local short form:
  Luxembourg
Digraph:
  LU
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Luxembourg
Administrative divisions:
  3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:
  1839
Constitution:
  17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke's
  birthday)
Political parties and leaders:
  Christian Social Party (CSV), Jacques SANTER; Socialist Workers Party
  (LSAP), Jacques POOS; Liberal (DP), Colette FLESCH; Communist (KPL), Andre
  HOFFMANN; Green Alternative (GAP), Jean HUSS
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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held on 18 June 1989 (next to be held by June 1994); results - CSV
  31.7%, LSAP 27.2%, DP 16.2%, Greens 8.4%, PAC 7.3%, KPL 5.1%, other 4.1%;
  seats - (60 total) CSV 22, LSAP 18, DP 11, Greens 4, PAC 4, KPL 1
Executive branch:
  grand duke, prime minister, vice prime minister, Council of Ministers
  (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes); note - the Council of
  State (Conseil d'Etat) is an advisory body whose views are considered by the
  Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch:
  Superior Court of Justice (Cour Superieure de Justice)
Leaders:
 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 Jacques SANTER (since 21 July 1984); Vice Prime Minister
  Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984)

*Luxembourg, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB,
  FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD,
  PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, 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:
  (202) 265-4171
 FAX:
  (202) 328-8270
 consulates general:
  New York and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edward M. ROWELL
 embassy:
  22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City
 mailing address:
  PSC 11, APO AE 09132-5380
 telephone:
  [352] 460123
 FAX:
  [352] 461401
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to
  the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design
  was based on the flag of France

*Luxembourg, Economy

Overview:   The stable 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 and is also closely connected economically to the
  Netherlands.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.5 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  2.5% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $21,700 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  1.4% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $3.5 billion; expenditures $3.5 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
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%, FRG 31%, France 12%, US 2%
External debt:
  $131.6 million (1989 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -0.5% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP
Electricity:
  1,238,750 kW capacity; 1,375 million kWh produced, 3,450 kWh per capita
  (1990)
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
Illicit drugs:
  money-laundering hub
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes

*Luxembourg, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 33.256 (January 1993), 32.150 (1992),
  34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988); note - the
  Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely
  in Luxembourg
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Luxembourg, Communications

Railroads:
  Luxembourg National Railways (CFL) operates 272 km 1.435-meter standard
  gauge; 178 km double track; 178 km electrified
Highways:
  5,108 km total; 4,995 km paved, 57 km gravel, 56 km earth; about 80 km
  limited access divided highway
Inland waterways:
  37 km; Moselle River
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 48 km
Ports:
  Mertert (river port)
Merchant marine:
  53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,570,466 GRT/2,614,154 DWT; includes
  2 cargo, 5 container, 5 roll-on/roll-off, 6 oil tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 3
  combination ore/oil, 8 liquefied gas, 2 passenger, 8 bulk, 6 combination
  bulk, 4 refrigerated cargo
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried
  cables; 230,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV; 3
  channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable; 1 direct-broadcast
  satellite earth station; nationwide mobile phone system

*Luxembourg, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 103,607; fit for military service 86,003; reach military age
  (19) annually 2,227 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1.2% of GDP (1992)

*Macau, Header

Affiliation:
  (overseas territory of Portugal)

*Macau, Geography

Location:
  East Asia, 27 km west-southwest of Hong Kong on the southeast coast of China
  bordering the South China Sea
Map references:
  Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  16 km2
 land area:
  16 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 0.34 km, China 0.34 km
Coastline:
  40 km
Maritime claims:
  not specified
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
  generally flat
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:   100%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge connect the two islands to
  the peninsula on mainland

*Macau, People

Population:
  477,850 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.44% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  14.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.05 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  79.64 years
 male:
  77.24 years
 female:
  82.17 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.44 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Macanese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Macau
Ethnic divisions:
  Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Religions:
  Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2%
  (1981)
Languages:
  Portuguese (official), Cantonese is the language of commerce
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
 total population:
  90%
 male:
  93%
 female:
  86%
Labor force:
  180,000 (1986)
 by occupation:
  NA

*Macau, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Macau
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Ilha de Macau
Digraph:
  MC
Type:
  overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in 1999
Capital:
  Macau
Administrative divisions:
  2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Independence:
  none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13
  April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the joint
  declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic
  systems and lifestyle for 50 year after transition)
Constitution:
  17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by
  Beijing awaiting final approval
Legal system:
  Portuguese civil law system
National holiday:
  Day of Portugal, 10 June
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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  last held on 10 March 1991; 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
Executive branch:
  president of Portugal, governor, Consultative Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:  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)
Member of:
  ESCAP (associate), GATT, IMO (associate), WTO (associate)

*Macau, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
  as Chinese territory under Portuguese administration, Macanese interests in
  the US are represented by Portugal
US diplomatic representation:
  the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US
  Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag:
  the flag of Portugal is used

*Macau, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and
  fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small
  industries - toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector
  has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided
  about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry represented well
  over 40% of GDP in 1992. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh
  water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw
  materials and capital goods.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.1 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  3.1% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $6,700 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8.2% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  2% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $305 million; expenditures $298 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports:
  $1.8 billion (1992 est.)
 commodities:
  textiles, clothing, toys
 partners:
  US 36%, Hong Kong 13%, Germany 12%, France 8% (1991)
Imports:
  $2.0 billion (1992 est.)
 commodities:
  raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods
 partners:
  Hong Kong 35%, China 22%, Japan 17% (1991)
External debt:
  $91 million (1985)
Industrial production:
  NA
Electricity:
  258,000 kW capacity; 855 million kWh produced, 1,806 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture, tourism
Agriculture:
  rice, vegetables; food shortages - rice, vegetables, meat; depends mostly on
  imports for food requirements
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Exchange rates:
  patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.034 (1991), 8.024 (1990), 8.030 (1989), 8.044
  (1988), 7.993 (1987); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of
  1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Macau, Communications

Highways:
  42 km paved
Ports:
  Macau
Airports:
  none useable, 1 under construction; 1 seaplane station
Telecommunications:
  fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and
  international services; 52,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 3 FM,
  no TV (TV programs received from Hong Kong); 115,000 radio receivers (est.);
  international high-frequency radio communication facility; access to
  international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Macau, Defense Forces

Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 137,738; fit for military service 77,159 (1993 est.)
Note:
  defense is responsibility of Portugal

*Macedonia, Header

  Macedonia has proclaimed independent statehood but has not been formally
  recognized as a state by the United States.

*Macedonia, Geography

Location:
  Southern Europe, between Serbia and Montenegro and Greece
Map references:
  Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  25,333 km2
 land area:
  24,856 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
  total 748 km, Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km, Serbia and
  Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  Greece claims republic's name implies territorial claims against Aegean
  Macedonia
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
Natural resources:
  chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore,
  asbestos, sulphur, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  5%
 permanent crops:
  5%
 meadows and pastures:
  20%
 forest and woodland:
  30%
 other:
  40%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  Macedonia suffers from high seismic hazard; air pollution from metallurgical
  plants
Note:
  landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to
  Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

*Macedonia, People

Population:
  2,193,951 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.91% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.91 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.79 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  29.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  73.19 years
 male:
  71.15 years
 female:
  75.41 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Macedonian(s)
 adjective:
  Macedonian
Ethnic divisions:
  Macedonian 67%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, other 6%
Religions:
  Eastern Orthodox 59%, Muslim 26%, Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other 10%
Languages:
  Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  507,324
 by occupation:
  agriculture 8%, manufacturing and mining 40% (1990)

*Macedonia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Macedonia
 conventional short form:
  Macedonia  local long form:
  Republika Makedonija
 local short form:
  Makedonija
Digraph:
  MK
Type:
  emerging democracy
Capital:
  Skopje
Administrative divisions:
  34 districts (opcine, singular - opcina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar,
  Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani,
  Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep,
  Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos,
  Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole,
  Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica
Independence:
  20 November 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Constitution:
  adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:
  NA
Political parties and leaders:
  Social-Democratic League of Macedonia (SDSM; former Communist Party), Branko
  CRVENKOVSKI, president; Party for Democratic Prosperity in Macedonia (PDPM),
  Nevzat HALILI, president; National Democratic Party (PDP), Ilijas HALINI,
  president; Alliance of Reform Forces of Macedonia (SRSM), 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
Other political or pressure groups:
  Movement for All Macedonian Action (MAAK); League for Democracy; Albanian
  Democratic Union-Liberal Party
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 27 January 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Kiro GLIGOROV was
  elected by the Assembly
 Assembly:
  last held 11 and 25 November and 9 December 1990 (next to be held NA);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) VMRO-DPMNE 37,
  SDSM 31, PDPM 25, SRSM 17, SJM 1, SPM 5, others 4
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers, prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Assembly (Sobranje)
Judicial branch:
  Constitutional Court, Judicial Court of the Republic

*Macedonia, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since NA September 1992), Deputy Prime
  Ministers Jovan ANDONOV (since NA March 1991), Stevo CRVENKOVSKI (since NA
  September 1992), and Becir ZUTA (since NA March 1991)
Member of:
  EBRD, ICAO, IMF, UN, UNCTAD, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none; US does not recognize Macedonia
US diplomatic representation:
  none; US does not recognize Macedonia
Flag:
  16-point gold sun (Vergino, Sun) centered on a red field

*Macedonia, Economy

Overview:
  Macedonia, although the poorest among the six republics of a dissolved
  Yugoslav federation, can meet basic food and energy needs through its own
  agricultural and coal resources. It will, however, move down toward a bare
  subsistence level of life unless economic 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 its modern
  machinery and parts. Continued political turmoil, both internally and in the
  region as a whole, prevents any swift readjustments of trade patterns and
  economic programs. Inflation in early 1992 was out of control, the result of
  fracturing trade links, the decline in economic activity, and general
  uncertainties about the future status of the country; prices rose 38% in
  March 1992 alone. In August 1992, Greece, angry at the use of "Macedonia" as
  the republic's name, imposed a partial blockade for several months. This
  blockade, combined with the effects of the UN sanctions on Serbia and
  Montenegro, cost the economy approximately $1 billion in 1992 according to
  official figures. 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 help to
  encourage foreign investment over the long run. In the immediate future, the
  worst scenario for the economy would be the spread of fighting across its
  borders.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $7.1 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -18% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $3,110 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  114.9% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  20% (1991 est.)
Budget:   revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $578 million (1990)
 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%
 partners:
  principally Serbia and Montenegro and the other former Yugoslav republics,
  Germany, Greece, Albania
Imports:
  $1,112 million (1990)
 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%
 partners:
  other former Yugoslav republics, Greece, Albania, Germany, Bulgaria
External debt:
  $845.8 million
Industrial production:
  growth rate -18% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
  1,600,000 kw capacity; 6,300 million kWh produced, 2,900 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Macedonia, Economy

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:
  provides 12% of GDP and meets the basic need for food; principal crops are
  rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, and millet; also grown are cotton, sesame,
  mulberry leaves, citrus fruit, and vegetables; Macedonia is one of the seven
  legal cultivators of the opium poppy for the world pharmaceutical industry,
  including some exports to the US; agricultural production is highly labor
  intensive
Illicit drugs:
  NA
Economic aid:
  $10 million from the US for humanitarian and technical assistance; EC
  promised a 100 ECU million economic aid package
Currency:
  1 denar (abbreviation NA) = 100 NA
Exchange rates:
  denar per US$1 - 240 (January 1991)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Macedonia, Communications

Railroads:
  NA
Highways:
  10,591 km total (1991); 5,091 km paved, 1,404 km gravel, 4,096 km earth
Inland waterways:
  NA km
Pipelines:
  none
Ports:
  none; landlocked
Airports:
 total:
  17
 useable:
  17
 with permanent-surface runways:
  9
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  125,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 2 FM, 5 (2 relays) TV;
  370,000 radios, 325,000 TV; satellite communications ground stations - none

*Macedonia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 597,024; fit for military service 484,701; reach military
  age (19) annually 18,979 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  7 billion denars, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of the military
  budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
  misleading results

*Madagascar, Geography

Location:
  in the western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of Mozambique in Southern Africa
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  587,040 km2
 land area:
  581,540 km2  comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  4,828 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
  Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Climate:
  tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
  narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Natural resources:
  graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious
  stones, mica, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  4%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  58%
 forest and woodland:
  26%
 other:
  11%
Irrigated land:
  9,000 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to periodic cyclones; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
  desertification
Note:
  world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

*Madagascar, People

Population:
  13,005,989 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.2% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  13.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  91 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  53.52 years
 male:
  51.65 years
 female:
  55.45 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.75 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Malagasy (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Malagasy
Ethnic divisions:
  Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African,
  Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka,
  Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
  French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  80%
 male:
  88%
 female:
  73%
Labor force:
  4.9 million 90% nonsalaried family workers engaged in subsistence
  agriculture; 175,000 wage earners
 by occupation:
  agriculture 26%, domestic service 17%, industry 15%, commerce 14%,
  construction 11%, services 9%, transportation 6%, other 2%
 note:
  51% of population of working age (1985)

*Madagascar, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Madagascar
 conventional short form:
  Madagascar
 local long form:
  Republique de Madagascar
 local short form:
  Madagascar
 former:
  Malagasy Republic
Digraph:
  MA
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Antananarivo
Administrative divisions:
  6 provinces - Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina,
  Toliary
Independence:
  26 June 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  12 September 1992
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not
  accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
  some 30 political parties now exist in Madagascar, the most important of
  which are Advance Guard of the Malagasy Revolution (AREMA), Didier
  RATSIRAKA; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence (AKFM),
  RAKOTOVAO-ANDRIATIANA; Movement for National Unity (VONJY), Dr. Marojama
  RAZANABAHINY; Malagasy Christian Democratic Union (UDECMA), Norbert
  ANDRIAMORASATA; Militants for the Establishment of a Proletarian Regime
  (MFM), Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA; National Movement for the Independence of
  Madagascar (MONIMA), Monja JAONA; National Union for the Defense of
  Democracy (UNDD), Albert ZAFY
Other political or pressure groups:
  National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM), leader NA; Federalist
  Movement, leader NA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 10 February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - Albert ZAFY
  (UNDD), 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33%
 Popular National Assembly:
  last held on 28 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993); results - AREMA 88.2%,
  MFM 5.1%, AKFM 3.7%, VONJY 2.2%, other 0.8%; seats - (137 total) AREMA 120,
  MFM 7, AKFM 5, VONJY 4, MONIMA 1
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers

*Madagascar, Government

Legislative branch:
  unicameral Popular National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire); note -
  the National Assembly has suspended its operations during 1992 and early
  1993 in preparation for new legislative elections. In its place, an interim
  High Authority of State and a Social and Economic Recovery Council have been
  established
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour
  Constitutionnelle)
Leaders:  Chief of State:
  President Adm. Didier RATSIRAKA (since 15 June 1975)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Guy RAZANAMASY (since 8 August 1991)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
  OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, 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:
  (202) 265-5525 or 5526
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Douglas BARRETT
 embassy:
  14 and 16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
 mailing address:
  B. P. 620, Antananarivo
 telephone:
  [261] (2) 212-57, 209-56, 200-89, 207-18
 FAX:
  261-234-539
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band
  of the same width on hoist side

*Madagascar, Economy

Overview:
  Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture,
  including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting
  for over 30% of GDP and contributing to 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. After mid-1991, however,
  output dropped sharply because of protracted antigovernment strikes and
  demonstrations for political reform.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $200 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  20% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:   NA%
Budget:
  revenues $250 million; expenditures $265 million, including capital
  expenditures of $180 million (1991)
Exports:
  $312 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, sugar, petroleum products
 partners:
  France, Japan, Italy, Germany, US
Imports:
  $350 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer
  goods 14%, food 13%
 partners:
  France, Germany, UK, other EC, US
External debt:
  $4.4 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.2% (1990 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
Electricity:
  125,000 kW capacity; 450 million kWh produced, 35 kWh per capita (1991)
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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3,125 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million

*Madagascar, Economy

Currency:
  1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 1,910.2 (December 1992), 1,867.9 (1992),
  1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990), 1,603.4 (1989), 1,407.1 (1988),
  1,069.2 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Madagascar, Communications

Railroads:
  1,020 km 1.000-meter gauge
Highways:
  40,000 km total; 4,694 km paved, 811 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized
  soil, 34,495 km improved and unimproved earth (est.)
Inland waterways:
  of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des
  Pangalanes
Ports:
  Toamasina, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara
Merchant marine:
  11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,359 GRT/48,772 DWT; includes 6
  cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1
  liquefied gas
Airports:
 total:
  146
 usable:
  103
 with permanent-surface runways:
  30
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  36
Telecommunications:
  above average system includes open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio relay,
  and troposcatter links; submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations
  - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and broadcast stations - 17 AM, 3 FM, 1 (36
  repeaters) TV

*Madagascar, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Popular Armed Forces (including Intervention Forces, Development Forces,
  Aeronaval Forces - including Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential
  Security Regiment
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,826,018; fit for military service 1,681,553; reach
  military age (20) annually 118,233 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $37 million, 2.2% of GDP (1991 est.)

*Malawi, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, between Mozambique and Zambia
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:  total area:
  118,480 km2
 land area:
  94,080 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
  total 2,881 km, Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain:
  narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
Natural resources:
  limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use:
 arable land:
  25%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  20%
 forest and woodland:
  50%
 other:
  5%
Irrigated land:
  200 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  deforestation
Note:
  landlocked

*Malawi, People

Population:
  9,831,935 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -0.95% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  51.1 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  22.87 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -37.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  141.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:   40.48 years
 male:
  39.61 years
 female:
  41.37 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  7.5 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Malawian(s)
 adjective:
  Malawian
Ethnic divisions:
  Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian,
  European
Religions:
  Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%, traditional indigenous
  beliefs
Languages:
  English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important
  regionally
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1966)
 total population:
  22%
 male:
  34%
 female:
  12%
Labor force:
  428,000 wage earners
 by occupation:
  agriculture 43%, manufacturing 16%, personal services 15%, commerce 9%,
  construction 7%, miscellaneous services 4%, other permanently employed 6%
  (1986)

*Malawi, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Malawi
 conventional short form:
  Malawi
 former:
  Nyasaland
Digraph:
  MI
Type:
  one-party republic
 note:
  a referendum to determine whether Malawi should remain a one-party state is
  scheduled to be held on 14 June 1993
Capital:
  Lilongwe
Administrative divisions:
  24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga,
  Kasungu, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza,
  Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima,
  Thyolo, Zomba
Independence:
  6 July 1964 (from UK)
Constitution:
  6 July 1964; republished as amended January 1974
Legal system:
  based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
  legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory
  ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
Political parties and leaders:
  only party - Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Wadson DELEZA, administrative
  secretary; John TEMBO, treasurer general; top party position of secretary
  general vacant since 1983
Other political or pressure groups:
  Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Chakufwa CHIHANA; United Democratic Front
  (UDF) Bakili MULUZI; Malawi Democratic People (MDP), leader NA
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  President BANDA sworn in as President for Life on 6 July 1971
 National Assembly:
  last held 26-27 June 1987 (next to be held by June 1997); results - MCP is
  the only party; seats - (141 total, 136 elected) MCP 141
Executive branch:
  president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Dr. Hastings Kamuzu BANDA (since 6 July 1966; sworn in as
  President for Life 6 July 1971)

*Malawi, Government

Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS,
  NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert B. MBAYA
 chancery:
  2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 797-1007
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Michael T. F. PISTOR
 embassy:
  address NA, in new capital city development area in Lilongwe
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe
 telephone:
  [265] 730-166
 FAX:
  [265] 732-282
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant,
  rising, red sun centered in the black band; similar to the flag of
  Afghanistan, which is longer and has the national coat of arms superimposed
  on the hoist side of the black and red bands

*Malawi, Economy

Overview:
  Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The
  economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90% of the population
  living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for 40% of GDP and 90% of export
  revenues. After two years of weak performance, economic growth improved
  significantly in 1988-91 as a result of good weather and a broadly based
  economic adjustment effort by the government. Drought cut overall output
  sharply in 1992. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic
  assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.9 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -7.7% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $200 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  21% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $398 million; expenditures $510 million, including capital
  expenditures of $154 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $400 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood products
 partners:
  US, UK, Zambia, South Africa, Germany
Imports:
  $660 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation
  equipment
 partners:
  South Africa, Japan, US, UK, Zimbabwe
External debt:
  $1.8 billion (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.0% (1990 est.); accounts for about 18% of GDP (1988)
Electricity:
  190,000 kW capacity; 620 million kWh produced, 65 kWh per capita (1992)
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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $215 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2,150 million
Currency:
  1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala
Exchange rates:
  Malawian kwacha (MK) per US$1 - 4.3418 (November 1992), 2.8033 (1991),
  2.7289 (1990), 2.7595 (1989), 2.5613 (1988), 2.2087 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Malawi, Communications

Railroads:
  789 km 1.067-meter gauge
Highways:
  13,135 km total; 2,364 km paved; 251 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized
  soil; 10,520 km earth and improved earth
Inland waterways:
  Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River, 144 km
Ports:
  Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, and Nkotakota - all on Lake Nyasa (Lake
  Malawi)
Airports:
 total:
  47
 usable:
  41
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  10
Telecommunications:
  fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio communications
  stations; 42,250 telephones; broadcast stations - 10 AM, 17 FM, no TV;
  satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT
Note:
  a majority of exports would normally go through Mozambique on the Beira,
  Nacala, and Limgogo railroads, but now most go through South Africa because
  of insurgent activity and damage to rail lines

*Malawi, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (including Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (including
  paramilitary Mobile Force Unit), paramilitary Malawi Young Pioneers
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,059,509; fit for military service 1,048,986 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $22 million, 1.6% of GDP (1989 est.)

*Malaysia, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, bordering the South China Sea, between Vietnam and Indonesia
Map references:
  Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  329,750 km2
 land area:
  328,550 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
  total 2,669 km, Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline:
  4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South
  China Sea
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China,
  Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; State of Sabah claimed by
  the Philippines; Brunei may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that
  divides Brunei into two parts; two islands in dispute with Singapore; two
  islands in dispute with Indonesia
Climate:
  tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to
  February) monsoons
Terrain:   coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Natural resources:
  tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  10%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  63%
 other:
  24%
Irrigated land:
  3,420 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to flooding; air and water pollution
Note:
  strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

*Malaysia, People

Population:
  18,845,340 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.32% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  28.93 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.77 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  26.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  68.82 years
 male:
  65.96 years
 female:
  71.81 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.54 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Malaysian(s)
 adjective:
  Malaysian
Ethnic divisions:
  Malay and other indigenous 59%, Chinese 32%, Indian 9%
Religions:
 Peninsular Malaysia:
  Muslim (Malays)
  Buddhist (Chinese), Hindu (Indians)
 Sabah:
  Muslim 38%
  Christian 17%, other 45%
 Sarawak:
  tribal religion 35%
  Buddhist and Confucianist 24%, Muslim 20%, Christian 16%, other 5%
Languages:
 Peninsular Malaysia:
  Malay (official)
  English, Chinese dialects, Tamil
 State of Sabah:
  English
  Malay, numerous tribal dialects, Chinese (Mandarin and Hakka dialects
  predominate)
 State of Sarawak:
  English
  Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages,
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  78%
 male:
  86%
 female:
  70%
Labor force:
  7.258 million (1991 est.)

*Malaysia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Malaysia
 former:
  Malayan Union
Digraph:
  MY
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
 note:
  Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed by the paramount
  ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; Peninsular Malaysian states -
  hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, where governors are appointed by
  Malaysian Pulau Pinang Government; powers of state governments are limited
  by federal Constitution; Sabah - self-governing state, holds 20 seats in
  House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security,
  and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak - self-governing
  state within Malaysia, holds 27 seats in House of Representatives, with
  foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to
  federal government
Capital:   Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions:
  13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 2 federal territories*,   (wilayah-wilayah
persekutuan, singular - wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah,
  Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau,   Pinang, Sabah,
Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*, Independence:
  31 August 1957 (from UK)
Constitution:
  31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963
Legal system:
  based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the
  Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 31 August (1957)
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, Datuk LIM Keng Yaik; Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), Datuk S.
  Samy VELLU
 Sabah:
  Berjaya Party, Datuk Haji Mohammed NOOR Mansor; Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Joseph
  Pairin KITINGAN; 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
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal

*Malaysia, Government

Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held 21 October 1990 (next to be held by August 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
  got 71 seats and MCA 18 seats
Executive branch:
  paramount ruler, deputy paramount ruler, prime minister, deputy prime
  minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament (Parlimen) consists of an upper house or Senate (Dewan
  Negara) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:   Paramount Ruler AZLAN Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Sultan Yusof Izzudin (since 26
  April 1989); Deputy Paramount Ruler JA'AFAR ibni Abdul Rahman (since 26
  April 1989)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981); Deputy Prime
  Minister Abdul GHAFAR Bin Baba (since 7 May 1986)
Member of:
  APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Abdul MAJID Mohamed
 chancery:
  2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 328-2700
 consulates 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
 telephone:
  [60] (3) 248-9011
 FAX:
  [60] (3) 242-2207
Flag:
  fourteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white
  (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a
  yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the
  star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of
  the US

*Malaysia, Economy

Overview:
  The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and a soundly managed
  public sector, has posted a remarkable record of 8%-9% average growth in
  1987-92. This growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in poverty and
  a marked rise in real wages. Despite sluggish growth in the major world
  economies in 1992, demand for Malaysian goods remained strong and foreign
  investors continued to commit large sums in the economy. The government is
  aware of the inflationary potential of this rapid development and is closely
  monitoring fiscal and monetary policies.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $54.5 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  8% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:   $2,960 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  4.1% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $15.6 billion; expenditures $18.0 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $4.5 billion (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $39.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  electronic equipment, palm oil, petroleum and petroleum products, wood and
  wood products, rubber, textiles
 partners:
  Singapore 23%, US 18.6%, Japan 13.2%, UK 4%, Germany 4%
Imports:
  $39.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  food, consumer goods, petroleum products, chemicals, capital equipment
 partners:
  Japan 26%, US 15.8%, Singapore 15.7%, Taiwan 5.6%, Germany 4.2%
External debt:
  $25.7 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 13% (1992); accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
  8,000,000 kW capacity; 30,000 million kWh produced, 1,610 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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 20% of GDP
 Peninsular Malaysia:
  natural rubber, palm oil, rice
 Sabah:
  mainly subsistence, but also rubber, timber, coconut, rice

*Malaysia, Economy

 Sarawak:
  rubber, timber, pepper; deficit of rice in all areas; fish catch of 608,000
  metric tons in 1987
Illicit drugs:
  transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe,
  and the Third World
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-84), $170 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.7 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $42 million
Currency:
  1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen
Exchange rates:
  ringgits (M$) per US$1 - 2.6238 (January 1993), 2.5475 (1992), 2.7501
  (1991), 1.7048 (1990), 2.7088 (1989), 2.6188 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Malaysia, Communications

Railroads:
 Peninsular Malaysia:
  1,665 km 1.04-meter gauge; 13 km double track, government owned
 Sabah:
  136 km 1.000-meter gauge
 Sarawak:
  none
Highways:
 Peninsular Malaysia:
  23,600 km; 19,352 km hard surfaced, mostly bituminous surface treatment, and
  4,248 km unpaved
 Sabah:
  3,782 km
 Sarawak:
  1,644 km
Inland waterways:
 Peninsular Malaysia:
  3,209 km
 Sabah:
  1,569 km
 Sarawak:
  2,518 km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km
Ports:
  Tanjong Kidurong, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Kelang,
  Sandakan, Tawau
Merchant marine:
  184 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,869,817 GRT/2,786,765 DWT; includes
  1 passenger-cargo, 2 short-sea passenger, 71 cargo, 28 container, 2 vehicle
  carrier, 2 roll-on/roll-off, 1 livestock carrier, 38 oil tanker, 6 chemical
  tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 27 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  111
 usable:
  102
 with permanent-surface runways:
  32
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:   7
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  18
Telecommunications:
  good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave
  radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah
  and Sarawak via Brunei; international service good; good coverage by radio
  and television broadcasts; 994,860 telephones (1984); broadcast stations -
  28 AM, 3 FM, 33 TV; submarine cables extend to India and Sarawak; SEACOM
  submarine cable links to Hong Kong and Singapore; satellite earth stations -
  1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, and 2 domestic

*Malaysia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal
  Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 4,837,256; fit for military service 2,941,577; reach
  military age (21) annually 181,435 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion, about 5% of GDP (1992)

*Maldives, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, in the Indian Ocean off the southwest coast of India
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  300 km2
 land area:
  300 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  644 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  35-310 nm as defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone coincides
  with maritime boundary with India
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy,
  southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain:   flat with elevations only as high as 2.5 meters
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  10%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  3%
 forest and woodland:
  3%
 other:
  84%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  1,200 coral islands grouped into 19 atolls
Note:
  archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in
  Indian Ocean

*Maldives, People

Population:
  243,094 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.64% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  44.34 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.91 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  57.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  63.86 years
 male:
  62.5 years
 female:
  65.28 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.36 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Maldivian(s)
 adjective:
  Maldivian
Ethnic divisions:
  Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim
Languages:
  Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic), English spoken by
  most government officials
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
 total population:
  92%
 male:
  92%
 female:
  92%
Labor force:
  66,000 (est.)
 by occupation:
  fishing industry 25%

*Maldives, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Maldives
 conventional short form:
  Maldives
Digraph:
  MV
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Male
Administrative divisions:
  19 districts (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu, Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu,
  Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa,
  Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu
Independence:
  26 July 1965 (from UK)
Constitution:
  4 June 1964
Legal system:
  based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in
  commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Political parties and leaders:
  no organized political parties; country governed by the Didi clan for the
  past eight centuries
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 23 September 1988 (next to be held September 1993); results -
  President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected
 Citizens' Council:
  last held on 7 December 1989 (next to be held 7 December 1994); results -
  percent of vote NA; seats - (48 total, 40 elected)
Executive branch:
  president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Citizens' Council (Majlis)
Judicial branch:
  High Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978)
Member of:
  AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
  IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  Maldives does not maintain an embassy in the US, but does have a UN mission
  in New York
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

*Maldives, Government

 telephone:
  2581
Flag:
  red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white
  crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag

*Maldives, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and shipping. Agriculture is
  limited to the production of a few subsistence crops that provide only 10%
  of food requirements. Fishing is the largest industry, employing 25% of the
  work force and accounting for over 60% of exports; it is also an important
  source of government revenue. During the 1980s tourism became one of the
  most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1988 industry
  accounted for about 5% of GDP. Real GDP is officially estimated to have
  increased by about 10% annually during the period 1974-90.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $140 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4.7% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $620 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  11.5% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NEGL%
Budget:
  revenues $52 million (excluding foreign transfers); expenditures $83
  million, including capital expenditures of $39 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $53.7 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  fish, clothing
 partners:
  US, UK, Sri Lanka
Imports:
  $150.9 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products
 partners:
  Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, India
External debt:
  $90 million (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 24.0% (1990); accounts for 6% of GDP
Electricity:
  5,000 kW capacity; 11 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, some coconut
  processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope), handicrafts
Agriculture:
  accounts for almost 25% of GDP (including fishing); fishing more important
  than farming; limited production of coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; most
  staple foods must be imported; fish catch of 67,000 tons (1990 est.)
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $28 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $125 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $14 million
Currency:
  1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laaris
Exchange rates:
  rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 10.506 (January 1993), 10.569 (1992), 10.253 (1991),
  9.509 (1990), 9.0408 (1989), 8.7846 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Maldives, Communications

Highways:
  Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city
Ports:
  Male, Gan
Merchant marine:
  14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 38,848 GRT/58,496 DWT; includes 12
  cargo, 1 container, 1 oil tanker
Airports:
 total:
  2
 useable:
  2  with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  minimal domestic and international facilities; 2,804 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Maldives, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Security Service (paramilitary police force)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 53,730; fit for military service 30,014 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Mali, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, between Mauritania and Niger
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1.24 million km2
 land area:
  1.22 million km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 7,243 km, Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote
  d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was submitted
  to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ
  issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept;
  Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the
  tripoint with Niger
Climate:
  subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild
  June to November; cool and dry November to February
Terrain:
  mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south,
  rugged hills in northeast
Natural resources:
  gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore,
  manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  25%
 forest and woodland:
  7%
 other:
  66%
Irrigated land:
  50 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  hot, dust-laden harmattan; haze common during dry seasons; desertification
Note:
  landlocked

*Mali, People

Population:
  8,868,617 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.66% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  51.73 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  20.81 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -4.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  108 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  45.45 years
 male:
  43.89 years
 female:
  47.06 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  7.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Malian(s)
 adjective:
  Malian
Ethnic divisions:
  Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%,
  Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions:   Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages:
  French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  32%
 male:
  41%
 female:
  24%
Labor force:
  2.666 million (1986 est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981)
 note:
  50% of population of working age (1985)

*Mali, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Mali
 conventional short form:
  Mali
 local long form:
  Republique de Mali
 local short form:
  Mali
 former:
  French Sudan
Digraph:
  ML
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Bamako
Administrative divisions:
  8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti,
  Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence:
  22 September 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  new constitution adopted in constitutional referendum in January 1992
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of
  legislative acts in Constitutional Section of Court of State; has not
  accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Anniverary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22 September (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
  Alliance for Democracy (Adema), Alpha Oumar KONARE; National Committee for
  Democratic Initiative (CNID), Mountaga TALL; Sudanese Union/African
  Democratic Rally (US/RAD), Baba Hakib HAIDARA and Treoule Mamadon KONATE;
  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), Col. Youssouf TRAORE;
  Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa TRAORE; Malian Union for
  Democracy and Development (UMDD)
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held in April 1992; Alpha KONARE was elected in runoff race against
  Montaga TALL
 National Assembly:
  last held on 8 March 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (total 116) 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
Executive branch:
  Transition Committee for the Salvation of the People (CTSP) composed of 25
  members, predominantly civilian
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

*Mali, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Younoussi TOURE (since 8 June 1992)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
  OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Siragatou Ibrahim CISSE
 chancery:
  2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 332-2249 or 939-8950
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Herbert Donald GELBER
 embassy:
  Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V., Bamako
 mailing address:
  B. P. 34, Bamako
 telephone:
  [223] 225470
 FAX:
  [233] 228059
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the
  popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

*Mali, Economy

Overview:
  Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with about 70% 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 live as
  nomads and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in agriculture and
  fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities.
  In consultation with international lending agencies, the government has
  adopted a structural adjustment program for 1992-95, aiming at GDP annual
  growth of 4.6%, inflation of no more than 2.5% on average, and a substantial
  reduction in the external current account deficit.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.3 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -0.2% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $265 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.4% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $329 million; expenditures $519 million, including capital
  expenditures of $178 (1989 est.)
Exports:
  $320 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  livestock, peanuts, dried fish, cotton, skins
 partners:
  mostly franc zone and Western Europe
Imports:
  $390 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  textiles, vehicles, petroleum products, machinery, sugar, cereals
 partners:
  mostly franc zone and Western Europe
External debt:
  $2.6 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 15.0% (1990 est.); accounts for 10.0% of GDP
Electricity:
  260,000 kW capacity; 750 million kWh produced, 90 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  small local consumer goods and processing, construction, phosphate, gold,
  fishing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 50% of GDP; most production based on small subsistence farms;
  cotton and livestock products account for over 70% of exports; other crops -
  millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $349 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3,020 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $92 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $190
  million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)

*Mali, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Mali, Communications

Railroads:
  642 km 1.000-meter gauge; linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes
Highways:
  about 15,700 km total; 1,670 km paved, 3,670 km gravel and improved earth,
  10,360 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  1,815 km navigable
Airports:
 total:
  34
 usable:
  27
 with permanent-surface runways:
  8
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  5
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  10
Telecommunications:
  domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service with radio
  relay, wire, and radio communications stations; expansion of radio relay in
  progress; 11,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV;
  satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean
  INTELSAT

*Mali, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Police (Surete
  Nationale)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,749,662; fit for military service 995,554 (1993 est.); no
  conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $41 million, 2% of GDP (1989)

*Malta, Geography

Location:
  in the central Mediterranean Sea, 93 km south of Sicily (Italy), 290 km
  north of Libya
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  320 km2
 land area:
  320 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  140 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive fishing zone:
  25 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:
  mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Natural resources:
  limestone, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  38%
 permanent crops:
  3%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  59%
Irrigated land:   10 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  numerous bays provide good harbors; fresh water very scarce; increasing
  reliance on desalination
Note:
  the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands
  (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited

*Malta, People

Population:
  363,791 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.84% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.9 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  1.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.52 years
 male:
  74.32 years
 female:
  78.9 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.97 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Maltese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Maltese
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:
  Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1985)
 total population:
  84%
 male:
  86%
 female:
  82%
Labor force:
  127,200
 by occupation:
  government (excluding job corps) 37%, services 26%, manufacturing 22%,
  training programs 9%, construction 4%, agriculture 2% (1990)

*Malta, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Malta
 conventional short form:
  Malta
Digraph:
  MT
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Valletta
Administrative divisions:
  none (administration directly from Valletta)
Independence:
  21 September 1964 (from UK)
Constitution:
  26 April 1974, effective 2 June 1974
Legal system:
  based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 21 September
Political parties and leaders:
  Nationalist Party (NP), Edward FENECH ADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP), Alfred
  SANT
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held on 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)
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Vincent (Censu) TABONE (since 4 April 1989)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987); Deputy
  Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987)
Member of:
  C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO,
  IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, 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:
  (202) 462-3611 or 3612
 FAX:
  (202) 387-5470

*Malta, Government

 consulate:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 535, Valletta
 telephone:
  [356] 240424, 240425, 243216, 243217, 243653, 223654
 FAX:
  same as telephone numbers
Flag:
  two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper
  hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red

*Malta, Economy

Overview:
  Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a
  productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has
  limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy sources.
  Consequently, the economy is highly dependent on foreign trade and services.
  Manufacturing and tourism are the largest contributors to the economy.
  Manufacturing accounts for about 27% of GDP, with the electronics and
  textile industries major contributors and the state-owned Malta drydocks
  employing about 4,300 people. In 1991, about 900,000 tourists visited the
  island. Per capita GDP at $7,600 places Malta in the middle-income range of
  the world's nations.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  5.9% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $7,600 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.9% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  3.6% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.1 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $161 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $l.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  clothing, textiles, footwear, ships
 partners:
  Italy 30%, Germany 22%, UK 11%
Imports:
  $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods
 partners:
  Italy 30%, UK 16%, Germany 13%, US 4%
External debt:
  $127 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 19.0% (1990); accounts for 27% of GDP
Electricity:
  328,000 kW capacity; 1,110 million kWh produced, 3,000 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, electronics, ship repair yard, construction, food manufacturing,
  textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco
Agriculture:
  accounts for 3% of GDP and 2.5% 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $336 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $76 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $48
  million
Currency:
  1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents

*Malta, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3687 (January 1993), 0.3178 (1992), 0.3226
  (1991), 0.3172 (1990), 0.3483 (1989), 0.3306 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Malta, Communications

Highways:
  1,291 km total; 1,179 km paved (asphalt), 77 km crushed stone or gravel, 35
  km improved and unimproved earth
Ports:
  Valletta, Marsaxlokk
Merchant marine:
  789 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,059,874 GRT/18,758,969 DWT;
  includes 6 passenger, 17 short-sea passenger, 272 cargo, 26 container, 2
  passenger-cargo, 20 roll-on/roll-off, 2 vehicle carrier, 3 barge carrier, 17
  refrigerated cargo, 19 chemical tanker, 15 combination ore/oil, 3
  specialized tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 131 oil tanker, 223 bulk, 26
  combination bulk, 3 multifunction large load carrier, 1 railcar carrier;
  note - a flag of convenience registry; China owns 2 ships, Russia owns 52
  ships, Cuba owns 10, Vietnam owns 6, Croatia owns 37, Romania owns 3
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  automatic system satisfies normal requirements; 153,000 telephones;
  excellent service by broadcast stations - 8 AM, 4 FM, and 2 TV; submarine
  cable and microwave radio relay between islands; international service by 1
  submarine cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Malta, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 97,446; fit for military service 77,481 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $21.9 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989 est.)

*Man, Isle of, Header

Affiliation:
  (British crown dependency)

*Man, Isle of, Geography

Location:
  in the Irish Sea, between Ireland and Great Britain
Map references:
  Europe
Area:
 total area:
  588 km2
 land area:
  588 km2
 comparative area:
  nearly 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  113 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain:
  hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Natural resources:
  lead, iron ore
Land use:
 arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA% (extensive arable land and forests)
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  strong westerly winds prevail
Note:
  one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird
  sanctuary

*Man, Isle of, People

Population:
  71,263 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.57 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.87 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:   9.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.98 years
 male:
  73.25 years
 female:
  78.92 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.8 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Manxman, Manxwoman
 adjective:
  Manx
Ethnic divisions:
  Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton
Religions:
  Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of
  Friends
Languages:
  English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  25,864 (1981)
 by occupation:
  NA

*Man, Isle of, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Isle of Man
Digraph:
  IM
Type:
  British crown dependency
Capital:
  Douglas
Administrative divisions:
  none (British crown dependency)
Independence:
  none (British crown dependency)
Constitution:   1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act
Legal system:
  English law and local statute
National holiday:
  Tynwald Day, 5 July
Political parties and leaders:
  there is no party system and members sit as independents
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Keys:
  last held in 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote NA;
  no party system; seats - (24 total) independents 24
Executive branch:
  British monarch, lieutenant governor, president, prime minister, Council of
  Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Tynwald consists of an upper house or Legislative Council and a
  lower house or House of Keys
Judicial branch:
  Court of Tynwald
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  none
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (British crown dependency)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (British crown dependency)
Flag:
  red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three
  legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes
  pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

*Man, Isle of, Economy

Overview:
  Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy.
  The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies
  and financial institutions to locate on the island has paid off in expanding
  employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture
  and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their
  shares of GNP. Banking now contributes over 20% to GNP and manufacturing
  about 15%. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access
  to European Community markets.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $490 million (1988)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:   $7,500 (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  1% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $130.4 million; expenditures $114.4 million, including capital
  expenditures of $18.1 million (FY85 est.)
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, meat
 partners:
  UK
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  timber, fertilizers, fish
 partners:
  UK
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  61,000 kW capacity; 190 million kWh produced, 2,965 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  an important offshore financial center; financial services, light
  manufacturing, tourism
Agriculture:
  cereals and vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  1 Manx pound (#M) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
  Manx pounds (#M) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652
  (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988); the Manx pound is at
  par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Man, Isle of, Communications

Railroads:
  60 km; 36 km electric track, 24 km steam track
Highways:
  640 km motorable roads
Ports:
  Douglas, Ramsey, Peel
Merchant marine:
  59 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,363,502 GRT/2,363,502 DWT; includes
  10 cargo, 6 container, 9 roll-on/roll-off, 14 oil tanker, 4 chemical tanker,
  4 liquefied gas, 12 bulk; note - a captive register of the United Kingdom,
  although not all ships on the register are British owned
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  24,435 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 4 FM, 4 TV

*Man, Isle of, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Marshall Islands, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way between
  Hawaii and Papua New Guinea
Map references:
  Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  181.3 km2
 land area:
  181.3 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Washington, DC
 note:
  includes the atolls of Bikini, Eniwetok, and Kwajalein
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  370.4 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims US territory of Wake Island
Climate:   wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt
Terrain:
  low coral limestone and sand islands
Natural resources:
  phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  60%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  40%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  occasionally subject to typhoons; two archipelagic island chains of 30
  atolls and 1,152 islands
Note:
  Bikini and Eniwetok are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous
  World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range

*Marshall Islands, People

Population:
  51,982 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.87% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  46.65 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.91 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  50.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  62.79 years
 male:
  61.27 years
 female:
  64.38 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.99 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Marshallese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Marshallese
Ethnic divisions:   Micronesian
Religions:
  Christian (mostly Protestant)
Languages:
  English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major
  Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  93%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  88%
Labor force:
  4,800 (1986)
 by occupation:
  NA

*Marshall Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of the Marshall Islands
 conventional short form:
  Marshall Islands
 former:
  Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
Digraph:
  RM
Type:
  constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of
  Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
Capital:
  Majuro
Administrative divisions:
  none
Independence:
  21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Constitution:
  1 May 1979
Legal system:
  based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal,
  common, and customary laws
National holiday:
  Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1 May (1979)
Political parties and leaders:
  no formal parties; President KABUA is chief political (and traditional)
  leader
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 6 January 1992 (next to be held NA; results - President Amata
  KABUA was reelected
 Parliament:
  last held 18 November 1991 (next to be held November 1995); results -
  percent of vote NA; seats - (33 total)
Executive branch:
  president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Nitijela (parliament)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Amata KABUA (since 1979)
Member of:
  AsDB, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IFC, IMF, 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:
  (202) 234-5414
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador David C. FIELDS

*Marshall Islands, Government

 embassy:
  NA address, Majuro
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379
 telephone:
  (011) 692-4011
 FAX:
  (011) 692-4012
Flag:
  blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange
  (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small
  rays on the hoist side above the two stripes

*Marshall Islands, Economy

Overview:
  Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. Agricultural
  production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial
  crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. A few cattle ranches
  supply the domestic meat market. Small-scale industry is limited to
  handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry is the primary
  source of foreign exchange and employs about 10% of the labor force. The
  islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. In 1987
  the US Government provided grants of $40 million out of the Marshallese
  budget of $55 million.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $63 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $1,500 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $55 million; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of
  $NA (1987 est.)
Exports:
  $2.5 million (f.o.b., 1985)
 commodities:
  copra, copra oil, agricultural products, handicrafts
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $29.2 million (c.i.f., 1985)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, beverages, building materials
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  42,000 kW capacity; 80 million kWh produced, 1,840 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  copra, fish, tourism; craft items from shell, wood, and pearls; offshore
  banking (embryonic)
Agriculture:
  coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits, pigs, chickens
Economic aid:
  under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US is to provide
  approximately $40 million in aid annually
Currency:
  US currency is used
Exchange rates:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*Marshall Islands, Communications

Highways:
  paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-,
  or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks
Ports:   Majuro
Merchant marine:
  29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,786,070 GRT/3,498,895 DWT; includes
  2 cargo, 1 container, 9 oil tanker, 15 bulk carrier, 2 combination ore/oil;
  note - a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
 total:
  16
 usable:
  16
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  8
Telecommunications:
  telephone network - 570 lines (Majuro) and 186 (Ebeye); telex services;
  islands interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government
  purposes); broadcast stations - 1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 2 Pacific
  Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; US Government satellite communications system
  on Kwajalein

*Marshall Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Martinique, Header

Affiliation:
  (overseas department of France)

*Martinique, Geography

Location:
  in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America
Area:
 total area:
  1,100 km2
 land area:
  1,060 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  290 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain:
  mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Natural resources:
  coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use:
 arable land:
  10%
 permanent crops:
  8%
 meadows and pastures:
  30%
 forest and woodland:
  26%
 other:
  26%
Irrigated land:
  60 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity that result in an
  average of one major natural disaster every five years

*Martinique, People

Population:
  387,656 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.21% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  18.07 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.82 years
 male:
  74.68 years
 female:
  81.01 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:   1.94 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Martiniquais (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Martiniquais
Ethnic divisions:
  African and African-Caucasian-Indian mixture 90%, Caucasian 5%, East Indian,
  Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages:
  French, Creole patois
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
 total population:
  93%
 male:
  92%
 female:
  93%
Labor force:
  100,000
 by occupation:
  service industry 31.7%, construction and public works 29.4%, agriculture
  13.1%, industry 7.3%, fisheries 2.2%, other 16.3%

*Martinique, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Department of Martinique
 conventional short form:
  Martinique
 local long form:
  Departement de la Martinique
 local short form:
  Martinique
Digraph:
  MB
Type:
  overseas department of France
Capital:
  Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
  none (overseas department of France)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
  French legal system
National holiday:
  National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
  Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union for a Martinique of Progress (UMP);
  Martinique Progressive Party (PPM); Socialist Federation of Martinique
  (FSM); Martinique Communist Party (PCM); Martinique Patriots (PM); Union for
  French Democracy (UDF)
Other political or pressure groups:
  Proletarian Action Group (GAP); Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution
  Group (GRS); Martinique Independence Movement (MIM); Caribbean Revolutionary
  Alliance (ARC); Central Union for Martinique Workers (CSTM), Marc PULVAR;
  Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 French Senate:
  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:
  last held on 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) PPM 1, FSM 1, RPR 1, UDF 1
 General Council:
  last held in 25 September and 8 October 1988 (next to be held by 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:
  last held on NA March 1992 (next to be held by March 1998); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (41 total) UMP 16
Executive branch:
  government commissioner
Legislative branch:
  unicameral General Council
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court

*Martinique, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Government Commissioner Jean Claude ROURE (since 5 May 1989); President of
  the General Council Emile MAURICE (since NA 1988)
Member of:
  FZ, WCL
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as an overseas department of France, Martiniquais interests are represented
  in the US by France
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Consul General Raymond G. ROBINSON
 embassy:
  Consulate General at 14 Rue Blenac, Fort-de-France
 mailing address:
  B. P. 561, Fort-de-France 97206
 telephone:   [596] 63-13-03
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

*Martinique, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry.
  Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and the small industrial sector
  for 10%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used
  for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to
  France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be
  imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual
  transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than
  agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the
  work force is employed in the service sector and in administration. Banana
  workers launched protests late in 1992 because of falling banana prices and
  fears of greater competition in the European market from other producers.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2 billion (1988)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $6,000 (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.9% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  32.1% (1990)
Budget:
  revenues $268 million; expenditures $268 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Exports:
  $196 million (f.o.b., 1988)
 commodities:
  refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples
 partners:
  France 65%, Guadeloupe 24%, Germany (1987)
Imports:
  $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
 commodities:
  petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles,
  clothing and other consumer goods
 partners:
  France 65%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1987)
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  113,100 kW capacity; 588 million kWh produced, 1,580 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism
Agriculture:
  including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 12% of GDP; principal
  crops - pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane for
  rum; dependent on imported food, particularly meat and vegetables
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $10.1 billion
Currency:
  1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
  (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)

*Martinique, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Martinique, Communications

Highways:
  1,680 km total; 1,300 km paved, 380 km gravel and earth
Ports:
  Fort-de-France
Airports:
 total:
  2
 useable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  domestic facilities are adequate; 68,900 telephones; interisland microwave
  radio relay links to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; broadcast
  stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Martinique, Defense Forces

Branches:
  French Forces, Gendarmerie
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Mauritania, Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, along the North Atlantic Ocean, between Western Sahara and
  Senegal
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1,030,700 km2
 land area:
  1,030,400 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
  total 5,074 km, Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western
  Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline:
  754 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  boundary with Senegal
Climate:
  desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain:
  mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Natural resources:
  iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  38%
 forest and woodland:
  5%
 other:
  56%
Irrigated land:
  120 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April;
  desertification; only perennial river is the Senegal

*Mauritania, People

Population:
  2,124,792 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.14% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  47.97 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  16.54 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  87 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  47.59 years
 male:
  44.81 years
 female:
  50.48 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  7.05 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Mauritanian(s)
 adjective:
  Mauritanian
Ethnic divisions:
  mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions:
  Muslim 100%
Languages:
  Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (official)
Literacy:
  age 10 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  34%
 male:
  47%
 female:
  21%
Labor force:
  465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 47%, services 29%, industry and commerce 14%, government 10%
 note:
  53% of population of working age (1985)

*Mauritania, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Islamic Republic of Mauritania
 conventional short form:
  Mauritania  local long form:
  Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
 local short form:
  Muritaniyah
Digraph:
  MR
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Nouakchott
Administrative divisions:
  12 regions(regions, singular - region); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet
  Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh el Gharbi, Inchiri,
  Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
 note:
  there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott
Independence:
  28 November 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  12 July 1991
Legal system:
  three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, state security
  courts (in the process of being eliminated)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
  legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to
  be tribally based; emerging parties include Democratic and Social Republican
  Party (PRDS), led by President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of
  Democratic Forces - New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly
  for Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and
  Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party for
  Renewal (PMR), Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party (PAN), Khattry
  Ould JIDDOU; Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould
  SIDI BADI
Other political or pressure groups:
  Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held January 1992 (next to be held January 1998); results - President
  Col. Maaouya Ould Sid 'Ahmed TAYA elected
 Senate:
  last held 3 and 10 April 1992 (one-third of the seats up for re-election in
  1994)
 National Assembly:
  last held 6 and 13 March 1992 (next to be held March 1997)
Executive branch:
  president
Legislative branch:
  bicameral legislature consists of an upper house or Senate (Majlis
  al-Shuyukh) and a lower house or National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani)

*Mauritania, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984)
Member of:
  ABEDA, ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, CEAO,
  ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Mohamed Fall OULD AININA
 chancery:
  2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 232-5700
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Gordon S. BROWN
 embassy:
  address NA, Nouakchott
 mailing address:
  B. P. 222, Nouakchott
 telephone:
  [222] (2) 526-60 or 526-63
 FAX:
  [222] (2) 525-89
Flag:
  green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent;
  the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green
  are traditional symbols of Islam

*Mauritania, Economy

Overview:
  A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for
  a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many subsistence farmers
  were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s.
  Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for almost 50%
  of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led
  to cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest
  fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens
  this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near
  Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years, the droughts, the endemic conflict with
  Senegal, rising energy costs, 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. But the reform process suffered a major
  setback following the Gulf war of early 1991. Because of Mauritania's
  support of SADDAM Husayn, bilateral aid from its two top donors, Saudi
  Arabia and Kuwait, was suspended, and multilateral aid was reduced.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $555 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.2% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  20% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $280 million; expenditures $346 million, including capital
  expenditures of $61 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
  $447 million (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  iron ore, processed fish, small amounts of gum arabic and gypsum; unrecorded
  but numerically significant cattle exports to Senegal
 partners:
  EC 43%, Japan 27%, USSR 11%, Cote d'Ivoire 3%
Imports:
  $385 million (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, capital goods
 partners:
  EC 60%, Algeria 15%, China 6%, US 3%
External debt:
  $1.9 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.4% (1988 est.); accounts for almost 33% of GDP
Electricity:
  190,000 kW capacity; 135 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Agriculture:
  accounts for 50% 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

*Mauritania, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $168 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.3 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $490 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $277
  million; Arab Development Bank (1991), $20 million
Currency:
  1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Exchange rates:
  ouguiya (UM) per US$1 - 116.990 (February 1993), 87.082 (1992), 81.946
  (1991), 80.609 (1990), 83.051 (1989), 75.261 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Mauritania, Communications

Railroads:
  690 km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge, single track, owned and operated by
  government mining company
Highways:
  7,525 km total; 1,685 km paved; 1,040 km gravel, crushed stone, or otherwise
  improved; 4,800 km unimproved roads, trails, tracks
Inland waterways:
  mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports:
  Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,290 GRT/1,840 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  29
 usable:
  29
 with permanent-surface runways:
  9
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  5
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  16
Telecommunications:
  poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links,
  and radio communications stations (improvements being made); broadcast
  stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT and 2 ARABSAT, with six planned

*Mauritania, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National
  Police, Presidential Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 452,008; fit for military service 220,717 (1993 est.);
  conscription law not implemented
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 4.2% of GDP (1989)

*Mauritius, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 900 km east of Madagascar
Map references:   Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1,860 km2
 land area:
  1,850 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 10.5 times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and
  Rodrigues
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  177 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims UK-administered Chagos Archipelago, which includes the island of
  Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims
  French-administered Tromelin Island
Climate:
  tropical modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to
  November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain:
  small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central
  plateau
Natural resources:
  arable land, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  54%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  31%
 other:
  7%
Irrigated land:
  170 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by
  reefs

*Mauritius, People

Population:
  1,106,516 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.95% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  19.67 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  19 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.24 years
 male:
  66.34 years
 female:
  74.3 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.23 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Mauritian(s)
 adjective:
  Mauritian
Ethnic divisions:
  Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions:
  Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%), Muslim
  16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages:
  English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bojpoori
Literacy:
  age 13 and over can read and write (1962)
 total population:
  61%
 male:
  72%
 female:
  50%
Labor force:
  335,000
 by occupation:
  government services 29%, agriculture and fishing 27%, manufacturing 22%,
  other 22%
 note:
  43% of population of working age (1985)

*Mauritius, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:   Republic of Mauritius
 conventional short form:
  Mauritius
Digraph:
  MP
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Port Louis
Administrative divisions:
  9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados,   Carajos*, Flacq,
Grand, Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port
  Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne, Independence:
  12 March 1968 (from UK)
Constitution:
  12 March 1968
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in
  certain areas
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Political parties and leaders:
 government coalition:
  Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), A. JUGNAUTH
  Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), Paul BERENGER; Organization of the People
  of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis Serge CLAIR; Democratic Labor Movement (MTD), Anil
  BAICHOO
 opposition:
  Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLMAN
  Socialist Workers Front, Sylvio MICHEL; Mauritian Social Democratic Party
  (PMSD), X. DUVAL
Other political or pressure groups:
  various labor unions
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  last held on 15 September 1991 (next to be held by 15 September 1996);
  results - MSM/MMM 53%, MLP/PMSD 38%; seats - (70 total, 62 elected) MSM/MMM
  alliance 59 (MSM 29, MMM 26, OPR 2, MTD 2); MLP/PMSD 3
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of
  Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992); Vice President Robin Dranooth
  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)

*Mauritius, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING
 chancery:
  Suite 134, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 244-1491 or 1492
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador vacant
 embassy:
  4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
 mailing address:
  4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
 telephone:
  [230] 208-9763 through 208-9767
 FAX:
  [230] 208-9534
Flag:
  four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

*Mauritius, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on sugar, manufacturing (mainly textiles), and tourism.
  Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for
  40% of export earnings. The government's development strategy is centered on
  industrialization (with a view to exports), agricultural diversification,
  and tourism. Economic performance in FY91 was impressive, with 6% real
  growth and low unemployment.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion (FY91 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6.1% (FY91 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,300 (FY91 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7% (FY91)
Unemployment rate:
  2.4% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $557 million; expenditures $607 million, including capital
  expenditures of $111 million (FY90)
Exports:
  $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10%
 partners:
  EC and US have preferential treatment, EC 77%, US 15%
Imports:
  $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum
  products 8%, chemicals 7%
 partners:
  EC, US, South Africa, Japan
External debt:
  $869 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP
Electricity:
  235,000 kW capacity; 630 million kWh produced, 570 kWh per capita (1992)
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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $76 million; Western (non-US)
  countries (1970-89), $709 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $54
  million
Currency:
  1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1 - 16.982 (January 1993), 15.563 (1992),
  15.652 (1991), 14.839 (1990), 15.250 (1989), 13.438 (1988)

*Mauritius, Economy

Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Mauritius, Communications

Highways:
  1,800 km total; 1,640 km paved, 160 km earth
Ports:
  Port Louis
Merchant marine:
  7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 103,328 GRT/163,142 DWT; includes 3
  cargo, 1 liquefied gas, 3 bulk
Airports:  total:
  5
 usable:
  4
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  small system with good service utilizing primarily microwave radio relay;
  new microwave link to Reunion; high-frequency radio links to several
  countries; over 48,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 4 TV; 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Mauritius, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Police Force (including the paramilitary Special Mobile Force
  (SMF), Special Support Units (SSU), and National Coast Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 312,056; fit for military service 159,408 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $5 million, 0.2% of GDP (FY89)

*Mayotte, Header

Affiliation:
  (territorial collectivity of France)

*Mayotte, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, in the northern Mozambique Channel about halfway between
  Madagascar and Mozambique
Map references:
  Africa
Area:
 total area:
  375 km2
 land area:
  375 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:   185.2 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claimed by Comoros
Climate:
  tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon
  (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
Terrain:
  generally undulating with ancient volcanic peaks, deep ravines
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to cyclones during rainy season
Note:
  part of Comoro Archipelago

*Mayotte, People

Population:
  89,983 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.8% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  49.22 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.22 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  81.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  57.35 years
 male:
  55.23 years
 female:
  59.55 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.84 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Mahorais (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Mahoran
Ethnic divisions:
  NA
Religions:
  Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages:
  Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA
 male:
  NA
 female:
  NA
Labor force:
  NA

*Mayotte, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
 conventional short form:
  Mayotte
Digraph:
  MF
Type:
  territorial collectivity of France
Capital:
  Mamoutzou
Administrative divisions:
  none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence:
  none (territorial collectivity of France)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
  French law
National holiday:
  Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
  Mahoran Popular Movement (MPM), Younoussa BAMANA; Party for the Mahoran
  Democratic Rally (PRDM), Daroueche MAOULIDA; Mahoran Rally for the Republic
  (RMPR), Mansour KAMARDINE; Union of the Center (UDC)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 General Council:   last held March 1991 (next to be held March 1996); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (17 total) MPM 12, RPR 5
 French Senate:
  last held on 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MPM 1
 French National Assembly:
  last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) UDC 1
Executive branch:
  government commissioner
Legislative branch:
  unicameral General Council (Conseil General)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Commissioner, Representative of the French Government Jean-Paul COSTE (since
  NA 1991); President of the General Council Youssouf BAMANA (since NA 1976)
Member of:
  FZ
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as a territorial collectivity of France, Mahoran interests are represented
  in the US by France
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

*Mayotte, Economy

Overview:
  Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including
  fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self-sufficient and must
  import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from France. The
  economy and future development of the island are heavily dependent on French
  financial assistance.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of
  $NA (1985)
Exports:
  $4.0 million (f.o.b., 1984)
 commodities:
  ylang-ylang, vanilla
 partners:   France 79%, Comoros 10%, Reunion 9%
Imports:
  $21.8 million (f.o.b., 1984)
 commodities:
  building materials, transportation equipment, rice, clothing, flour
 partners:
  France 57%, Kenya 16%, South Africa 11%, Pakistan 8%
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  NA kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita
Industries:
  newly created lobster and shrimp industry
Agriculture:
  most important sector; provides all export earnings; crops - vanilla,
  ylang-ylang, coffee, copra; imports major share of food needs
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $402 million
Currency:
  1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
  (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Mayotte, Communications

Highways:
  42 km total; 18 km bituminous
Ports:
  Dzaoudzi
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanet-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  small system administered by French Department of Posts and
  Telecommunications; includes radio relay and high-frequency radio
  communications for links to Comoros and international communications; 450
  telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

*Mayotte, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Mexico, Geography

Location:
  Central America, between Guatemala and the US
Map references:
  North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1,972,550 km2
 land area:
  1,923,040 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 4,538 km, Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km
Coastline:
  9,330 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the natural prolongation of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims Clipperton Island (French possession)
Climate:
  varies from tropical to desert
Terrain:
  high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, and desert
Natural resources:
  petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  12%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  39%
 forest and woodland:
  24%
 other:
  24%
Irrigated land:
  51,500 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to tsunamis along the Pacific coast and destructive earthquakes in
  the center and south; natural water resources scarce and polluted in north,
  inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast;
  deforestation; erosion widespread; desertification; serious air pollution in
  Mexico City and urban centers along US-Mexico border
Note:
  strategic location on southern border of US

*Mexico, People

Population:
  90,419,606 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.97% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  27.67 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.82 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  28.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.55 years
 male:
  68.99 years
 female:
  76.3 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.25 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Mexican(s)
 adjective:
  Mexican
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%,
  Caucasian or predominantly Caucasian 9%, other 1%
Religions:
  nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%
Languages:
  Spanish, various Mayan dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  87%
 male:
  90%
 female:
  85%
Labor force:
  26.2 million (1990)
 by occupation:
  services 31.7%, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing 28%, commerce
  14.6%, manufacturing 11.1%, construction 8.4%, transportation 4.7%, mining
  and quarrying 1.5%

*Mexico, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  United Mexican States
 conventional short form:
  Mexico
 local long form:
  Estados Unidos Mexicanos
 local short form:
  Mexico
Digraph:
  MX
Type:
  federal republic operating under a centralized government
Capital:
  Mexico
Administrative divisions:
  31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito,   federal);
Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche,
  Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango,,   Guanajuato, Guerrero,
Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan, Morelos, Nayarit,
  Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi,
  Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatan, Zacatecas
Independence:
  16 September 1810 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  5 February 1917
Legal system:
  mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of
  legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Political parties and leaders:
  (recognized parties) Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Fernando Ortiz
  Arana; National Action Party (PAN), Carlos CASTILLO; Popular Socialist Party
  (PPS), Indalecio SAYAGO Herrera; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD),
  Roberto ROBLES Garnica; Cardenist Front for the National Reconstruction
  Party (PFCRN), Rafael AGUILAR Talamantes; Authentic Party of the Mexican
  Revolution (PARM), Carlos Enrique CANTU Rosas; Democratic Forum Party (PFD),
  Pablo Emilio MADERO; Mexican Ecologist Party (PEM), 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 Provding Goods and
  Services (FESEBES)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 6 July 1988 (next to be held August 1994); results - Carlos
  SALINAS de Gortari (PRI) 50.74%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (FDN) 31.06%,
  Manuel CLOUTHIER (PAN) 16.81%; other 1.39%; note - several of the smaller
  parties ran a common candidate under a coalition called the National
  Democratic Front (FDN)

*Mexico, Government

 Senate:
  last held on 18 August 1991 (next to be held midyear 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats in full Senate - (64 total) PRI 62, PRD
  1, PAN 1
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held on 18 August 1991 (next to be held midyear 1994); results - PRI
  53%, PAN 20%, PFCRN 10%, PPS 6%, PARM 7%, PMS (now part of PRD) 4%; seats -
  (500 total) PRI 320, PAN 89, PRD 41, PFCRN 23, PARM 15, PPS 12
Executive branch:
  president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Congress (Congreso de la Union) consists of an upper
  chamber or Senate (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of
  Deputies (Camara de Diputados)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Carlos SALINAS de Gortari (since 1 December 1988)
Member of:
  AG (observer), CARICOM (observer), CCC, CDB, CG, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-6,
  G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
  LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jorge MONTANO Martinez
 chancery:
  1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
 telephone:
  (202) 728-1600
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, San Juan
  (Puerto Rico)
 consulates:
  Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico
  (California), Corpus Christi, Detroit, Fresno (California), Miami, Nogales
  (Arizona), Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Seattle
US diplomatic representation:  chief of mission:
  Ambassador John D. NEGROPONTE, Jr.
 embassy:
  Paseo de la Reforma 305, 06500 Mexico, D.F.
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087
 telephone:
  [52] (5) 211-0042
 FAX:
  [52] (5) 511-9980, 208-3373
 consulates general:
  Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
 consulates:
  Hermosillo, Matamoros, Mazatlan, Merida, Nuevo Laredo
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat
  of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak) is centered
  in the white band

*Mexico, Economy

Overview:
  Mexico's economy is a mixture of state-owned industrial facilities (notably
  oil), private manufacturing and services, and both large-scale and
  traditional agriculture. In the 1980s, Mexico experienced severe economic
  difficulties: the nation accumulated large external debts as world petroleum
  prices fell; rapid population growth outstripped the domestic food supply;
  and inflation, unemployment, and pressures to emigrate became more acute.
  Growth in national output, however, has recovered, rising from 1.4% in 1988
  to 4% in 1990 and 3.6% in 1991 and coming in at 2.6% in 1992. The US is
  Mexico's major trading partner, accounting for almost three-quarters of its
  exports and imports. After petroleum, border assembly plants and tourism are
  the largest earners of foreign exchange. The government, in consultation
  with international economic agencies, has been implementing programs to
  stabilize the economy and foster growth. For example, it has privatized more
  than two-thirds of its state-owned companies (parastatals), including banks.
  In 1991-92 the government conducted negotiations with the US and Canada on a
  North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was still being discussed
  by the three countries in early 1993. In January 1993, Mexico replaced its
  old peso with a new peso, at the rate of 1,000 old to 1 new peso.
  Notwithstanding the palpable improvements in economic performance in the
  early 1990s, Mexico faces substantial problems for the remainder of the
  decade - e.g., rapid population growth, unemployment, and serious pollution,
  particularly in Mexico City.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $328 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2.6% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $3,600 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  11.9% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  14%-17% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $58.9 billion; expenditures $48.3 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $6.5 billion (1991); figures do not include state-owned
  companies
Exports:
  $27.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  crude oil, oil products, coffee, shrimp, engines, motor vehicles, cotton,
  consumer electronics
 partners:
  US 74%, Japan 8%, EC 4% (1992 est.)
Imports:
  $48.1 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 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, 11%, EC 6% (1992)
External debt:
  $104 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.5% (1991 est.); accounts for 28% of GDP
Electricity:
  27,000,000 kW capacity; 120,725 million kWh produced, 1,300 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Mexico, Economy

Industries:
  food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining,
  textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
Agriculture:
  accounts for 9% of GDP and over 25% of work force; large number of small
  farms at subsistence level; major food crops - corn, wheat, rice, beans;
  cash crops - cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; fish catch of 1.4 million
  metric tons among top 20 nations (1987)
Illicit drugs:
  illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis continues in spite of active
  government eradication program; major supplier to the US market; continues
  as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.1 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.7 billion;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $110 million
Currency:
  1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  market rate of Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1 - 3.100 (January 1993), 3,198
  (November 1992), 3,018.4 (1991), 2,812.6 (1990), 2,461.3 (1989), 2,273.1
  (1988); note - the new pesos replaced the old pesos on 1 January 1993; 1 new
  pesos = 1,000 old pesos
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Mexico, Communications

Railroads:
  24,500 km total
Highways:
  212,000 km total; 65,000 km paved, 30,000 km semipaved or cobblestone,
  62,000 km rural roads (improved earth) or roads under construction, 55,000
  km unimproved earth roads
Inland waterways:
  2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals
Pipelines:
  crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; natural gas 13,254 km;
  petrochemical 1,400 km
Ports:
  Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan,
  Progreso, Puerto Vallarta, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Tuxpan, Veracruz
Merchant marine:
  58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 858,162 GRT/1,278,488 DWT; includes 4
  short-sea passenger, 2 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off, 31
  oil tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 1 bulk, 5 container
Airports:
 total:
  1,841
 usable:
  1,478
 with permanent-surface runways:
  200
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  35
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  273
Telecommunications:
  highly developed system with extensive microwave radio relay links;
  privatized in December 1990; connected into Central America Microwave
  System; 6,410,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 679 AM, no FM, 238 TV, 22
  shortwave; 120 domestic satellite terminals; earth stations - 4 Atlantic
  Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

*Mexico, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Defense (including Army and Air Force), Navy (including Marines)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 22,201,567; fit for military service 16,205,926; reach
  military age (18) annually 1,049,729 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Micronesia, Federated States of, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between
  Hawaii and Indonesia
Map references:
  Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  702 km2
 land area:
  702 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than four times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk), Yap, and Kosrae
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  6,112 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands;
  located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasional severe damage
Terrain:
  islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral
  atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk
Natural resources:
  forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
 arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to typhoons from June to December; four major island groups totaling
  607 islands

*Micronesia, Federated States of, People

Population:
  117,588 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.37% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  28.48 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.46 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.45 years
 male:
  65.49 years
 female:
  69.44 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.04 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Micronesian(s)
 adjective:
  Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese
Ethnic divisions:
  nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions:
  Christian (divided between Roman Catholic and Protestant; other churches
  include Assembly of God, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist,
  Latter-Day Saints, and the Baha'i Faith)
Languages:
  English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  90%
 male:
  90%
 female:
  85%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  two-thirds are government employees
 note:
  45,000 people are between the ages of 15 and 65

*Micronesia, Federated States of, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:   Federated States of Micronesia
 conventional short form:
  none
 former:
  Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific
  Islands)
Abbreviation:
  FSM
Digraph:
  FM
Type:
  constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of
  Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986
Capital:
  Kolonia (on the island of Pohnpei)
 note:
  a new capital is being built about 10 km southwest in the Palikir valley
Administrative divisions:
  4 states; Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Yap
Independence:
  3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
Constitution:
  10 May 1979
Legal system:
  based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal,
  common, and customary laws
National holiday:
  Proclamation of the Federated States of Micronesia, 10 May (1979)
Political parties and leaders:
  no formal parties
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held ll May 1991 (next to be held March 1995); results - President
  Bailey OLTER elected president; Vice-President Jacob NENA
 Congress:
  last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held March 1993); results - percent of
  vote NA; seats - (14 total)
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Congress
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Bailey OLTER (since 21 May 1991); Vice President Jacob NENA (since
  21 May 1991)
Member of:
  AsDB, ESCAP, ICAO, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU
 chancery:
  1725 N St., NW, Washington, DC 20036

*Micronesia, Federated States of, Government

 telephone:
  (202) 223-4383
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Aurelia BRAZEAL
 embassy:
  address NA, Kolonia
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941
 telephone:
  691-320-2187
 FAX:
  691-320-2186
Flag:
  light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are
  arranged in a diamond pattern

*Micronesia, Federated States of, Economy

Overview:
  Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The
  islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade
  phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness
  of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development.
  Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the
  US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the l990s. Geographical
  isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to
  long-term growth.
National product:
  GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $150 million (1989 est.)
 note:
  GNP numbers reflect US spending
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $1,500 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $165 million; expenditures $115 million, including capital
  expenditures of $20 million (1988)
Exports:
  $2.3 million (f.o.b., 1988)
 commodities:
  copra
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $67.7 million (c.i.f., 1988)
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  18,000 kW capacity; 40 million kWh produced, 380 kWh per capita (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:
  under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3
  billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001
Currency:
  US currency is used
Exchange rates:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*Micronesia, Federated States of, Communications

Highways:
  39 km of paved roads on major islands; also 187 km stone-, coral-, or
  laterite-surfaced roads
Ports:
  Colonia (Yap), Truk, Okat and Lelu (Kosrae)
Airports:
 total:
  6
 usable:
  5
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  telephone network - 960 telephone lines total at Kolonia and Truk; islands
  interconnected by shortwave radio (used mostly for government purposes);
  16,000 radio receivers, 1,125 TV sets (est. 1987); broadcast stations - 5
  AM, 1 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Micronesia, Federated States of, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Midway Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Midway Islands, Geography

Location:
  located in the North Pacific Ocean, 2,350 km west-northwest of Honolulu,
  about one-third of the way between Honolulu and Tokyo
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  5.2 km2
 land area:
  5.2 km2
 comparative area:
  about nine times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Eastern Island and Sand Island
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  15 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m (depth)
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain:
  low, nearly level
Natural resources:
  fish, wildlife
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%  permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  coral atoll
Note:
  closed to the public

*Midway Islands, People

Population:
  no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 453 US military personnel

*Midway Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Midway Islands
Digraph:
  MQ
Type:
  unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy, under
  command of the Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii and managed
  cooperatively by the US Navy and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US
  Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
  legislation before Congress in 1990 proposed inclusion of territory within
  the State of Hawaii
Capital:
  none; administered from Washington, DC
Flag:
  the US flag is used

*Midway Islands, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on providing support services for US naval operations
  located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity:
  supplied by US Military

*Midway Islands, Communications

Highways:
  32 km total
Pipelines:
  7.8 km
Ports:
  Sand Island
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1

*Midway Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Moldova, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, between Ukraine and Romania
Map references:
  Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  33,700 km2
 land area:
  33,700 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Hawaii
Land boundaries:
  total 1,389 km, Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  potential dispute with Ukraine over former southern Bessarabian areas;
  northern Bukovina ceded to Ukraine upon Moldova's incorporation into USSR
Climate:
  mild winters, warm summers
Terrain:
  rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Natural resources:
  lignite, phosphorites, gypsum
Land use:
 arable land:
  50%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  9%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  41%
Irrigated land:
  2,920 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as
  DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive erosion from poor
  farming methods
Note:
  landlocked

*Moldova, People

Population:
  4,455,645 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.4% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  16.15 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.01 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  30.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.92 years
 male:
  64.49 years
 female:
  71.53 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.2 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Moldovan(s)
 adjective:
  Moldovan
Ethnic divisions:
  Moldovan/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:
  almost all churchgoers are ethnic Moldovan; the Slavic population are not
  churchgoers
Languages:
  Moldovan (official); note - virtually the same as the Romanian language,
  Russian
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  99%
Labor force:
  2.095 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 34.4%, industry 20.1%, other 45.5% (1985 figures)

*Moldova, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Moldova
 conventional short form:
  Moldova
 local long form:
  Republica Moldoveneasca
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
Digraph:
  MD
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Chisinau (Kishinev)
Administrative divisions:
  previously divided into 40 rayons; to be divided into fewer, larger
  districts at some future point
Independence:
  27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  as of mid-1993 the new constitution had not been adopted; old constitution
  (adopted NA 1979) is still in effect but has been heavily amended during the
  past few years
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts; does not
  accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and CSCE documents
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 27 August 1991
Political parties and leaders:
  Christian Democratic Popular Front (formerly Moldovan Popular Front), Ivrie
  ROSCA, chairman; Yedinstvo Intermovement, V. YAKOVLEV, chairman; Social
  Democratic Party, Oazul NANTOI, chairman, two other chairmen; Agrarian
  Democratic Party, Valery CHEBOTARV, leader; Democratic Party, Gheorghe
  GHIMPU, chairman; Democratic Labor Party, Alexandru ARSENI, chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
  United Council of Labor Collectives (UCLC), Igor SMIRNOV, chairman; 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; Women's League; Stefan the Great Movement
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 8 December 1991 (next to be held NA1996); results - Mircea SNEGUR
  ran unopposed and won 98.17% of vote
 Parliament:
  last held 25 February 1990 (next to be held NA 1995); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (350 total) Christian Democratic Popular Front 50;
  Club of Independent Deputies 25; Agrarian Club 90; Social Democrats 60-70;
  Russian Conciliation Club 50; 60-70 seats belong to Dniester region deputies
  who usually boycott Moldovan legislative proceedings; the remaining seats
  filled by independents; note - until May 1991 was called Supreme Soviet

*Moldova, Government

Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Mircea Ivanovich SNEGUR (since 3 September 1990)
 Head of Legislature:
  Chairman of the Parliament Petru LUCINSCHI (since 4 February 1993); Prime
  Minister Andrei SANGHELI (since 1 July 1992)
Member of:
  BSEC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Permanent Representative to the UN Tudor PANTIRU (also acts as
  representative to US)
 chancery:
  NA
 telephone:
  NA
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Mary C. PENDLETON
 embassy:
  Strada Alexei Mateevich #103, Chisinau
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09862
 telephone:
  7-0422-23-37-72 or 23-34-94
 FAX:
  7-0422-23-34-94
Flag:
  same color scheme as Romania - 3 equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side),
  yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold
  outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its
  beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in
  its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over
  blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined
  yellow

*Moldova, Economy

Overview:
  Moldova, the next-to-smallest of the former Soviet republics in area, is the
  most densely inhabited. Moldova has a little more than 1% of the population,
  labor force, capital stock, and output of the former Soviet Union. Living
  standards have been below average for the European USSR. The country enjoys
  a favorable climate, and economic development has been primarily based on
  agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Industry
  accounts for 20% of the labor force, whereas agriculture employs more than
  one-third. Moldova has no major mineral resources and has depended on other
  former Soviet republics for coal, oil, gas, steel, most electronic
  equipment, machine tools, and major consumer durables such as automobiles.
  Its industrial and agricultural products, in turn, have been exported to the
  other republics. Moldova has freed prices on most goods and has legalized
  private ownership of property. Moldova's near-term economic prospects are
  dimmed, however, by the difficulties of moving toward a market economy, the
  political problems of redefining ties to the other former Soviet republics
  and Romania, and the ongoing separatist movements in the Dniester and Gagauz
  regions. In 1992, national output fell substantially for the second
  consecutive year - down 22% in the industrial sector and 20% in agriculture.
  The decline is mainly attributable to the drop in energy supplies.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -26% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):   27% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  0.7% (includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of
  underemployed workers)
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  100 million to outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear, machinery, chemicals
  (1991)
 partners:
  Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Romania
Imports:
  100 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
 commodities:
  oil, gas, coal, steel machinery, foodstuffs, automobiles, and other consumer
  durables
 partners:
  Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Romania
External debt:
  $100 million (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -22% (1992)
Electricity:
  3,115,000 kW capacity; 11,100 million kWh produced, 2,491 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  key products (with share of total former Soviet output in parentheses where
  known): agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and
  freezers (2.7%), washing machines (5.0%), hosiery (2.0%), refined sugar
  (3.1%), vegetable oil (3.7%), canned food (8.6%), shoes, textiles

*Moldova, Economy

Agriculture:
  Moldova's principal economic activity; products (shown in share of total
  output of the former Soviet republics): Grain (1.6%), sugar beets (2.6%),
  sunflower seed (4.4%), vegetables (4.4%), fruits and berries (9.7%), grapes
  (20.1%), meat (1.7%), milk (1.4%), eggs (1.4%)
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of opium and cannabis; mostly for CIS consumption;
  transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
  IMF credit, $18.5 million (1992); EC agricultural credit, $30 million
  (1992); US commitments, $10 million for grain (1992); World Bank credit, $31
  million
Currency:
  plans to introduce the Moldovan lei in 1993 or 1994, until then retaining
  Russian ruble as currency
Exchange rates:
  rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Moldova, Communications

Railroads:
  1,150 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  20,000 km total; 13,900 km hard-surfaced, 6,100 km earth (1990)
Pipelines:
  natural gas 310 km (1992)
Ports:
  none; landlocked
Airports:
 total:
  26
 useable:
  15
 with permanent-surface runways:
  6
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  5
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  8
Telecommunications:
  poorly supplied with telephones (as of 1991, 494,000 telephones total, with
  a density of 111 lines per 1000 persons); 215,000 unsatisfied applications
  for telephone installations (31 January 1990); connected to Ukraine by
  landline and to countries beyond the former USSR through the international
  gateway switch in Moscow

*Moldova, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Air and Air Defence Force, Security Forces (internal and
  border troops)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,082,562; fit for military service 859,948; reach military
  age (18) annually 35,769 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Monaco, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, in southern France near the
  border with Italy
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:  total area:
  1.9 km2
 land area:
  1.9 km2
 comparative area:
  about three times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 4.4 km, France 4.4 km
Coastline:
  4.1 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain:
  hilly, rugged, rocky
Natural resources:
  none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  almost entirely urban
Note:
  second smallest independent state in world (after Holy See)

*Monaco, People

Population:
  31,008 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.93% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  10.8 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.32 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  10.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:  total population:
  77.5 years
 male:
  73.7 years
 female:
  81.49 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.7 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Monacan(s) or Monegasque(s)
 adjective:
  Monacan or Monegasque
Ethnic divisions:
  French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
  French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

*Monaco, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Principality of Monaco
 conventional short form:
  Monaco
 local long form:
  Principaute de Monaco
 local short form:
  Monaco
Digraph:
  MN
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Monaco
Administrative divisions:
  4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine,
  Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
Independence:
  1419 (rule by the House of Grimaldi)
Constitution:
  17 December 1962
Legal system:   based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 19 November
Political parties and leaders:
  National and Democratic Union (UND); Democratic Union Movement (MUD); Monaco
  Action; Monegasque Socialist Party (PSM)
Suffrage:
  25 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Council:
  last held on 24 January 1988 (next to be held 24 January 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) UND 18
Executive branch:
  prince, minister of state, Council of Government (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Council (Conseil National)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Tribunal (Tribunal Supreme)
Leaders:
 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 Jacques DUPONT (since NA)
Member of:
  ACCT, CSCE, IAEA, ICAO, IMF (observer), IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 honorary consulates general:
  Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan
  (Puerto Rico)
 honorary consulates:
  Dallas, Honolulu, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, and Washington
US diplomatic representation:
  no mission in Monaco, but the US Consul General in Marseille, France, is
  accredited to Monaco

*Monaco, Government

Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of
  Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and
  red

*Monaco, Economy

Overview:
  Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort,
  attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The Principality has
  successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added,
  nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes
  and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established
  residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices.
  About 50% of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels,
  banks, and the industrial sector; about 25% of revenue comes from tourism.
  Living standards are high, that is, roughly comparable to those in
  prosperous French metropolitan suburbs.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $475 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $16,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NEGL%
Budget:
  revenues $424 million; expenditures $376 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
  $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates
  Monacan trade duties; also participates in EC market system through customs
  union with France
Imports:
  $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates
  Monacan trade duties; also participates in EC market system through customs
  union with France
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  10,000 kW standby capacity (1992); power imported from France
Agriculture:
  NA
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
  (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Monaco, Communications

Railroads:
  1.6 km 1.435-meter gauge
Highways:
  none; city streets
Ports:
  Monaco
Merchant marine:
  1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,268 GRT/4,959 DWT
Airports:
  1 usable airfield with permanent-surface runways
Telecommunications:
  served by cable into the French communications system; automatic telephone
  system; 38,200 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV; no
  communication satellite earth stations

*Monaco, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Mongolia, Geography

Location:
  East Central Asia, between China and Russia
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1.565 million km2
 land area:
  1.565 million km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
  total 8,114 km, China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain:
  vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and southwest; Gobi
  Desert in southeast
Natural resources:
  oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc,
  wolfram, fluorspar, gold
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  79%
 forest and woodland:
  10%
 other:
  10%
Irrigated land:
  770 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  harsh and rugged
Note:
  landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

*Mongolia, People

Population:
  2,367,054 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.62% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  33.41 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.16 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  44.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  65.77 years
 male:
  63.53 years
 female:
  68.13 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.41 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Mongolian(s)
 adjective:
  Mongolian
Ethnic divisions:
  Mongol 90%, Kazakh 4%, Chinese 2%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Religions:
  predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4%
 note:
  previously limited religious activity because of Communist regime
Languages:
  Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  primarily herding/agricultural
 note:
  over half the adult population is in the labor force, including a large
  percentage of women; shortage of skilled labor

*Mongolia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Mongolia
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Mongol Uls
 former:
  Outer Mongolia
Digraph:
  MG
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Ulaanbaatar
Administrative divisions:
  18 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 3 municipalities* (hotuud,,   singular - hot);
Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*,,   Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan,
Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd,,   Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov,
Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs, Independence:
  13 March 1921 (from China)
Constitution:
  adopted 13 January 1992
Legal system:
  blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of law; no constitutional
  provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 11 July (1921)
Political parties and leaders:
  Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), Budragchagiin DASH-YONDON,
  presidium chairman; Mongolian Democratic Party (MDP), Erdenijiyn BAT-UUL,
  general coordinator; National Progress Party (NPP), S. BYAMBAA and
  Luusandambyn DASHNYAM, leaders; Social Democratic Party (SDP), BATBAYAR and
  Tsohiogyyn ADYASUREN, leaders; Mongolian Independence Party (MIP), D.
  ZORIGT, leader; United Party of Mongolia (made up of the MDP, SDP, and NPP);
  Mongolian National Democratic Party (MNDP; merger of the MDP, United Party,
  Renaissance Party, and PNP), D. GANBOLD
 note:
  opposition parties were legalized in May 1990; additional parties exist: The
  Mongolian Green Party, The Buddhist Believers' Party, The Republican Party,
  Mongolian People's Party, and United Herdsmen and Farmers Party (MHFUP),
  Mongolian Bourgeois Party (BP), Mongolian Private Property Owners Party,
  Mongolian Workers Party
Suffrage:   18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 3 September 1990 (next to be held 6 June 1993); results -
  Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT elected by the People's Great Hural; other candidate
  Lodongiyn TUDEV (MPRP)
 State Great Hural:
  first time held 28 June 1992 (next to be held NA); results - MPRP 56.9%;
  seats - (76 total) MPRP 71, MDP/PNP 3, SDP 1, independent 1
 note:
  the People's Small Hural no longer exists

*Mongolia, Government

Executive branch:
  president, vice president, prime minister, first deputy prime minister,
  cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral State Great Hural
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts,
  but to date rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990); Vice President
  Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJ (since 7 September 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Putsagiyn JASRAY (since 3 August 1992); First Deputy Prime
  Minister Puntsagiyn JASRAY (since NA)
Member of:
  AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL,
  IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Luvsandorj DAWAGIV
 chancery:
  NA
 telephone:
  (301) 983-1962
 FAX:
  (301) 983-2025
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE
 embassy:
  address NA, Ulaanbaatar
 mailing address:
  Ulaanbaatar, c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region II, Big Rind Road;
  PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002
 telephone:
  [976] (1) 329095, 329606
 FAX:
  Telex 080079253 AMEMB MH
Flag:
  three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red, centered on
  the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a
  columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun,
  moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

*Mongolia, Economy

Overview:
  Mongolia's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of
  unproductive land have constrained economic development. Economic activity
  traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock -
  Mongolia has the highest number of livestock per person in the world. In
  recent years extensive mineral resources have been developed with Soviet
  support. 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. In 1992 the Mongolian leadership
  continued its struggle with severe economic dislocations, mainly
  attributable to the crumbling of the USSR, by far Mongolia's leading trade
  and development partner. Moscow cut almost all aid in 1991, and little was
  provided in 1992. Industry in 1992 was hit hard by energy shortages, mainly
  due to disruptions in coal production and shortfalls in petroleum imports.
  By the end of the year, the country was perilously close to a complete
  shutdown of its centralized energy supply system, due to critical coal
  shortages. The government is moving away from the Soviet-style, centrally
  planned economy through privatization and price reform.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.8 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -15% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $800 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  325% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  15% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  deficit of $67 million (1991)
Exports:
  $347 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other
  nonferrous metals
 partners:
  USSR 75%, China 10%, Japan 4%
Imports:
  $501 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods,
  chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
 partners:
  USSR 75%, Austria 5%, China 5%
External debt:
  $16.8 billion (yearend 1990); 98.6% with USSR
Industrial production:
  growth rate -15% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  1,248,000 kW capacity; 3,740 million kWh produced, 1,622 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  copper, processing of animal products, building materials, food and
  beverage, mining (particularly coal)
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 20% 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

*Mongolia, Economy

Economic aid:
  about $300 million in trade credits and $34 million in grant aid from USSR
  and other CEMA countries, plus $7.4 million from UNDP (1990); in 1991, $170
  million in grants and technical assistance from Western donor countries,
  including $30 million from World Bank and $30 million from the IMF; over
  $200 million from donor countries projected in 1992
Currency:
  1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos
Exchange rates:
  tughriks (Tug) per US$1 - 40 (1992), 7.1 (1991), 5.63 (1990), 3.00 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Mongolia, Communications

Railroads:
  1,750 km 1.524-meter broad gauge (1988)
Highways:
  46,700 km total; 1,000 km hard surface; 45,700 km other surfaces (1988)
Inland waterways:
  397 km of principal routes (1988)
Airports:
 total:
  81
 usable:
  31
 with permanent-surface runways:
  11
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  fewer than 5
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  fewer than 20
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  12
Telecommunications:
  63,000 telephones (1989); broadcast stations - 12 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (with 18
  provincial repeaters); repeat of Russian TV; 120,000 TVs; 220,000 radios; at
  least 1 earth station

*Mongolia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal Security Forces and Frontier
  Guards), Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 569,135; fit for military service 371,162; reach military
  age (18) annually 25,406 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $22.8 million of GDP, 1% of GDP (1992)

*Montserrat, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*Montserrat, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 400 km southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  100 km2
 land area:
  100 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  40 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:   20%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  10%
 forest and woodland:
  40%
 other:
  30%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to severe hurricanes from June to November
Note:
  located 400 km east southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

*Montserrat, People

Population:
  12,661 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.36% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  16.35 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.77 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  11.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.76 years
 male:
  74 years
 female:
  77.56 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.11 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Montserratian(s)
 adjective:
  Montserratian
Ethnic divisions:
  black, Europeans
Religions:
  Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist,
  other Christian denominations
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
 total population:   97%
 male:
  97%
 female:
  97%
Labor force:
  5,100
 by occupation:
  community, social, and personal services 40.5%, construction 13.5%, trade,
  restaurants, and hotels 12.3%, manufacturing 10.5%, agriculture, forestry,
  and fishing 8.8%, other 14.4% (1983 est.)

*Montserrat, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Montserrat
Digraph:
  MH
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  Plymouth
Administrative divisions:
  3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  1 January 1960
Legal system:
  English common law and statute law
National holiday:
  Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Progressive Party (NPP) Reuben T. MEADE; People's Liberation
  Movement (PLM), Noel TUITT; National Development Party (NDP), Bertrand
  OSBORNE; Independent (IND), Ruby BRAMBLE
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Council:
  last held on 8 October 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
  (11 total, 7 elected) NPP 4, NDP 1, PLM 1, independent 1
Executive branch:
  monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet), chief minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor David
  TAYLOR (since NA 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Chief Minister Reuben T. MEADE (since October 1991)
Member of:
  CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, OECS, WCL
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat
  of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a
  black cross

*Montserrat, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is small and open with economic activity centered on tourism and
  construction. Tourism is the most important sector and accounts for roughly
  one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture accounts for about 4% of GDP and industry 10%.
  The economy is heavily dependent on imports, making it vulnerable to
  fluctuations in world prices. Exports consist mainly of electronic parts
  sold to the US.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $73 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  13.5% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $5,800 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  9% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  3% (1987)
Budget:
  revenues $12.1 million; expenditures $14.3 million, including capital
  expenditures of $3.2 million (1988)
Exports:
  $1.6 million (f.o.b., 1989)
 commodities:
  electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $31.0 million (c.i.f., 1989)
 commodities:
  machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods,
  fuels, lubricants, and related materials
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $2.05 million (1987)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 8.1% (1986); accounts for 10% of GDP
Electricity:
  5,271 kW capacity; 12 million kWh produced, 950 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism; light manufacturing - rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Agriculture:
  accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food crops - tomatoes, onions,
  peppers; not self-sufficient in food, especially livestock products
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $90
  million
Currency:
  1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Montserrat, Communications

Highways:
  280 km total; about 200 km paved, 80 km gravel and earth
Ports:
  Plymouth
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways 1,036 m:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 8 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV

*Montserrat, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Police Force
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Morocco, Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea,
  between Algeria and Western Sahara
Map references:   Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  446,550 km2
 land area:
  446,300 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
  total 2,002 km, Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km
Coastline:
  1,835 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved; the UN
  is attempting to hold a referendum; the UN-administered cease-fire has been
  currently in effect since September 1991; Spain controls five places of
  sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the
  coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco contests as well as the
  islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas
  Chafarinas
Climate:
  Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with rich coastal plains
Natural resources:
  phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  18%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  28%
 forest and woodland:
  12%
 other:
  41%
Irrigated land:
  12,650 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes;
  desertification
Note:
  strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

*Morocco, People

Population:
  27,955,090 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.16% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  29.23 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  53.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.5 years
 male:
  65.7 years
 female:
  69.4 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.96 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Moroccan(s)
 adjective:
  Moroccan
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:
  Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:
  Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business,
  government, and diplomacy
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  50%
 male:
  61%
 female:
  38%
Labor force:
  7.4 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)

*Morocco, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Morocco
 conventional short form:   Morocco
 local long form:
  Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
 local short form:
  Al Maghrib
Digraph:
  MO
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Rabat
Administrative divisions:
  37 provinces and 5 municipalities* (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Agadir, Al,   Hoceima, Azilal,
Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen,,   El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er
Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Fes*, Figuig,,   Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga,
Laayoune, Larache,
  Marrakech, Marrakech*, Meknes, Meknes*, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda,,   Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat,,
Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate,
  Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit
Independence:
  2 March 1956 (from France)
Constitution:
  10 March 1972, revised in September 1992
Legal system:
  based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial
  review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court
National holiday:
  National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King Hassan II's accession to
  the throne)
Political parties and leaders:
  Morocco has 15 political parties; the major ones are Constitutional Union
  (UC), Maati BOUABID; National Assembly of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN;
  Popular Movement (MP), Mohamed LAENSER; National Popular Movement (MPN),
  Mahjoubi AHARDANE; Istiqlal, M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Socialist Union of Popular
  Forces (USFP); National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI;
  Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Chamber of Representatives:
  last held on 14 September 1984 (were scheduled for September 1990, but
  postponed until June 1993 when 27 new seats will be added); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (306 total, 206 elected) UC 83, RNI 61,
  MP 47, Istiqlal 41, USFP 36, PND 24, other 14
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Chamber of Representatives (Majlis Nawab)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Mohamed KARIM-LAMRANI (since October 1992)

*Morocco, Government

Member of:
  ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO,
  G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, OAS
  (observer), NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM,
  UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Mohamed BELKHAYAT
 chancery:
  1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009;
 telephone:
  (202) 462-7979
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 120, Rabat, or PSC 74, APO AE 09718
 telephone:
  [212] (7) 76-22-65
 FAX:
  [212] (7) 76-56-61
 consulate general:
  Casablanca
Flag:
  red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon's
  seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam

*Morocco, Economy

Overview:
  The economy had recovered moderately in 1990 because of: the resolution of a
  trade dispute with India over phosphoric acid sales, a rebound in textile
  sales to the EC, lower prices for food imports, a sharp increase in worker
  remittances, increased Arab donor aid, and generous debt rescheduling
  agreements. Economic performance in 1991 was mixed. A record harvest helped
  real GDP advance by 4.2%. Inflation accelerated slightly as easier financial
  policies triggered rapid credit and monetary growth. Despite recovery of
  domestic demand, import volume growth slowed while export volume was
  adversely affected by phosphate marketing difficulties. In January 1992,
  Morocco reached a new 12-month standby arrangement for $129 million with the
  IMF. In February 1992, the Paris Club rescheduled $1.4 billion of Morocco's
  commercial debt. This is thought to be Morocco's last rescheduling. By 1993
  the Moroccan authorities hope to be in a position to meet all debt service
  obligations without additional rescheduling. Servicing this large debt, high
  unemployment, and Morocco's vulnerability to external economic forces remain
  severe long-term problems. In 1992 Morocco embarked on a program to
  privatize 112 state-owned companies. A severe winter drought in 1991/92 cut
  back agricultural output in 1992.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $28.1 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,060 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  19% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $7.5 billion; expenditures $7.7 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $1.9 billion (1992)
Exports:
  $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%,
  phosphates 17%
 partners:
  EC 58%, India 7%, Japan 5%, former USSR 3%, US 2%
Imports:
  $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw materials 16%, fuel and
  lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%, consumer goods 9%
 partners:
  EC 53%, US 11%, Canada 4%, Iraq 3%, former USSR 3%, Japan 2%
External debt:
  $20 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 8.4%; accounts for 27% of GDP (1990)
Electricity:
  2,384,000 kW capacity; 8,864 million kWh produced, 317 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods,
  textiles, construction, tourism

*Morocco, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for 16% 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; fish catch of 491,000
  metric tons in 1987
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; occasional transit point for cocaine from South America
  destined for Western Europe.
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.3 billion and an additional
  $123.6 million for 1992; 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; $2.8 billion debt
  canceled by Saudi Arabia (1991); IMF standby agreement worth $13 million;
  World Bank, $450 million (1991)
Currency:
  1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 9.207 (February 1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707
  (1991), 8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989), 8.209 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Morocco, Communications

Railroads:
  1,893 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (246 km double track, 974 km
  electrified)
Highways:
  59,198 km total; 27,740 km paved, 31,458 km gravel, crushed stone, improved
  earth, and unimproved earth
Pipelines:
  crude oil 362 km; petroleum products (abandoned) 491 km; natural gas 241 km
Ports:
  Agadir, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi,
  Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla
Merchant marine:
  50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 305,758 GRT/484,825 DWT; 10 cargo, 2
  container, 11 refrigerated cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off, 4 oil tanker, 11
  chemical tanker, 4 bulk, 2 short-sea passenger
Airports:
 total:
  73
 usable:
  65
 with permanent-surface runways:
  26
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  13
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  26
Telecommunications:
  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; 280,000 telephones (10.5 telephones
  per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations - 20 AM, 7 FM, 26 TV and 26
  repeaters; 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and
  Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave to Algeria; microwave radio
  relay network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and
  Morocco

*Morocco, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy, Royal Moroccan Air Force, Royal
  Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 6,852,698; fit for military service 4,355,670; reach
  military age (18) annually 309,666 (1993 est.); limited conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 3.8% of GDP (1993 budget)

*Mozambique, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel between South Africa and
  Tanzania opposite the island of Madagascar
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  801,590 km2
 land area:
  784,090 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
  total 4,571 km, Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km,
  Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline:
  2,470 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical to subtropical
Terrain:
  mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest,
  mountains in west
Natural resources:
  coal, titanium
Land use:
 arable land:
  4%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  56%
 forest and woodland:   20%
 other:
  20%
Irrigated land:
  1,150 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  severe drought and floods occur in south; desertification

*Mozambique, People

Population:
  16,341,777 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  6.06% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.35 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  16.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  31.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  131.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  48.03 years
 male:
  46.22 years
 female:
  49.9 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.31 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Mozambican(s)
 adjective:
  Mozambican
Ethnic divisions:
  indigenous tribal groups, Europeans about 10,000, Euro-Africans 35,000,
  Indians 15,000
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 60%, Christian 30%, Muslim 10%
Languages:
  Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  33%
 male:
  45%
 female:
  21%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:   90% engaged in agriculture

*Mozambique, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Mozambique
 conventional short form:
  Mozambique
 local long form:
  Republica Popular de Mocambique
 local short form:
  Mocambique
Digraph:
  MZ
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Maputo
Administrative divisions:
  10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza,
  Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence:
  25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
Constitution:
  30 November 1990
Legal system:
  based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Political parties and leaders:
  Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO,
  chairman; formerly a Marxist organization with close ties to the USSR;
  FRELIMO was the only legal party before 30 November 1990, when the new
  Constitution went into effect establishing a multiparty system
 note:
  the government plans multiparty elections as early as 1993; 14 parties,
  including the Liberal Democratic Party of Mozambique (PALMO), the Mozambique
  National Union (UNAMO), the Mozambique National Movement (MONAMO), and the
  Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO, Alfonso DHLAKAMA, president), have
  already emerged
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
  draft electoral law provides for periodic, direct presidential and Assembly
  elections
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:   President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Mario da Graca MACHUNGO (since 17 July 1986)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  INMARSAT, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

*Mozambique, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Hipolito PATRICIO
 chancery:
  Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 293-7146
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Townsend B. FRIEDMAN, Jr.
 embassy:
  Avenida Kenneth Kuanda, 193 Maputo
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 783, Maputo
 telephone:
  [258] (1) 49-27-97, 49-01-67, 49-03-50
 FAX:
  [258] (1) 49-01-14
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red
  isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in
  white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a
  crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book

*Mozambique, Economy

Overview:
  One of Africa's poorest countries, Mozambique has failed to exploit the
  economic potential of its sizable agricultural, hydropower, and
  transportation resources. Indeed, national output, consumption, and
  investment declined throughout the first half of the 1980s because of
  internal disorders, lack of government administrative control, and a growing
  foreign debt. A sharp increase in foreign aid, attracted by an economic
  reform policy, resulted in successive years of economic growth in the late
  1980s, but aid has declined steadily since 1989. Agricultural output,
  nevertheless, is at about 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. The continuation of civil
  strife has dimmed chances of foreign investment, and growth was a mere 0.3%
  in 1992. Living standards, already abysmally low, fell further in 1991-92.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.75 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0.3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $115 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  50% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  50% (1989 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $252 million; expenditures $607 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $162 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  shrimp 48%, cashews 21%, sugar 10%, copra 3%, citrus 3%
 partners:
  US, Western Europe, Germany, Japan
Imports:
  $899 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum
 partners:
  US, Western Europe, USSR
External debt:
  $5.4 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5% (1989 est.)
Electricity:
  2,270,000 kW capacity; 1,745 million kWh produced, 115 kWh per capita (1991)
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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $350 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $37 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $890
  million
Currency:
  1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos

*Mozambique, Economy

Exchange rates:
  meticais (Mt) per US$1 - 2,74.15 (January 1993), 2,433.34 (1992), 1,434.47
  (1991), 929.00 (1990), 800.00 (1989), 528.60 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Mozambique, Communications

Railroads:
  3,288 km total; 3,140 km 1.067-meter gauge; 148 km 0.762-meter narrow gauge;
  Malawi-Nacala, Malawi-Beira, and Zimbabwe-Maputo lines are subject to
  closure because of insurgency
Highways:
  26,498 km total; 4,593 km paved; 829 km gravel, crushed stone, stabilized
  soil; 21,076 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  about 3,750 km of navigable routes
Pipelines:
  crude oil (not operating) 306 km; petroleum products 289 km
Ports:
  Maputo, Beira, Nacala
Merchant marine:
  4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,686 GRT/9,742 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  194
 usable:
  131
 with permanent-surface runways:
  25
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  26
Telecommunications:
  fair system of troposcatter, open-wire lines, and radio relay; broadcast
  stations - 29 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and
  3 domestic Indian Ocean INTELSAT

*Mozambique, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Militia
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 3,675,189; fit for military service 2,110,489 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $118 million, 8% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Namibia, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Angola and South
  Africa
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:  total area:
  824,290 km2
 land area:
  823,290 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:
  total 3,935 km, Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 966 km,
  Zambia 233 km
Coastline:
  1,489 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; disputed island with
  Botswana in the Chobe River; quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
  is in disagreement; claim by Namibia to Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands
  administered by South Africa; Namibia and South Africa have agreed to
  jointly administer the area for an interim period; the terms and dates to be
  covered by joint administration arrangements have not been established at
  this time, and Namibia will continue to maintain a claim to sovereignty over
  the entire area; recent dispute with Botswana over uninhabited Kasikili
  (Sidudu) Island in the Linyanti River
Climate:
  desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain:
  mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Natural resources:
  diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt,
  vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected deposits of oil, natural gas, coal,
  iron ore
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  64%
 forest and woodland:
  22%
 other:
  13%
Irrigated land:
  40 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  inhospitable with very limited natural water resources; desertification
Note:
  Walvis Bay area is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia

*Namibia, People

Population:
  1,541,321 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.46% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  43.77 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.13 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  63.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  61.2 years
 male:
  58.57 years
 female:
  63.91 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.46 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Namibian(s)
 adjective:
  Namibian
Ethnic divisions:
  black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%
 note:
  about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the
  Kavangos tribe
Religions:
  Christian
Languages:
  English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population
  and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1960)
 total population:
  38%
 male:
  45%
 female:
  31%
Labor force:
  500,000
 by occupation:
  agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services 8%, government 7%,
  mining 6% (1981 est.)

*Namibia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Namibia
 conventional short form:
  Namibia
Digraph:
  WA
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Windhoek
Administrative divisions:
  13 districts; Erango, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Liambezi, Ohanguena,
  Okarango, Omaheke, Omusat, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
 note:
  the 26 districts were Bethanien, Boesmanland, Caprivi Oos, Damaraland,
  Gobabis, Grootfontein, Hereroland Oos, Hereroland Wes, Kaokoland, Karasburg,
  Karibib, Kavango, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Maltahohe, Mariental, Namaland,
  Okahandja, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Owambo, Rehoboth, Swakopmund,
  Tsumeb, Windhoek
Independence:
  21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Constitution:
  ratified 9 February 1990
Legal system:
  based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Political parties and leaders:
  South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA; DTA of Namibia
  (DTA; formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia), Dirk MUDGE; United
  Democratic Front (UDF), Justus GAROEB; Action Christian National (ACN),
  Kosie PRETORIUS; National Patriotic Front (NPF), Moses KATJIUONGUA; Federal
  Convention of Namibia (FCN), Hans DIERGAARDT; Namibia National Front (NNF),
  Vekuii RUKORO
Other political or pressure groups:
  NA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 16 February 1990 (next to be held March 1995); results - Sam
  NUJOMA was elected president by the Constituent Assembly (now the National
  Assembly)
 National Assembly:
  last held on 7-11 November 1989 (next to be held by November 1994); results
  - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) SWAPO 41, DTA 21, UDF 4,
  ACN 3, NNF 1, FCN 1, NPF 1
 National Council:
  last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998);
  seats - (26 total) SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1
Executive branch:
  president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral legislature consists of an upper house or National Council and a
  lower house or National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court

*Namibia, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)
Member of:
  ACP, C, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IOM
  (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH
 chancery:
  1605 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009 (mailing address is PO Box
  34738, Washington, DC 20043)
 telephone:
  (202) 986-0540
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Charge d'Affaires Marshall MCCAULEY
 embassy:
  Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Windhoek
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 9890, Windhoek 9000
 telephone:
  [264] (61) 221-601, 222-675, 222-680
 FAX:
  [264] (61) 229-792
Flag:
  a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left section,
  and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right section; the
  triangles are separated by a red stripe that is contrasted by two narrow
  white-edge borders

*Namibia, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and
  process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 25% of GDP. Namibia
  is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's
  fifth-largest producer of uranium. Alluvial diamond deposits are among the
  richest in the world, making Namibia a primary source for gem-quality
  diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver,
  and tungsten. More than half the population depends on agriculture (largely
  subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood.

















National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,300 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  10% (1992) in urban area
Unemployment rate:
  25-35% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $864 million; expenditures $1,112 million, including capital
  expenditures of $144 million (FY 92)
Exports:
  $1.184 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, karakul
  skins
 partners:
  Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Japan
Imports:
  $1.238 billion (f.o.b., 1991)

*Namibia, Economy

 commodities:
  foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment
 partners:
  South Africa, Germany, US, Switzerland
External debt:
  about $220 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production:   growth rate 4.9% (1991); accounts for 35% of GDP, including mining
Electricity:
  490,000 kW capacity; 1,290 million kWh produced, 850 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, mining (copper, lead, zinc,
  diamond, uranium)
Agriculture:
  accounts for 15% of GDP; mostly subsistence farming; livestock raising major
  source of cash income; crops - millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch
  potential of over 1 million metric tons not being fulfilled, 1988 catch
  reaching only 384,000 metric tons; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
  $47.2 million
Currency:
  1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  South African rand (R) per US$1 - 3.1576 (May 1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7653
  (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Namibia, Communications

Railroads:
  2,341 km 1.067-meter gauge, single track
Highways:
  54,500 km; 4,079 km paved, 2,540 km gravel, 47,881 km earth roads and tracks
Ports:
  Luderitz; primary maritime outlet is Walvis Bay (South Africa)
Airports:
 total:
  137
 usable:
  112
 with permanent-surface runways:
  21
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  62
Telecommunications:
  good urban, fair rural services; radio relay connects major towns, wires
  extend to other population centers; 62,800 telephones; broadcast stations -
  4 AM, 40 FM, 3 TV

*Namibia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Defense Force (Army), Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 324,599; fit for military service 192,381 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 3.4% of GDP (FY92)

*Nauru, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, 500 km north-northeast of Papua New Guinea
Map references:
  Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  21 km2
 land area:
  21 km2
 comparative area:
  about one-tenth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  30 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)
Terrain:
  sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate
  plateau in center
Natural resources:
  phosphates
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  only 53 km south of Equator
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

*Nauru, People

Population:
  9,882 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.42% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  18.92 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  66.68 years
 male:
  64.3 years
 female:
  69.18 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.2 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Nauruan(s)
 adjective:
  Nauruan
Ethnic divisions:
  Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
Religions:
  Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
Languages:
  Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely
  understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
 by occupation:
  NA

*Nauru, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:   Republic of Nauru
 conventional short form:
  Nauru
 former:
  Pleasant Island
Digraph:
  NR
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  no official capital; government offices in Yaren
Administrative divisions:
  14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu,
  Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Independence:
  31 January 1968 (from UN trusteeship under Australia, New Zealand, and UK)
Constitution:
  29 January 1968
Legal system:
  own Acts of Parliament and British common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Political parties and leaders:
  none
Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 President:
  last held 19 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1995); results -
  Bernard DOWIYOGO elected by Parliament
 Parliament:
  last held on 14 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1995); results -
  percent of vote NA; seats - (18 total) independents 18
Executive branch:
  president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 12 December 1989)
Member of:
  AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UPU
Diplomatic representation in US:
  there is a Nauruan Consulate in Agana (Guam)
US diplomatic representation:
  the US Ambassador to Australia is accredited to Nauru
Flag:
  blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large
  white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates
  the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and
  the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

*Nauru, Economy

Overview:
  Revenues come from the export of phosphates, the reserves of which are
  expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have given Nauruans
  one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World - $10,000 annually.
  Few other resources exist, so most necessities must be imported, including
  fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the
  replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems.
  Substantial amounts of phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help
  cushion the transition.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $90 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $10,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  0%
Budget:
  revenues $69.7 million; expenditures $51.5 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY86 est.)
Exports:
  $93 million (f.o.b., 1984)
 commodities:
  phosphates
 partners:
  Australia, NZ
Imports:
  $73 million (c.i.f., 1984)
 commodities:
  food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
 partners:
  Australia, UK, NZ, Japan
External debt:
  $33.3 million
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  14,000 kW capacity; 50 million kWh produced, 5,430 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products
Agriculture:
  coconuts; other agricultural activity negligible; almost completely
  dependent on imports for food and water
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $2 million
Currency:
  1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992),
  1.2834 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Nauru, Communications

Railroads:
  3.9 km; used to haul phosphates from the center of the island to processing
  facilities on the southwest coast
Highways:
  about 27 km total; 21 km paved, 6 km improved earth
Ports:
  Nauru
Merchant marine:
  1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,426 GRT/5,750 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  adequate local and international radio communications provided via
  Australian facilities; 1,600 telephones; 4,000 radios; broadcast stations -
  1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Nauru, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Directorate of the Nauru Police Force
 note:
  no regular armed forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA
Defense expenditures:
  $NA - no formal defense structure

*Navassa Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Navassa Island, Geography

Location:
  in the Caribbean Sea, 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo
  (Cuba), between Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  5.2 km2
 land area:
  5.2 km2
 comparative area:
  about nine times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  8 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claimed by Haiti
Climate:
  marine, tropical
Terrain:
  raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical
  white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)
Natural resources:
  guano
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  10%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  90%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds; dense
  stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus
Note:
  strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo, Cuba

*Navassa Island, People

Population:
  uninhabited; note - transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the
  island

*Navassa Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Navassa Island
Digraph:
  BQ
Type:
  unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Coast Guard
Capital:
  none; administered from Washington, DC

*Navassa Island, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Navassa Island, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only

*Navassa Island, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Nepal, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, in the Himalayas, between China and India
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  140,800 km2
 land area:
  136,800 km2
 comparative area:   slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries:
  total 2,926 km, China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers
  and mild winters in south
Terrain:
  Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region,
  rugged Himalayas in north
Natural resources:
  quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential, scenic beauty, small
  deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:
 arable land:
  17%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  13%
 forest and woodland:
  33%
 other:
  37%
Irrigated land:
  9,430 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks; deforestation; soil erosion;
  water pollution
Note:
  landlocked; strategic location between China and India

*Nepal, People

Population:
  20,535,466 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.43% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  37.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  13.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  85.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  51.98 years  male:
  51.84 years
 female:
  52.12 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Nepalese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Nepalese
Ethnic divisions:
  Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus,
  Sherpas
Religions:
  Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981)
 note:
  only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp distinction between
  many Hindu and Buddhist groups
Languages:
  Nepali (official), 20 languages divided into numerous dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  26%
 male:
  38%
 female:
  13%
Labor force:
  8.5 million (1991 est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2%
 note:
  severe lack of skilled labor

*Nepal, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Nepal
 conventional short form:
  Nepal
Digraph:
  NP
Type:
  parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991
Capital:
  Kathmandu
Administrative divisions:
  14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri,
  Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti,
  Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence:   1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
Constitution:
  9 November 1990
Legal system:
  based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)
Political parties and leaders:
 ruling party:
  Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Party president Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI, Prime
  Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Ganesh Man SINGH
 center:
  the NDP has two factions: National Democratic Party/Chand (NDP/Chand),
  Lokendra Bahadur CHAND; and National Democratic Party/Thapa (NDP/Thapa),
  Surya Bahadur THAPA; Terai Rights Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, Gayendra
  Narayan SINGH
 Communist:
  Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan
  ADIKHARY; United People's Front (UPF), N. K. PRASAI, Lila Mani POKHAREL;
  Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, leader NA; Rohit Party, N. M. BIJUKCHHE;
  Democratic Party, leader NA
 note:
  the two factions of the NDP announced a merger in late 1991
Other political or pressure groups:
  numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small,
  radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held on 12 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results - NCP 38%,
  CPN/UML 28%, NDP/Chand 6%, UPF 5%, NDP/Thapa 5%, Terai Rights Sadbhavana
  Party 4%, Rohit 2%, CPN (Democratic) 1%, independents 4%, other 7%; seats -
  (205 total) NCP 110, CPN/UML 69, UPF 9, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 6,
  NDP/Chand 3, Rohit 2, CPN (Democratic) 2, NDP/Thapa 1, independents 3; note
  - the new Constitution of 9 November 1990 gave Nepal a multiparty democracy
  system for the first time in 32 years
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or National Council and a
  lower house or House of Representatives

*Nepal, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat)
Leaders:
 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)
 Head of Government:   Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 29 May 1991)
Member of:
  AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNIFIL, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Yog Prasad UPADHYAYA
 chancery:
  2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 667-4550
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Julia Chang BLOCH
 embassy:
  Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  [977] (1) 411179 or 412718, 411604, 411613, 413890
 FAX:
  [977] (1) 419963
Flag:
  red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right
  triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the
  larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun

*Nepal, Economy

Overview:
  Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world.
  Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over
  90% of the population and accounting for 60% 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
  FY91. 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 partly because of
  poor distribution. The top 10% of the population receives 47% of total
  income, the bottom 20% less than 5% of the total. 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 subsides, 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, and its remoteness.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.4 billion (FY92)
National product real growth rate:
  3.1% (FY92)
National product per capita:
  $170 (FY92)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  14% (November 1992)
Unemployment rate:
  5% (1987); underemployment estimated at 25-40%
Budget:
  revenues $308.0 million; expenditures $672.0 million, including capital
  expenditures of $396 million (FY92 est.)
Exports:
  $313 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.) but does not include unrecorded border
  trade with India
 commodities:
  carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
 partners:
  US, Germany, India, UK
Imports:
  $751 million (c.i.f., FY92 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10%
 partners:
  India, Singapore, Japan, Germany
External debt:
  $2 billion (FY92 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 6% (FY91 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP
Electricity:
  300,000 kW capacity; 1,000 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette, textile, carpet,
  cement, and brick production; tourism
Agriculture:
  accounts for 60% of GDP and 90% of work force; farm products - rice, corn,
  wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, buffalo meat; not self-sufficient in
  food, particularly in drought years

*Nepal, Economy

Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug
  markets; probable transit point for heroin from Southeast Asia to the West
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $304 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $2,230 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $30 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $286
  million
Currency:
  1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa
Exchange rates:
  Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1 - 43.200 (January 1993), 42.742 (1992),
  37.255 (1991), 29.370 (1990), 27.189 (1989), 23.289 (1988)
Fiscal year:   16 July - 15 July

*Nepal, Communications

Railroads:
  52 km (1990), all 0.762-meter narrow gauge; all in Terai close to Indian
  border; 10 km from Raxaul to Birganj is government owned
Highways:
  7,080 km total (1990); 2,898 km paved, 1,660 km gravel or crushed stone;
  also 2,522 km of seasonally motorable tracks
Airports:
 total:
  37
 usable:
  37
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  8
Telecommunications:
  poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radio communication and broadcast
  service; international radio communication service is poor; 50,000
  telephones (1990); broadcast stations - 88 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station

*Nepal, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 4,849,109; fit for military service 2,517,385; reach
  military age (17) annually 234,060 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $34 million, 2% of GDP (FY91/92)

*Netherlands, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  37,330 km2
 land area:
  33,920 km2  comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
  total 1,027 km, Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline:
  451 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain:
  mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Natural resources:
  natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil
Land use:
 arable land:
  26%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  32%
 forest and woodland:
  9%
 other:
  32%
Irrigated land:
  5,500 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  without an extensive system of dikes and dams, nearly one-half of the total
  area would be inundated by sea water
Note:
  located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse,
  Schelde)

*Netherlands, People

Population:
  15,274,942 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.63% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.81 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:   6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.55 years
 male:
  74.48 years
 female:
  80.78 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.59 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
 adjective:
  Dutch
Ethnic divisions:
  Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988)
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 36%, Protestant 27%, other 6%, unaffiliated 31% (1988)
Languages:
  Dutch
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  5.3 million
 by occupation:
  services 50.1%, manufacturing and construction 28.2%, government 15.9%,
  agriculture 5.8% (1986)

*Netherlands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of the Netherlands
 conventional short form:
  Netherlands
 local long form:
  Koninkrijk de Nederlanden
 local short form:
  Nederland
Digraph:
  NL
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Administrative divisions:
  12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland,
  Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland,
  Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland
Dependent areas:
  Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence:
  1579 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  17 February 1983
Legal system:
  civil law system incorporating French penal theory; judicial review in the
  Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of the States
  General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
Political parties and leaders:
  Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Willem van VELZEN; Labor (PvdA), Wim KOK;
  Liberal (VVD), Frederick BOLKSTEIN; Democrats '66 (D'66), Hans van MIERIO; 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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 First Chamber:
  last held on 9 June l991 (next to be held 9 June 1995); results - elected by
  the country's 12 provincial councils; seats - (75 total) percent of seats by
  party NA
 Second Chamber:
  last held on 6 September 1989 (next to be held in May 1994); results - CDA
  35.3%, PvdA 31.9%, VVD 14.6%, D'66 7.9%, other 10.3%; seats - (150 total)
  CDA 54, PvdA 49, VVD 22, D'66 12, other 13
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, vice prime minister, Cabinet, Cabinet of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal) consists of an upper chamber or
  First Chamber (Eerste Kamer) and a lower chamber or Second Chamber (Tweede
  Kamer)

*Netherlands, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad)
Leaders:
 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 Ruud (Rudolph) F. M. LUBBERS (since 4 November 1982); Vice
  Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 2 November 1989)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN,
  COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G-10, GATT, IADB,
  IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest),
  NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Johan Hendrick MEESMAN
 chancery:
  4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 244-5300
 FAX:
  (202) 362-3430
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila (Trust Territories of the Pacific
  Islands), New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Thomas H. GEWECKE
 embassy:
  Lange Voorhout 102, The Hague
 mailing address:
  PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
 telephone:
  [31] (70) 310-9209
 FAX:
  [31] (70) 361-4688
 consulate general:
  Amsterdam
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the
  flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

*Netherlands, Economy

Overview:
  This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private enterprise.
  The government makes its presence felt, however, through many regulations,
  permit requirements, and welfare programs affecting most aspects of economic
  activity. The trade and financial services sector contributes over 50% of
  GDP. Industrial activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the
  food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly
  mechanized agricultural sector employs only 5% of the labor force, but
  provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing
  industry. Unemployment and a sizable budget deficit are currently the most
  serious economic problems. Many of the economic issues of the 1990s will
  reflect the course of European economic integration.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $259.8 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  1.6% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $17,200 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  5.3% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $109.9 billion; expenditures $122.1 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $128.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  agricultural products, processed foods and tobacco, natural gas, chemicals,
  metal products, textiles, clothing
 partners:
  EC 77% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 15%, UK 10%), US 4% (1991)
Imports:
  $117.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods, transportation
  equipment, crude oil, food products
 partners:
  EC 64% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 14%, UK 8%), US 8% (1991)
External debt:
  $0
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.6% (1992 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP
Electricity:
  22,216,000 kW capacity; 63,500 million kWh produced, 4,200 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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:
  transit country for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries;
  European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $19.4 billion

*Netherlands, Economy

Currency:
  1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.8167 (January
  1993), 1.7585 (1992), 1.8697 (1991), 1.8209 (1990), 2.1207 (1989), 1.9766
  (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Netherlands, Communications

Railroads:
  2,828 km 1.435-meter standard gauge operated by Netherlands Railways (NS)
  (includes 1,957 km electrified and 1,800 km double track)
Highways:
  108,360 km total; 92,525 km paved (including 2,185 km of limited access,
  divided highways); 15,835 km gravel, crushed stone
Inland waterways:
  6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or
  larger
Pipelines:
  crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km
Ports:
  coastal - Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Den Helder, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Ijmuiden,
  Rotterdam, Scheveningen, Terneuzen, Vlissingen; inland - 29 ports
Merchant marine:
  344 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,762,000 GRT/3,675,649 DWT; includes
  3 short-sea passenger, 193 cargo, 30 refrigerated cargo, 26 container, 13
  roll-on/roll-off, 1 livestock carrier, 11 multifunction large-load carrier,
  23 oil tanker, 22 chemical tanker, 10 liquefied gas, 2 specialized tanker, 6
  bulk, 4 combination bulk; note - many Dutch-owned ships are also registered
  on the captive Netherlands Antilles register
Airports:
 total:
  28
 usable:
  28
 with permanent-surface runways:
  20
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  11
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  6
Telecommunications:
  highly developed, well maintained, and integrated; extensive redundant
  system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave radio relay
  microwave links; 9,418,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 (3 relays) AM,
  12 (39 repeaters) FM, 8 (7 repeaters) TV; 5 submarine cables; 1
  communication satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean
  and 2 Atlantic Ocean antenna) and EUTELSAT systems; nationwide mobile phone
  system

*Netherlands, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air Service
  and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 4,183,167; fit for military service 3,677,445; reach
  military age (20) annually 104,263 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $7.8 billion, 3% of GDP (1992)

*Netherlands Antilles, Header

Affiliation:
  (part of the Dutch realm)

*Netherlands Antilles, Geography

Location:
  two island groups - Curacas and Bonaire in the southern Caribbean Sea are
  about 70 km north of Venezuela near Aruba and the rest of the country is
  about 800 km to the northeast about one-third of the way between Antigua and
  Barbuda and Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  960 km2
 land area:
  960 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch
  part of the island of Saint Martin)
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  364 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  12 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
  generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Natural resources:
  phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use:
 arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%  forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  92%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  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

*Netherlands Antilles, People

Population:
  184,990 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.4% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  17.23 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.69 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -7.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.73 years
 male:
  73.55 years
 female:
  78.03 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.99 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Netherlands Antillean(s)
 adjective:
  Netherlands Antillean
Ethnic divisions:
  mixed African 85%, Carib Indian, European, Latin, Oriental
Religions:
  Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:
  Dutch (official), Papiamento a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect
  predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
 total population:
  94%
 male:
  94%
 female:
  93%
Labor force:
  89,000
 by occupation:
  government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)

*Netherlands Antilles, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Netherlands Antilles
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Nederlandse Antillen
Digraph:
  NA
Type:
  part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954
Capital:
  Willemstad
Administrative divisions:
  none (part of the Dutch realm)
Independence:
  none (part of the Dutch realm)
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
National holiday:
  Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
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:
  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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:  Staten:
  last held on 16 March 1990 (next to be held March 1994); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (22 total) PNP 7, FOL-SI 3, UPB 3, MAN 2,
  DP-St. M 2, DP 1, SPM 1, WIPM 1, DP-St. E 1, Nos Patria 1; note - the
  government of Prime Minister Maria LIBERIA-PETERS is a coalition of several
  parties
Executive branch:
  Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, vice prime minister, Council of
  Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral legislature (Staten)

*Netherlands Antilles, Government

Judicial branch:
  Joint High Court of Justice
Leaders:
 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 Maria LIBERIA-PETERS (since 17 May 1988, previously served
  from September 1984 to November 1985)
Member of:
  CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO
  (associate), UPU, WMO, WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as an autonomous part of the Netherlands, Netherlands Antillean interests in
  the US are represented by the Netherlands
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Consul General Bernard J. WOERZ
 consulate general:
  Saint Anna Boulevard 19, Willemstad, Curacao
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
 telephone:
  [599] (9) 613066
 FAX:
  [599] (9) 616489
Flag:
  white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical
  red band also centered; five white five-pointed stars are arranged in an
  oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the
  five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
  Maarten

*Netherlands Antilles, Economy

Overview:
  Tourism, petroleum refining, 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. Unlike many
  Latin American countries, the Netherlands Antilles has avoided large
  international debt. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with
  the US being the major supplier.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.6 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $8,700 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  16.4% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $209 million; expenditures $232 million, including capital
  expenditures of $8 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $200 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  petroleum products 98%
 partners:
  US 40%, UK 7%, Guadeloupe 5%
Imports:
  $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures
 partners:
  Venezuela 42%, US 21%, Netherlands 8%
External debt:
  $701 million (December 1987)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  125,000 kW capacity; 365 million kWh produced, 1,980 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism (Curacao and Sint Maarten), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum
  transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing
  (Curacao)
Agriculture:
  hampered by poor soils and scarcity of water; chief products - aloes,
  sorghum, peanuts, fresh vegetables, tropical fruit; not self-sufficient in
  food
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $513 million
Currency:
  1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins (NAf.) per US$1 - 1.79
  (fixed rate since 1989; 1.80 fixed rate 1971-88)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Netherlands Antilles, Communications

Highways:
  950 km total; 300 km paved, 650 km gravel and earth
Ports:
  Willemstad, Philipsburg, Kralendijk
Merchant marine:
  89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 781,646 GRT/962,138 DWT; includes 4
  passenger, 29 cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 7 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off,
  12 multifunction large-load carrier, 5 chemical tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 2
  bulk, 1 oil tanker, 1 railcar carrier, 1 combination ore/oil; note - all but
  a few are foreign owned, mostly in the Netherlands
Airports:
 total:
  5
 usable:
  4
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  generally adequate facilities; extensive interisland microwave radio relay
  links; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 2 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic
  Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Netherlands Antilles, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National
  Guard, Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 48,965; fit for military service 27,531; reach military age
  (20) annually 1,638 (1993 est.)
Note:
  defense is responsibility of the Netherlands

*New Caledonia, Header

Affiliation:
  (overseas territory of France)

*New Caledonia, Geography

Location:
  in the South Pacific Ocean, 1,750 km east of Australia
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  19,060 km2
 land area:
  18,760 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  2,254 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain:
  coastal plains with interior mountains
Natural resources:
  nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  14%
 forest and woodland:
  51%
 other:
  35%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  typhoons most frequent from November to March

*New Caledonia, People

Population:
  178,056 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.83% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  22.7 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.01 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  15.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  73.22 years
 male:
  69.92 years
 female:
  76.7 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.67 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  New Caledonian(s)
 adjective:
  New Caledonian
Ethnic divisions:
  Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%,
  Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages:
  French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
 total population:
  91%
 male:
  91%
 female:
  90%
Labor force:
  50,469 foreign workers for plantations and mines from Wallis and Futuna,
  Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.)
 by occupation:
  NA

*New Caledonia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
 conventional short form:
  New Caledonia
 local long form:
  Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
 local short form:
  Nouvelle-Caledonie
Digraph:
  NC
Type:
  overseas territory of France since 1956
Capital:
  Noumea
Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative
  divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named
  Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
Independence:
  none (overseas territory of France; a referendum on independence will be
  held in 1998)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
  the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands;
  formerly under French law
National holiday:
  National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
  white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR),
  conservative, Jacques LAFLEUR - affiliated to France's Rassemblement pour la
  Republique (RPR); 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, UREGEI; Union Caledonian (UC), Francois BURCK
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 French Senate:
  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:
  last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held 21 and 28 March 1993); results
  - RPR 83.5%, FN 13.5%, other 3%; seats - (2 total) RPCR 2
 Territorial Assembly:
  last held 11 June 1989 (next to be held 1993); 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
Executive branch:
  French president, high commissioner, Consultative Committee (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Territorial Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal

*New Caledonia, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
 Head of Government:
  High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Alain
  CHRISTNACHT (since 15 January 1991)
Member of:
  ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:   as an overseas territory of France, New Caledonian interests are
represented
  in the US by France
US diplomatic representation:
  none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

*New Caledonia, Economy

Overview:
  New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's known nickel resources. In
  recent years the economy has suffered because of depressed international
  demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a
  negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts
  for about 25% of imports.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $1 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2.4% (1988)
National product per capita:
  $6,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.1% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
  16% (1989)
Budget:
  revenues $224.0 million; expenditures $211.0 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1985)
Exports:
  $671 million (f.o.b., 1989)
 commodities:
  nickel metal 87%, nickel ore
 partners:
  France 52.3%, Japan 15.8%, US 6.4%
Imports:
  $764 million (c.i.f., 1989)
 commodities:
  foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment
 partners:
  France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9%
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced, 12,790 kWh per capita
  (1990)
Industries:
  nickel mining and smelting
Agriculture:
  large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn, wheat, vegetables; 60%
  self-sufficient in beef
Illicit drugs:
  illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal source of income for
  some families
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $4,185 million
Currency:
  1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Comptoirs Francais duPacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 99.65 (January
  1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30
  (1988); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*New Caledonia, Communications

Highways:
  6,340 km total; only about 10% paved (1987)
Ports:
  Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio
Airports:
 total:
  29
 usable:
  27
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  32,578 telephones (1987); broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; 1 Pacific
  Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*New Caledonia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Gendarmerie, Police Force
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*New Zealand, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, southeast of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
  Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:  total area:
  268,680 km2
 land area:
  268,670 km2
 comparative area:
  about the size of Colorado
 note:
  includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell
  Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  15,134 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Climate:
  temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:
  predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Natural resources:
  natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  53%
 forest and woodland:
  38%
 other:
  7%
Irrigated land:
  2,800 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  earthquakes are common, though usually not severe

*New Zealand, People

Population:
  3,368,774 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.61% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.93 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.11 years
 male:
  72.46 years
 female:
  79.95 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.07 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  New Zealander(s)
 adjective:
  New Zealand
Ethnic divisions:
  European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2%
Religions:
  Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist
  2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 9% (1986)
Languages:
  English (official), Maori
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  1,603,500 (June 1991)
 by occupation:
  services 67.4%, manufacturing 19.8%, primary production 9.3% (1987)

*New Zealand, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  New Zealand
Abbreviation:
  NZ
Digraph:
  NZ
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Wellington
Administrative divisions:   93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri,,
Ashburton,
  Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha,
  Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston,
  Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,,   Hawke's Bay,
Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui,,   Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood,
Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie,
  Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton,,   Matamata, Mount
Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*,,   Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea,
Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*,,   Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda,,
Silverpeaks, Southland,
  Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo,
  Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,,   Waikato, Waikohu,
Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa,
  Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*,,   Waitotara, Wallace,
Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei,,   Whangaroa, Woodville
Dependent areas:
  Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:
  26 September 1907 (from UK)
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
National holiday:
  Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British
  sovereignty)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Party (NP; government), James BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party
  (NZLP; opposition), Michael MOORE; NewLabor Party (NLP), Jim ANDERTON;
  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
 note:
  the New Labor, Democratic, and Mana Motuhake parties formed a coalition
  called the Alliance Party, Jim ANDERTON, president, in September 1991; the
  Green Party joined the coalition in May 1992
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

*New Zealand, Government

Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held on 27 October 1990 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
  NP 49%, NZLP 35%, Green Party 7%, NLP 5%; seats - (97 total) NP 67, NZLP 29,
  NLP 1
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  Cabinet
Legislative branch:   unicameral House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament)
Judicial branch:
  High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC,
  AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, COCOM (cooperating country), EBRD, ESCAP,
  FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR,
  NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Denis Bazely Gordon McLEAN
 chancery:
  37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 328-4800
 consulates general:
  Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001
 telephone:
  [64] (4) 722-068
 FAX:
  [64] (4) 723-537
 consulate general:
  Auckland
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red
  five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag;
  the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

*New Zealand, Economy

Overview:
  Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent
  on a guaranteed British market to an 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 results have been mixed: inflation is
  down from double-digit levels, but growth was sluggish in 1988-91, and
  unemployment, always a highly sensitive issue, has exceeded 10% since May
  1991. In 1992, growth picked up to 3%, a sign that the new economic approach
  is beginning to pay off.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $49.8 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $14,900 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  10.1% (September 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $14.0 billion; expenditures $15.2 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $3.65 billion (f.o.b., FY92)
 commodities:
  wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fruit, fish, cheese, manufactures, chemicals,
  forestry products
 partners:
  EC 18.3%, Japan 17.9%, Australia 17.5%, US 13.5%, China 3.6%, South Korea
  3.1%
Imports:
  $3.99 billion (f.o.b., FY92)
 commodities:
  petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment
 partners:
  Australia 19.7%, Japan 16.9%, EC 16.9%, US 15.3%, Taiwan 3.0%
External debt:
  $38.5 billion (September 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.9% (1990); accounts for about 20% of GDP
Electricity:
  8,000,000 kW capacity; 31,000 million kWh produced, 9,250 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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 10% of the work force; livestock
  predominates - wool, meat, dairy products all export earners; crops - wheat,
  barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; surplus producer of farm
  products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $526 million
Currency:
  1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

*New Zealand, Economy

Exchange rates:
  New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9486 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992),
  1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*New Zealand, Communications

Railroads:
  4,716 km total; all 1.067-meter gauge; 274 km double track; 113 km
  electrified; over 99% government owned
Highways:
  92,648 km total; 49,547 km paved, 43,101 km gravel or crushed stone
Inland waterways:
  1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
Pipelines:
  natural gas 1,000 km; petroleum products 160 km; condensate (liquified
  petroleum gas - LPG) 150 km
Ports:
  Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Tauranga
Merchant marine:
  18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 182,206 GRT/246,446 DWT; includes 2
  cargo, 5 roll-on/roll-off, 1 railcar carrier, 4 oil tanker, 1 liquefied gas,
  5 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  120
 usable:
  120
 with permanent-surface runways:
  33
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  42
Telecommunications:
  excellent international and domestic systems; 2,110,000 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 64 AM, 2 FM, 14 TV; submarine cables extend to
  Australia and Fiji; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*New Zealand, Defense Forces

Branches:
  New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 878,028; fit for military service 741,104; reach military
  age (20) annually 29,319 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $792 million, 2% of GDP (FY90/91)

*Nicaragua, Geography

Location:
  Central America, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America
Area:
 total area:
  129,494 km2
 land area:
  120,254 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than New York State
Land boundaries:
  total 1,231 km, Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline:
  910 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain)
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y
  Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; International Court of Justice (ICJ)
  referred the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca to an
  earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite
  resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be
  required
Climate:
  tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:
  extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains;
  narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Natural resources:
  gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  9%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  43%
 forest and woodland:
  35%
 other:
  12%
Irrigated land:
  850 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional
  severe hurricanes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

*Nicaragua, People

Population:
  3,987,240 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.74% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  35.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  54.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  63.5 years
 male:
  60.7 years
 female:
  66.41 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.48 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Nicaraguan(s)
 adjective:
  Nicaraguan
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 5%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
Languages:
  Spanish (official)
 note:
  English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
 total population:
  57%
 male:
  57%
 female:
  57%
Labor force:
  1.086 million
 by occupation:
  service 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)

*Nicaragua, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:   Republic of Nicaragua
 conventional short form:
  Nicaragua
 local long form:
  Republica de Nicaragua
 local short form:
  Nicaragua
Digraph:
  NU
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Managua
Administrative divisions:
  17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Boaco, Carazo,
  Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua,
  Masaya, Matagalpa, North Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAN), Nueva
  Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, South Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAS)
Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  January 1987
Legal system:
  civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Political parties and leaders:
 ruling coalition:
  National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 10-party alliance - moderate parties:
  National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS Lacayo, president;
  Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto SOMARRIBA, Arnold
  ALEMAN; Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis Humberto GUZMAN, Agustin
  JARQUIN, Azucena FERREY, Roger MIRANDA, Francisco MAYORGA; National
  Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ; National Action Party (PAN),
  Duilio BALTODANO; NOU - hardline parties: Independent Liberal Party (PLI),
  Wilfredo NAVARRO,Virgilio GODOY Reyes; Social Democratic Party (PSD),
  Guillermo POTOY, Alfredo CESAR Aguirre, secretary general; Conservative
  Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO; Communist Party of Nicaragua
  (PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO Perez; Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA
  Esquivel
 opposition parties:
  Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA; Central American
  Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS; Democratic Conservative Party of
  Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose BRENES; Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN),
  Eduardo CORONADO; Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco SAMPER;
  Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ; Revolutionary Workers' Party
  (PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA; Social Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando
  AGUERRO; Popular Action Movement - Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ;
  Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Mauricio DIAZ

*Nicaragua, Government

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
Suffrage:
  16 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results -
  Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN)
  40.8%, other 4.5%
 National Assembly:
  last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results - UNO
  53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats - (92 total) UNO 42, FSLN 39,
  PSC 1, MUR 1, "Centrist" (Dissident UNO) 9
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA
  (observer), LORCS, 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 MAYORGA (since January 1993)
 chancery:
  1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 939-6570
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Charge d'Affaires Ronald GODARD
 embassy:
  Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34021
 telephone:
  [505] (2) 666010 or 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032
  through 34
 FAX:
  [505] (2) 666046

*Nicaragua, Government

Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the
  national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features
  a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and
  AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which
  features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN
  LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of
  Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the
  white band

*Nicaragua, Economy

Overview:
  Government control of the economy historically has been extensive, although
  the CHAMORRO government has pledged to greatly reduce intervention. Four
  private banks have been licensed, and the government has liberalized foreign
  trade and abolished price controls on most goods. In early 1993, fewer than
  50% of the agricultural and industrial firms remain state owned. Sandinista
  economic policies and the war had produced a severe economic crisis. The
  foundation of the economy continues to be the export of agricultural
  commodities, largely coffee and cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7%
  in 1989 and 4% in 1990, and remained about even in 1991-92. The agricultural
  sector employs 44% of the work force and accounts for 15% of GDP and 80% of
  export earnings. Industry, which employs 13% of the work force and
  contributes about 25% to GDP, showed a drop of 7% in 1989, fell slightly in
  1990, and remained flat in 1991-92; output still is below pre-1979 levels.
  External debt is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis. In
  1992 the inflation rate was 8%, down sharply from the 766% of 1991.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $425 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  13% underemployment 50% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $347 million; expenditures $499 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA million (1991)
Exports:
  $280 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, seafood, meat, chemicals
 partners:
  OECD 75%, USSR and Eastern Europe 15%, other 10%
Imports:
  $720 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing
 partners:
  Latin America 30%, US 25%, EC 20%, USSR and Eastern Europe 10%, other 15%
  (1990 est.)
External debt:
  $10 billion (December 1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
  434,000 kW capacity; 1,118 million kWh produced, 290 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum
  refining and distribution, beverages, footwear
Agriculture:
  accounts for 15% of GDP and 44% of work force; cash crops - coffee, bananas,
  sugarcane, cotton; food crops - rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans;
  variety of animal products - beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy; normally
  self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
  minor transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US

*Nicaragua, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $294 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,381 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $3.5 billion
Currency:
  1 cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 6 (10 January 1993), 25,000,000 (March 1992),
  21,354,000 (1991), 15,655 (1989), 270 (1988), 102.60 (1987); note - new gold
  cordoba issued in 1992
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Nicaragua, Communications

Railroads:
  373 km 1.067-meter narrow gauge, government owned; majority of system not
  operating; 3 km 1.435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does not connect
  with mainline)
Highways:
  25,930 km total; 4,000 km paved, 2,170 km gravel or crushed stone, 5,425 km
  earth or graded earth, 14,335 km unimproved; Pan-American highway 368.5 km
Inland waterways:
  2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Pipelines:
  crude oil 56 km
Ports:
  Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama
Merchant marine:
  2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161 GRT/2,500 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  226
 usable:
  151
 with permanent-surface runways:
  11
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  12
Telecommunications:
  low-capacity radio relay and wire system being expanded; connection into
  Central American Microwave System; 60,000 telephones; broadcast stations -
  45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave; earth stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

*Nicaragua, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 911,397; fit for military service 561,448; reach military
  age (18) annually 44,226 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 2.7% of GDP (1992 budget)

*Niger, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, between Algeria and Nigeria
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1.267 million km2
 land area:
  1,266,700 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 5,697 km, Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina 628 km, Chad 1,175 km,
  Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:   Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in northern Niger; demarcation of
  international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border
  incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon,
  Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary
  demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger
Climate:
  desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:
  predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south;
  hills in north
Natural resources:
  uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  7%
 forest and woodland:
  2%
 other:
  88%
Irrigated land:
  320 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  recurrent drought and desertification severely affecting marginal
  agricultural activities; overgrazing; soil erosion
Note:
  landlocked

*Niger, People

Population:
  8,337,352 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.49% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  57.35 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  22.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  112.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  44.15 years
 male:
  42.6 years
 female:
  45.75 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  7.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Nigerien(s)
 adjective:
  Nigerien
Ethnic divisions:
  Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab,
  Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 4,000 French expatriates
Religions:
  Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
Languages:
  French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  28%
 male:
  40%
 female:
  17%
Labor force:
  2.5 million wage earners (1982)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
 note:
  51% of population of working age (1985)

*Niger, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Niger
 conventional short form:
  Niger
 local long form:
  Republique du Niger
 local short form:
  Niger
Digraph:
  NG
Type:
  transition government as of November 1991, appointed by national reform
  conference; scheduled to turn over power to democratically elected
  government in March 1993
Capital:
  Niamey
Administrative divisions:
  7 departments (departements, singular - departement); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso,
  Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder
Independence:
  3 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
  December 1989 constitution revised November 1991 by National Democratic
  Reform Conference
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Movement of the Development Society (MNSD-NASSARA), Tandja MAMADOU;
  Niger Progressive Party - African Democratic Rally (PPN-RDA), Harou KOUKA;
  Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress (UDFP-SAWABA), Djibo
  BAKARY; Niger Democratic Union (UDN-SAWABA), Mamoudou PASCAL; Union of
  Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives (UPDP), Andre SALIFOU; other parties
  forming
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  President Ali SAIBOU has been in office since December 1989, but the
  presidency is now a largely ceremonial position
 National Assembly:
  last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA); results - MNSD was the only
  party; seats - (150 total) MNSD 150 (indirectly elected); note - Niger held
  a national conference from July to November 1991 to decide upon a
  transitional government and an agenda for multiparty elections
Executive branch:
  president (ceremonial), prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  State Court (Cour d'Etat), Court of Appeal (Cour d'Apel)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Brig. Gen. Ali SAIBOU (since 14 November 1987); ceremonial post
  since national conference (1991)

*Niger, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Amadou CHEIFFOU (since NA November 1991)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Adamou SEYDOU
 chancery:
  2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 483-4224 through 4227
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jennifer C. WARD
 embassy:   Avenue des Ambassades, Niamey
 mailing address:
  B. P. 11201, Niamey
 telephone:
  [227] 72-26-61 through 64
 FAX:
  [227] 73-31-67
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small
  orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to
  the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band

*Niger, Economy

Overview:
  About 90% of the population is engaged in farming and stock raising,
  activities that generate almost half the national income. The economy also
  depends heavily on exploitation of large uranium deposits. Uranium
  production grew rapidly in the mid-1970s, but tapered off in the early 1980s
  when world prices declined. France is a major customer, while Germany,
  Japan, and Spain also make regular purchases. The depressed demand for
  uranium has contributed to an overall sluggishness in the economy, a severe
  trade imbalance, and a mounting external debt.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.3 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1.9% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $290 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.3% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $193 million; expenditures $355 million, including capital
  expenditures of $106 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $294 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  uranium ore 60%, livestock products 20%, cowpeas, onions
 partners:
  France 77%, Nigeria 8%, Cote d'Ivoire, Italy
Imports:
  $346 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, electronic equipment,
  cereals, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, chemical products, foodstuffs
 partners:
  Germany 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 11%, France 5%, Italy 4%, Nigeria 2%
External debt:
  $1.2 billion (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -2.7% (1991 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
Electricity:   105,000 kW capacity; 230 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1991)
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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $380 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3,165 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $504 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $61
  million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

*Niger, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*Niger, Communications

Highways:
  39,970 km total; 3,170 km bituminous, 10,330 km gravel and laterite, 3,470
  km earthen, 23,000 km tracks
Inland waterways:
  Niger River is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier
  from mid-December through March
Airports:
 total:
  28
 usable:
  26
 with permanent-surface runways:
  9
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  13
Telecommunications:
  small system of wire, radiocommunications, and radio relay links
  concentrated in southwestern area; 14,260 telephones; broadcast stations -
  15 AM, 5 FM, 18 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 3 domestic, with 1 planned

*Niger, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, National Police, Republican Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,784,966; fit for military service 961,593; reach military
  age (18) annually 87,222 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $27 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989)

*Nigeria, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Benin and
  Cameroon
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  923,770 km2
 land area:
  910,770 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
  total 4,047 km, Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km
Coastline:
  853 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to 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 has
  led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification
  by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; boundary commission, created with
  Cameroon to discuss unresolved land and maritime boundaries, has not yet
  convened
Climate:
  varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain:
  southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in
  southeast, plains in north
Natural resources:
  petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural
  gas
Land use:
 arable land:   31%
 permanent crops:
  3%
 meadows and pastures:
  23%
 forest and woodland:
  15%
 other:
  28%
Irrigated land:
  8,650 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural
  activities; desertification; soil degradation, rapid deforestation

*Nigeria, People

Population:
  95,060,430 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.13% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  43.8 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.85 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  77.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  54.7 years
 male:
  53.54 years
 female:
  55.88 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.43 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Nigerian(s)
 adjective:
  Nigerian
Ethnic divisions:
 north:
  Hausa and Fulani
 southwest:
  Yoruba
 southeast:
  Ibos
  non-Africans 27,000
 note:
  Hausa and Fulani, Yoruba, and Ibos together make up 65% of population
Religions:   Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages:
  English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  51%
 male:
  62%
 female:
  40%
Labor force:
  42.844 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 15%
 note:
  49% of population of working age (1985)

*Nigeria, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Federal Republic of Nigeria
 conventional short form:
  Nigeria
Digraph:
  NI
Type:
  military government since 31 December 1983; plans to turn over power to
  elected civilians in August 1993
Capital:
  Abuja
 note:
  on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja;
  many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in
  Abuja
Administrative divisions:
  30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa,   Ibom, Anambra,
Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo,
  Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo,
  Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe
Independence:
  1 October 1960 (from UK)
Constitution:
  1 October 1979, amended 9 February 1984, revised 1989
Legal system:
  based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
  Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Baba Gana KINGIBE, chairman; National
  Republican Convention (NRC), Chief Tom IKIMI, chairman
 note:
  these are the only two political parties, and they were established by the
  government in 1989
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  first presidential elections since the 31 December 1983 coup scheduled for
  June 1993
 Senate:
  last held 4 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (total 84) SDP 47, NRC 37
 House of Representatives:
  last held 4 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (total 577) SDP 310, NRC 267
Executive branch:
  president, vice-president, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower
  house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Ibrahim BABANGIDA
  (since 27 August 1985); Vice-President Admiral (Ret.) Augustus AIKHOMU
  (since 30 August 1990)

*Nigeria, Government

Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMO, IMF, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,
  UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Zubair Mahmud KAZAURE
 chancery:
  2201 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
 telephone:
  (202) 822-1500
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador William L. SWING
 embassy:
  2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 554, Lagos
 telephone:
  [234] (1) 610097
 FAX:
  [234] (1) 610257  branch office:
  Abuja
 consulate general:
  Kaduna
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

*Nigeria, Economy

Overview:
  Although Nigeria is Africa's leading oil-producing country, it remains poor
  with a $300 per capita GDP. In 1991-92 massive government spending, much of
  it to help ensure a smooth transition to civilian rule, ballooned the budget
  deficit and caused inflation and interest rates to rise. The lack of fiscal
  discipline forced the IMF to declare Nigeria not in compliance with an
  18-month standby facility started in January 1991. Lagos has set ambitious
  targets for expanding oil production capacity and is offering foreign
  companies more attractive investment incentives. Government efforts to
  reduce Nigeria's dependence on oil exports and to sustain noninflationary
  growth, however, have fallen short because of inadequate new investment
  funds and endemic corruption. Living standards remain below the level of the
  early 1980s oil boom.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $35 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3.6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $300 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  60% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  28% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $9 billion; expenditures $10.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $12.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  oil 95%, cocoa, rubber
 partners:
  EC countries 43%, US 41%
Imports:
  $7.8 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  consumer goods, capital equipment, chemicals, raw materials
 partners:
  EC countries 70%, US 16%
External debt:
  $33.4 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.5% (1991); accounts for 8.5% of GDP
Electricity:
  4,740,000 kW capacity; 8,300 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1991)
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 32% of GDP and half of labor force; inefficient small-scale
  farming dominates; once a large net exporter of food and now an importer;
  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

*Nigeria, Economy

Illicit drugs:
  passenger and cargo air hub for West Africa facilitates Nigeria's position
  as a major transit country for heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest
  Asia via Africa to Western Europe and North America; increasingly a transit
  route for cocaine from South America intended for West European and North
  American markets (some of that cocaine is also consumed in Nigeria)
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $705 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.0 billion;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $2.2 billion
Currency:
  1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
Exchange rates:
  naira (N) per US$1 - 19.661 (December 1992), 17.298 (1992), 9.909 (1991),
  8.038 (1990), 7.3647 (1989), 4.5370 (1988), 4.0160 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Nigeria, Communications

Railroads:
  3,505 km 1.067-meter gauge
Highways:
  107,990 km total 30,019 km paved (mostly bituminous-surface treatment);
  25,411 km laterite, gravel, crushed stone, improved earth; 52,560 km
  unimproved
Inland waterways:
  8,575 km consisting of Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks
Pipelines:
  crude oil 2,042 km; natural gas 500 km; petroleum products 3,000 km
Ports:
  Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Onne, Sapele
Merchant marine:
  28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 418,046 GRT/664,949 DWT; includes 17
  cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 7 oil tanker, 1 chemical
  tanker, 1 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  76  usable:
  63
 with permanent-surface runways:
  34
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  15
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  23
Telecommunications:
  above-average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in
  progress; radio relay microwave and cable routes; broadcast stations - 35
  AM, 17 FM, 28 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 20 domestic stations; 1 coaxial submarine cable

*Nigeria, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, paramilitary Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 21,790,956; fit for military service 12,447,547; reach
  military age (18) annually 1,297,790 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $172 million, about 1% of GDP (1992)

*Niue, Header

Affiliation:
  (free association with New Zealand)

*Niue, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, 460 km east of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  260 km2
 land area:
  260 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  64 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:   200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain:
  steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Natural resources:
  fish, arable land
Land use:
 arable land:
  61%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  19%
 other:
  12%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to typhoons
Note:
  one of world's largest coral islands

*Niue, People

Population:
  1,977 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -3.66% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years
 female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman
Nationality:
 noun:   Niuean(s)
 adjective:
  Niuean
Ethnic divisions:
  Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)
Religions:
  Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) 75% - a Protestant church closely related to
  the London Missionary Society, Morman 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman
  Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages:
  Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  1,000 (1981 est.)
 by occupation:
  most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government
  service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

*Niue, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Niue
Digraph:
  NE
Type:
  self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully
  responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for
  external affairs
Capital:
  Alofi
Administrative divisions:
  none
Independence:
  19 October 1974 (became a self-governing territory in free association with
  New Zealand on 19 October 1974)
Constitution:
  19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system:
  English common law
National holiday:
  Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British
  sovereignty)
Political parties and leaders:
  Niue Island Party (NIP), Young VIVIAN
Suffrage:   18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  last held on 8 April 1990 (next to be held March 1993); results - percent of
  vote NA; seats - (20 total, 6 elected) NIP 1, independents 5
Executive branch:
  British monarch, premier, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by New Zealand
  Representative John SPRINGFORD (since NA 1974)
 Head of Government:
  Acting Premier Young VIVIAN (since the death of Sir Robert R. REX on 12
  December 1992)
Member of:
  ESCAP (associate), SPARTECA, SPC, SPF
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag:
  yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of
  the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in
  the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

*Niue, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand. Government
  expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by grants
  from New Zealand - the grants are used to pay wages to public employees. The
  agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some
  cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small
  factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The
  sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of
  revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of
  population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $2.1 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $1,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  9.6% (1984)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $5.5 million; expenditures $6.3 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY85 est.)
Exports:
  $175,274 (f.o.b., 1985)
 commodities:
  canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root
  crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
 partners:
  NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports:
  $3.8 million (c.i.f., 1985)
 commodities:
  food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants,
  chemicals, drugs
 partners:
  NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  1,500 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced, 1,490 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  tourist, handicrafts, coconut products
Agriculture:
  coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes; subsistence crops - taro, yams,
  cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $62
  million
Currency:
  1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9486 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992),
  1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Niue, Communications

Highways:
  123 km all-weather roads, 106 km access and plantation roads
Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:   1
Telecommunications:
  single-line telephone system connects all villages on island; 383
  telephones; 1,000 radio receivers (1987 est.); broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1
  FM, no TV

*Niue, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Police Force
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

*Norfolk Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of Australia)

*Norfolk Island, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, 1,575 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  34.6 km2
 land area:
  34.6 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  32 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:   0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  25%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  75%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to typhoons (especially May to July)

*Norfolk Island, People

Population:
  2,665 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.69% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years
 female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman
Nationality:
 noun:
  Norfolk Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic divisions:
  descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander
Religions:
  Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%,
  Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)
Languages:
  English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient
  Tahitian
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:   NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

*Norfolk Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of Norfolk Island
 conventional short form:
  Norfolk Island
Digraph:
  NF
Type:
  territory of Australia
Capital:
  Kingston (administrative center); Burnt Pine (commercial center)
Administrative divisions:
  none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
  none (territory of Australia)
Constitution:
  Norfolk Island Act of 1957
Legal system:
  wide legislative and executive responsibility under the Norfolk Island Act
  of 1979; Supreme Court
National holiday:
  Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
Political parties and leaders:
  NA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  last held 1989 (held every three years); results - percent of vote by party
  NA; seats - (9 total) percent of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Executive
  Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Administrator A.
  G. KERR (since NA 1990), who is appointed by the Governor General of
  Australia
 Head of Government:
  Assembly President and Chief Minister John Terence BROWN (since NA)
Member of:
  none
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
  three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large
  green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band

*Norfolk Island, Economy

Overview:
  The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of
  prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific Islands. The number of
  visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 29,000 in FY89.
  Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and
  helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production
  of beef, poultry, and eggs.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $4.2 million, including capital expenditures of
  $400,000 (FY89)
Exports:
  $1.7 million (f.o.b., FY86)
 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., FY86)
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  7,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced, 3,160 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  tourism
Agriculture:
  Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit,
  cattle, poultry
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992),
  1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Norfolk Island, Communications

Highways:
  80 km of roads, including 53 km paved; remainder are earth formed or coral
  surfaced
Ports:
  none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways :
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  1,500 radio receivers (1982); radio link service with Sydney; 987 telephones
  (1983); broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

*Norfolk Island, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of Australia

*Northern Mariana Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (commonwealth in political union with the US)

*Northern Mariana Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about
  three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  477 km2
 land area:
  477 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  1,482 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m (depth)
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal
  temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to
  October
Terrain:
  southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs;
  northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation is 471 meters (Mt. Okso'
  Takpochao on Saipan)
Natural resources:
  arable land, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  5% on Saipan
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  19%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  active volcanos on Pagan and Agrihan; subject to typhoons (most during
  August through November)
Note:
  strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

*Northern Mariana Islands, People

Population:
  48,581 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.04% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  35.05 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.43 years
 male:
  65.53 years
 female:
  69.48 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.69 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  NA
 adjective:
  NA
Ethnic divisions:
  Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese,
  Korean
Religions:
  Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos
  may still be found)
Languages:
  English, Chamorro, Carolinian
 note:
  86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy:
  age NA and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  97%
 male:
  97%
 female:
  96%
Labor force:
  7,476 total indigenous labor force, 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign workers
  (1990)
 by occupation:
  NA

*Northern Mariana Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
 conventional short form:
  Northern Mariana Islands
Digraph:
  CQ
Type:
  commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with locally
  elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature; federal funds to the
  Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of
  Territorial and International Affairs
Capital:
  Saipan
Administrative divisions:
  none
Independence:
  none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
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
National holiday:
  Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Political parties and leaders:
  Republican Party, Governor Lorenzo GUERRERO; Democratic Party, Carlos SHODA,
  chairman
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do
  not vote in US presidential elections
Elections:
 Governor:
  last held in NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
  Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor
 Senate:
  last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republicans 6, Democrats 3
 House of Representatives:
  last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Republicans 10, Democrats 6,
  Independent 2
 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) Republican (Juan N. BABAUTA)
Executive branch:
  US president; governor, lieutenant governor
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Legislature consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
  or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Commonwealth Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal District Court
Leaders:  Chief of State:
  President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
  Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)

*Northern Mariana Islands, Government

 Head of Government:
  Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO (since 9 January 1990); Lieutenant
  Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since 9 January 1990)
Member of:
  ESCAP (associate), SPC
Flag:
  blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a
  latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center

*Northern Mariana Islands, Economy

Overview:
  The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US.
  The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues
  have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to
  $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special
  programs. A rapidly growing major source of income is the tourist industry,
  which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists
  predominate. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small
  farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is
  small scale, mostly handicrafts and light manufacturing.
National product:
  GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $541 million (1992)
 note:
  GNP numbers reflect US spending
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $11,500 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.5-7.5% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $147.0 million; expenditures $127.7 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
  $263.4 million (f.o.b. 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods, garments, bread, pastries, concrete blocks, light iron
  work
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.)
 commodities:   food, construction, equipment, materials
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $0
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 740 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
Agriculture:
  coconuts, fruits, cattle, vegetables
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*Northern Mariana Islands, Communications

Railroads:
  none
Highways:
  381.5 km total; 134.5 km primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km local (1991)
Inland waterways:
  none
Ports:
  Saipan, Tinian
Airports:
 total:
  6
 usable:
  5
 with permanent-surface runways:
  3
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM (1984), 1 TV, 2 cable TV stations; 2 Pacific
  Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Northern Mariana Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Norway, Geography

Location:
  Northern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  324,220 km2
 land area:
  307,860 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
  total 2,515 km, Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km
Coastline:
  21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords,
  numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  10 nm
 continental shelf:
  to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  4 nm
International disputes:
  territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land); dispute between Denmark
  and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Jan
  Mayen is before the Interntional Court of Justice; maritime boundary dispute
  with Russia over portion of Barents Sea
Climate:
  temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior;
  rainy year-round on west coast
Terrain:
  glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile
  valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords;
  arctic tundra in north
Natural resources:
  petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish,
  timber, hydropower
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  27%
 other:
  70%
Irrigated land:   950 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  air and water pollution; acid rain; note - strategic location adjacent to
  sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest
  coastlines in world; Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land
  boundary with Russia

*Norway, Geography

Note:
  about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented
  coastline

*Norway, People

Population:
  4,297,436 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.41% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.75 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.54 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.16 years
 male:
  73.79 years
 female:
  80.73 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Norwegian(s)
 adjective:
  Norwegian
Ethnic divisions:
  Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps 20,000
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other Protestant and Roman
  Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)
Languages:
  Norwegian (official)
 note:
  small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  2.004 million (1992)
 by occupation:
  services 39.1%, commerce 17.6%, mining, oil, and manufacturing 16.0%,
  banking and financial services 7.6%, transportation and communications 7.8%,
  construction 6.1%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.5% (1989)

*Norway, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Norway
 conventional short form:
  Norway
 local long form:
  Kongeriket Norge
 local short form:
  Norge
Digraph:
  NO
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Oslo
Administrative divisions:
  19 provinces (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud,
  Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag,
  Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark,
  Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Dependent areas:
  Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
Independence:
  26 October 1905 (from Sweden)
Constitution:
  17 May 1814, modified in 1884
Legal system:
  mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions;
  Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Political parties and leaders:
  Labor Party, Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND; Conservative Party, Kaci Kullmann FIVE;
  Center Party, Anne ENGER LAHNSTEIN; Christian People's Party, Kjell Magne
  BONDEVIK; Socialist Left, Eric SOLHEIM; Norwegian Communist, Ingre IVERSEN;
  Progress Party, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Odd Einar DORUM; Finnmark List,
  leader NA
Suffrage:   18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Storting:
  last held on 11 September 1989 (next to be held 6 September 1993); results -
  Labor 34.3%, Conservative 22.2%, Progress 13.0%, Socialist Left 10.1%,
  Christian People's 8.5%, Center Party 6.6%, Finnmark List 0.3%, other 5%;
  seats - (165 total) Labor 63, Conservative 37, Progress 22, Socialist Left
  17, Christian People's 14, Center Party 11, Finnmark List 1
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, State Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament (Storting) with an Upper Chamber (Lagting) and a Lower
  Chamber (Odelsting)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Hoyesterett)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON
  MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973)

*Norway, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3 November 1990)
Member of:
  AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD,
  ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, PCA, UN,
  UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOSOM,
  UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Kjeld VIBE
 chancery:
  2720 34th Street NW, Washington DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 333-6000
 FAX:
  (202) 337-0870
 consulates general:
  Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco
 consulate:
  Miami
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo 2
 mailing address:
  PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
 telephone:
  [47] (2) 44-85-50
 FAX:   [47] (2) 43-07-77
Flag:
  red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the
  flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
  style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

*Norway, Economy

Overview:
  Norway has a mixed economy involving a combination of free market activity
  and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the
  vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises) and
  extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse
  resources. Norway also maintains an extensive welfare system that helps
  propel public sector expenditures to slightly more than 50% of the GDP and
  results in one of the highest average tax burdens in the world (54%). A
  small country with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is
  basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an
  abundance of small- and medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the major
  shipping nations. The country is richly endowed with natural resources -
  petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent
  on its oil sector to keep its economy afloat. 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 continues at record levels of over 10% - including
  those in job programs - because of the weakness of the economy outside the
  oil sector. Overall economic growth is expected to be around 2% in 1993
  while inflation is likely to rise slightly to 4%. Oslo, a member of the
  European Free Trade Area, has applied for EC membership and continues to
  deregulate and harmonize with EC regulations to prepare for the European
  Economic Area (EEA) - which creates an EC/EFTA market with free movement of
  capital, goods, services, and labor - to take effect in late 1993 and its EC
  bid.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $76.1 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  2.9% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $17,700 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.3% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  5.9% (excluding people in job-training programs) (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $50.6 billion; expenditures $57.0 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $35.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  petroleum and petroleum products 37.8%, metals and products 10.7%, natural
  gas 7.3%, fish 6.6%, chemicals 6.3%, ships 5.4%
 partners:
  EC 67%, Nordic countries 18.2%, developing countries 7.9%, US 5.1%, Japan
  1.6% (1992)
Imports:
  $26.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery, fuels and lubricants, transportation equipment, chemicals,
  foodstuffs, clothing, ships
 partners:
  EC 48.7%, Nordic countries 26.8%, developing countries 9.3%, US 8.6%, Japan
  6.3% (1992)
External debt:
  $6.5 billion (1992 est.)

*Norway, Economy

Industrial production:
  growth rate 7.3% (1992)
Electricity:
  26,900,000 kW capacity; 111,000 million kWh produced, 25,850 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products,
  metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 2.6% of GDP and 5.5% of labor force; among world's top 10
  fishing nations; livestock output exceeds value of crops; over half of food
  needs imported; fish catch of 1.76 million metric tons in 1989
Illicit drugs:
  increasingly used as transshipment point for Latin American cocaine to
  Europe and gateway for Asian heroin shipped via the CIS and Baltic states
  for the European market
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion
Currency:
  1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 re
Exchange rates:
  Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.8774 (January 1993), 6.2145 (1992),
  6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Norway, Communications

Railroads:
  4,223 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; Norwegian State Railways (NSB) operates
  4,219 km (2,450 km electrified and 96 km double track); 4 km other
Highways:
  79,540 km total; 38,580 km paved; 40,960 km gravel, crushed stone, and earth
Inland waterways:
  1,577 km along west coast; 2.4 m draft vessels maximum
Pipelines:   refined products 53 km
Ports:
  Oslo, Bergen, Fredrikstad, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Trondheim
Merchant marine:
  829 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,312,412 GRT/38,532,109 DWT;
  includes 13 passenger, 20 short-sea passenger, 106 cargo, 2 passenger-cargo,
  19 refrigerated cargo, 15 container, 49 roll-on/roll-off, 23 vehicle
  carrier, 1 railcar carrier, 174 oil tanker, 91 chemical tanker, 82 liquefied
  gas, 25 combination ore/oil, 201 bulk, 8 combination bulk; 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; the majority of ships (777) under the Norwegian flag are now
  registered with the NIS
Airports:
 total:
  103
 usable:
  102
 with permanent-surface runways:
  63
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  12
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  16
Telecommunications:
  high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex
  services; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 3,102,000 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 46 AM, 350 private and 143 government FM, 54 (2,100 repeaters)
  TV; 4 coaxial submarine cables; 3 communications satellite earth stations
  operating in the EUTELSAT, INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean), MARISAT, and
  domestic systems

*Norway, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,120,744; fit for military service 934,968; reach military
  age (20) annually 31,903 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $3.8 billion, 3.4% of GDP (1992)


*Oman, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, along the Arabian Sea, between Yemen and the United Arab
  Emirates
Map references:   Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  212,460 km2
 land area:
  212,460 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
  total 1,374 km, Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline:
  2,092 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  to be defined
 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; a treaty with Yemen to settle the Omani-Yemeni boundary was ratified
  in December 1992
Climate:
  dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest
  summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain:
  vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Natural resources:
  petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum,
  natural gas
Land use:
 arable land:
  less than 2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  5%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  93%
Irrigated land:
  410 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  summer winds often raise large sandstorms and duststorms in interior; sparse
  natural freshwater resources
Note:
  strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling
  Strait of Hormuz (17% of world's oil production transits this point going
  from Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea)

*Oman, People

Population:
  1,643,579 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.46% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  40.56 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.32 years
 male:
  65.47 years
 female:
  69.27 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.58 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Omani(s)
 adjective:
  Omani
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab, Balochi, Zanzibari, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi)
Religions:
  Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Languages:
  Arabic (official), English, Balochi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  430,000
 by occupation:
  agriculture 40% (est.)

*Oman, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Sultanate of Oman
 conventional short form:
  Oman
 local long form:   Saltanat Uman
 local short form:
  Uman
Digraph:
  MU
Type:
  absolute monarchy with residual UK influence
Capital:
  Muscat
Administrative divisions:
  there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
  Government, but there are 3 governorates (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat);
  Musqat, Musandam, Zufar
Independence:
  1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Constitution:
  none
Legal system:
  based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan;
  has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 18 November
Political parties and leaders:
  none
Other political or pressure groups:
  outlawed Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO), based in Yemen
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
  elections scheduled for October 1992
Executive branch:
  sultan, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Sa'id Al Sa'id (since 23 July 1970)
Member of:
  ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, 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 Awadh bin Badr AL-SHANFARI
 chancery:
  2342 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 387-1980 through 1982
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador David DUNFORD

*Oman, Government

 embassy:
  address NA, Muscat
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 50202 Madinat Qaboos, Muscat
 telephone:
  [968] 698-989
 FAX:
  [968] 604-316
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double
  width) with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national
  emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in
  scabbards) in white is centered at the top of the vertical band

*Oman, Economy

Overview:
  Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry.
  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.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $10.2 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  7.4% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $6,670 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $4.1 billion; expenditures $4.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $1 billion (1991)
Exports:
  $4.9 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  petroleum 87%, reexports, fish, processed copper, textiles
 partners:
  UAE 30%, Japan 27%, South Korea 10%, Singapore 5%
Imports:
  $3.0 billion (f.o.b, 1991)
 commodities:
  machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock,
  lubricants
 partners:
  Japan 20%, UAE 19%, UK 19%, US 7%
External debt:
  $3.1 billion (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production:   growth rate 10% (1989), including petroleum sector
Electricity:
  1,142,400 kW capacity; 5,100 million kWh produced, 3,200 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction,
  cement, copper
Agriculture:
  accounts for 6% 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $137 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $148 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $797 million
Currency:
  1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza
Exchange rates:
  Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Oman, Communications

Highways:
  26,000 km total; 6,000 km paved, 20,000 km motorable track
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
Ports:
  Mina' Qabus, Mina' Raysut, Mina' al Fahl
Merchant marine:
  1 passenger ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,442 GRT/1,320 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  138
 usable:
  130
 with permanent-surface runways:
  6
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  9
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  74
Telecommunications:
  modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radio communications
  stations; limited coaxial cable; 50,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2
  AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1
  ARABSAT, and 8 domestic

*Oman, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Royal Oman Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 370,548; fit for military service 210,544; reach military
  age (14) annually 20,810 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.6 billion, 16% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Header

Affiliation:
  (UN trusteeship administered by the US)

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Geography

Location:
  in the North Pacific Ocean, 850 km southeast of the Philippines
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  458 km2
 land area:
  458 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  1,519 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  wet season May to November; hot and humid
Terrain:
  about 200 islands varying geologically from the high, mountainous main
  island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier
  reefs
Natural resources:
  forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:  arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to typhoons from June to December; archipelago of six island groups
  totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
Note:
  includes World War II battleground of Peleliu and world-famous rock islands

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), People

Population:
  16,071 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.84% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  22.9 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  71.01 years
 male:
  69.14 years
 female:
  73.02 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.96 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Palauan(s)
 adjective:
  Palauan
Ethnic divisions:
  Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races
Religions:
  Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the
  Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei
  religion (one-third of the population observes this religion which is
  indigenous to Palau)
Languages:   English (official in all of Palau's 16 states), Sonsorolese (official in the
  state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese (in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in
  the state of Tobi), Palauan (in the other 13 states)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  92%
 male:
  93%
 female:
  91%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  NA

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
 conventional short form:
  none
 note:
  may change to Republic of Palau after independence; the native form of Palau
  is Belau and is sometimes used incorrectly in English and other languages
Digraph:
  NQ
Type:
  UN trusteeship administered by the US
 note:
  constitutional government signed a Compact of Free Association with the US
  on 10 January 1986, which was never approved in a series of UN-observed
  plebiscites; until the UN trusteeship is terminated with entry into force of
  the Compact, Palau remains under US administration as the Palau District of
  the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; administrative authority resides
  in the Department of the Interior and is exercised by the Assistant
  Secretary for Territorial and International Affairs through the Palau
  Office, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, J. Victor HOBSON Jr.,
  Director (since 16 December 1990)
Capital:
  Koror
 note:
  a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern Babelthuap
Administrative divisions:
  there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
  Government, but there are 16 states: Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel,
  Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar,
  Ngerchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi
Independence:
  the last polity remaining under the US-administered UN trusteeship following
  the departure of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States
  of Micronesia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas from the
  trusteeship; administered by the Office of Territorial and International
  Affairs, US Department of Interior
Constitution:
  1 January 1981
Legal system:
  based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common,
  and customary laws
National holiday:
  Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results -
  Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3%
 Senate:
  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:
  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
Executive branch:
  national president, national vice president

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Government

Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK) consists of an upper house
  or Senate and a lower house or House of Delegates
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, National Court, Court of Common Pleas
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993), Vice-President Tommy E.
  REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993)
Member of:
  ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US:
 administrative officer:
  Charles UONG,
 address:
  Palau Liaison Office, 444 North Capitol St., N.W., Suite 308, Washington, DC
  20001
US diplomatic representation:
 director:
  US Liaison Officer Lloyd W. MOSS
 liaison office:
  US Liaison Office at Top Side, Neeriyas, Koror
 mailing address:
  P.O. Box 6028, Koror, PW 96940
 telephone:
  (680) 488-2920; (680) 488-2911
Flag:
  light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly
  to the hoist side

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Economy

Overview:
  The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing.
  Tourism provides some foreign exchange, although the remote location of
  Palau and a shortage of suitable facilities has hindered development. The
  government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on
  financial assistance from the US.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $31.6 million (1986)
 note:
  GDP numbers reflect US spending
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $2,260 (1986)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  20% (1986)
Budget:
  revenues $6.0 million; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of
  $NA (1986)
Exports:
  $0.5 million (f.o.b., 1986)
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  US, Japan
Imports:
  $27.2 million (c.i.f., 1986)
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  US
External debt:
  about $100 million (1989)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  16,000 kW capacity; 22 million kWh produced, 1,540 kWh per capita (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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2,560 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $92 million
Currency:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Communications

Highways:
  22.3 km paved, some stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads (1991)
Ports:
  Koror
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US and that will not change when the UN
  trusteeship terminates if the Compact of Free Association with the US goes
  into effect

*Pacific Ocean, Geography

Location:
  body of water between the Western Hemisphere and Asia/Australia
Map references:
  Asia, North America, Oceania, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  165.384 million km2
 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 Arafura Sea, Banda Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Bering Sea, Bering
  Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Makassar Strait,
  Philippine Sea, Ross Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea,
  Tasman Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Coastline:
  135,663 km
International disputes:
  some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Climate:
  the western Pacific is monsoonal - a rainy season occurs during the summer
  months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a
  dry season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian land
  mass back to the ocean
Terrain:
  surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a clockwise,
  warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and in the southern
  Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in the northern Pacific sea
  ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern
  Pacific sea ice from Antarctica reaches its northernmost extent in October;
  the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific
  Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the
  world's deepest, the 10,924 meter Marianas Trench
Natural resources:
  oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer
  deposits, fish
Environment:
  endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals,
  turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea;
  dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in the
  southwestern Pacific Ocean; 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

*Pacific Ocean, Geography

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; 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 from June
  to December is a hazard to shipping; surrounded by a zone of violent
  volcanic and earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the Pacific Ring
  of Fire

*Pacific Ocean, Government

Digraph:   ZN

*Pacific Ocean, Economy

Overview:
  The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world economy and
  particularly to those nations its waters directly touch. It provides
  low-cost sea transportation between East and West, extensive fishing
  grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and gravel for the
  construction industry. In 1985 over half (54%) of the world's total 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, New Zealand, China, US, and Peru. The high cost of recovering
  offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in world prices for oil
  since 1985, has slowed but not stopped new drillings.
Industries:
  fishing, oil and gas production

*Pacific Ocean, Communications

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)
Telecommunications:
  several submarine cables with network nodal points on Guam and Hawaii

*Pakistan, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, along the Arabian Sea, between India and Afghanistan
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  803,940 km2
 land area:
  778,720 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
  total 6,774 km, Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909
  km
Coastline:
  1,046 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  status of Kashmir with India; border question with Afghanistan (Durand
  Line); water-sharing problems (Wular Barrage) over the Indus with upstream
  riparian India
Climate:
  mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Terrain:
  flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan
  plateau in west
Natural resources:
  land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal,
  iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use:
 arable land:
  26%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  6%
 forest and woodland:
  4%
 other:
  64%
Irrigated land:
  162,200 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west;
  flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August); deforestation;
  soil erosion; desertification; water logging
Note:
  controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between
  Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

*Pakistan, People

Population:
  125,213,732 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.87% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  42.59 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.6 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  103.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:  total population:
  57.11 years
 male:
  56.54 years
 female:
  57.72 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.5 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Pakistani(s)
 adjective:
  Pakistani
Ethnic divisions:
  Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India
  and their descendents)
Religions:
  Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%
Languages:
  Urdu (official), English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and
  most government ministries, but official policies are promoting its gradual
  replacement by Urdu), Punjabi 64%, Sindhi 12%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu 7%, Balochi
  and other 9%
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  35%
 male:
  47%
 female:
  21%
Labor force:
  28.9 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 54%, mining and manufacturing 13%, services 33%, extensive
  export of labor (1987 est.)

*Pakistan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Islamic Republic of Pakistan
 conventional short form:
  Pakistan
 former:
  West Pakistan
Digraph:
  PK
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Islamabad
Administrative divisions:
  4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally,   Administered
Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West,   Frontier, Punjab, Sindh
 note:
  the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region
  includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
Independence:
  14 August 1947 (from UK)
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
National holiday:
  Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of the republic)
Political parties and leaders:
 government:
  Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Mian Nawaz SHARIF; Jamhoori Watan
  Party (JWP), Mohammad Akbar Khan BUGTI; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI),
  Fazl-ur-REHMAN and Sami-ul-HAQ; Awami National Party (ANP), Khan Abdul WALI
  KHAN; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan-Niazi, Maulana Abdul Sattar Khan NIAZI;
  Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI
 opposition:
  Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Benazir BHUTTO and Nusrat BHUTTO; Pakistan
  Muslim League-Chattha (PML-C), Hamid Nasir CHATTHA; Jamaat-i-Islami (JI),
  Qazi Hussain AHMED; National People's Party (NPP), Ghulam Mustapha JATOI
  (formerly the PNP); Tehrik-i-Istiqlal (TI), Air Marshal (Ret.) Mohammad
  ASGHAR KHAN; Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Fiqah-i-Jafaria (TNFJ), Agha Hamid Ali MUSAVI;
  Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan-Noorani (JUP-Noorani), Maulana Shah Ahmed NOORANI;
  Mohajir Quami Mahaz-Haqiqi (MQM-H), Afaq AHMED
Other political or pressure groups:
  military remains important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners,
  industrialists, and small merchants also influential
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 12 December 1988 (next to be held by NA November 1993); results
  - Ghulam ISHAQ KHAN was elected by Parliament and the four provincial
  assemblies

*Pakistan, Government

 Senate:
  last held March 1991 (next to be held NA March 1994); seats - (87 total) PML
  52, Tribal Area Representatives (nonparty) 8, PPP 5, ANP 5, JWP 4, MQM 3,
  PNP 2 (name later chaged to NPP), JI 2, JUP 2, JUI 2, PKMAP 1, independent 1
 National Assembly:
  last held on 24 October 1990 (next to be held by October 1995); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (217 total) number of seats by party
  NA; note - President GHULAM ISHAQ Khan dismissed the National Assembly on 18
  April 1993; it was reestablished, however, on 26 May 1993 by the Supreme
  Court, which ruled the dismissal order unconstitutional
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora) consists of an upper house or Senate
  and a lower house or National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Ghulam ISHAQ KHAN (since 13 December 1988)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Mian Nawaz SHARIF (since 6 November 1990); note - President
  GHULAM ISHAQ Khan dismissed Prime Minister SHARIF on 18 April 1993, but he
  was reinstated by the Supreme Court on 26 May 1993
Member of:
  AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAS
  (observer), OIC, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
  UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 chancery:
  2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 939-6200
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador John MONJO
 embassy:
  Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1048, PSC 1212, Box 2000, Islamabad or APO AE 09812-2000
 telephone:
  [92] (51) 826161 through 79
 FAX:
  [92] (51) 822004
 consulates general:
  Karachi, Lahore
 consulate:
  Peshawar
Flag:
  green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious
  minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered
  in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional
  symbols of Islam

*Pakistan, Economy

Overview:
  Pakistan is a poor Third World country faced with the usual problems of
  rapidly increasing population, sizable government deficits, and heavy
  dependence on foreign aid. In addition, the economy must support a large
  military establishment. A real economic growth rate averaging 5-6% in recent
  years has helped the country to cope with these problems. Almost all
  agriculture and small-scale industry is in private hands. In 1990, Pakistan
  embarked on a sweeping economic liberalization program to boost foreign and
  domestic private investment and lower foreign aid dependence. The SHARIF
  government denationalized several state-owned firms and attracted some
  foreign investment. Pakistan likely will have difficulty raising living
  standards because of its rapidly expanding population. At the current rate
  of growth, population would double in 25 years.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $48.3 billion (FY92 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6.4% (FY92 est.)
National product per capita:
  $410 (FY92 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  12.7% (FY91)
Unemployment rate:
  10% (FY91 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $9.4 billion; expenditures $10.9 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY93 est.)
Exports:
  $6.8 billion (f.o.b., FY92)
 commodities:
  cotton, textiles, clothing, rice
 partners:
  EC 35%, US 11%, Japan 8% (FY91)
Imports:
  $9.1 billion (f.o.b., FY92)
 commodities:
  petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, transportation, equipment,
  vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals
 partners:
  EC 29%, Japan 13%, US 12% (FY91)
External debt:
  $16.5 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.7% (FY91); accounts for almost 20% of GNP
Electricity:
  10,000,000 kW capacity; 43,000 million kWh produced, 350 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  textiles, food processing, beverages, construction materials, clothing,
  paper products, shrimp
Agriculture:
  25% of GNP, over 50% of labor force; world's largest contiguous irrigation
  system; major crops - cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables;
  livestock products - milk, beef, mutton, eggs; self-sufficient in food grain
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of opium and hashish for the international drug trade;
  government eradication efforts on poppy cultivation of limited success;
  largest producer of Southwest Asian heroin

*Pakistan, Economy

Economic aid:
  (including Bangladesh prior to 1972) US commitments, including Ex-Im
  (FY70-89), $4.5 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
  commitments (1980-89), $9.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $2.3
  billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.2 billion
Currency:
  1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa
Exchange rates:
  Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 25.904 (January 1993), 25.083 (1992),
  23.801 (1991), 21.707 (1990), 20.541 (1989), 18.003 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Pakistan, Communications

Railroads:
  8,773 km total; 7,718 km broad gauge, 445 km 1-meter gauge, and 610 km less
  than 1-meter gauge; 1,037 km broad-gauge double track; 286 km electrified;
  all government owned (1985)
Highways:
  101,315 km total (1987); 40,155 km paved, 23,000 km gravel, 29,000 km
  improved earth, and 9,160 km unimproved earth or sand tracks (1985)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,044 km; petroleum products 885 km (1987)
Ports:
  Gwadar, Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim
Merchant marine:
  29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 350,916 GRT/530,855 DWT; includes 3
  passenger-cargo, 24 cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  111
 usable:
  104
 with permanent-surface runways:
  75
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  31
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  42
Telecommunications:
  the domestic telephone system is poor, adequate only for government and
  business use; about 7 telephones per 1,000 persons; the system for
  international traffic is better and employs both microwave radio relay and
  satellites; satellite ground stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT; broadcast stations - 19 AM, 8 FM, 29 TV

*Pakistan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 28,657,084; fit for military service 17,585,542; reach
  military age (17) annually 1,337,352 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $3.2 billion, 6% of GNP (FY91/92)

*Palmyra Atoll, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Palmyra Atoll, Geography

Location:
  in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu, almost
  halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  11.9 km2
 land area:
  11.9 km2
 comparative area:
  about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  14.5 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  12 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m (depth)
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  equatorial, hot, and very rainy
Terrain:
  low, with maximum elevations of about 2 meters
Natural resources:
  none
Land use:  arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  100%
 other:
  0%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like
  trees up to 30 meters tall

*Palmyra Atoll, People

Population:
  uninhabited

*Palmyra Atoll, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Palmyra Atoll
Digraph:
  LQ
Type:
  unincorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered by the
  Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the
  Interior
Capital:
  none; administered from Washington, DC

*Palmyra Atoll, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Palmyra Atoll, Communications

Ports:
  the main harbor is West Lagoon, which is entered by a channel on the
  southwest side of the atoll; both the channel and harbor will accommodate
  vessels drawing 4 meters of water; much of the road and many causeways built
  during the war are unserviceable and overgrown
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1

*Palmyra Atoll, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Panama, Geography

Location:
  extreme southern Central America, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  78,200 km2
 land area:
  75,990 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
  total 555 km, Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline:
  2,490 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short
  dry season (January to May)
Terrain:
  interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains;
  coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Natural resources:
  copper, mahogany forests, shrimp
Land use:  arable land:
  6%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  15%
 forest and woodland:
  54%
 other:
  23%
Irrigated land:
  320 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  dense tropical forest in east and northwest
Note:
  strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting
  North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic
  Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

*Panama, People

Population:
  2,579,047 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.98% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  25.08 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  74.56 years
 male:
  71.99 years
 female:
  77.27 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.9 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Panamanian(s)
 adjective:
  Panamanian
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%, white
  10%, Indian 6%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages:
  Spanish (official), English 14%  note:
  many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  88%
 male:
  88%
 female:
  88%
Labor force:
  921,000 (1992 est.)
 by occupation:
  government and community services 31.8%, agriculture, hunting, and fishing
  26.8%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16.4%, manufacturing and mining
  9.4%, construction 3.2%, transportation and communications 6.2%, finance,
  insurance, and real estate 4.3%
 note:
  shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

*Panama, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Panama
 conventional short form:
  Panama
 local long form:
  Republica de Panama
 local short form:
  Panama
Digraph:
  PM
Type:
  centralized republic
Capital:
  Panama
Administrative divisions:
  9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca);,   Bocas del Toro,
Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama,
  San Blas*, Veraguas, Independence:
  3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November
  1821)
Constitution:
  11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the
  Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
  reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Political parties and leaders:
 government alliance:   Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ;
  Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA),
  Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER
 other parties:
  Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ricardo ARIAS Calderon; Democratic
  Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Agrarian Labor Party (PALA),
  Nestor Tomas GUERRA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Doctrinaire
  Panamenista Party (PPD), Jose Salvador MUNOZ; Papa Egoro Movement, Ruben
  BLADES; Renovacion Civilista, Manuel BURGOS; Civic Renewal Party (PRC),
  Tomas HERRERA; National Integration Movement (MINA), Arrigo GUARDIA;
  National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES; Independent
  Democratic Union Party (UDI), leader NA; Popular Nationalist Party (PNP),
  leader NA
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; National Committee for the Right to Life; Chamber of
  Commerce; Panamanian Industrialists Society (SIP); Workers Confederation of
  the Republic of Panama (CTRP)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 7 May 1989, annulled but later upheld (next to be held May
  1994); results - anti-NORIEGA coalition believed to have won about 75% of
  the total votes cast

*Panama, Government

 Legislative Assembly:
  last held on 27 January 1991 (next to be held NA May 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (67 total)
 progovernment parties:
  PDC 28, MOLIRENA 15, PA 8, PLA 4
 opposition parties:
  PRD 10, PALA 1, PL 1; note - the PDC went into opposition after President
  Guillermo ENDARA ousted the PDC from the coalition government in April 1991
Executive branch:
  president, two vice presidents, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), 5 superior courts, 3
  courts of appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Guillermo ENDARA (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May 1989);
  First Vice President Guillermo FORD Boyd (since 24 December 1992); Second
  Vice President (vacant)
Member of:
  AG (associate), CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
  LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jaime FORD
 chancery:
  2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 483-1407;
 note:
  the status of the consulates general and consulates has not yet been
  determined
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Deane R. HINTON
 embassy:
  Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
 mailing address:
  Box E, APO AA 34002
 telephone:
  (507) 27-1777
 FAX:
  (507) 27-1713
Flag:
  divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white with a blue
  five-pointed star in the center (hoist side) and plain red, the bottom
  quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star
  in the center

*Panama, Economy

Overview:
  GDP expanded by roughly 8% in 1992, following growth of 9.3% in 1991. The
  economy thus continues to recover from the crisis that preceded the ouster
  of Manuel NORIEGA, even though the government's structural adjustment
  program has been hampered by a lack of popular support and a passive
  administration. Public investment has been limited as the administration has
  kept the fiscal deficit below 3% of GDP. Unemployment and economic reform
  are the two major issues the government must face in 1993-94.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $6 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  8% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,400 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.8% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  15% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $1.8 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $200 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $486 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2%
 partners:
  US 38%, Central America and Caribbean, EC (1992 est.)
Imports:
  $2.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods, chemicals
 partners:
  US 36%, Japan, EC, Central America and Caribbean, Mexico, Venezuela (1992
  est.)
External debt:
  $5.2 billion (year-end 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7.6% (1992 est.); accounts for about 9% of GDP
Electricity:
  1,584,000 kW capacity; 4,360 billion kWh produced, 1,720 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  manufacturing and construction activities, petroleum refining, brewing,
  cement and other construction material, sugar milling
Agriculture:
  accounts for 10.5% of GDP (1992 est.), 27% of labor force (1992); 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $516 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $582 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $4 million
Currency:
  1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates:
  balboas (B) per US$1 - 1.000 (fixed rate)

*Panama, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Panama, Communications

Railroads:
  238 km total; 78 km 1.524-meter gauge, 160 km 0.914-meter gauge
Highways:
  8,530 km total; 2,745 km paved, 3,270 km gravel or crushed stone, 2,515 km
  improved and unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal
Pipelines:
  crude oil 130 km
Ports:
  Cristobal, Balboa, Bahia Las Minas
Merchant marine:
  3,244 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,353,963 GRT/82,138,537 DWT;
  includes 22 passenger, 26 short-sea passenger, 3 passenger-cargo, 1,091
  cargo, 246 refrigerated cargo, 196 container, 63 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 121
  vehicle carrier, 9 livestock carrier, 5 multifunction large-load carrier,
  403 oil tanker, 180 chemical tanker, 26 combination ore/oil, 121 liquefied
  gas, 9 specialized tanker, 688 bulk, 34 combination bulk, 1 barge carrier;
  note - all but 5 are foreign owned and operated; the top 4 foreign owners
  are Japan 36%, Greece 8%, Hong Kong 8%, and Taiwan 5%; (China owns at least
  131 ships, Vietnam 3, Croatia 3, Cuba 4, Cyprus 6, and Russia 16)
Airports:
 total:
  112
 usable:
  104
 with permanent-surface runways:
  39
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  15
Telecommunications:
  domestic and international facilities well developed; connection into
  Central American Microwave System; 220,000 telephones; broadcast stations -
  91 AM, no FM, 23 TV; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite ground stations -
  2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

*Panama, Defense Forces

Branches:
  the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) ceased to exist as a military
  institution shortly after the United States invaded Panama on 20 December
  1989; President ENDARA has restructured the forces, under the new name of
  Panamanian Public Forces (PPF) and worked to assert civilian control over
  them; the PPF is divided into the National Police, Maritime Service, and
  National Air Service; the Judicial Technical Police serve under the Attorney
  General; the Council of Public Security and National Defense under Menalco
  SOLIS in the Office of the President is analogous to the US National
  Security Council; the Institutional Protection Service under Carlos BARES is
  attached to the presidency
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 671,059; fit for military service 461,471 (1993 est.); no
  conscription
Defense expenditures:
  expenditures for the Panamanian Public Forces for internal security amounted
  to $104.7 million, 1.7% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Papua New Guinea, Geography

Location:   Southeast Asia, just north of Australia, between Indonesia and the Solomon
  Islands
Map references:
  Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  461,690 km2
 land area:
  451,710 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
  total 820 km, Indonesia 820 km
Coastline:
  5,152 km
Maritime claims:
  measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to
  October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Natural resources:
  gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  71%
 other:
  28%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast; some active volcanos;
  frequent earthquakes
Note:
  shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia

*Papua New Guinea, People

Population:   4,100,714 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.32% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  33.77 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  64.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  56.02 years
 male:
  55.19 years
 female:
  56.88 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.75 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Papua New Guinean(s)
 adjective:
  Papua New Guinean
Ethnic divisions:
  Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary
  Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%,
  other Protestant sects 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%
Languages:
  English spoken by 1-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua
  region
 note:
  715 indigenous languages
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  52%
 male:
  65%
 female:
  38%
Labor force:
  NA

*Papua New Guinea, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Independent State of Papua New Guinea
 conventional short form:
  Papua New Guinea
Digraph:
  PP
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Port Moresby
Administrative divisions:
  20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East
  Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New
  Ireland, Northern, North Solomons, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western,
  Western Highlands, West New Britain
Independence:
  16 September 1975 (from UN trusteeship under Australian administration)
Constitution:
  16 September 1975
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Parliament:
  last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent by
  party NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10,
  independents 30, others 18 (association with political parties is fluid)
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  National Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Parliament (sometimes referred to as the House of
  Assembly)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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 Paias WINGTI (since 17 July 1992)
Member of:
  ACP, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
  NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Margaret TAYLOR

*Papua New Guinea, Government

 chancery:
  3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 745-3680
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert W. FARRAND
 embassy:
  Armit Street, Port Moresby
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, or APO AE 96553
 telephone:
  [675] 211-455 or 594, 654
 FAX:
  [675] 213-423
Flag:
  divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red
  with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black
  with five white five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation
  centered

*Papua New Guinea, Economy

Overview:
  Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation
  has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing an
  infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the
  population. Mining of numerous deposits, including copper and gold, accounts
  for about 60% of export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and
  development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy.
  Robust growth in 1991-92 was led by the mining sector; the opening of a
  large new gold mine helped the advance.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.4 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  8.5% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $850 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.5% (1992-93)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $1.33 billion; expenditures $1.49 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
  $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  gold, copper ore, coffee, logs, palm oil, cocoa, lobster
 partners:
  FRG, Japan, Australia, UK, Spain, US
Imports:   $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, food, fuels, chemicals, consumer goods
 partners:
  Australia, Singapore, Japan, US, New Zealand, UK
External debt:
  $2.2 billion (April 1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for 21% of GDP
Electricity:
  400,000 kW capacity; 1,600 million kWh produced, 400 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip
  production, mining of gold, silver, and copper, construction, tourism
Agriculture:
  one-third 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $40.6 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $6.5 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $17 million
Currency:
  1 kina (K) = 100 toea
Exchange rates:
  kina (K) per US$1 - 1.0065 (January 1993), 1.0367 (1992), 1.0504 (1991),
  1.0467 (1990), 1.1685 (1989), 1.1538 (1988)

*Papua New Guinea, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Papua New Guinea, Communications

Railroads:
  none
Highways:
  19,200 km total; 640 km paved, 10,960 km gravel, crushed stone, or
  stabilized-soil surface, 7,600 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  10,940 km
Ports:
  Anewa Bay, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Merchant marine:
  11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,523 GRT/24,774 DWT; includes 2
  cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 combination ore/oil, 2 bulk, 1 container
Airports:
 total:
  504  usable:
  457
 with permanent-surface runways:
  18
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  39
Telecommunications:
  services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiobroadcast,
  radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and
  international radiocommunication services; submarine cables extend to
  Australia and Guam; more than 70,000 telephones (1987); broadcast stations -
  31 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV (1987); 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Papua New Guinea, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Papua New Guinea Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air Force)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,046,929; fit for military service 582,685 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 1.8% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Paracel Islands, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, 400 km east of Vietnam in the South China Sea, about
  one-third of the way between Vietnam and the Philippines
Map references:
  Asia
Area:
 total area:
  NA km2
 land area:
  NA km2
 comparative area:
  NA
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  518 km
Maritime claims:
  NA
International disputes:
  occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:
  NA
Natural resources:
  none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  subject to typhoons

*Paracel Islands, People

Population:
  no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered Chinese garrisons

*Paracel Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Paracel Islands
Digraph:
  PF

*Paracel Islands, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Paracel Islands, Communications

Ports:
  small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island currently
  under expansion
Airports:
  1 on Woody Island

*Paracel Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  occupied by China

*Paraguay, Geography

Location:
  Central South America, between Argentina and Brazil
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  406,750 km2
 land area:
  397,300 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
  total 3,920 km, Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of Guaira Falls on the
  Rio Parana) has not been determined
Climate:
  varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west
Terrain:
  grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west
  of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and
  thorny scrub elsewhere
Natural resources:
  hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
 arable land:
  20%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  39%
 forest and woodland:
  35%
 other:
  5%
Irrigated land:
  670 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains
  may become boggy (early October to June)
Note:
  landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil

*Paraguay, People

Population:
  5,070,856 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.8% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  32.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.58 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.98 years
 male:
  71.42 years
 female:
  74.62 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Paraguayan(s)
 adjective:
  Paraguayan
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations
Languages:
  Spanish (official), Guarani
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  90%
 male:
  92%
 female:
  88%
Labor force:
  1.641 million (1992 est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture, industry and commerce, services, government (1986)

*Paraguay, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Paraguay  conventional short form:
  Paraguay
 local long form:
  Republica del Paraguay
 local short form:
  Paraguay
Digraph:
  PA
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Asuncion
Administrative divisions:
  19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto
  Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco,
  Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion,
  Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:
  14 May 1811 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the Constitution that was
  promulgated on 20 June 1992
Legal system:
  based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of
  legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
Political parties and leaders:
  Colorado Party, Blas N. RIQUELME, president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party
  (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO;
  Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEUEDO; Popular Democratic
  Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER; National Encounter (EN), Guillermo Caballero
  VARGAS
Other political or pressure groups:
  Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
Elections:
 President:
  last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held 9 May 1993); results - Gen. RODRIGUEZ
  75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4%
 Chamber of Senators:
  last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by 9 May 1993); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (36 total) Colorado Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF
  1
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held on 1 May 1989 (next to be held by 9 May 1993); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2,
  PDC 1, other 2
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of
  Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies
  (Camara de Diputados)

*Paraguay, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Gen. Andres RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989)
Member of:
  AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS,
  MERCOSUR, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre MARTINEZ
 chancery:
  2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 483-6960 through 6962
 consulates general:
  New Orleans and New York
 consulate:
  Houston
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jon David GLASSMAN
 embassy:
  1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion
 mailing address:
  C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34036-0001
 telephone:
  [595] (21) 213-715
 FAX:
  [595] (21) 213-728
Flag:
  three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem
  centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on
  each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of
  arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words
  REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at
  the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of
  Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words
  REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)

*Paraguay, Economy

Overview:
  Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP, employs
  about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports. Paraguay
  lacks substantial mineral or petroleum resources but does have a large
  hydropower potential. Since 1981 economic performance has declined compared
  with the boom period of 1976-81, when real GDP grew at an average annual
  rate of nearly 11%. During the period 1982-86 real GDP fell in three of five
  years, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 32%, and foreign debt rose.
  Factors responsible for the erratic behavior of the economy were the
  completion of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, bad weather for crops, and weak
  international commodity prices for agricultural exports. In 1987 the economy
  experienced a minor recovery because of improved weather conditions and
  stronger international prices for key agricultural exports. The recovery
  continued through 1990, on the strength of bumper crops in 1988-89. 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.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $7.3 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1.7% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  20% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  10% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $487 million (1991)
Exports:
  $719 million (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee, tung oil, meat products
 partners:
  EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
Imports:
  $1.33 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  capital goods 35%, consumer goods 20%, fuels and lubricants 19%, raw
  materials 16%, foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco 10%
 partners:
  Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
External debt:
  $1.2 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 17% of GDP
Electricity:
  5,257,000 kW capacity; 16,200 million kWh produced, 3,280 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Paraguay, Economy

Industries:
  meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light
  consumer goods, cement, construction
Agriculture:
  accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton,
  sugarcane; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion
Currency:
  1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
  guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,637.6 (January 1993), 1,500.3 (1992), 447.5 (March
  1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8 (1990), 1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate
  1986-February 1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Paraguay, Communications

Railroads:
  970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km 1.000-meter gauge,
  470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)
Highways:
  21,960 km total; 1,788 km paved, 474 km gravel, and 19,698 km earth
Inland waterways:
  3,100 km
Ports:
  Asuncion, Villeta, Ciudad del Este
Merchant marine:
  13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,865 DWT; includes 11
  cargo, 2 oil tanker; note - 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used
  commercially
Airports:
 total:
  862
 usable:
  719
 with permanent-surface runways:
  7
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  64
Telecommunications:
  principal center in Asuncion; fair intercity microwave net; 78,300
  telephones; broadcast stations - 40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7 shortwave; 1 Atlantic
  Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Paraguay, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,210,171; fit for military service 879,601; reach military
  age (17) annually 51,361 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $84 million, 1.4% of GDP (1988 est.)

*Peru, Geography

Location:
  Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean between Chile and
  Ecuador
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1,285,220 km2
 land area:
  1.28 million km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
  total 6,940 km, Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km, Colombia
  2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline:
  2,414 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  three sections of the boundary with Ecuador are in dispute
Climate:
  varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west
Terrain:
  western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra),
  eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Natural resources:
  copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate,
  potash
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  21%  forest and woodland:
  55%
 other:
  21%
Irrigated land:
  12,500 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, mild volcanic activity;
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in
  Lima
Note:
  shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with
  Bolivia

*Peru, People

Population:
  23,210,352 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.9% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.19 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.15 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  56.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  65.17 years
 male:
  63.02 years
 female:
  67.44 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.22 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Peruvian(s)
 adjective:
  Peruvian
Ethnic divisions:
  Indian 45%, mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 37%, white 15%,
  black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic
Languages:
  Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  85%
 male:   92%
 female:
  29%
Labor force:
  8 million (1992)
 by occupation:
  government and other services 44%, agriculture 37%, industry 19% (1988 est.)

*Peru, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Peru
 conventional short form:
  Peru
 local long form:
  Republica del Peru
 local short form:
  Peru
Digraph:
  PE
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Lima
Administrative divisions:
  24 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 constitutional
  province* (provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa,,   Ayacucho,
Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La,   Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima,
Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura,
  Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
 note:
  the 1979 Constitution and legislation enacted from 1987 to 1990 mandate the
  creation of regions (regiones, singular - region) intended to function
  eventually as autonomous economic and administrative entities; so far, 12
  regions have been constituted from 23 existing 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, the regions have
  yet to assume their responsibilities and at the moment coexist with the
  departmental structure
Independence:
  28 July 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  28 July 1980 (often referred to as the 1979 Constitution because the
  Constituent Assembly met in 1979, but the Constitution actually took effect
  the following year); suspended 5 April 1992; being revised or replaced
Legal system:   based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Political parties and leaders:
  New Majority/Change 90 (Cambio 90), Alberto FUJIMORI; Popular Christian
  Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Popular Action Party (AP), Eduardo CALMELL
  del Solar; Liberty Movement (ML), Luis BUSTAMANTE; American Popular
  Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), Alan GARCIA; Independent Moralizing Front
  (FIM), Fernando OLIVERA Vega; National Renewal, Rafael REY; Democratic
  Coordinator, Jose Barba CAHALLERO; Democratic Left Movement, Gloria HOFLER
Other political or pressure groups:
  leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN (imprisoned);
  Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Nestor SERPA and Victor POLAY
  (imprisoned)

*Peru, Government

Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 10 June 1990 (next to be held NA April 1995); results - Alberto
  FUJIMORI 56.53%, Mario VARGAS Llosa 33.92%, other 9.55%
 Democratic Constituent Congress:
  last held 25 November 1992 (next to be held NA); seats - (80 total) New
  Majority/Change 90 44, Popular Christian Party 8, Independent Moralization
  Front 7, Renewal 6, Movement of the Democratic Left 4, Democratic
  Coordinator 4, others 7; several major parties (American Popular
  Revolutionary Alliance, Popular Action) did not participate
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Democratic Constituent Congress (CCD)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Oscar DE LA PUENTE Raygada (since 6 April 1992)
Member of:
  AG, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MINURSO, 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 LUNA
 chancery:
  1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 833-9860 through 9869)
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San
  Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles H. BRAYSHAW
 embassy:
  corner of Avenida Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Avenida Espana, Lima
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1991, Lima 1, or APO AA 34031
 telephone:
  [51] (14) 33-8000
 FAX:
  [51] (14) 31-6682
Flag:
  three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the
  coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield
  bearing a llama, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow
  cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

*Peru, Economy

Overview:
  The Peruvian economy is becoming increasingly market oriented, with a large
  dose of government ownership remaining in mining, energy, and banking. 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 halted late that year, and output rose 2.4% in 1991.
  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 fell by 2.8%, in part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino
  current resulted in a 30% drop in the fish catch. Meanwhile, revival of
  growth in GDP continued to be restricted by the large amount of public and
  private resources being devoted to strengthening internal security.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $25 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -2.8% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,100 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  56.7% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  15% (1992 est.); underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $2.0 billion; expenditures $2.7 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $300 million (1992 est.)
Exports:   $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  copper, fishmeal, zinc, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, refined
  silver, coffee, cotton
 partners:
  EC 28%, US 22%, Japan 13%, Latin America 12%, former USSR 2% (1991)
Imports:
  $4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, machinery, transport equipment, iron and steel semimanufactures,
  chemicals, pharmaceuticals
 partners:
  US 32%, Latin America 22%, EC 17%, Switzerland 6%, Japan 3% (1991)
External debt:
  $21 billion (December 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -5% (1992 est.); accounts for almost 24% of GDP
Electricity:
  5,042,000 kW capacity; 17,434 million kWh produced, 760 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing,
  cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication

*Peru, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for 10% 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 121,000 hectares under
  cultivation; 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.3 billion;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $577 million
Currency:
  1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  nuevo sol (S/. per US$1 - 1.690 (January 1993), 1.245 (1992), 0.772 (1991),
  0.187 (1990), 2.666 (1989), 0.129 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Peru, Communications

Railroads:   1,801 km total; 1,501 km 1.435-meter gauge, 300 km 0.914-meter gauge
Highways:
  69,942 km total; 7,459 km paved, 13,538 km improved, 48,945 km unimproved
  earth
Inland waterways:
  8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km Lago Titicaca
Pipelines:
  crude oil 800 km, natural gas and natural gas liquids 64 km
Ports:
  Callao, Ilo, Iquitos, Matarani, Talara
Merchant marine:
  21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 194,473 GRT/307,845 DWT; includes 13
  cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 oil tanker, 4 bulk;
  note - in addition, 6 naval tankers and 1 naval cargo are sometimes used
  commercially
Airports:
 total:
  228
 usable:
  199
 with permanent-surface runways:
  37
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  23
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  46
Telecommunications:
  fairly adequate for most requirements; nationwide microwave system; 544,000
  telephones; broadcast stations - 273 AM, no FM, 140 TV, 144 shortwave;
  satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 12 domestic

*Peru, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru), Air Force (Fuerza
  Aerea del Peru), National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 6,030,354; fit for military service 4,076,197; reach
  military age (20) annually 241,336 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $500 million, about 2% of GDP (1991)

*Philippines, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, between Indonesia and China
Map references:
  Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:   300,000 km2
 land area:
  298,170 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  36,289 km
Maritime claims:
  measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
 continental shelf:
  to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898
  treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South
  China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth
International disputes:
  involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia,
  Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claims Malaysian state of Sabah
Climate:
  tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon
  (May to October)
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Natural resources:
  timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use:
 arable land:
  26%
 permanent crops:
  11%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  40%
 other:
  19%
Irrigated land:
  16,200 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six
  cyclonic storms per year; subject to landslides, active volcanoes,
  destructive earthquakes, tsunami; deforestation; soil erosion; water
  pollution

*Philippines, People

Population:
  68,464,368 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.97% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  27.9 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.03 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  51.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  65.13 years
 male:
  62.59 years
 female:
  67.79 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.45 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Filipino(s)
 adjective:
  Philippine
Ethnic divisions:
  Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
Languages:
  Pilipino (official; based on Tagalog), English (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  90%
 male:
  90%
 female:
  90%
Labor force:
  24.12 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 46%, industry and commerce 16%, services 18.5%, government 10%,
  other 9.5% (1989)

*Philippines, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of the Philippines
 conventional short form:
  Philippines
 local long form:
  Republika ng Pilipinas
 local short form:
  Pilipinas
Digraph:   RP
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Manila
Administrative divisions:
  73 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del,   Sur, Aklan, Albay,
Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*,,   Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan,,
Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*,,   Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*,,
Cadiz*, Cagayan,,   Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,,
Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu,   City*, Cotabato*,,
Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del,   Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*,,
Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*,,   Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur,,
Iloilo, Iloilo City*,,   Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte,,
Lanao
  del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*,,   Maguindanao, Mandaue*,,
Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro,   Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental,
Misamis Oriental,
  Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato,,   Northern Samar, Nueva
Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*,,   Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*,,
Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto,   Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon,,
Roxas*, Samar, San,   Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San,
Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan,   Kudarat, Sulu,
Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*,,   Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*,
Tarlac,, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*,,   Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte,
Zamboanga, del Sur
Independence:
  4 July 1946 (from US)
Constitution:
  2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system:
  based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipinas, Laban),
  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
Suffrage:
  15 years of age; universal

*Philippines, Government

Elections:
 President:
  last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1998); results -
  Fidel Valdes RAMOS won 23.6% of votes, a narrow plurality
 Senate:
  last held 11 May 1992 (next election 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:
  last held 11 May 1992 (next election 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, Independent 3
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Congress (Kongreso) consists of an upper house or Senate (Senado)
  and a lower house or House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992); Vice President Joseph
  Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992)
Member of:
  APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Raul RABE
 chancery:
  1617 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 483-1414
 consulates general:
  Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
  Francisco, and Seattle
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant); Charge d'affaires Donald WESTMORE
 embassy:
  1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila
 mailing address:
  APO AP 96440
 telephone:
  [63] (2) 521-7116
 FAX:
  [63] (2) 522-4361
 consulate general:
  Cebu
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral
  triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow
  sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in
  each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star

*Philippines, Economy

Overview:
  Domestic output in this primarily agricultural economy remained the same in
  1992 as in 1991. Drought and power supply problems hampered production,
  while inadequate revenues prevented government pump priming. Despite a flat
  GDP performance, GNP mustered a small 0.6% expansion, attributable to
  inflows of workers' remittances combined with smaller foreign interest
  payments. A marked increase in capital goods imports, particularly power
  generations equipment, telecommunications equipment, and electronic data
  processors, contributed to a 20.5% import growth in 1992. Exports rose 11%,
  led by earnings from the Philippines' two leading manufactures - electronics
  and garments.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $54.1 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0.6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $860 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8.9% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  9.8% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  $11.0 billion; expenditures $12.0 billion, including capital expenditures of
  $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  electronics, textiles, coconut oil, copper
 partners:
  US 39%, EC, Japan, ASEAN
Imports:
  $14.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  raw materials 45%, capital goods 26%, petroleum products 18%
 partners:
  US, Japan, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia
External debt:
  $29.8 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -1% (1992 est.); accounts for 34% of GDP
Electricity:
  7,850,000 kW capacity; 28,000 million kWh produced, 420 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing,
  electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing
Agriculture:
  accounts for about one-third of GNP 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

*Philippines, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.6 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $7.9 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million; Communist countries (1975-89), $123
  million
Currency:
  1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 25.817 (April 1993), 25.512 (1992), 27.479
  (1991), 24.311 (1990), 21.737 (1989), 21.095 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Philippines, Communications

Railroads:
  378 km operable on Luzon, 34% government owned (1982)
Highways:
  157,450 km total (1988); 22,400 km paved; 85,050 km gravel, crushed-stone,
  or stabilized-soil surface; 50,000 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 357 km
Ports:
  Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras, Iloilo, Legaspi, Manila, Subic Bay
Merchant marine:
  562 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,282,936 GRT/13,772,023 DWT;
  includes 1 passenger, 11 short-sea passenger, 13 passenger-cargo, 155 cargo,
  27 refrigerated cargo, 25 vehicle carrier, 9 livestock carrier, 13
  roll-on/roll-off cargo, 8 container, 38 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 3
  liquefied gas, 1 combination ore/oil, 249 bulk, 8 combination bulk; note -
  many Philippine flag ships are foreign owned and are on the register for the
  purpose of long-term bare-boat charter back to their original owners who are
  principally in Japan and Germany
Airports:
 total:
  270
 usable:
  238
 with permanent-surface runways:
  73
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  9
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  57
Telecommunications:
  good international radio and submarine cable services; domestic and
  interisland service adequate; 872,900 telephones; broadcast stations - 267
  AM (including 6 US), 55 FM, 33 TV (including 4 US); submarine cables
  extended to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan; satellite earth
  stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, and 11
  domestic

*Philippines, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 17,188,695; fit for military service 12,144,278; reach
  military age (20) annually 716,881 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $915 million, 1.9% of GNP (1991)

*Pitcairn Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*Pitcairn Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Peru and New Zealand
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  47 km2
 land area:
  47 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  51 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season
  (November to March)
Terrain:
  rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Natural resources:
  miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to typhoons (especially November to March)

*Pitcairn Islands, People

Population:
  52 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years
 female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman
Nationality:
 noun:
  Pitcairn Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic divisions:
  descendants of the Bounty mutineers
Religions:
  Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages:
  English (official), Tahitian/English dialect
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence
  farming and fishing

*Pitcairn Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
 conventional short form:
  Pitcairn Islands
Digraph:
  PC
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  Adamstown
Administrative divisions:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system:
  local island by-laws
National holiday:
  Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10 June (1989) (second Saturday in
  June)
Political parties and leaders:
  NA
Other political or pressure groups:
  NA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Elections:
 Island Council:
  last held NA (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA;
  seats - (11 total, 5 elected) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, island magistrate
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Island Council
Judicial branch:
  Island Court
Leaders:  Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Governor and
  UK High Commissioner to New Zealand David Joseph MOSS (since NA 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since NA)
Member of:
  SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the
  coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a
  yellow anchor

*Pitcairn Islands, Economy

Overview:
  The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile soil
  of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including
  citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an
  important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of
  postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $430,440; expenditures $429,983, including capital expenditures of
  $NA (FY87 est.)
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  fruits, vegetables, curios
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  110 kW capacity; 0.30 million kWh produced, 5,360 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  postage stamp sales, handicrafts
Agriculture:
  based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of fruits and
  vegetables grown; must import grain products
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9486 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992),
  1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Pitcairn Islands, Communications

Railroads:
  none
Highways:
  6.4 km dirt roads
Ports:
  Bounty Bay
Airports:
  none
Telecommunications:
  24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island; broadcast
  stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; diesel generator provides electricity

*Pitcairn Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Poland, Geography

Location:
  Central Europe, between Germany and Belarus
Map references:
  Asia, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  312,680 km2
 land area:
  304,510 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
  total 3,114 km, Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km,
  Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 444 km,
  Ukraine 428 km
Coastline:
  491 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent
  precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain:
  mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Natural resources:
  coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  46%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  13%
 forest and woodland:
  28%
 other:
  12%
Irrigated land:
  1,000 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  plain crossed by a few north flowing, meandering streams; severe air and
  water pollution in south
Note:
  historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of
  natural barriers on the North European Plain

*Poland, People

Population:
  38,519,486 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.35% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.59 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.59 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.2 years
 male:
  68.14 years
 female:
  76.51 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.97 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Pole(s)
 adjective:
  Polish
Ethnic divisions:
  Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Belarusian 0.5% (1990 est.)
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and
  other 5%
Languages:
  Polish
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1978)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  99%
 female:
  98%
Labor force:
  15.609 million
 by occupation:
  industry and construction 34.4%, agriculture 27.3%, trade, transport, and
  communications 16.1%, government and other 22.2% (1991)

*Poland, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Poland
 conventional short form:
  Poland
 local long form:
  Rzeczpospolita Polska
 local short form:
  Polska
Digraph:
  PL
Type:
  democratic state
Capital:
  Warsaw
Administrative divisions:
  49 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska,
  Bialystok, Bielsko Biala, Bydgoszcz, Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa, Elblag,
  Gdansk, Gorzow, Jelenia Gora, Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin, Koszalin,
  Krakow, Krosno, Legnica, Leszno, Lodz, Lomza, Lublin, Nowy Sacz, Olsztyn,
  Opole, Ostroleka, Pila, Piotrkow, Plock, Poznan, Przemysl, Radom, Rzeszow,
  Siedlce, Sieradz, Skierniewice, Slupsk, Suwalki, Szczecin, Tarnobrzeg,
  Tarnow, Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa, Wloclawek, Wroclaw, Zamosc, Zielona Gora
Independence:
  11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
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
National holiday:
  Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Political parties and leaders:
 post-Solidarity parties:
  Democratic Union (UD), Tadeusz MAZOWIECKI; Christian-National Union (ZCHN),
  Wieslaw CHRZANOWSKI; Centrum (PC), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI; Liberal-Democratic
  Congress, Donald TUSK; 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
 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; Party X,
  Stanislaw Tyminski
 Communist origin or linked:
  Social Democracy (SDRP, party of Poland), Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz; Polish
  Peasants' Party (PSL), Waldemar PAWLAK
Other political or pressure groups:
  powerful Roman Catholic Church; Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade
  Union Alliance (OPZZ), populist program
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

*Poland, Government

Elections:
 president:
  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%
 Senat:
  last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held no later than NA October 1995);
  seats - (100 total)
 post-Solidarity bloc:
  UD 21, NSZZ 11, ZCHN 9, PC 9, Liberal-Democratic Congress 6, PL 7, PCHD 3,
  other local candidates 11;
 non-Communist, non-Solidarity:
  KPN 4, CHD 1, MN 1, local candidates 5
 Communist origin or linked:
  PSL 8, SLD 4
 Sejm:
  last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held no later than NA October 1995);
  seats - (460 total)
 post-Solidarity bloc:
  UD 62, ZCHN 49, PC 44, Liberal-Democratic Congress 37, PL 28, NSZZ 27, SP 4,
  PCHD 4, RDS 1, Krackow Coalition in Solidarity with the President 1, Piast
  Agreement 1, Bydgoszcz Peasant List 1, Solidarity 80 1
 non-Communist, non-Solidarity:
  KPN 46, PPPP 16, MN 7, CHD 5, Western Union 4, UPR 3, Autonomous Silesia 2,
  SD 1, Orthodox Election Committee 1, Committee of Women Against Hardships 1,
  Podhale Union 1, Wielkopolska Group 1, Wielkopolska and Lubuski Inhabitants
  1, Party X 3
 Communist origin or linked:
  SLD 60, PSL 48
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Assembly (Zgromadzenie Narodowe) consists of an upper
  house or Senate (Senat) and a lower house or Diet (Sejm)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Lech WALESA (since 22 December 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Hanna SUCHOCKA (since 10 July 1992)
Member of:
  BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer),
  ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNDOF, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Kazimierz DZIEWANOWSKI
 chancery:
  2640 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 234-3800 through 3802
 FAX:
  (202) 328-6271
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

*Poland, Government

US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Thomas W. SIMONS, Jr.  embassy:
  Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw
 mailing address:
  American Embassy Warsaw, Box 5010, Unit 25402, or APO AE 09213-5010
 telephone:
  [48] (2) 628-3041
 FAX:
  [48] (2) 628-8298
 consulates general:
  Krakow, Poznan
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of
  Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

*Poland, Economy

Overview:
  Poland is undergoing a difficult transition from a Soviet-style economy -
  with state ownership and control of productive assets - to a market economy.
  On January 1, 1990, the new Solidarity-led government implemented shock
  therapy by slashing subsidies, decontrolling prices, tightening the money
  supply, stabilizing the foreign exchange rate, lowering import barriers, and
  restraining state sector wages. As a result, consumer goods shortages and
  lines disappeared, and inflation fell from 640% in 1989 to 44% in 1992.
  Western governments, which hold two-thirds of Poland's $48 billion external
  debt, pledged in 1991 to forgive half of Poland's official debt by 1994. The
  private sector accounted for 29% of industrial production and nearly half of
  nonagricultural output in 1992. Production fell in state enterprises,
  however, and the unemployment rate climbed steadily from virtually nothing
  in 1989 to 13.6% in December 1992. Poland fell out of compliance with its
  IMF program by mid-1991, and talks with commercial creditors stalled. The
  increase in unemployment and the decline in living standards led to strikes
  in the coal, auto, copper, and railway sectors in 1992. Large state
  enterprises in the coal, steel, and defense sectors plan to halve employment
  over the next decade, and the government expects unemployment to reach 3
  million (16%) in 1993. A shortfall in tax revenues caused the budget deficit
  to reach 6% of GDP in 1992, but industrial production began a slow, uneven
  upturn. In 1993, the government will struggle to win legislative approval
  for faster privatization and to keep the budget deficit within IMF-approved
  limits.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $167.6 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $4,400 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  44% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  13.6% (December 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $17.5 billion; expenditures $22.0 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $1.5 billion (1992 est.)
Exports:   $12.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery 22%, metals 16%, chemicals 12%, fuels and power 11%, food 10%
  (1991)
 partners:
  Germany 28.0%, former USSR 11.7%, UK 8.8%, Switzerland 5.5% (1991)
Imports:
  $12.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery 38%, fuels and power 20%, chemicals 13%, food 10%, light industry
  6% (1991)
 partners:
  Germany 17.4%, former USSR 25.6%, Italy 5.3%, Austria 5.2% (1991)
External debt:
  $48.5 billion (January 1992); note - Poland's Western government creditors
  promised in 1991 to forgive 30% of Warsaw's official debt - currently $33
  billion - immediately and to forgive another 20% in 1994, if Poland adheres
  to its IMF program
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3.5% (1992)

*Poland, Economy

Electricity:
  31,530,000 kW capacity; 137,000 million kWh produced, 3,570 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  machine building, iron and steel, extractive industries, chemicals,
  shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Agriculture:
  accounts for 15% of GDP and 27% of labor force; 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 producers of opium for domestic consumption and amphetamines for the
  international market; emerging as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to
  Western Europe
Economic aid:
  donor - bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed countries, $2.2
  billion (1954-89); the G-24 has pledged $8 billion in grants and credit
  guarantees to Poland
Currency:
  1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Exchange rates:
  zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 15,879 (January 1993), 13,626 (1992), 10,576 (1991),
  9,500 (1990), 1,439.18 (1989), 430.55 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Poland, Communications

Railroads:
  26,250 km total; 23,857 km 1.435-meter gauge, 397 km 1.520-meter gauge,
  1,996 km narrow gauge; 8,987 km double track; 11,510 km electrified;
  government owned (1991)
Highways:
  360,629 km total (excluding farm, factory and forest roads); 220 km limited
  access expressways, 45,257 km main highways, 128,775 km regional roads,
  186,377 urban or village roads (local traffic); 220,000 km are paved
  (including all main and regional highways) (1988)
Inland waterways:
  3,997 km navigable rivers and canals (1991)
Pipelines:
  natural gas 4,600 km, crude oil 1,986 km, petroleum products 360 km (1992)
Ports:
  Gdansk, Gdynia, Szczecin, Swinoujscie; principal inland ports are Gliwice on
  Kana Gliwice, Wrocaw on the Oder, and Warsaw on the Vistula
Merchant marine:
  209 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,747,631 GRT/3,992,053 DWT; includes
  5 short-sea passenger, 76 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 11 roll-on/roll-off
  cargo, 9 container, 1 oil tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 101 bulk, 1 passenger;
  Poland owns 1 ship of 6,333 DWT operating under Liberian registry
Airports:
 total:
  163
 usable:
  163
 with permanent-surface runways:
  100
 with runway over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  51
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  95
Telecommunications:
  severely underdeveloped and outmoded system; cable, open wire and microwave;
  phone density is 10.5 phones per 100 residents (October 1990); 3.6 million
  telephone subscribers; exchanges are 86% automatic (1991); broadcast
  stations - 27 AM, 27 FM, 40 (5 Soviet repeaters) TV; 9.6 million TVs; 1
  satellite earth station using INTELSAT, EUTELSAT, INMARSAT and Intersputnik

*Poland, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 9,914,128; fit for military service 7,774,499; reach
  military age (19) annually 304,956 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  30.8 trillion zlotych, 1.8% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense
  expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
  misleading results

*Portugal, Geography

Location:
  Southern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean west of Spain
Map references:
  Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  92,080 km2
 land area:
  91,640 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Indiana
 note:
  includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Land boundaries:
  total 1,214 km, Spain 1,214 km
Coastline:
  1,793 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province) disputed with Indonesia
Climate:
  maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain:
  mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south
Natural resources:
  fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble
Land use:
 arable land:
  32%
 permanent crops:
  6%
 meadows and pastures:
  6%
 forest and woodland:
  40%
 other:
  16%
Irrigated land:
  6,340 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Note:
  Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea
  approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

*Portugal, People

Population:
  10,486,140 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.36% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  11.59 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.77 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  74.89 years
 male:
  71.43 years
 female:
  78.56 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.45 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Portuguese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Portuguese
Ethnic divisions:
  homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland, Azores, Madeira Islands;
  citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during
  decolonization number less than 100,000
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other 2%
Languages:
  Portuguese
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  85%
 male:
  89%
 female:
  82%
Labor force:
  4,605,700
 by occupation:
  services 45%, industry 35%, agriculture 20% (1988)

*Portugal, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:   Portuguese Republic
 conventional short form:
  Portugal
 local long form:
  Republica Portuguesa
 local short form:
  Portugal
Digraph:
  PO
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Lisbon
Administrative divisions:
  18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions*,   (regioes autonomas,
singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*,,   Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco,
Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria,
  Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo,,   Vila Real, Viseu
Dependent areas:
  Macau (scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of China on 20
  December 1999)
Independence:
  1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
Constitution:
  25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982 and 1 June 1989
Legal system:
  civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality
  of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Day of Portugal, 10 June
Political parties and leaders:
  Social Democratic Party (PSD), Anibal CAVACO Silva; 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, Manuel
  SERGIO; Center Democratic Party; United Democratic Coalition (CDU;
  Communists)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  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%
 Assembly of the Republic:
  last held 6 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - PSD
  50.4%, PS 29.3%, CDU 8.8%, Center Democrats 4.4%, National Solidarity Party
  1.7%, PRD 0.6%, other 4.8%; seats - (230 total) PSD 135, PS 72, CDU 17,
  Center Democrats 5, National Solidarity Party 1
Executive branch:
  president, Council of State, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council
  of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)
Judicial branch:   Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justica)

*Portugal, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Dr. Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES (since 9 March 1986)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 6 November 1985)
Member of:
  AfDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE,
  ECLAC, EIB, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
  ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA
  (observer), LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
  OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, 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:
  (202) 328-8610
 consulates general:
  Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San Francisco
 consulates:
  Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), and Providence (Rhode Island)
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Everett Ellis BRIGGS
 embassy:
  Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon
 mailing address:
  PSC 83, APO AE 09726
 telephone:
  [351] (1) 726-6600 or 6659, 8670, 8880
 FAX:
  [351] (1) 726-9109
 consulate:
  Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag:
  two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths)
  with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line

*Portugal, Economy

Overview:
  Although Portugal has experienced strong growth since joining the EC in 1986
  - at least 4% each year through 1990 - it remains one of the poorest
  members. To prepare for the European single market, the government is
  restructuring and modernizing the economy and in 1989 embarked on a major
  privatization program. As of 1 January 1993, Lisbon has fully liberalized
  its capital markets and most trade markets. The global slowdown and tight
  monetary policies to counter inflation caused growth to slow in 1991 and
  1992. Growth probably will remain depressed in 1993, but should pick up
  again in 1994.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $93.7 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  1.1% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $9,000 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  9% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  5% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $27.3 billion; expenditures $33.2 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $4.5 billion (1991)
Exports:
  $16.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  cotton textiles, cork and paper products, canned fish, wine, timber and
  timber products, resin, machinery, appliances
 partners:
  EC 75.4%, other developed countries 12.4%, US 3.8% (1991)
Imports:
  $26.0 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, agricultural products, chemicals,
  petroleum, textiles
 partners:
  EC 72%, other developed countries 10.9% less developed countries 12.9%, US
  3.4%
External debt:
  $16.9 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 9.1% (1990); accounts for 40% of GDP
Electricity:
  6,624,000 kW capacity; 26,400 million kWh produced, 2,520 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking; oil
  refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Agriculture:
  accounts for 6.1% of GDP and 20% of labor force; 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.8 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.2 billion

*Portugal, Economy

Currency:
  1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1 - 145.51 (January 1993), 135.00 (1992),
  144.48 (1991), 142.55 (1990), 157.46 (1989), 143.95 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Portugal, Communications

Railroads:
  3,625 km total; state-owned Portuguese Railroad Co. (CP) operates 2,858 km
  1.665-meter gauge (434 km electrified and 426 km double track), 755 km
  1.000-meter gauge; 12 km (1.435-meter gauge) electrified, double track,
  privately owned
Highways:
  73,661 km total; 61,599 km surfaced (bituminous, gravel, and crushed stone),
  including 140 km of limited-access divided highway; 7,962 km improved earth;
  4,100 km unimproved earth (motorable tracks)
Inland waterways:
  820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by
  shallow-draft craft limited to 300-metric-ton cargo capacity
Pipelines:
  crude oil 11 km; petroleum products 58 km
Ports:
  Leixoes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Velas (Azores), Setubal,
  Sines
Merchant marine:
  51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 634,072 GRT/1,130,515 DWT; includes 1
  short-sea passenger, 21 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 3 container, 1
  roll-on/roll-off cargo, 13 oil tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 5 bulk, 2
  liquified gas; note - Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira
  (MAR) for Portuguese-owned ships that will have the taxation and crewing
  benefits of a flag of convenience; although only one ship currently is known
  to fly the Portuguese flag on the MAR register, it is likely that a majority
  of Portuguese flag ships will transfer to this subregister in a few years
Airports:
 total:
  64
 usable:
  62
 with permanent-surface runways:
  36
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  10
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  11
Telecommunications:
  generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables, open wire and
  microwave radio relay; 2,690,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 57 AM, 66
  (22 repeaters) FM, 66 (23 repeaters) TV; 6 submarine cables; 3 INTELSAT
  earth stations (2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT, domestic
  satellite systems (mainland and Azores); tropospheric link to Azores

*Portugal, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Republican Guard, Fiscal
  Guard, Public Security Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,696,325; fit for military service 2,188,041; reach
  military age (20) annually 88,735 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion, 2.9% of GDP (1992)

*Puerto Rico, Header

Affiliation:
  (commonwealth associated with the US)

*Puerto Rico, Geography

Location:
  in the North Atlantic Ocean, between the Dominican Republic and the Virgin
  Islands group
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  9,104 km2
 land area:
  8,959 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  501 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m (depth)
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:   tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to
  sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Natural resources:
  some copper and nickel, potential for onshore and offshore crude oil
Land use:
 arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:
  9%
 meadows and pastures:
  41%
 forest and woodland:
  20%
 other:
  22%
Irrigated land:
  390 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered;
  south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
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

*Puerto Rico, People

Population:
  3,797,082 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.13% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  16.93 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.88 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -7.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  14 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  73.84 years
 male:
  70.25 years
 female:
  77.61 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.08 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Puerto Rican(s)
 adjective:   Puerto Rican
Ethnic divisions:
  Hispanic
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%
Languages:
  Spanish (official), English widely understood
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  89%
 male:
  90%
 female:
  88%
Labor force:
  1.17 million (1992)
 by occupation:
  government 20%, manufacturing 14%, trade 17%, construction 5%,
  communications and transportation 5%, other 39% (1992)

*Puerto Rico, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
 conventional short form:
  Puerto Rico
Digraph:
  QR
Type:
  commonwealth associated with the US
Capital:
  San Juan
Administrative divisions:
  none (commonwealth associated with the US), note: there are 78
  municipalities
Independence:
  none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Constitution:
  ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25
  July 1952
Legal system:
  based on Spanish civil code
National holiday:
  US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Republican Party of Puerto Rico, Freddy VALENTIN; Popular
  Democratic Party (PPD), Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon; New Progressive Party (PNP),
  Carlos ROMERO Barcelo; Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP), Juan MARI Bras
  and Carlos GALLISA; Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS
  Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown
Other political or pressure groups:
  all have engaged in terrorist activities - 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do
  not vote in US presidential elections
Elections:
 Governor:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results -
  Pedro ROSSELLO (PND) 50%, Victoria MUNOZ (PPD) 46%, Fernando MARTIN (PIP) 4%
 Senate:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) seats by party NA
 US House of Representatives:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) seats by party NA; note -
  Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US House of Representatives,
  Carlos Romero BARCELO
 House of Representatives:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (53 total) seats by party NA
Executive branch:
  US president, US vice president, governor
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a
  lower house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court

*Puerto Rico, Government

Leaders:
 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 NA January 1993)
Member of:
  CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, IOC, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO (associate), WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Flag:
  five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
  a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large white
  five-pointed star in the center; design based on the US flag

*Puerto Rico, Economy

Overview:
  Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region.
  Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector of economic
  activity and income. Encouraged by duty free access to the US and by tax
  incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s.
  US minimum wage laws apply. Important industries include pharmaceuticals,
  electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and processed foods. Sugar production
  has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main
  source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been
  an important source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals of
  nearly 3 million tourists in 1989.
National product:
  GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $22.8 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  2.2% (FY90)
National product per capita:
  $6,200 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.3% (October 1990-91)
Unemployment rate:
  17% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $5.8 billion; expenditures $5.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $258 million (FY89)
Exports:
  20.4 billion (1990)
 commodities:
  pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage
  concentrates, medical equipment, instruments
 partners:
  US 87.8% (1990)
Imports:
  16.2 billion (1990)
 commodities:
  chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
 partners:
  US 66.6% (1990)
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.2% (FY92)
Electricity:
  5,040,000 kW capacity; 16,100 million kWh produced, 4,260 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  manufacturing accounts for 55.5 % of GDP: manufacturing of pharmaceuticals,
  electronics, apparel, food products, instruments; tourism
Agriculture:
  accounts for only 3% of labor force and less than 2% of GDP: crops -
  sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock - cattle,
  chickens; imports a large share of food needs (1992)
Economic aid:
  none
Currency:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Puerto Rico, Communications

Railroads:
  96 km rural narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger
  railroads
Highways:
  13,762 km paved (1982)
Ports:
  San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Arecibo
Airports:
 total:
  30
 usable:
  23
 with permanent-surface runways:
  19
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  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; broadcast stations -
  50 AM, 63 FM, 9 TV; cable television available with US programs (1990)

*Puerto Rico, Defense Forces

Branches:
  paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 830,133; fit for military service NA (1993 est.)
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Qatar, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, peninsula jutting into the central Persian Gulf, between Iran
  and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
  Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  11,000 km2
 land area:
  11,000 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
  total 60 km, Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:
  563 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary
  with Bahrain
Climate:
  desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain:
  mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  5%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  95%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  haze, duststorms, sandstorms common; limited freshwater resources mean
  increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Note:
  strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

*Qatar, People

Population:
  499,115 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.84% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  19.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  3.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  12.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  22.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:  total population:
  72.25 years
 male:
  69.73 years
 female:
  74.68 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.88 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Qatari(s)
 adjective:
  Qatari
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:
  Muslim 95%
Languages:
  Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
 total population:
  76%
 male:
  77%
 female:
  72%
Labor force:
  104,000 85% non-Qatari in private sector (1983)

*Qatar, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  State of Qatar
 conventional short form:
  Qatar
 local long form:
  Dawlat Qatar
 local short form:
  Qatar
Digraph:
  QA
Type:
  traditional monarchy
Capital:
  Doha
Administrative divisions:
  there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
  Government, but there are 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular -
  baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Rayyan,
  Al Wakrah, Ash Shamal, Jarayan al Batnah, Umm Salal
Independence:
  3 September 1971 (from UK)
Constitution:
  provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970
Legal system:
  discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are
  being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Political parties and leaders:
  none
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
 Advisory Council:
  constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no
  elections have been held; seats - (30 total)
Executive branch:
  amir, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura)
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDB,
  IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
  OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador 'Abd al-Rahman bin Sa'ud ALTHANI
 chancery:
  Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
 telephone:
  (202) 338-0111

*Qatar, Government

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:
  (0974) 864701 through 864703
 FAX:
  (0974) 861669
Flag:
  maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist
  side

*Qatar, Economy

Overview:
  Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 85% of export
  earnings and roughly 75% 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 of about $17,000, comparable
  to the leading industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas is
  becoming increasingly important.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $8.1 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $17,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $2.5 billion; expenditures $3.0 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $440 million (FY92 est.)
Exports:
  $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  petroleum products 85%, steel, fertilizers
 partners:
  Japan 61%, Brazil 6%, South Korea 5%, UAE 4%
Imports:
  $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
 partners:
  France 13%, Japan 12%, UK 11%, Germany 9%
External debt:
  $1.1 billion (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 0.6% (1987); accounts for 64% of GDP, including oil
Electricity:
  1,596,000 kW capacity; 4,818 million kWh produced, 9,655 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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 $2.7 billion in ODA to less developed countries (1979-88)
Currency:
  1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates:   Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Qatar, Communications

Highways:
  1,500 km total; 1,000 km paved, 500 km gravel or natural surface (est.)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 235 km, natural gas 400 km
Ports:
  Doha, Umm Sa'id, Halul Island
Merchant marine:
  20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 390,072 GRT/593,508 DWT; includes 13
  cargo, 4 container, 2 oil tanker, 1 refrigerated cargo
Airports:
 total:
  4
 usable:
  4
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  modern system centered in Doha; 110,000 telephones; tropospheric scatter to
  Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to
  Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV

*Qatar, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 214,977; fit for military service 113,514; reach military
  age (18) annually 3,578 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA%, of GDP

*Reunion, Header

Affiliation:
  (overseas department of France)

*Reunion, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 750 km east of Madagascar
Map references:
  World
Area:
 total area:
  2,510 km2
 land area:
  2,500 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  201 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November,
  hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain:
  mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Natural resources:
  fish, arable land
Land use:
 arable land:
  20%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  35%
 other:
  39%
Irrigated land:
  60 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  periodic devastating cyclones

*Reunion, People

Population:
  639,622 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  25.64 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  73.68 years
 male:
  70.61 years
 female:
  76.91 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.81 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Reunionese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Reunionese
Ethnic divisions:
  French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 94%
Languages:
  French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
 total population:
  69%
 male:
  67%
 female:
  74%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)
 note:
  63% of population of working age (1983)

*Reunion, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Department of Reunion
 conventional short form:
  Reunion
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Ile de la Reunion
Digraph:
  RE
Type:
  overseas department of France
Capital:
  Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
  none (overseas department of France)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
  French law
National holiday:
  Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
  Rally for the Republic (RPR), Francois MAS; Union for French Democracy
  (UDF), Gilbert GERARD; Communist Party of Reunion (PCR), Paul VERGES;
  France-Reunion Future (FRA), Andre THIEN AH KOON; Socialist Party (PS),
  Jean-Claude FRUTEAU; Social Democrats (CDS); other small parties
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 General Council:
  last held 22 March 1991 (next to be held March 1997); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (44 total)
 Regional Council:
  last held 28 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1998); results - UDF
  25.6%, PRC 17.9%, PS 10.5%, Independent 30.7%, other 15.3%; seats - (45
  total) Independent 17, UDF 14, PRC 9, PS 5
 French Senate:
  last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA September 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (3 total) RPR-UDF 1, PS 1, independent
  1
 French National Assembly:
  last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held NA June 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (5 total) PCR 2, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1, FRA
  1; note - Reunion elects 3 members to the French Senate and 5 members to the
  French National Assembly who are voting members
Executive branch:
  French president, commissioner of the Republic
Legislative branch:
  unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeals (Cour d'Appel)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)

*Reunion, Government

 Head of Government:
  Commissioner of the Republic Jacques DEWATRE (since NA July 1991)
Member of:
  FZ
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as an overseas department of France, Reunionese interests are represented in
  the US by France
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

*Reunion, Economy

Overview:
  The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been
  the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for
  85% of exports. The government has been pushing the development of a tourist
  industry to relieve high unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third
  of the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is
  extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and
  Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments of the
  population, often approaching European standards, whereas indigenous groups
  suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the
  African continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991
  illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic
  well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from
  France.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.37 billion (1987 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  9% (1987 est.)
National product per capita:
  $6,000 (1987 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.3% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
  35% (February 1991)
Budget:
  revenues $358 million; expenditures $914 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1986)
Exports:
  $166 million (f.o.b., 1988)
 commodities:
  sugar 75%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 4%, lobster 3%, vanilla and
  tea 1%
 partners:
  France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
Imports:
  $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation
  equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
 partners:
  France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:   growth rate NA%; about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
  245,000 kW capacity; 750 million kWh produced, 1,230 kWh per capita (1991)
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:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $14.8 billion
Currency:
  1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

*Reunion, Economy

Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
  (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Reunion, Communications

Highways:
  2,800 km total; 2,200 km paved, 600 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized
  earth
Ports:
  Pointe des Galets
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runway 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runway 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  adequate system; modern open-wire and microwave network; principal center
  Saint-Denis; radiocommunication to Comoros, France, Madagascar; new
  microwave route to Mauritius; 85,900 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM,
  13 FM, 1 (18 repeaters) TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Reunion, Defense Forces

Branches:
  French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 167,925; fit for military service 86,764; reach military age
  (18) annually 5,975 (1993 est.)
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Romania, Geography

Location:
  Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea between Bulgaria and the
  Ukraine
Map references:
  Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  237,500 km2
 land area:
  230,340 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
  total 2,508 km, Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia and
  Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (south)
  169 km
Coastline:
  225 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
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 being exhausted), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore,
  salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  43%
 permanent crops:   3%
 meadows and pastures:
  19%
 forest and woodland:
  28%
 other:
  7%
Irrigated land:
  34,500 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  frequent earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure
  and climate promote landslides; air pollution in south
Note:
  controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova,
  and Ukraine

*Romania, People

Population:
  23,172,362 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.02% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.17 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  21.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  71.25 years
 male:
  68.32 years
 female:
  74.34 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Romanian(s)
 adjective:
  Romanian
Ethnic divisions:
  Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%, Ukrainian, Serb, Croat,
  Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%
Religions:
  Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are Uniate),
  Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%
Languages:
  Romanian, Hungarian, German
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1978)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  10,945,700
 by occupation:
  industry 38%, agriculture 28%, other 34% (1989)

*Romania, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Romania
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Romania
Digraph:
  RO
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Bucharest
Administrative divisions:
  40 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu);,   Alba, Arad, Arges,
Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov,
  Bucuresti*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna,,   Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati,
Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi,
  Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu,
  Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence:
  1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)
Constitution:
  8 December 1991
Legal system:
  former mixture of civil law system and Communist legal theory that
  increasingly reflected Romanian traditions is being revised
National holiday:
  National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Salvation Front (FSN), Petre ROMAN; Democratic National Salvation
  Front (DNSF), Oliviu GHERMAN; Magyar Democratic Union (UDMR), Geza DOMOKOS;
  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
 note:   there are dozens of smaller parties; although the Communist Party has ceased
  to exist, small proto-Communist parties, notably the Socialist Labor Party,
  have been formed
Other political or pressure groups:
  various human right and professional associations
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 27 September 1992 - with runoff between top two candidates on 11
  October 1992 (next to be held NA 1998); results - Ion ILIESCU 61.4%, Emil
  CONSTANTINESCU 38.6%
 Senate:
  last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA 1998); results - DFSN 27.5%,
  CDR 22.5%, FSN 11%, others 39%; seats - (143 total) DFSN 49, CDR 34, FSN 18,
  PUNR 14, UDMR 12, PRM 6, PDAR 5, PSM 5

*Romania, Government

 House of Deputies:
  last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA 1998); results - DFSN 27.5%,
  CDR 22.5%, FSN 11%, others 38.5%; seats - (341 total) DFSN 117, CDR 82, FSN
  43, PUNR 30, UDMR 27, PRM 16, PSM 13, other 13
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate (Senat) and a
  lower house or House of Deputies (Adunarea Deputatilor)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice, Constitutional Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 June 1990, previously President of
  Provisional Council of National Unity since 23 December 1989)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Nicolae VACAROIU (since November 1992)
Member of:
  BIS, BSEC, CCC, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-9, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer),
  ITU, LORCS, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
  UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Aurel-Dragos MUNTEANU
 chancery:
  1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 232-4747, 6634, 5693
 FAX:
  (202) 232-4748
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador John R. DAVIS, Jr.
 embassy:   Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
 mailing address:
  AmConGen (Buch), Unit 25402, APO AE 09213-5260
 telephone:
  [40] (0) 10-40-40
 FAX:
  [40] (0) 12-03-95
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the
  national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been
  removed; now similar to the flags of Andorra and Chad

*Romania, Economy

Overview:
  Industry, which accounts for about one-third of the labor force and
  generates over half the GDP, suffers from an aging capital plant and
  persistent shortages of energy. The year 1991 witnessed a 17% drop in
  industrial production because of energy and input shortages and labor
  unrest. In recent years the agricultural sector has had to contend with
  flooding, mismanagement, shortages of inputs, and disarray caused by the
  dismantling of cooperatives. A shortage of inputs and a severe drought in
  1991 contributed to a poor harvest, a problem compounded by corruption and
  an obsolete distribution system. The new government has instituted moderate
  land reforms, with more than one-half of cropland now in private hands, and
  it has liberalized private agricultural output. Private enterprises form an
  increasingly important portion of the economy largely in services,
  handicrafts, and small-scale industry. Little progress on large scale
  privatization has been made since a law providing for the privatization of
  large state firms was passed in August 1991. Most of the large state firms
  have been converted into joint-stock companies, but the selling of shares
  and assets to private owners has been delayed. While the government has
  halted the old policy of diverting food from domestic consumption to hard
  currency export markets, supplies remain scarce in some areas. The new
  government continues to impose price ceilings on key consumer items. In 1992
  the economy muddled along toward the new, more open system, yet output and
  living standards continued to fall.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $63.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -15% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,700 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  200% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  9% (January 1993)
Budget:
  revenues $19 billion; expenditures $20 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $2.1 billion (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  machinery and equipment 29.3%, fuels, minerals and metals 32.1%,
  manufactured consumer goods 18.1%, agricultural materials and forestry
  products 9.0%, other 11.5% (1989)
 partners:
  USSR 27%, Eastern Europe 23%, EC 15%, US 5%, China 4% (1987)
Imports:
  $5.1 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  fuels, minerals, and metals 56.0%, machinery and equipment 25.5%,
  agricultural and forestry products 8.6%, manufactured consumer goods 3.4%,
  other 6.5% (1989)
 partners:
  Communist countries 60%, non-Communist countries 40% (1987)
External debt:
  $3 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -17% (1991 est.); accounts for 48% of GDP
Electricity:
  22,500,000 kW capacity; 59,000 million kWh produced, 2,540 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Romania, Economy

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 transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
  donor - $4.4 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed
  countries (1956-89)
Currency:
  1 leu (L) = 100 bani
Exchange rates:
  lei (L) per US$1 - 470.10 (January 1993), 307.95 (1992), 76.39 (1991),
  22.432 (1990), 14.922 (1989), 14.277 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Romania, Communications

Railroads:
  11,275 km total; 10,860 km 1.435-meter gauge, 370 km narrow gauge, 45 km
  broad gauge; 3,411 km electrified, 3,060 km double track; government owned
  (1987)
Highways:
  72,799 km total; 35,970 km paved; 27,729 km gravel, crushed stone, and other
  stabilized surfaces; 9,100 km unsurfaced roads (1985)
Inland waterways:   1,724 km (1984)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 2,800 km, petroleum products 1,429 km, natural gas 6,400 km (1992)
Ports:
  Constanta, Galati, Braila, Mangalia; inland ports are Giurgiu, Drobeta-Turnu
  Severin, Orsova
Merchant marine:
  249 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,882,727 GRT/4,463,879 DWT; includes
  1 passenger-cargo, 170 cargo, 2 container, 1 rail-car carrier, 9
  roll-on/roll-off cargo, 15 oil tanker, 51 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  158
 usable:
  158
 with permanent-surface runways:
  27
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  21
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  26
Telecommunications:
  poor service; about 2.3 million telephone customers; 89% of phone network is
  automatic; cable and open wire; trunk network is microwave; present phone
  density is 9.85 per 100 residents; roughly 3,300 villages with no service
  (February 1990); broadcast stations - 12 AM, 5 FM, 13 TV (1990); 1 satellite
  ground station using INTELSAT

*Romania, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Paramilitary Forces, Civil Defense
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 5,846,332; fit for military service 4,942,746; reach
  military age (20) annually 185,714 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  137 billion lei, 3% of GDP (1993); note - conversion of defense expenditures
  into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading
  results

*Russia, Geography

Location:
  Europe/North Asia, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean
Map references:
  Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States,
  Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Standard Time Zones of
  the World
Area:
 total area:   17,075,200 km2
 land area:
  16,995,800 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
  total 20,139 km, Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast) 3,605
  km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland 1,313 km, Georgia 723 km,
  Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km, Latvia 217 km, Lithuania
  (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441 km, Norway 167 km, Poland
  (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Ukraine 1,576 km
Coastline:
  37,653 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to 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; boundary with Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia; Etorofu, Kunashiri, and
  Shikotan Islands and the Habomai island group occupied by the Soviet Union
  in 1945, claimed by Japan; maritime dispute with Norway over portion of the
  Barents Sea; 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:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%

*Russia, Geography

 other:   NA%
 note:
  agricultural land accounts for 13% of the total land area
Irrigated land:
  61,590 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  despite its size, only a small percentage of land is arable and much is too
  far north for cultivation; permafrost over much of Siberia is a major
  impediment to development; catastrophic pollution of land, air, water,
  including both inland waterways and sea coasts
Note:
  largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in
  relation to major sea lanes of the world

*Russia, People

Population:
  149,300,359 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.21% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.73 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.32 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  27.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  68.69 years
 male:
  63.59 years
 female:
  74.04 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Russian(s)
 adjective:
  Russian
Ethnic divisions:
  Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%,
  Belarusian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1%
Religions:
  Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other
Languages:
  Russian, other
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:   100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  75 million (1993 est.)
 by occupation:
  production and economic services 83.9%, government 16.1%

*Russia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Russian Federation
 conventional short form:
  Russia
 local long form:
  Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
 local short form:
  Rossiya
 former:
  Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  RS
Type:
  federation
Capital:
  Moscow
Administrative divisions:
  21 autonomous republics (avtomnykh respublik, singular - avtomnaya
  respublika); Adygea (Maykop), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatia (Ulan-Ude),
  Chechenia, Chuvashia (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Gorno-Altay
  (Gorno-Altaysk), Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria (Nal'chik), Kalmykia
  (Elista), Karachay-Cherkessia (Cherkessk), Karelia (Petrozavodsk), Khakassia
  (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mari El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordvinia (Saransk),
  North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz; formerly Ordzhonikidze), Tatarstan (Kazan'),
  Tuva (Kyzyl), Udmurtia (Izhevsk), Yakutia (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, St. Petersburg (Leningrad), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow,
  Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod (formerly Gor'kiy), Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk,
  Orel, Orenburg, Penza, Perm', Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin
  (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara (formerly Kuybyshev), Saratov, Smolensk,
  Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver' (formerly Kalinin),
  Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl'; 6
  krays (krayev, singular - kray); Altay (Barnaul), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar,
  Krasnoyarsk, Primorskiy (Vladivostok), Stavropol'
 note:
  the autonomous republics of Chechenia and Ingushetia were formerly the
  automous republic of Checheno-Ingushetia (the boundary between Chechenia and
  Ingushetia has yet to be determined); the cities of Moscow and St.
  Petersburg have oblast status; an administrative division has the same name
  as its administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center name
  following in parentheses); 4 more administrative divisions may be added
Independence:
  24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted in 1978; a new constitution is in the process of being drafted
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; does not
  accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, June 12

*Russia, Government

Political parties and leaders:
 proreformers:
  Christian Democratic Party, Aleksandr CHUYEV; Christian Democratic Union of
  Russia, Aleksandr OGORODNIKOV; Democratic Russia Movement, pro-government
  faction, Lev PONOMAREV, Gleb YAKUNIN, Vladimir BOKSER; Democratic Russia
  Movement, radical-liberal faction, Yuriy AFANAS'YEV, Marina SAL'YE; Economic
  Freedom Party, Konstantin BOROVOY, Svyatoslav FEDOROV; Free Labor Party,
  Igor' KOROVIKOV; Party of Constitutional Democrats, Viktor ZOLOTAREV;
  Republican Party of Russia, Vladimir LYSENKO, Vyacheslav SHOSTAKOVSKIY;
  Russian Democratic Reform Movement, Gavriil POPOV; Social Democratic Party,
  Boris ORLOV; Social Liberal Party, Vladimir FILIN
 moderate reformers:
  All-Russian Renewal Union (member Civic Union), Arkadiy VOL'SKIY, Aleksandr
  VLADISLAVLEV; Democratic Party of Russia (member Civic Union), Nikolay
  TRAVKIN, Valeriy KHOMYAKOV; People's Party of Free Russia (member Civic
  Union), Aleksandr RUTSKOY, Vasiliy LIPITSKIY; Russian Union of
  Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Arkadiy VOL'SKIY, Aleksandr VLADISLAVLEV
 antireformers:
  Communists and neo-Communists have 7 parties - All-Union Communist Party of
  Bolsheviks, Nina ANDREYEVA; Labor Party, Boris KAGARLITSKIY; Russian
  Communist Worker's Party, Viktor ANPILOV, Gen. Albert MAKASHOV; Russian
  Party of Communists, Anatoliy KRYUCHKOV; Socialist Party of Working People,
  Roy MEDVEDEV; Union of Communists, Aleksey PRIGARIN; Working Russia
  Movement, Viktor ANPILOV; National Patriots have 6 parties - Constitutional
  Democratic Party, Mikhail ASTAF'YEV; Council of People and Patriotic Forces
  of Russia, Gennadiy ZYUGANOV; National Salvation Front, Mikhail ASTAF'YEV,
  Sergey BABURIN, Vladimir ISAKOV, Il'ya KONSTANTINOV, Aleksandr STERLIGOV;
  Russian Christian Democratic Movement, Viktor AKSYUCHITS; Russian National
  Assembly, Aleksandr STERLIGOV; Russian National Union, Sergey BABURIN,
  Nikolay PAVLOV; extremists have 5 parties - Liberal Democratic Party,
  Vladimir ZHIRNOVKSKIY; Nashi Movement, Viktor ALKSNIS; National Republican
  Party of Russia, Nikolay LYSENKO; Russian Party, Viktor KORCHAGIN; Russian
  National Patriotic Front (Pamyat), Dmitriy VASIL'YEV
Other political or pressure groups:
  Civic Union, Aleksandr RUTSKOY, Nikolay TRAVKIN, Arkadiy VOL'SKIY, chairmen
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 12 June 1991 (next to be held 1996); results - percent of vote by
  party NA%
 Congress of People's Deputies:   last held March 1990 (next to be held 1995); results - percent of
vote by
  party NA%; seats - (1,063 total) number of seats by party NA; election held
  before parties were formed
 Supreme Soviet:
  last held May 1990 (next to be held 1995); results - percent of vote by
  party NA%; seats - (252 total) number of seats by party NA; elected from
  Congress of People's Deputies
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Security Council, Presidential Administration,
  Council of Ministers, Group of Assistants, Council of Heads of Republics
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Congress of People's Deputies, bicameral Supreme Soviet
Judicial branch:
  Constitutional Court, Supreme Court

*Russia, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN (since 12 June 1991); Vice President
  Aleksandr Vladimirovich RUTSKOY (since 12 June 1991); Chairman of the
  Supreme Soviet Ruslan KHASBULATOV (28 October 1991)
 Head of Government:
  Chairman of the Council of Ministers Viktor Stepanovich CHERNOMYRDIN (since
  NA December 1992); First Deputy Chairmen of the Council of Ministers
  Vladimir SHUMEYKO (since 9 June 1992), Oleg LOBW (since NA April 1993), Oleg
  SOSKOVETS (since NA April 1993)
Member of:
  BSEC, CBSS, CCC, CERN (observer), CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NACC, NSG, OAS (observer), PCA, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN
  Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Vladimir Petrovich LUKIN
 chancery:
  1125 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 628-7551 and 8548
 consulates general:
  New York and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  Ulitsa Chaykovskogo 19/21/23, Moscow
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09721
 telephone:
  [7] (095) 252-2450 through 2459
 FAX:
  [7] (095) 255-9965
 consulates:   St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), Vladivostok
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red

*Russia, Economy


*Russia, Economy

Overview:
  Russia, a vast country with a wealth of natural resources and a diverse
  industrial base, continues to experience great difficulties in moving from
  its old centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. President
  YEL'TSIN's government made significant strides toward a market economy in
  1992 by freeing most prices, slashing defense spending, unifying foreign
  exchange rates, and launching an ambitious privatization program. At the
  same time, GDP fell 19%, according to official statistics, largely
  reflecting government efforts to restructure the economy, shortages of
  essential imports caused by the breakdown in former Bloc and interstate
  trade, and reduced demand following the freeing of prices in January. The
  actual decline, however, may have been less steep, because industrial and
  agricultural enterprises had strong incentives to understate output to avoid
  taxes, and official statistics may not have fully captured the output of the
  growing private sector. Despite the large drop in output, unemployment at
  yearend stood at an estimated 3%-4% of Russia's 74-million-person labor
  force; many people, however, are working shortened weeks or are on forced
  leave. Moscow's financial stabilization program got off to a good start at
  the beginning of 1992 but began to falter by midyear. Under pressure from
  industrialists and the Supreme Soviet, the government loosened fiscal
  policies in the second half. In addition, the Russian Central Bank relaxed
  its tight credit policy in July at the behest of new Acting Chairman, Viktor
  GERASHCHENKO. This loosening of financial policies led to a sharp increase
  in prices during the last quarter, and inflation reached about 25% per month
  by yearend. The situation of most consumers worsened in 1992. The January
  price liberalization and a blossoming of private vendors filled shelves
  across the country with previously scarce food items and consumer goods, but
  wages lagged behind inflation, making such goods unaffordable for many
  consumers. Falling real wages forced most Russians to spend a larger share
  of their income on food and to alter their eating habits. Indeed, many
  Russians reduced their consumption of higher priced meat, fish, milk,
  vegetables, and fruit, in favor of more bread and potatoes. As a result of
  higher spending on food, consumers reduced their consumption of nonfood
  goods and services. Despite a slow start and some rough going, the Russian
  government by the end of 1992 scored some successes in its campaign to break
  the state's stranglehold on property and improve the environment for private
  businesses. More peasant farms were created than expected; the number of
  consumers purchasing goods from private traders rose sharply; the portion of
  the population working in the private sector increased to nearly one-fifth;
  and the nine-month-long slump in the privatization of small businesses was
  ended in the fall. Although the output of weapons fell sharply in 1992, most
  defense enterprises continued to encounter numerous difficulties developing
  and marketing consumer products, establishing new supply links, and securing
  resources for retooling. Indeed, total civil production by the defense
  sector fell in 1992 because of shortages of inputs and lower consumer demand
  caused by higher prices. Ruptured ties with former trading partners, output
  declines, and sometimes erratic efforts to move to world prices and
  decentralize trade - foreign and interstate - took a heavy toll on Russia's
  commercial relations with other countries. For the second year in a row,
  foreign trade was down sharply, with exports falling by as much as 25% and
  imports by 21%. The drop in imports would have been much greater if foreign
  aid - worth an estimated $8 billion - had not allowed the continued inflow
  of essential products. Trade with the other former Soviet republics
  continued to decline, and support for the ruble as a common currency eroded
  in the face of Moscow's loose monetary policies and rapidly rising prices
  throughout the region. At the same time, Russia paid only a fraction of the
  $20 billion due on the former USSR's roughly $80 billion debt; debt
  rescheduling remained hung up because of a dispute between Russia and
  Ukraine over division of the former USSR's assets. Capital flight also
  remained a serious problem in 1992. Russia's economic difficulties did not

*Russia, Economy

  abate in the first quarter of 1993. Monthly inflation remained at
  double-digit levels and industrial production continued to slump. To reduce
  the threat of hyperinflation, the government proposed to restrict subsidies
  to enterprises; raise interest rates; set quarterly limits on credits, the
  budget deficit, and money supply growth; and impose temporary taxes and cut
  spending if budget targets are not met. But many legislators and Central
  Bank officials oppose various of these austerity measures and failed to
  approve them in the first part of 1993.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -19% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  25% per month (December 1992)
Unemployment rate:
  3%-4% of labor force (1 January 1993 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $39.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood products,
  metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures
 partners:
  Europe
Imports:
  $35.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and equipment, chemicals, consumer goods, grain, meat, sugar,
  semifinished metal products
 partners:
  Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba
External debt:
  $80 billion (yearend 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -19% (1992)
Electricity:
  213,000,000 KW capacity; 1,014.8 billion kWh produced, 6,824 kWh per capita
  (1 January 1992)
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 beet, 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 producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for domestic consumption;
  government has active eradication program; used as transshipment point for
  illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (1990-92), $9.0 billion; other countries,
  ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1988-92), $91 billion

*Russia, Economy

Currency:
  1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks
Exchange rates:
  rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Russia, Communications

Railroads:
  158,100 km all 1.520-meter broad gauge; 86,800 km in common carrier service,
  of which 48,900 km are diesel traction and 37,900 km are electric traction;
  71,300 km serves specific industry and is not available for common carrier
  use (31 December 1991)
Highways:
  893,000 km total, of which 677,000 km are paved or gravelled and 216,000 km
  are dirt; 456,000 km are for general use and are maintained by the Russian
  Highway Corporation (formerly Russian Highway Ministry); the 437,000 km not
  in general use are the responsibility of various other organizations
  (formerly ministries); of the 456,000 km in general use, 265,000 km are
  paved, 140,000 km are gravelled, and 51,000 km are dirt; of the 437,000 km
  not in general use, 272,000 km are paved or gravelled and 165,000 are dirt
  (31 December 1991)
Inland waterways:
  total navigable routes 102,000 km; routes with navigation guides serving the
  Russian River Fleet 97,300 km (including illumination and light reflecting
  guides); routes with other kinds of navigational aids 34,300 km; man-made
  navigable routes 16,900 km (31 December 1991)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 72,500 km, petroleum products 10,600 km, natural gas 136,000 km
  (1992)
Ports:
  coastal - St. Petersburg (Leningrad), Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Petropavlovsk,
  Arkhangel'sk, Novorossiysk, Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Kholmsk, Korsakov,
  Magadan, Tiksi, Tuapse, Vanino, Vostochnyy, Vyborg; inland - Astrakhan',
  Nizhniy Novgorod (Gor'kiy), Kazan', Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Samara
  (Kuybyshev), Moscow, Rostov, Volgograd
Merchant marine:
  865 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,073,954 GRT/11,138,336 DWT;
  includes 457 cargo, 82 container, 3 multi-function large load carrier, 2
  barge carrier, 72 roll-on/roll-off, 124 oil tanker, 25 bulk cargo, 9
  chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 16 combination ore/oil, 5 passenger
  cargo, 18 short-sea passenger, 6 passenger, 28 combination bulk, 16
  refrigerated cargo
Airports:
 total:
  2,550
 useable:
  964
 with permanent surface runways:
  565
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  19
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  275
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  426

*Russia, Communications

Telecommunications:
  NMT-450 analog cellular telephone networks are opertional in Moscow and St.
  Petersburg; expanding access to international E-mail service via Sprint
  networks; the inadequacy of Russian telecommunications is a severe handicap
  to the economy, especially with respect to international connections; total
  installed telephones 24,400,000, of which in urban areas 20,900,000 and in
  rural areas 3,500,000; of these, total installed in homes 15,400,000; total
  pay phones for long distant calls 34,100; telephone density is about 164
  telephones per 1,000 persons; 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 Confederation of Independent States; a new
  Russian Raduga satellite will soon link Moscow and St. Petersburg with Rome
  from whence calls will be relayed to destinations in Europe and overseas;
  satellite ground stations - INTELSAT, Intersputnik, Eutelsat (Moscow),
  INMARSAT, Orbita; broadcast stations - 1,050 AM/FM/SW (reach 98.6% of
  population), 7,183 TV; receiving sets - 54,200,000 TV, 48,800,000 radio
  receivers; intercity fiberoptic cables installation remains limited

*Russia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces, Strategic Rocket
  Forces, Command and General Support, Security Forces
 note:
  strategic nuclear units and warning facilities are under joint CIS control;
  Russian defense forces will be comprised of those ground-, air-, and
  sea-based conventional assets currently on Russian soil and those still
  scheduled to be withdrawn from other countries
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 37,092,361; fit for military service 29,253,668; reach
  military age (18) annually 1,082,115 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP

*Rwanda, Geography

Location:
  Central Africa, between Tanzania and Zaire
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  26,340 km2
 land area:
  24,950 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  total 893 km, Burundi 290 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km, Zaire 217 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild
  in mountains with frost and snow possible
Terrain:
  mostly grassy uplands and hills; mountains in west
Natural resources:
  gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), natural gas,
  hydropower
Land use:
 arable land:
  29%
 permanent crops:   11%
 meadows and pastures:
  18%
 forest and woodland:
  10%
 other:
  32%
Irrigated land:
  40 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; periodic droughts
Note:
  landlocked

*Rwanda, People

Population:
  8,139,272 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.9% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  49.92 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  20.87 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  119.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  41.23 years
 male:
  40.2 years
 female:
  42.28 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  8.27 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Rwandan(s)
 adjective:
  Rwandan
Ethnic divisions:
  Hutu 90%, Tutsi 9%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%, indigenous beliefs and other
  25%
Languages:
  Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), Kiswahili used in commercial
  centers
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  50%  male:
  64%
 female:
  37%
Labor force:
  3.6 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 93%, government and services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
 note:
  49% of population of working age (1985)

*Rwanda, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Rwanda
 conventional short form:
  Rwanda
 local long form:
  Republika y'u Rwanda
 local short form:
  Rwanda
Digraph:
  RW
Type:
  republic; presidential system
 note:
  a new, all-party transitional government is to assume office later this
  year, replacing the current MRND-dominated coalition
Capital:
  Kigali
Administrative divisions:
  10 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture in French; plural - NA,
  singular - prefegitura in Kinyarwanda); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro,
  Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Ruhengeri
Independence:
  1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
Constitution:
  18 June 1991
Legal system:
  based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial
  review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory
  ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Political parties and leaders:
  Republican National Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND), President
  HABYARIMANA's political movement, remains the dominant party; significant
  independent parties include: Democratic Republican Movement (MDR), Faustin
  TWAGIRAMUNGU; Liberal Party (PL), Justin MUGENZI; Democratic and Socialist
  Party (PSD), Frederic NZAMURAMBAHO; Coalition for the Defense of the
  Republic (CDR), Martin BUCYANA; Party for Democracy in Rwanda (PADER), Jean
  NTAGUNGIRA; Christian Democratic Party (PDL), Nayinzira NEPOMUSCENE
 note:   formerly a one-party state, Rwanda legalized independent parties in
  mid-1991; since then, at least 10 new political parties have registered
Other political or pressure groups:
  since October 1990, Rwanda has been involved in a low-intensity conflict
  with the Rwandan Patriotic Front/Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPF/RPA)
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Elections:
 President:
  last held 19 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1993); results -
  President Juvenal HABYARIMANA reelected
 National Development Council:
  last held 19 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1993); results -
  MRND was the only party; seats - (70 total) MRND 70
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Development Council (Conseil National de Developpement)

*Rwanda, Government

Judicial branch:
  Constitutional Court (consists of the Court of Cassation and the Council of
  State in joint session)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Juvenal HABYARIMANA (since 5 July 1973)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Dismas NSENGIYAREMYE (since NA April 1992)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Aloys UWIMANA
 chancery:
  1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 232-2882
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert A. FLATEN
 embassy:
  Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
 mailing address:
  B. P. 28, Kigali
 telephone:
  [250] 75601 through 75603
 FAX:
  [250] 72128
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green with a
  large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses the popular
  pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea, which has a
  plain yellow band

*Rwanda, Economy

Overview:
  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 have created 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 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. An outbreak of insurgency, also in October 1990, has dampened
  prospects for economic improvement.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.35 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1.3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $290 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $350 million; expenditures $453.7 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA million (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $66.6 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  coffee 85%, tea, tin, cassiterite, wolframite, pyrethrum
 partners:
  Germany, Belgium, Italy, Uganda, UK, France, US
Imports:
  $259.5 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  textiles, foodstuffs, machines and equipment, capital goods, steel,
  petroleum products, cement and construction material
 partners:
  US, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, Japan
External debt:
  $911 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.2% (1988); accounts for 17% of GDP
Electricity:
  30,000 kW capacity; 130 million kWh produced, 15 kWh per capita (1991)
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:
  accounts for almost 50% of GDP and about 90% of the labor force; cash crops
  - coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums); main food
  crops - bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; stock raising; self-sufficiency
  declining; country imports foodstuffs as farm production fails to keep up
  with a 3.8% annual growth in population

*Rwanda, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $128 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.0 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
Currency:
  1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1 - 146.34 (January 1993), 133.35 (1992), 125.14
  (1991), 82.60 (1990), 79.98 (1989), 76.45 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Rwanda, Communications

Highways:
  4,885 km total; 460 km paved, 1,725 km gravel and/or improved earth, 2,700
  km unimproved
Inland waterways:
  Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft
Airports:
 total:
  8
 usable:
  7
 with permanent-surface runways:
  3
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  fair system with low-capacity radio relay system centered on Kigali;
  broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 (7 repeaters) FM, no TV; satellite earth
  stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 SYMPHONIE

*Rwanda, Defense Forces

Branches:   Army (including Air Wing), Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,675,160; fit for military service 853,467 (1993 est.); no
  conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $37 million, 1.6% of GDP (1988 est.)

*Saint Helena, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*Saint Helena, Geography

Location:
  in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,920 km west of Angola, about two-thirds of
  the way between South America and Africa
Map references:
  Africa
Area:
 total area:
  410 km2
 land area:
  410 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than 2.3 times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island,
  and Tristan da Cunha
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  60 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Terrain:
  rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Natural resources:
  fish; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns, no
  minerals
Land use:
 arable land:
  7%
 permanent crops:
  0%  meadows and pastures:
  7%
 forest and woodland:
  3%
 other:
  83%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  very few perennial streams
Note:
  Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial; harbors at least 40 species
  of plants unknown anywhere else in the world

*Saint Helena, People

Population:
  6,720 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.32% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  9.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.67 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  38.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  74.43 years
 male:
  72.36 years
 female:
  76.27 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Saint Helenian(s)
 adjective:
  Saint Helenian
Ethnic divisions:
  NA
Religions:
  Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1987)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  97%  female:
  98%
Labor force:
  2,516
 by occupation:
  professional, technical, and related workers 8.7%, managerial,
  administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales people 8.1%, farmer, fishermen,
  etc. 5.4%, craftspersons, production process workers 14.7%, others 50.3%
  (1987)

*Saint Helena, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Saint Helena
Digraph:
  SH
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  Jamestown
Administrative divisions:
  1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan,   da Cunha*,
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  1 January 1989
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10 June 1989 (second Saturday in
  June)
Political parties and leaders:
  Saint Helena Labor Party; Saint Helena Progressive Party
 note:
  both political parties inactive since 1976
Suffrage:
  NA
Elections:
 Legislative Council:
  last held October 1984 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor commander-in-chief, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)  Head of Government:
  Governor A. N. HOOLE (since NA)
Member of:
  ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint
  Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features
  a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship

*Saint Helena, Economy

Overview:
  The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. The local
  population earns some income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and
  sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a large proportion of the
  work force has left to seek employment overseas.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -1.1% (1986)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $3.2 million; expenditures $2.9 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1984)
Exports:
  $23,900 (f.o.b., 1984)
 commodities:
  fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts
 partners:
  South Africa, UK
Imports:
  $2.4 million (c.i.f., 1984)
 commodities:
  food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor
  vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
 partners:
  UK, South Africa
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  9,800 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced, 1,390 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries:
  crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing
Agriculture:
  maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawfishing
  on Tristan da Cunha
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $198 million
Currency:
  1 Saint Helenian pound (#S) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
  Saint Helenian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992),
  0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988); note - the Saint
  Helenian pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Saint Helena, Communications

Highways:
  87 km paved roads and 20 km earth roads on Saint Helena; 80 km paved roads
  on Ascension; 2.7 km paved roads on Tristan da Cunha
Ports:
  Jamestown (Saint Helena), Georgetown (Ascension)
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  1,500 radio receivers; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 550
  telephones in automatic network; HF radio links to Ascension, then into
  worldwide submarine cable and satellite networks; major coaxial submarine
  cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension; 2
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Saint Helena, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Saint Kitts and Nevis, Geography

Location:   in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way between Puerto Rico
  and Trinidad and Tobago
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  269 km2
 land area:
  269 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  135 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature
  variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:
  volcanic with mountainous interiors
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  22%
 permanent crops:
  17%
 meadows and pastures:
  3%
 forest and woodland:
  17%
 other:
  41%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes (July to October)

*Saint Kitts and Nevis, People

Population:
  40,407 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.59% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:   23.93 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.39 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -7.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  20.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  65.72 years
 male:
  62.78 years
 female:
  68.85 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.64 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s)
 adjective:
  Kittsian, Nevisian
Ethnic divisions:
  black African
Religions:
  Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  98%
Labor force:
  20,000 (1981)

*Saint Kitts and Nevis, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
 conventional short form:
  Saint Kitts and Nevis
 former:
  Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Digraph:
  SC
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Basseterre
Administrative divisions:   14 parishs; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint
George
  Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John
  Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre,
  Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint
  Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point
Independence:
  19 September 1983 (from UK)
Constitution:
  19 September 1983
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
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
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Elections:
 House of Assembly:
  last held 21 March 1989 (next to be held by 21 March 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14 total, 11 elected) PAM 6, SKNLP 2,
  NRP 2, CCM 1
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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 the Associated State since NA November 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS (since 19 September 1983,
  previously Premier of the Associated State since NA February 1980); Deputy
  Prime Minister Sydney Earl MORRIS (since NA)
Member of:
  ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IMF,
  INTERPOL, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO

*Saint Kitts and Nevis, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of Mission), Charge d'Affaires ad interim
  Aubrey Eric HART
 chancery:
  Suite 608, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
 telephone:
  (202) 833-3550
US diplomatic representation:
  no official presence since the Charge d'Affaires resides in Saint John's
  (Antigua and Barbuda)
Flag:
  divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing
  two white five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper
  triangle is green, the lower triangle is red

*Saint Kitts and Nevis, Economy

Overview:
  The economy has historically depended on the growing and processing of
  sugarcane and on remittances from overseas workers. In recent years, tourism
  and export-oriented manufacturing have assumed larger roles.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $142 million (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  6.8% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $3,500 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  12.2% (1990)
Budget:
  revenues $85.7 million; expenditures $85.8 million, including capital
  expenditures of $42.4 million (1993)
Exports:
  $24.6 million (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  sugar, clothing, electronics, postage stamps
 partners:
  US 53%, UK 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 5%, OECS 5% (1988)
Imports:
  $103.2 million (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, intermediate manufactures, machinery, fuels
 partners:
  US 36%, UK 17%, Trinidad and Tobago 6%, Canada 3%, Japan 3%, OECS 4% (1988)
External debt:
  $37.2 million (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 11.8% (1988 est.); accounts for 11% of GDP
Electricity:
  15,800 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 1,120 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear,
  beverages
Agriculture:
  accounts for 7% of GDP; cash crop - sugarcane; subsistence crops - rice,
  yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited; most food
  imported
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-88), $10.7 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $67 million
Currency:
  1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Saint Kitts and Nevis, Communications

Railroads:
  58 km 0.760-meter gauge on Saint Kitts for sugarcane
Highways:
  300 km total; 125 km paved, 125 km otherwise improved, 50 km unimproved
  earth
Ports:
  Basseterre (Saint Kitts), Charlestown (Nevis)
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio connections and international link via
  Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin; 2,400 telephones; broadcast stations -
  2 AM, no FM, 4 TV

*Saint Kitts and Nevis, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard
Manpower availability:
  NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Saint Lucia, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about two-thirds of the way between Puerto
  Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  620 km2
 land area:
  610 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  158 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to
  April, rainy season from May to August
Terrain:
  volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Natural resources:
  forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal
  potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:
  20%
 meadows and pastures:
  5%
 forest and woodland:
  13%
 other:
  54%
Irrigated land:
  10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes and volcanic activity; deforestation; soil erosion

*Saint Lucia, People

Population:
  144,337 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.52% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  23.97 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.91 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -12.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.26 years
 male:
  66.98 years
 female:
  71.69 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.62 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Saint Lucian(s)
 adjective:
  Saint Lucian
Ethnic divisions:
  African descent 90.3%, mixed 5.5%, East Indian 3.2%, Caucasian 0.8%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
Languages:
  English (official), French patois
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1980)
 total population:
  67%
 male:
  65%
 female:
  69%
Labor force:
  43,800
 by occupation:
  agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)

*Saint Lucia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Saint Lucia
Digraph:
  ST
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Castries
Administrative divisions:
  11 quarters; Anse La Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet,
  Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux Fort
Independence:
  22 February 1979 (from UK)
Constitution:
  22 February 1979
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Political parties and leaders:
  United Workers' Party (UWP), John COMPTON; Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP),
  Julian HUNTE; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), George ODLUM
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
  or House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Acting Governor
  General Sir Stanislaus Anthony JAMES (since 10 October 1988)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister John George Melvin COMPTON (since 3 May 1982)
Member of:
  ACCT (associate), ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS
 chancery:
  Suite 309, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 30037
 telephone:
  (202) 463-7378 or 7379
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
  no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)

*Saint Lucia, Government

Flag:
  blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges
  of the arrowhead have a white border

*Saint Lucia, Economy

Overview:
  Since 1983 the economy has shown an impressive average annual growth rate of
  almost 5% because of strong agricultural and tourist sectors. Saint Lucia
  also possesses an expanding industrial base supported by foreign investment
  in manufacturing and other activities, such as in data processing. The
  economy, however, remains vulnerable because the important agricultural
  sector is dominated by banana production, which is subject to periodic
  droughts and/or tropical storms.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $250 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2.5% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,650 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.1% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  16% (1988)
Budget:
  revenues $131 million; expenditures $149 million, including capital
  expenditures of $71 million (FY90 est.)
Exports:
  $105 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  bananas 58%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
 partners:
  UK 56%, US 22%,CARICOM 19%
Imports:
  $267 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 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%
External debt:
  $65.7 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3.5% (1990 est.); accounts for 12% of GDP
Electricity:
  32,500 kW capacity; 112 million kWh produced, 740 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated boxes,
  tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 12% of GDP and 43% of labor force; crops - bananas, coconuts,
  vegetables, citrus fruit, root crops, cocoa; imports food for the tourist
  industry
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $120 million
Currency:   1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

*Saint Lucia, Communications

Highways:
  760 km total; 500 km paved; 260 km otherwise improved
Ports:
  Castries, Vieux Fort
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439:
  1
Telecommunications:
  fully automatic telephone system; 9,500 telephones; direct microwave link
  with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; interisland
  troposcatter link to Barbados; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (cable)

*Saint Lucia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, Coast Guard
Manpower availability:
  NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Header

Affiliation:
  (territorial collectivity of France)

*Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Geography

Location:
  in the North Atlantic Ocean, 25 km south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Map references:
  North America
Area:
 total area:
  242 km2
 land area:
  242 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  120 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France
Climate:
  cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy
Terrain:
  mostly barren rock
Natural resources:
  fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
 arable land:
  13%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  4%
 other:
  83%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  vegetation scanty

*Saint Pierre and Miquelon, People

Population:
  6,652 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.79% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.44 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.14 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  12.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.19 years
 male:
  73.56 years
 female:
  77.16 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.73 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
 adjective:
  French
Ethnic divisions:
  Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 98%
Languages:
  French
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  99%
 female:
  99%
Labor force:
  2,850 (1988)
 by occupation:
  NA

*Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
 conventional short form:
  Saint Pierre and Miquelon
 local long form:
  Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
 local short form:
  Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Digraph:
  SB
Type:
  territorial collectivity of France
Capital:
  Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions:
  none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence:
  none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control
  since 1763)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
  French law
National holiday:
  National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
Political parties and leaders:
  Socialist Party (PS), Albert PEN; Union for French Democracy (UDF/CDS),
  Gerard GRIGNON
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 French President:
  last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held NA May 1995); results - (second
  ballot) Jacques CHIRAC 56%, Francois MITTERRAND 44%
 French Senate:
  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:
  last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) number of seats by party NA;
  note - Saint Pierre and Miquelon elects 1 member each to the French Senate
  and the French National Assembly who are voting members
 General Council:
  last held September-October 1988 (next to be held NA September 1994);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19 total) Socialist and
  other left-wing parties 13, UDF and right-wing parties 6
Executive branch:
  French president, commissioner of the Republic
Legislative branch:
  unicameral General Council
Judicial branch:
  Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Commissioner of the Republic Kamel KHRISSATE (since NA); President of the
  General Council Marc PLANTEGENET (since NA)

*Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Government

Member of:
  FZ
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as a territorial collectivity of France, local interests are represented in
  the US by France
US diplomatic representation:
  none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

*Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Economy

Overview:
  The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by
  servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The
  economy has been declining, however, because the number of ships stopping at
  Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over the years. In March 1989, an
  agreement between France and Canada set fish quotas for Saint Pierre's
  trawlers fishing in Canadian and Canadian-claimed waters for three years.
  The agreement settles a longstanding dispute that had virtually brought fish
  exports to a halt. The islands are heavily subsidized by France. Imports
  come primarily from Canada and France.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $60 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $9,500 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  9.6% (1990)
Budget:
  revenues $18.3 million; expenditures $18.3 million, including capital
  expenditures of $5.5 million (1989)
Exports:
  $25.5 million (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts
 partners:
  US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal
Imports:
  $87.2 million (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials
 partners:
  Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  10,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced, 3,840 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Agriculture:
  vegetables, cattle, sheep, pigs for local consumption; fish catch of 20,500
  metric tons (1989)
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $500 million
Currency:
  1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
  (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Communications

Highways:
  120 km total; 60 km paved (1985)
Ports:
  Saint Pierre
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  3,601 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 3 FM, no TV; radio
  communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French
  domestic satellite system

*Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean Sea about three-fourths of the way between Puerto
  Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  340 km2
 land area:
  340 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  84 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to
  November)
Terrain:
  volcanic, mountainous; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  38%
 permanent crops:
  12%
 meadows and pastures:
  6%
 forest and woodland:
  41%
 other:
  3%
Irrigated land:
  10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to hurricanes; Soufriere volcano is a constant threat
Note:
  some islands of the Grenadines group are administered by Grenada

*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, People

Population:
  114,562 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.76% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  20.86 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.39 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -7.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  18.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:   71.72 years
 male:
  70.21 years
 female:
  73.28 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
 adjective:
  Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic divisions:
  black African descent, white, East Indian, Carib Indian
Religions:
  Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:
  English, French patois
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
 total population:
  96%
 male:
  96%
 female:
  96%
Labor force:
  67,000 (1984 est.)
 by occupation:
  NA

*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Digraph:
  VC
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Kingstown
Administrative divisions:
  6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George,
  Saint Patrick
Independence:
  27 October 1979 (from UK)
Constitution:
  27 October 1979
Legal system:
  based on English common law
National holiday:   Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Political parties and leaders:
  New Democratic Party (NDP), James (Son) MITCHELL; Saint Vincent Labor Party
  (SVLP), Stanley JOHN; United People's Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS;
  Movement for National Unity (MNU), Ralph GONSALVES; National Reform Party
  (NRP), Joel MIGUEL
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Assembly:
  last held 16 May 1989 (next to be held NA July 1994); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (21 total; 15 elected representatives and 6
  appointed senators) NDP 15
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IMF,
  IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Kingsley LAYNE
 chancery:
  1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  NA
US diplomatic representation:
  no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)

*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Government

Flag:
  three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green;
  the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern

*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Economy

Overview:
  Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of
  the economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist
  industry, is also important. The economy continues to have a high
  unemployment rate of 35%-40% because of an overdependence on the
  weather-plagued banana crop as a major export earner. Government progress
  toward diversifying into new industries has been relatively unsuccessful.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $171 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.3% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  35%-40% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $62 million; expenditures $67 million, including capital
  expenditures of $21 million (FY90 est.)
Exports:
  $65.7 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
 partners:
  UK 43%, CARICOM 37%, US 15%
Imports:
  $110.7 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and
  fuels
 partners:
  US 42%, CARICOM 19%, UK 15%
External debt:
  $50.9 million (1989)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 0% (1989); accounts for 14% of GDP
Electricity:
  16,600 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced, 555 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Agriculture:
  accounts for 15% 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $11 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $81 million
Currency:
  1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Communications

Highways:
  1,000 km total; 300 km paved; 400 km improved; 300 km unimproved (est.)
Ports:
  Kingstown
Merchant marine:
  407 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,388,427 GRT/5,511,325 DWT; includes
  3 passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 222 cargo, 22 container, 19 roll-on/roll-off
  cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 24 oil tanker, 7 chemical tanker, 4 liquefied
  gas, 73 bulk, 13 combination bulk, 2 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 1
  specialized tanker; note - China owns 3 ships; a flag of convenience
  registry
Airports:
 total:
  6
 usable:
  6
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  islandwide fully automatic telephone system; 6,500 telephones; VHF/UHF
  interisland links from Saint Vincent to Barbados and the Grenadines; new SHF
  links to Grenada and Saint Lucia; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV
  (cable)

*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard
Manpower availability:
  NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*San Marino, Geography

Location:
  Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  60 km2
 land area:
  60 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  total 39 km, Italy 39 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain:
  rugged mountains
Natural resources:
  building stone
Land use:
 arable land:
  17%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  83%
Irrigated land:
  NA
Environment:
  dominated by the Appenines
Note:
  landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and
  Monaco

*San Marino, People

Population:
  23,855 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.01% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  11.32 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.25 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  6.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  81.18 years
 male:
  77.09 years
 female:
  85.27 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.54 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Sammarinese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Sammarinese
Ethnic divisions:
  Sammarinese, Italian
Religions:
  Roman Catholic
Languages:
  Italian
Literacy:
  age 14 and over can read and write (1976)
 total population:
  96%
 male:
  96%
 female:
  95%
Labor force:
  4,300 (est.)
 by occupation:
  NA

*San Marino, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of San Marino
 conventional short form:
  San Marino
 local long form:
  Repubblica di San Marino
 local short form:
  San Marino
Digraph:
  SM
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  San Marino
Administrative divisions:
  9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore,
  Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino,
  Serravalle
Independence:
  301 AD (by tradition)
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
National holiday:   Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic, 3 September
Political parties and leaders:
  Christian Democratic Party (DCS), Piermarino MENICUCCI; San Marino
  Democratic Progressive Party (PPDS) formerly San Marino Communist Party
  (PCS), Gilberto GHIOTTI; San Marino Socialist Party (PSS), Remy GIACOMINI;
  Unitary Socialst Party (PSU); Democratic Movement (MD), Emilio Della BALDA;
  San Marino Social Democratic Party (PSDS), Augusto CASALI; San Marino
  Republican Party (PRS), Cristoforo BUSCARINI
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Great and General Council:
  last held 29 May 1988 (next to be held by NA May 1993); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) DCS 27, PCS 18, PSU 8, PSS 7
Executive branch:
  two captains regent, Congress of State (cabinet); real executive power is
  wielded by the secretary of state for foreign affairs and the secretary of
  state for internal affairs
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Great and General Council (Consiglio Grande e Generale)
Judicial branch:
  Council of Twelve (Consiglio dei XII)
Leaders:
 Co-Chiefs of State:
  Captain Regent Patricia BUSIGNANI and Captain Regent Salvatore TONELLI (for
  the period 1 April - 30 September 1993)
 Head of Government:
  Secretary of State Gabriele GATTI (since July 1986)
Member of:
  CE, CSCE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM
  (guest), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

*San Marino, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
 honorary consulates general:
  Washington and New York
 honorary consulate:
  Detroit
US diplomatic representation:
  no mission in San Marino, but the Consul General in Florence (Italy) is
  accredited to San Marino
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national
  coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield
  (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown
  and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)

*San Marino, Economy

Overview:
  The tourist industry contributes over 50% of GDP. In 1991 over 3.1 million
  tourists visited San Marino, 2.7 million of whom were Italians. The key
  industries are 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 northern Italy.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $465 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $20,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  3% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $300 million, including capital expenditures of
  $NA (1991)
Exports:
  trade data are included with the statistics for Italy; commodity trade
  consists primarily of exchanging building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts,
  wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics for a wide variety of consumer
  manufactures
Imports:
  see exports
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for 42% of workforce
Electricity:
  supplied by Italy
Industries:
  wine, olive oil, cement, leather, textile, tourism
Agriculture:
  employs 3% of labor force; products - wheat, grapes, maize, olives, meat,
  cheese, hides; small numbers of cattle, pigs, horses; depends on Italy for
  food imports
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  Italian currency is used; note - also mints its own coins
Exchange rates:
  Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992),
  1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*San Marino, Communications

Highways:
  104 km
Telecommunications:
  automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system; 11,700
  telephones; broadcast services from Italy; microwave and cable links into
  Italian networks; no communication satellite facilities

*San Marino, Defense Forces

Branches:
  public security or police force
Manpower availability:
  all fit men ages 16-60 constitute a militia that can serve as an army
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP

*Sao Tome and Principe, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean, 340 km off the coast of Gabon
  straddling the equator
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  960 km2
 land area:
  960 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  209 km
Maritime claims:
  measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain:
  volcanic, mountainous
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  20%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  75%
 other:   3%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  deforestation; soil erosion

*Sao Tome and Principe, People

Population:
  133,225 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.63% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  35.39 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.06 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  64.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  63.02 years
 male:
  61.19 years
 female:
  64.9 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.6 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Sao Tomean(s)
 adjective:
  Sao Tomean
Ethnic divisions:
  mestico, angolares (descendents of Angolan slaves), forros (descendents of
  freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and
  Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans
  (primarily Portuguese)
Religions:
  Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:
  Portuguese (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
 total population:
  57%
 male:
  73%
 female:
  42%
Labor force:
  21,096 (1981); most of population engaged in subsistence agriculture and
  fishing; labor shortages on plantations and of skilled workers; 56% of
  population of working age (1983)

*Sao Tome and Principe, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
 conventional short form:
  Sao Tome and Principe
 local long form:
  Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
 local short form:
  Sao Tome e Principe
Digraph:
  TP
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Sao Tome
Administrative divisions:
  2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Principe, Sao Tome
Independence:
  12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Constitution:
  5 November 1975, approved 15 December 1982
Legal system:
  based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
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;
  other small parties
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  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
 National People's Assembly:
  last held 20 January 1991 (next to be held NA January 1996); results -
  PCD-GR 54.4%, MLSTP 30.5%, CODO 5.2%, FDC 1.5%, other 8.4%; seats - (55
  total) PCD-GR 33, MLSTP 21, CODO 1; note - this was the first multiparty
  election in Sao Tome and Principe
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National People's Assembly (Assembleia Popular Nacional)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Noberto Jose D'Alva COSTA ALEGRE (since 16 May 1992)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

*Sao Tome and Principe, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Joaquim Rafael BRANCO
 chancery:
  (temporary) 801 Second Avenue, Suite 603, New York, NY 10017
 telephone:
  (212) 697-4211
US diplomatic representation:
  ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident
  basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with
  two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow
  band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular
  pan-African colors of Ethiopia

*Sao Tome and Principe, Economy

Overview:
  The economy has remained dependent on cocoa since the country gained
  independence nearly 15 years ago. Since then, however, cocoa production has
  gradually deteriorated because of drought and mismanagement, so that by 1987
  output had fallen to less than 50% of its former levels. 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. 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, which amounts to
  roughly 80% of export earnings. Considerable potential exists for
  development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to
  expand facilities in recent years. The government also implemented a
  Five-Year Plan covering 1986-90 to restructure the economy and reschedule
  external debt service payments in cooperation with the International
  Development Association and Western lenders.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $41.4 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $315 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  27% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $10.2 million; expenditures $36.8 million, including capital
  expenditures of $22.5 million (1989)
Exports:
  $5.5 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  cocoa 85%, copra, coffee, palm oil
 partners:
  Germany, Netherlands, China
Imports:
  $24.5 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  machinery and electrical equipment 54%, food products 23%, other 23%
 partners:
  Portugal, Germany, Angola, China
External debt:
  $163.6 million (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7.1% (1986)
Electricity:
  5,000 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  light construction, shirts, soap, beer, fisheries, shrimp processing
Agriculture:
  dominant sector of economy, primary source of exports; cash crops - cocoa
  (85%), coconuts, palm kernels, coffee; food products - bananas, papaya,
  beans, poultry, fish; not self-sufficient in food grain and meat
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $8 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $89 million

*Sao Tome and Principe, Economy

Currency:
  1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
  dobras (Db) per US$1 - 230 (1992), 260.0 (November 1991), 122.48 (December
  1988), 72.827 (1987), 36.993 (1986)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Sao Tome and Principe, Communications

Highways:
  300 km (two-thirds are paved); roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in
  need of repair
Ports:
  Sao Tome, Santo Antonio
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,096 GRT/1,105 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways :
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  minimal system; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 2 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station

*Sao Tome and Principe, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 31,326; fit for military service 16,507 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Saudi Arabia, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1,960,582 km2
 land area:
  1,960,582 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
  total 4,415 km, Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km,
  Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline:
  2,640 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  18 nm
 continental shelf:   not specified
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  large section of boundary with Yemen not defined; status of boundary with
  UAE not final; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim Islands is
  disputed by Saudi Arabia
Climate:
  harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
Terrain:
  mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  39%
 forest and woodland:
  1%
 other:
  59%
Irrigated land:
  4,350 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  no perennial rivers or permanent water bodies; developing extensive coastal
  seawater desalination facilities; desertification
Note:
  extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on
  shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

*Saudi Arabia, People

Population:
  17,615,310 (July 1993 est.)
 note:
  the population figure is consistent with a 3.3% growth rate; 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
Population growth rate:
  3.3% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  38.59 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.05 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  55.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.32 years  male:
  65.71 years
 female:
  69.01 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.7 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Saudi(s)
 adjective:
  Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions:
  Muslim 100%
Languages:
  Arabic
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  62%
 male:
  73%
 female:
  48%
Labor force:
  5 million
 by occupation:
  government 34%, industry and oil 28%, services 22%, agriculture 16%

*Saudi Arabia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
 conventional short form:
  Saudi Arabia
 local long form:
  Al Mamlakah al 'Arabiyah as Su'udiyah
 local short form:
  Al 'Arabiyah as Su'udiyah
Digraph:
  SA
Type:
  monarchy
Capital:
  Riyadh
Administrative divisions:
  14 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah,
  Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Al Qurayyat, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah, 'Asir,
  Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence:
  23 September 1932 (unification)
Constitution:   none; governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law)
Legal system:
  based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial
  disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Political parties and leaders:
  none allowed
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
  none
Executive branch:
  monarch and prime minister, crown prince and deputy prime minister, Council
  of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  none
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Council of Justice
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  King and Prime Minister FAHD bin 'Abd al-'Aziz Al Sa'ud (since 13 June
  1982); Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister 'ABDALLAH bin 'Abd al-'Aziz Al
  Sa'ud (half-brother to the King, appointed heir to the throne 13 June 1982)
Member of:
  ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, 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
 chancery:
  601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
 telephone:
  (202) 342-3800

*Saudi Arabia, Government

 consulates general:
  Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant); Charge d'Affaires C. David Welch
 embassy:
  Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
 mailing address:
  American Embassy, Unit 61307, Riyadh; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309,
  Riyadh 11693; or APO AE 09803-1307
 telephone:
  [966] (1) 488-3800
 FAX:
  Telex 406866  consulates general:
  Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag:
  green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no
  God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal
  saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of
  Islam

*Saudi Arabia, Economy

Overview:
  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, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and
  plays a leading role in OPEC. For the 1990s the government intends to
  encourage private economic activity and to foster the gradual process of
  turning Saudi Arabia into a modern industrial state that retains traditional
  Islamic values. Four million foreign workers play an important role in the
  Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and banking sectors.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $111 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3.6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $6,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  6.5% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $45.1 billion; expenditures $52.5 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
  $48.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  petroleum and petroleum products 92%
 partners:
  US 21%, Japan 18%, Singapore 6%, France 6%, Korea 5%
Imports:
  $26.1 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  food stuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, chemical
  products, textiles
 partners:
  US 21%, UK 13%, Japan 12%, Germany 8%, France 6%
External debt:
  $18.9 billion (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -1.1% (1989 est.); accounts for 37% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
  28,554,000 kW capacity; 63,000 million kWh produced, 3,690 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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
Economic aid:
  donor - pledged $64.7 billion in bilateral aid (1979-89)
Currency:
  1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalas
Exchange rates:
  Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate since late 1986), 3.7033
  (1986)

*Saudi Arabia, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Saudi Arabia, Communications

Railroads:
  1390 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; 448 km are double tracked
Highways:
  74,000 km total; 35,000 km paved, 39,000 km gravel and improved earth
Pipelines:
  crude oil 6,400 km, petroleum products 150 km, natural gas 2,200 km,
  includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km
Ports:
  Jiddah, Ad Dammam, Ras Tanura, Jizan, Al Jubayl, Yanbu al Bahr, Yanbu al
  Sinaiyah
Merchant marine:
  77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 860,818 GRT/1,219,345 DWT; includes 1
  passenger, 6 short-sea passenger, 11 cargo, 13 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3
  container, 6 refrigerated cargo, 5 livestock carrier, 23 oil tanker, 6
  chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 1 specialized tanker, 1 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  213
 usable:
  193
 with permanent-surface runways:
  71
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  14
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  36
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  107
Telecommunications:
  modern system with extensive microwave and coaxial and fiber optic cable
  systems; 1,624,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 43 AM, 13 FM, 80 TV;
  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 - 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Indian
  Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, 1 INMARSAT

*Saudi Arabia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Coast
  Guard, Frontier Forces, Special Security Force, Public Security Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 5,650,492; fit for military service 3,128,620; reach
  military age (17) annually 140,283 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $16.5 billion, 13% of GDP (1993 budget)

*Senegal, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea-Bissau and
  Mauritania
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  196,190 km2
 land area:
  192,000 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
  total 2,640 km, The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali
  419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline:
  531 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  short section of the boundary with The Gambia is indefinite; the
  International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 12 November 1991 rendered its
  decision on the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal maritime boundary in favor of Senegal
  - that decision has been rejected by Guinea-Bissau; boundary with Mauritania
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (December to April) has strong southeast
  winds; dry season (May to November) dominated by hot, dry harmattan wind
Terrain:
  generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Natural resources:
  fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
 arable land:
  27%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  30%
 forest and woodland:
  31%
 other:
  12%
Irrigated land:
  1,800 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  lowlands seasonally flooded; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
  desertification
Note:
  The Gambia is almost an enclave

*Senegal, People

Population:
  8,463,225 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.1% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  43.42 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  77.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  56.01 years
 male:
  54.59 years
 female:
  57.48 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.15 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Senegalese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Senegalese
Ethnic divisions:
  Wolof 36%, Fulani 17%, Serer 17%, Toucouleur 9%, Diola 9%, Mandingo 9%,
  European and Lebanese 1%, other 2%
Religions:
  Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages:
  French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  38%
 male:
  52%
 female:
  25%
Labor force:
  2.509 million (77% are engaged in subsistence farming; 175,000 wage earners)
 by occupation:
  private sector 40%, government and parapublic 60%
 note:
  52% of population of working age (1985)

*Senegal, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Senegal
 conventional short form:
  Senegal
 local long form:
  Republique du Senegal
 local short form:
  Senegal
Digraph:
  SG
Type:
  republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
  Dakar
Administrative divisions:
  10 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack,
  Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence:
  20 August 1960 (from France; The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on
  12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be
  known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
Constitution:
  3 March 1963, last revised in 1991
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in
  Supreme Court, which also audits the government's accounting office; has not
  accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
  Socialist Party (PS), President Abdou DIOUF; Senegalese Democratic Party
  (PDS), Abdoulaye WADE; 13 other small uninfluential parties
Other political or pressure groups:
  students; teachers; labor; Muslim Brotherhoods
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA); results - Abdou DIOUF (PS)
  58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
 National Assembly:
  last held 28 February 1988 (next to be held NA May 1993); results - PS 71%,
  PDS 25%, other 4%; seats - (120 total) PS 103, PDS 17
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991)

*Senegal, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA,
  UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNTAC, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ibra Deguene KA
 chancery:
  2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 234-0540 or 0541
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert J. KOTT
 embassy:
  Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar
 mailing address:
  B. P. 49, Dakar
 telephone:
  [221] 23-42-96 or 23-34-24
 FAX:
  [221] 22-29-91
Flag:
  three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a
  small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular
  pan-African colors of Ethiopia

*Senegal, Economy

Overview:
  The agricultural sector accounts for about 12% of GDP and provides
  employment for about 80% of the labor force. About 40% of the total
  cultivated land is used to grow peanuts, an important export crop. Another
  principal economic resource is fishing, which brought in about 23% of total
  foreign exchange earnings in 1990. Mining is dominated by the extraction of
  phosphate, but production has faltered because of reduced worldwide demand
  for fertilizers in recent years. Over the past 10 years tourism has become
  increasingly important to the economy.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5.4 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1.2% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $780 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $921 million; expenditures $1,024 million; including capital
  expenditures of $14 million (FY89 est.)
Exports:
  $904 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  manufactures 30%, fish products 23%, peanuts 12%, petroleum products 16%,
  phosphates 9%
 partners:
  France, other EC members, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, India
Imports:
  $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  semimanufactures 30%, food 27%, durable consumer goods 17%, petroleum 12%,
  capital goods 14%
 partners:
  France, other EC, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Algeria, China, Japan
External debt:
  $2.9 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.7% (1989); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity:
  215,000 kW capacity; 760 million kWh produced, 100 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, petroleum refining,
  building materials
Agriculture:
  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:
  increasingly active as a transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
  moving to Europe and North America
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $551 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $5.23 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $589 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $295
  million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

*Senegal, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June; in January 1993, Senegal will switch to a calendar year

*Senegal, Communications

Railroads:
  1,034 km 1.000-meter gauge; all single track except 70 km double track Dakar
  to Thies
Highways:
  14,007 km total; 3,777 km paved, 10,230 km laterite or improved earth
Inland waterways:
  897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal, 112 km on the Saloum
Ports:
  Dakar, Kaolack, Foundiougne, Ziguinchor
Merchant marine:
  1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 1,995 GRT/3,775 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  25
 usable:
  19
 with permanent-surface runways:
  10
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  15
Telecommunications:
  above-average urban system, using microwave and cable; broadcast stations -
  8 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 3 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*Senegal, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,882,551; fit for military service 983,137; reach military
  age (18) annually 91,747 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 2% of GDP (1989 est.)

*Serbia and Montenegro, Header

Note:
  Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent
  state, but this entity has not been formally recognized as a state by the
  US; the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY)
  has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its
  continuation

*Serbia and Montenegro, Geography

Location:
  Southern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina
  and Bulgaria
Map references:
  Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  102,350 km2
 land area:
  102,136 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Kentucky
 note:
  Serbia has a total area and a land area of 88,412 km2 making it slightly
  larger than Maine; Montenegro has a total area of 13,938 km2 and a land area
  of 13,724 km2 making it slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
  total 2,234 km, Albania 287 km (114 km with Serbia; 173 km with Motenegro),
  Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km (312 km with Serbia; 215 km with Montenegro),
  Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia (north) 239 km, Croatia (south) 15 km, Hungary 151
  km, Macedonia 221 km, Romania 476 km
 note:
  the internal boundary between Montenegro and Serbia is 211 km
Coastline:
  199 km (Montenegro 199 km, Serbia 0 km)
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Sandzak region bordering northern Montenegro and southeastern Serbia -
  Muslims seeking autonomy; Vojvodina taken from Hungary and awarded to the
  former Yugoslavia by Treaty of Trianon in 1920; disputes with Bosnia and
  Herzegovina and Croatia over Serbian populated areas; Albanian minority 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; home of
  largest lake in former Yugoslavia, Lake Scutari
Natural resources:
  oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, gold, pyrite, chrome
Land use:
 arable land:
  30%
 permanent crops:
  5%
 meadows and pastures:
  20%
 forest and woodland:
  25%
 other:
  20%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2

*Serbia and Montenegro, Geography

Environment:
  coastal water pollution from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related
  areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial
  cities; water pollution along Danube from industrial waste dumped into the
  Sava which drains into the Danube; subject to destructive earthquakes
Note:
  controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the
  Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast

*Serbia and Montenegro, People

Population:
  10,699,539 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  NA%
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:   NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years
 female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman
Nationality:
 noun:
  Serb(s) and Montenegrin(s)
 adjective:
  Serbian and Montenegrin
Ethnic divisions:
  Serbs 63%, Albanians 14%, Montenegrins 6%, Hungarians 4%, other 13%
Religions:
  Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other 11%
Languages:
  Serbo-Croatian 95%, Albanian 5%
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  2,640,909
 by occupation:
  industry, mining 40%, agriculture 5% (1990)

*Serbia and Montenegro, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Serbia and Montenegro
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Srbija-Crna Gora
Digraph:
  SR
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Belgrade
Administrative divisions:
  2 republics (pokajine, singular - pokajina); and 2 autonomous provinces*;,   Kosovo*, Montenegro,,
Serbia, Vojvodina*, Independence:   11 April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
Constitution:
  27 April 1992
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  NA
Political parties and leaders:
  Serbian Socialist Party (SPS; former Communist Party), Slobodan MILOSEVIC;
  Serbian Radical Party (SRS), Vojislav SESELJ; Serbian Renewal Party (SPO),
  Vuk DRASKOVIC; Democratic Party (DS), Dragoljub MICUNOVIC; Democratic Party
  of Serbia, Vojislav KOSTUNICA; Democratic Party of Socialists (DSSCG), Momir
  BULATOVIC; People's Party of Montenegro (NS), Novak KILIBARDA; Liberal
  Alliance of Montenegro, Slavko PEROVIC; Democratic Community of Vojvodina
  Hungarians (DZVM), Agoston ANDRAS; League of Communists-Movement for
  Yugoslavia (SK-PJ), Dragan ATANASOVSKI
Other political or pressure groups:
  Serbian Democratic Movement (DEPOS; coalition of opposition parties)
Suffrage:
  16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Elections:
 President:
  Federal Assembly elected Zoran LILIC on 25 June 1993
 Chamber of Republics:
  last held 31 May 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (40 total; 20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin)
 Chamber of Citizens:
  last held 31 May 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of votes
  by party NA; seats (138 total; 108 Serbian, 30 Montenegrin) - SPS 73, SRS
  33, DSSCG 23, SK-PJ 2, DZVM 2, independents 2, vacant 3
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Federal Assembly consists of an upper house or Chamber of
  Republics and a lower house or Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch:
  Savezni Sud (Federal Court), Constitutional Court

*Serbia and Montenegro, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  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)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Radoje KONTIC (since NA December 1992); Deputy Prime
  Ministers Jovan ZEBIC (since NA March 1993), Asim TELACEVIC (since NA March
  1993), Lovre KOVILJKO (since NA March 1993)
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)
 embassy:
  address NA, Belgrade
 mailing address:
  American Embassy Box 5070, Unit 25402, APO AE 09213-5070
 telephone:
  [38] (11) 645-655
 FAX:
  [38] (11) 645-221
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and red

*Serbia and Montenegro, Economy

Overview:
  The swift collapse of the Yugoslav federation has been followed by bloody
  ethnic warfare, the destabilization of republic boundaries, and the breakup
  of important interrepublic trade flows. The situation in Serbia and
  Montenegro remains fluid in view of the extensive political and military
  strife. Serbia and Montenegro faces major economic problems. First, like the
  other former Yugoslav republics, it depended on its sister republics for
  large amounts of foodstuffs, energy supplies, and manufactures. Wide
  varieties in climate, mineral resources, and levels of technology among the
  republics accentuate 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.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $27-37 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $2,500-$3,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  81% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  25%-40% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment 29%, manufactured goods 28.5%,
  miscellaneous manufactured articles 13.5%, chemicals 11%, food and live
  animals 9%, raw materials 6%, fuels and lubricants 2%, beverages and tobacco
  1%
 partners:
  prior to the imposition of sanctions by the UN Security Council trade
  partners were principally the other former Yugoslav republics; Italy,
  Germany, other EC, the successor states of the former USSR, East European
  countries, US
Imports:
  $6.4 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment 26%, fuels and lubricants 18%,
  manufactured goods 16%, chemicals 12.5%, food and live animals 11%,
  miscellaneous manufactured items 8%, raw materials, including coking coal
  for the steel industry, 7%, beverages, tobacco, and edible oils 1.5%
 partners:
  prior to the imposition of sanctions by the UN Security Council the trade
  partners were principally the other former Yugoslav republics; the successor
  states of the former USSR, EC countries (mainly Italy and Germany), East
  European countries, US
External debt:
  $4.2 billion (may assume some part of foreign debt of former Yugoslavia)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -20% or greater (1991 est.)

*Serbia and Montenegro, Economy

Electricity:
  8,850,000 kW capacity; 42,000 million kWh produced, 3,950 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; armored vehicles and
  weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery), metallurgy (steel,
  aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth, cadmium), mining
  (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore, limestone), consumer goods
  (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs, appliances), electronics, petroleum
  products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals
Agriculture:
  the fertile plains of Vojvodina produce 80% of the cereal production of the
  former Yugoslavia and most of the cotton, oilseeds, and chicory; Vojvodina
  also produces fodder crops to support intensive beef and dairy production;
  Serbia proper, although hilly, has a well-distributed rainfall and a long
  growing season; produces fruit, grapes, and cereals; in this area, livestock
  production (sheep and cattle) and dairy farming prosper; Kosovo produces
  fruits, vegetables, tobacco, and a small amount of cereals; the mountainous
  pastures of Kosovo and Montenegro support sheep and goat husbandry;
  Montenegro has only a small agriculture sector, mostly near the coast where
  a Mediterranean climate permits the culture of olives, citrus, grapes, and
  rice
Illicit drugs:
  NA
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  1 Yugoslav New Dinar (YD) = 100 paras
Exchange rates:
  Yugoslav New Dinars (YD) per US $1 - 28.230 (December 1991), 15.162 (1990),
  15.528 (1989), 0.701 (1988), 0.176 (1987)
Fiscal year:   calendar year

*Serbia and Montenegro, Communications

Railroads:
  NA
Highways:
  46,019 km total (1990); 26,949 km paved, 10,373 km gravel, 8,697 km earth
Inland waterways:
  NA km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 415 km, petroleum products 130 km, natural gas 2,110 km
Ports:
  coastal - Bar; inland - Belgrade
Merchant marine:
 Montenegro:
  40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 620,455 GRT/1,024,227 DWT; includes 17
  cargo, 5 container, 17 bulk, 1 passenger ship; note - most under Maltese
  flag except 2 bulk under Panamian flag
 Serbia:
  4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 246,631 GRT/451,843 DWT; includes 2
  bulk, 2 conbination tanker/ore carrier; note - all under the flag of Saint
  Vincent and the Grenadines
Airports:
 total:
  48
 useable:
  48
 with permanent-surface runways:
  16
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  6
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  9
Telecommunications:
  700,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 26 AM, 9 FM, 18 TV; 2,015,000
  radios; 1,000,000 TVs; satellite ground stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

*Serbia and Montenegro, Defense Forces

Branches:
  People's Army - Ground Forces (internal and border troops), Naval Forces,
  Air and Air Defense Forces, Frontier Guard, Territorial Defense Force, Civil
  Defense
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,700,485; fit for military service 2,178,128; reach
  military age (19) annually 83,783 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  245 billion dinars, 4-6% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of defense
  expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
  misleading results

*Seychelles, Geography

Location:
  in the western Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  455 km2
 land area:
  455 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  491 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims Tromelin Island
Climate:
  tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to
  September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Terrain:
  Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are
  coral, flat, elevated reefs
Natural resources:
  fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use:
 arable land:
  4%
 permanent crops:
  18%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  18%
 other:
  60%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts
  possible; no fresh water - catchments collect rain; 40 granitic and about 50
  coralline islands

*Seychelles, People

Population:
  71,494 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.88% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  22.35 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.12 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -6.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.26 years
 male:
  65.56 years
 female:
  73.07 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.3 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Seychellois (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Seychelles
Ethnic divisions:
  Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%
Languages:
  English (official), French (official), Creole
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
 total population:
  58%
 male:
  56%
 female:
  60%
Labor force:
  27,700 (1985)
 by occupation:
  industry and commerce 31%, services 21%, government 20%, agriculture,
  forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985)
 note:
  57% of population of working age (1983)

*Seychelles, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Seychelles
 conventional short form:
  Seychelles
Digraph:
  SE
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Victoria
Administrative divisions:
  23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse
  Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel
  Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe Island), Grand' Anse (on
  Praslin Island), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri,
  Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka
Independence:
  29 June 1976 (from UK)
Constitution:
  5 June 1979
 note:
  new constitution now being drafted by multiparty conference, to take effect
  in mid-1993
Legal system:
  based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
National holiday:
  Liberation Day, 5 June (1977) (anniversary of coup)
Political parties and leaders:
  ruling party - Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert
  RENE; Democratic Party (DP), Sir James MANCHAM; Seychelles Party (PS), Wavel
  RAMKALAWAN; Seychelles Democratic Movement (MSPD), Jacques HONDOUL;
  Seychelles Liberal Party (SLP), Ogilvie BERLOUIS
Other political or pressure groups:
  trade unions; Roman Catholic Church
Suffrage:
  17 years of age; universal
Elections:
 note:
  presidential and legislative elections are scheduled to be held once the
  new, multiparty consititution is ratified later this year
 President:
  last held 9-11 June 1989 (next to be held NA 1993); results - President
  France Albert RENE reelected without opposition
 People's Assembly:
  last held 5 December 1987 (next to be held mid-1993); results - SPPF was the
  only legal party; seats - (25 total, 23 elected) SPPF 23
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple)
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal, Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977)

*Seychelles, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO,
  WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Second Secretary, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Marc R. MARENGO
 chancery:
  (temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017
 telephone:
  (212) 687-9766
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Matthew F. MATTINGLY
 embassy:
  4th Floor, Victoria House, Victoria
 mailing address:
  Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe, or Box 148, Unit 62501, APO AE
  09815-2501
 telephone:
  (248) 25256
 FAX:
  (248) 25189
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green; the white band
  is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest

*Seychelles, Economy

Overview:
  In this small, open, tropical island economy, the tourist industry 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.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $350 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -4.5% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $5,200 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.8% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  9% (1987)
Budget:
  revenues $180 million; expenditures $202 million, including capital
  expenditures of $32 million (1989)
Exports:
  $40 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  fish, copra, cinnamon bark, petroleum products (reexports)
 partners:
  France 63%, Pakistan 12%, Reunion 10%, UK 7% (1987)
Imports:
  $186 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods, food, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation
  equipment, petroleum products
 partners:
  UK 20%, France 14%, South Africa 13%, Yemen 13%, Singapore 8%, Japan 6%
  (1987)
External debt:
  $189 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7% (1987); accounts for 10% of GDP
Electricity:
  30,000 kW capacity; 80 million kWh produced, 1,160 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir rope factory, boat
  building, printing, furniture, beverage
Agriculture:
  accounts for 7% 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $26 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1978-89), $315 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $60
  million
Currency:
  1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 5.2545 (January 1993), 5.1220 (1992),
  5.2893 (1991), 5.3369 (1990), 5.6457 (1989), 5.3836 (1988)

*Seychelles, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Seychelles, Communications

Highways:
  260 km total; 160 km paved, 100 km crushed stone or earth
Ports:
  Victoria
Merchant marine:
  1 refrigerated cargo totaling 1,827 GRT/2,170 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  14
 usable:
  14
 with permanent-surface runways:
  8
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  direct radio communications with adjacent islands and African coastal
  countries; 13,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV; 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station; USAF tracking station

*Seychelles, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, National Guard, Marines, Coast Guard, Presidential Protection Unit,
  Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 18,982; fit for military service 9,710 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $12 million, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)

*Sierra Leone, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea and
  Liberia
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  71,740 km2
 land area:
  71,620 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
  total 958 km, Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline:
  402 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:   tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry
  season (December to April)
Terrain:
  coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau,
  mountains in east
Natural resources:
  diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Land use:
 arable land:
  25%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  31%
 forest and woodland:
  29%
 other:
  13%
Irrigated land:
  340 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  extensive mangrove swamps hinder access to sea; deforestation; soil
  degradation

*Sierra Leone, People

Population:
  4,510,571 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.61% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.47 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  19.39 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  145 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  45.87 years
 male:
  43.1 years
 female:
  48.71 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.01 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Sierra Leonean(s)
 adjective:
  Sierra Leonean
Ethnic divisions:
  13 native African tribes 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 39%), Creole,
  European, Lebanese, and Asian 1%
Religions:
  Muslim 30%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%, other or none 30%
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, Merde, Temne, or Arabic (1990)
 total population:
  21%
 male:
  31%
 female:
  11%
Labor force:
  1.369 million (1981 est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 65%, industry 19%, services 16% (1981 est.)
 note:
  only about 65,000 wage earners (1985); 55% of population of working age

*Sierra Leone, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Sierra Leone
 conventional short form:
  Sierra Leone
Digraph:
  SL
Type:
  military government
Capital:
  Freetown
Administrative divisions:
  3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*, Independence:
  27 April 1961 (from UK)
Constitution:
  1 October 1991; amended September 1991
Legal system:
  based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not
  accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Republic Day, 27 April (1961)
Political parties and leaders:
  status of existing political parties is unknown following 29 April 1992 coup
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
  suspended after 29 April 1992 coup; Chairman STRASSER promises multi-party
  elections sometime within three years
Executive branch:
  National Provisional Ruling Council
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Representatives (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  Chairman of the Supreme Council of State Capt. Valentine E. M. STRASSER
  (since 29 April 1992)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,
  OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 chancery:
  1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 939-9261
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Lauralee M. PETERS
 embassy:
  Walpole and Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  [232] (22) 226-481

*Sierra Leone, Government

 FAX:
  [232] (22) 225-471
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue

*Sierra Leone, Economy

Overview:
  The economic and social infrastructure is not well developed. Subsistence
  agriculture dominates the economy, generating about one-third of GDP and
  employing about two-thirds of the working population. 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. The economy suffers from high
  unemployment, rising inflation, large trade deficits, and a growing
  dependency on foreign assistance. The government in 1990 was attempting to
  get the budget deficit under control and, in general, to bring economic
  policy in line with the recommendations of the IMF and the World Bank. Since
  March 1991, however, military incursions by Liberian rebels in southern and
  eastern Sierra Leone have severely strained the economy and have undermined
  efforts to institute economic reforms.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.4 billion (FY92 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -1% (FY92 est.)
National product per capita:
  $330 (FY92 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $68 million; expenditures $118 million, including capital
  expenditures of $28 million (FY92 est.)
Exports:
  $75 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.)
 commodities:
  rutile 50%, bauxite 17%, cocoa 11%, diamonds 3%, coffee 3%
 partners:
  US, UK, Belgium, Germany, other Western Europe
Imports:
  $62 million (c.i.f., FY92 est.)
 commodities:
  capital goods 40%, food 32%, petroleum 12%, consumer goods 7%, light
  industrial goods
 partners:
  US, EC countries, Japan, China, Nigeria
External debt:
  $633 million (FY92 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  85,000 kW capacity; 185 million kWh produced, 45 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  mining (diamonds, bauxite, rutile), small-scale manufacturing (beverages,
  textiles, cigarettes, footwear), petroleum refinery
Agriculture:
  accounts for over 30% of GDP and two-thirds of the labor force; 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:
  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

*Sierra Leone, Economy

Currency:
  1 leone (Le) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  leones (Le) per US$1 - 552.43 (January 1993), 499.44 (1992), 295.34 (1991),
  144.9275 (1990), 58.1395 (1989), 31.2500 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Sierra Leone, Communications

Railroads:
  84 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge mineral line is used on a limited basis
  because the mine at Marampa is closed
Highways:
  7,400 km total; 1,150 km paved, 490 km laterite (some gravel), 5,760 km
  improved earth
Inland waterways:
  800 km; 600 km navigable year round
Ports:
  Freetown, Pepel, Bonthe
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship totaling 5,592 GRT/9,107 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  11
 usable:
  7
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  marginal telephone and telegraph service; national microwave radio relay
  system unserviceable at present; 23,650 telephones; broadcast stations - 1
  AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Sierra Leone, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Police, Security Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 983,281; fit for military service 475,855 (1993 est.); no
  conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $6 million, 0.7% of GDP (1988 est.)

*Singapore, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, between Malaysia and Indonesia
Map references:
  Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  632.6 km2
 land area:
  622.6 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  193 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  12 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  two islands in dispute with Malaysia
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry seasons;
  thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April)
Terrain:
  lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and
  nature preserve
Natural resources:
  fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
 arable land:
  4%
 permanent crops:
  7%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  5%
 other:
  84%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  mostly urban and industrialized
Note:
  focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

*Singapore, People

Population:
  2,826,331 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.19% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  17.12 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.25 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.75 years
 male:
  73.07 years
 female:
  78.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.89 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Singaporean(s)
 adjective:
  Singapore
Ethnic divisions:
  Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%
Religions:
  Buddhist (Chinese), Atheist (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:
  88%
 male:
  93%
 female:
  84%
Labor force:
  1,485,800
 by occupation:
  financial, business, and other services 30.2%, manufacturing 28.4%, commerce
  22.0%, construction 9.0%, other 10.4% (1990)

*Singapore, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Singapore
 conventional short form:
  Singapore
Digraph:
  SN
Type:
  republic within Commonwealth
Capital:   Singapore
Administrative divisions:
  none
Independence:
  9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)
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
National holiday:
  National Day, 9 August (1965)
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),
  CHIAM See Tong; National Solidarity Party (NSP), leader NA; Barisan Sosialis
  (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA
Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 President:
  last held 31 August 1989 (next to be held NA August 1993); results -
  President WEE Kim Wee was reelected by Parliament without opposition
 Parliament:
  last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held 31 August 1996); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President WEE Kim Wee (since 3 September 1985)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister
  LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister ONG Teng
  Cheong (since 2 January 1985)
Member of:
  APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, COCOM (cooperating country), CP, ESCAP, G-77,
  GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador S. R. NATHAN

*Singapore, Government

 chancery:
  1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009  telephone:
  (202) 667-7555
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jon M. HUNTSMAN, Jr.
 embassy:
  30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617
 mailing address:
  FPO AP 96534
 telephone:
  [65] 338-0251
 FAX:
  [65] 338-4550
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of
  the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward
  the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged
  in a circle

*Singapore, Economy

Overview:
  Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong service and
  manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from
  its entrepot history. The economy appears to have pulled off a soft landing
  from the 9% growth rate of the late 1980s, registering higher than expected
  growth in 1992 while stemming inflation. Economic activity slowed early in
  1992, primarily as a result of slackened demand in Singapore's export
  markets. But after bottoming out in the second quarter, the economy picked
  up in line with a gradual recovery in the United States. The year's best
  performers were the construction and financial services industries and
  manufacturers of computer-related components. Rising labor costs continue to
  be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness, but there are indications that
  productivity is catching up. Government surpluses and the rate of gross
  national savings remain high. In technology, per capita output, and labor
  discipline, Singapore is well on its way toward its goal of becoming a
  developed country.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $45.9 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  5.8% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $16,500 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.3% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  2.7% (June 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $10.4 billion; expenditures $9.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993)
Exports:
  $61.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products,
  telecommunications equipment
 partners:
  US 21%, Malaysia 13%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 7%, Thailand 6%
Imports:
  $66.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs
 partners:
  Japan 21%, US 16%, Malaysia 14%, Taiwan 4%
External debt:
  $0 Singapore is a net creditor
Industrial production:
  growth rate 2.3% (1992); accounts for 28% of GDP
Electricity:
  4,860,000 kW capacity; 18,000 million kWh produced, 6,420 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling equipment, rubber processing
  and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot
  trade, financial services, biotechnology
Agriculture:
  occupies a position of minor importance in the economy; self-sufficient in
  poultry and eggs; must import much of other food; major crops - rubber,
  copra, fruit, vegetables

*Singapore, Economy

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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $590 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.0 billion
Currency:
  1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.6531 (January 1993), 1.6290 (1992),
  1.7276 (1991), 1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Singapore, Communications

Railroads:
  38 km of 1.000-meter gauge
Highways:
  2,644 km total (1985)
Ports:
  Singapore
Merchant marine:
  492 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,763,511 GRT/15,816,384 DWT;
  includes 1 passenger-cargo, 125 cargo, 72 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off
  cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 18 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 165
  oil tanker, 8 chemical tanker, 7 combination ore/oil, 2 specialized tanker,
  5 liquefied gas, 74 bulk, 3 combination bulk; note - many Singapore flag
  ships are foreign owned
Airports:
 total:
  10
 usable:
  10
 with permanent-surface runways:
  10
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  good domestic facilities; good international service; good radio and
  television broadcast coverage; 1,110,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 13
  AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; submarine cables extend to Malaysia (Sabah and peninsular
  Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations - 1
  Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

*Singapore, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 853,440; fit for military service 629,055 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)

*Slovakia, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, between Hungary and Poland
Map references:
  Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  48,845 km2
 land area:
  48,800 km2
 comparative area:
  about twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
  total 1,355 km, Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515 km, Poland
  444 km, Ukraine 90 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:   none; landlocked
International disputes:
  Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Dam dispute with Hungary; unresolved property issues
  with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal
  property; establishment of international border between the Czech Republic
  and Slovakia
Climate:
  temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:
  rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
Natural resources:
  brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore;
  salt; gas
Land use:
 arable land:
  NA%
 permanent crops:
  NA%
 meadows and pastures:
  NA%
 forest and woodland:
  NA%
 other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  severe damage to forests from "acid rain" caused by coal-fired power
  stations
Note:
  landlocked

*Slovakia, People

Population:
  5,375,501 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.51% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  14.59 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.47 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.39 years
 male:
  68.18 years
 female:
  76.85 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:   1.99 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Slovak(s)
 adjective:
  Slovak
Ethnic divisions:
  Slovak 85.6%, Hungarian 10.8%, Gypsy 1.5% (the 1992 census figures
  underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which could reach 500,000 or more),
  Czech 1.1%, Ruthenian 15,000, Ukrainian 13,000, Moravian 6,000, German
  5,000, Polish 3,000
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other
  17.5%
Languages:
  Slovak (official), Hungarian
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  2.484 million
 by occupation:
  industry 33.2%, agriculture 12.2%, construction 10.3%, communication and
  other 44.3% (1990)

*Slovakia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Slovak Republic
 conventional short form:
  Slovakia
 local long form:
  Slovenska Republika
 local short form:
  Slovensko
Digraph:
  LO
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Bratislava
Administrative divisions:
  4 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) Bratislava,
  Zapadoslovensky, Stredoslovensky, Vychodoslovensky
Independence:
  1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)
Constitution:
  ratified 3 September 1992; fully effective 1 January 1993
Legal system:   civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the
  obligations of Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) and
  to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
National holiday:
  Slovak National Uprising, August 29 (1944)
Political parties and leaders:
  Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement, Vojtech BUGAR; Christian Democratic
  Movement, Jan CARNOGURSKY; Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, Vladimir
  MECIAR, chairman; Party of the Democratic Left, Peter WEISS, chairman;
  Slovak National Party, Ludovit CERNAK, chairman; Coexistence, Miklos DURAY,
  chairman; Party of Conservative Democrats, leader NA
Other political or pressure groups:
  Green Party; Democratic Party; Social Democratic Party in Slovakia; Movement
  for Czech-Slovak Accord; Freedom Party; Slovak Christian Union; Hungarian
  Civic Party
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 8 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - Michal KOVAC
  elected by the National Council
 National Council:
  last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held NA June 1996); results - Movement
  for a Democratic Slovakia 37%, Party of the Democratic Left 15%, Christian
  Democratic Movement 9%, Slovak National Party 8%, Hungarian Christian
  Democratic Movement/Coexistence 7%; seats - (150 total) Movement for a
  Democratic Slovakia, 74, Party of the Democratic Left 29, Christian
  Democratic Movement 18, Slovak National Party 15, Hungarian Christian
  Democratic Movement/Coexistence 14
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Council (Narodni Rada)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court

*Slovakia, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Michal KOVAC (since 8 February 1993)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Vladimir MECIAR (since NA), Deputy Prime Minister Roman KOVAC
  (since NA)
Member of:
  BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
  (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN (as of 8
  January 1993), UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Charge d'Affaires Dr. Milan ERBAN  chancery:
  3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 363-6315 or 6316
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Elect Eleanor SUTTER
 embassy:
  Hviczdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  427 330 861
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with
  a crest with a white double cross on three blue mountains

*Slovakia, Economy

Overview:
  The dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two independent states - the Czech
  Republic and Slovakia - on 1 January 1993 has complicated the task of moving
  toward a more open and decentralized economy. The old Czechoslovakia, even
  though highly industrialized by East European standards, suffered from an
  aging capital plant, lagging technology, and a deficiency in energy and many
  raw materials. In January 1991, approximately one year after the end of
  communist control of Eastern Europe, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic
  launched a sweeping program to convert its almost entirely state-owned and
  controlled economy to a market system. In 1991-92 these measures resulted in
  privatization of some medium- and small-scale economic activity and the
  setting of more than 90% of prices by the market - but at a cost in
  inflation, unemployment, and lower output. For Czechoslovakia as a whole
  inflation in 1991 was roughly 50% and output fell 15%. In 1992 in Slovakia,
  inflation slowed to an estimated 8.7% and the estimated fall in GDP was a
  more moderate 7%. In 1993 the government anticipates up to a 7% drop in GDP,
  with the disruptions from the separation from the Czech lands probably
  accounting for half the decline; inflation, according to government
  projections, may rise to 15-20% and unemployment may reach 12-15%. The
  Slovak government is moving ahead less enthusiastically than the Czech
  government in the further dismantling of the old centrally controlled
  economic system. Although the governments of Slovakia and the Czech Republic
  had envisaged retaining the koruna as a common currency at least in the
  short run, the two countries ended the currency union in February 1993.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $32.1 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -7% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $6,100 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8.7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  11.3% (1992 est.)
Budget:   revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment; chemicals; fuels, minerals, and metals;
  agricultural products
 partners:
  Czech Republic, CIS republics, Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Italy,
  France, US, UK
Imports:
  $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment; fuels and lubricants; manufactured goods;
  raw materials; chemicals; agricultural products
 partners:
  Czech Republic, CIS republics, Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland,
  Hungary, UK, Italy
External debt:
  $1.9 billion hard currency indebtedness (December 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  6,800,000 kW capacity; 24,000 million kWh produced, 4,550 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Slovakia, Economy

Industries:
  brown coal mining, chemicals, metal-working, consumer appliances,
  fertilizer, plastics, 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:
  the former Czechoslavakia was a transshipment point for Southwest Asian
  heroin and was emerging as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine
  (1992)
Economic aid:
  the former Czechoslovakia was a donor - $4.2 billion in bilateral aid to
  non-Communist less developed countries (1954-89)
Currency:
  1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru
Exchange rates:
  koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 28.59 (December 1992), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991),
  17.95 (1990), 15.05 (1989), 14.36 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Slovakia, Communications

Railroads:   3,669 km total (1990)
Highways:
  17,650 km total (1990)
Inland waterways:
  NA km
Pipelines:
  natural gas 2,700 km; petroleum products NA km
Ports:
  maritime outlets are in Poland (Gdynia, Gdansk, Szczecin), Croatia (Rijeka),
  Slovenia (Koper), Germany (Hamburg, Rostock); principal river ports are
  Komarno on the Danube and Bratislava on the Danube
Merchant marine:
  the former Czechoslovakia had 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 290,185
  GRT/437,291 DWT; includes 13 cargo, 9 bulk; may be shared with the Czech
  Republic
Airports:
 total:
  34
 usable:
  34
 with permanent-surface runways:
  9
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  NA

*Slovakia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,407,908; fit for military service 1,082,790; reach
  military age (18) annually 47,973 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  8.2 billion koruny, NA% of GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense
  expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
  misleading results

*Slovenia, Geography

Location:
  Southern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Map references:
  Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  20,296 km2  land area:
  20,296 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
  total 999 km, Austria 262 km, Croatia 455 km, Italy 199 km, Hungary 83 km
Coastline:
  32 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  dispute with Croatia over fishing rights in the Adriatic and over some
  border areas; the border issue is currently under negotiation; small
  minority in northern Italy seeks the return of parts of southwestern
  Slovenia
Climate:
  Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot
  summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Terrain:
  a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to
  Italy, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
Natural resources:
  lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver
Land use:
 arable land:
  10%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  20%
 forest and woodland:
  45%
 other:
  23%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; heavy metals and
  toxic chemicals along coastal waters; near Koper, forest damage from air
  pollutants originating at metallurgical and chemical plants; subject to
  flooding and earthquakes

*Slovenia, People

Population:
  1,967,655 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.23% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  11.93 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:   9.6 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  74 years
 male:
  70.08 years
 female:
  78.13 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.68 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Slovene(s)
 adjective:
  Slovenian
Ethnic divisions:
  Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 96% (including 2% Uniate), Muslim 1%, other 3%
Languages:
  Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 7%, other 2%
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  786,036
 by occupation:
  agriculture 2%, manufacturing and mining 46%

*Slovenia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Slovenia
 conventional short form:
  Slovenia
 local long form:
  Republika Slovenije
 local short form:
  Slovenija
Digraph:
  SI
Type:
  emerging democracy
Capital:
  Ljubljana
Administrative divisions:
  60 provinces (pokajine, singular - pokajina) Ajdovscina, Brezice, Celje,
  Cerknica, Crnomelj, Dravograd, Gornja Radgona, Grosuplje, Hrastnik Lasko,
  Idrija, Ilirska Bistrica, Izola, Jesenice, Kamnik, Kocevje, Koper, Kranj,
  Krsko, Lenart, Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana-Bezigrad, Ljubljana-Center,
  Ljubljana-Moste-Polje, Ljubljana-Siska, Ljubljana-Vic-Rudnik, Ljutomer,
  Logatec, Maribor, Metlika, Mozirje, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto,
  Ormoz Pesnica, Piran, Postojna, Ptuj, Radlje Ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne Na
  Koroskem, Ribnica, Ruse, Sentjur Pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skofja Loka,
  Slovenj Gradec, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje Pri Jelsah,
  Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic, Velenje, Vrhnika, Zagorje Ob Savi, Zalec
Independence:
  25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Constitution:
  adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  Statehood Day, 25 June
Political parties and leaders:
  Slovene Christian Democratics (SKD), Lozje PETERLE, chairman; Liberal
  Democratic (LDS), Janez DRNOVSEK, chairman; Social-Democratic Party of
  Slovenia (SDSS), Joze PUCNIK, chairman; Socialist Party of Slovenia (SSS),
  Viktor ZAKELJ, chairman; Greens of Slovenia (ZS), Dusan PLUT, chairman;
  National Democratic, Rajko PIRNAT, chairman; Democratic Peoples Party,
  Marjan PODOBNIK, chairman; Reformed Socialists (former Communist Party),
  Ciril RIBICIC, chairman; United List (former Communists and allies); Slovene
  National Party, leader NA; Democratic Party, Igor BAVCAR; Slovene People's
  Party (SLS), Ivan OMAN
 note:
  parties have changed as of the December 1992 elections
Other political or pressure groups:
  none
Suffrage:
  16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Milan KUCAN
  reelected by direct popular vote
 State Assembly:
  last held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (total 90) LDS 22, SKD 15, United List (former
  Communists and allies) 14, Slovene National Party 12, SN 10, Democratic
  Party 6, ZS 5, SDSS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1

*Slovenia, Government

 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 socio-economic
  interests
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, deputy prime ministers, cabinet
Legislative branch:   bicameral National Assembly; consists of the State Assembly and the State
  Council; note - State Council will become operational after next election
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992)
Member of:
  CE, CEI, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IOM (observer), UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ernest PETRIC
 chancery:
  (temporary) 1300 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 828-1650
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador E. Allen WENDT
 embassy:
  P.O. Box 254; Cankarjeva 11, 61000 Ljubljana
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09862
 telephone:
  [38] (61) 301-427/472
 FAX:
  [38] (61) 301-401
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red with the
  Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav in white against a blue
  background at the center, beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas
  and rivers, and around it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an
  inverted triangle); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag
  centered in the white and blue bands

*Slovenia, Economy

Overview:
  Slovenia was by far the most prosperous of the former Yugoslav republics,
  with a per capita income more than twice the Yugoslav average, indeed not
  far below the levels in neighboring Austria and Italy. Because of its strong
  ties to Western Europe and the small scale of damage during its fight for
  independence from Yugoslavia, Slovenia has the brightest prospects among the
  former Yugoslav republics for economic recovery over the next few years. The
  dissolution of Yugoslavia, however, has led to severe short-term
  dislocations in production, employment, and trade ties. For example, overall
  industrial production fell 10% in 1991; particularly hard hit were the iron
  and steel, machine-building, chemical, and textile industries. Meanwhile,
  the continued fighting in other former Yugoslavian republics has led to
  further destruction of long-established trade channels and to an influx of
  tens of thousands of Croatian and Bosnian refugees. The key program for
  breaking up and privatizing major industrial firms was established in late
  1992. Bright spots for encouraging Western investors are Slovenia's
  comparatively well-educated work force, its developed infrastructure, and
  its Western business attitudes, but instability in Croatia is a deterrent.
  Slovenia in absolute terms is a small economy, and a little Western
  investment would go a long way.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $21 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -10% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $10,700 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.7% (September 1992)
Unemployment rate:
  10% (April 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $4.12 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment 38%, other manufactured goods 44%,
  chemicals 9%, food and live animals 4.6%, raw materials 3%, beverages and
  tobacco less than 1%
 partners:
  principally the other former Yugoslav republics, Austria, and Italy
Imports:
  $4.679 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment 35%, other manufactured goods 26.7%,
  chemicals 14.5%, raw materials 9.4%, fuels and lubricants 7%, food and live
  animals 6%
 partners:
  principally the other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, successor states
  of the former USSR, US, Hungary, Italy, and Austria
External debt:
  $2.5 billion
Industrial production:
  growth rate -1% per month (1991-92 est.)
Electricity:
  2,900,000 kW capacity; 10,000 million kWh produced, 5,090 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Slovenia, Economy

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:
  dominated by stock breeding (sheep and cattle) and dairy farming; main crops
  - potatoes, hops, hemp, flax; an export surplus in these commodities;
  Slovenia must import many other agricultural products and has a negative
  overall trade balance in this sector
Illicit drugs:
  NA
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  1 tolar (SIT) = 100 NA
Exchange rates:
  tolars (SIT) per US$1 - 112 (June 1993), 28 (January 1992)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Slovenia, Communications

Railroads:
  1,200 km, 1.435 m gauge (1991)
Highways:
  14,553 km total; 10,525 km paved, 4,028 km gravel
Inland waterways:
  NA
Pipelines:
  crude oil 290 km, natural gas 305 km
Ports:
  coastal - Koper
Merchant marine:
  22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,784 GRT/596,740 DWT; includes 15
  bulk, 7 cargo; all under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines except
  for 1 bulk under Liberian flag
Airports:
 total:
  13
 useable:
  13
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  130,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 7 TV; 370,000 radios;
  330,000 TVs

*Slovenia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Slovene Defense Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 512,186; fit for military service 410,594; reach military
  age (19) annually 14,970 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  13.5 billion tolars, 4.5% of GDP (1993); note - conversion of the military
  budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
  misleading results

*Solomon Islands, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, just east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
  Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  28,450 km2
 land area:
  27,540 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  5,313 km
Maritime claims:
  measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Terrain:
  mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Natural resources:
  fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  93%
 other:
  4%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to typhoons, which are rarely destructive; geologically active
  region with frequent earth tremors
Note:
  located just east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean

*Solomon Islands, People

Population:
  372,746 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.46% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  39.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.76 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  29 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.13 years
 male:
  67.73 years
 female:
  72.65 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.88 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Solomon Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Solomon Islander
Ethnic divisions:
  Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese
  0.3%, other 0.4%
Religions:
  Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United
  (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other Protestant 5%
Languages:
  Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca, English spoken by
  1-2% of population
 note:
  120 indigenous languages
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  23,448 economically active
 by occupation:
  agriculture, forestry, and fishing 32.4%, services 25%, construction,
  manufacturing, and mining 7.0%, commerce, transport, and finance 4.7% (1984)

*Solomon Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Solomon Islands
 former:
  British Solomon Islands
Digraph:
  BP
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Honiara
Administrative divisions:
  7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira,,   Malaita, Temotu,
Western
Independence:
  7 July 1978 (from UK)
Constitution:
  7 July 1978
Legal system:
  common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
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
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Parliament:
  last held 22 February 1989 (next to be held 26 May 1993); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total) PAP 13, UP 6, NFP 4, SILP 4, LP 2,
  independents 9
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Parliament
Judicial branch:
  High Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
  Sir George LEPPING (since 27 June 1989, previously acted as governor general
  since 7 July 1988)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 28 March 1989); Deputy Prime Minister
  Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since NA October 1990)
Member of:
  ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  IOC, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:  chief of mission:
  (vacant); ambassador traditionally resides in Honiara (Solomon Islands)
US diplomatic representation:
  Ambassador Robert W. FARRAND
 embassy:
  Mud Alley, Honiara

*Solomon Islands, Government

 mailing address:
  American Embassy, P. O. Box 561, Honiara
 telephone:
  (677) 23890
 FAX:
  (677) 23488
Flag:
  divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner;
  the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars
  arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green

*Solomon Islands, Economy

Overview:
  About 90% of the population depend on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and
  forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Agriculture, fishing, and
  forestry contribute about 70% to GDP, with the fishing and forestry sectors
  being important export earners. The service sector contributes about 25% to
  GDP. 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.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $200 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $600 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  14.3% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $48 million; expenditures $107 million, including capital
  expenditures of $45 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $74.2 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  fish 46%, timber 31%, copra 5%, palm oil 5%
 partners:
  Japan 51%, UK 12%, Thailand 9%, Netherlands 8%, Australia 2%, US 2% (1985)
Imports:
  $87.1 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  plant and machinery 30%, fuel 19%, food 16%
 partners:
  Japan 36%, US 23%, Singapore 9%, UK 9%, NZ 9%, Australia 4%, Hong Kong 4%,
  China 3% (1985)
External debt:
  $128 million (1988 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 0% (1987); accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
  21,000 kW capacity; 39 million kWh produced, 115 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  copra, fish (tuna)
Agriculture:
  including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 70% 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:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89),
  $250 million
Currency:
  1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 3.1211 (January 1993), 2.9281
  (1992), 2.7148 (1991), 2.5288 (1990), 2.2932 (1989), 2.0825 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Solomon Islands, Communications

Highways:
  about 2,100 km total (1982); 30 km paved, 290 km gravel, 980 km earth, 800
  private logging and plantation roads of varied construction
Ports:
  Honiara, Ringi Cove
Airports:
 total:
  30
 usable:
  29
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station

*Solomon Islands, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Police Force
Manpower availability:
  NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Somalia, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the
  Arabian Peninsula
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  637,660 km2
 land area:
  627,340 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 2,366 km, Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline:
  3,025 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative
  Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden; possible claims to
  Djibouti and parts of Ethiopia and Kenya based on unification of ethnic
  Somalis
Climate:
  desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon
  (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (tangambili)
  between monsoons
Terrain:
  mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Natural resources:
  uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite,
  copper, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  46%
 forest and woodland:   14%
 other:
  38%
Irrigated land:
  1,600 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer;
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
  strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el
  Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

*Somalia, People

Population:
  6,514,629 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.35% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  41.95 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  28.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  162.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  32.91 years
 male:
  32.86 years
 female:
  32.95 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Somali(s)
 adjective:
  Somali
Ethnic divisions:
  Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim
Languages:
  Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 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%
 note:
  53% of population of working age (1985)

*Somalia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Somalia
 former:
  Somali Republic
Digraph:
  SO
Type:
  none
Capital:
  Mogadishu
Administrative divisions:
  18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari,
  Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal,
  Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi
  Galbeed
Independence:
  1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent
  from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became
  independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to
  form the Somali Republic)
Constitution:
  25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  NA
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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD
  was reelected without opposition
 People's Assembly:
  last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results - SRSP was the only
  party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United Somali
  Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27
  January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democratically
  elected government will be established
Executive branch:
  president, two vice presidents, prime minister, Council of Ministers
  (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga); non-functioning
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (non-functioning)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Interim President ALI MAHDI Mohamed (since 27 January 1991)

*Somalia, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister OMAR Arteh Ghalib (since 27 January 1991)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 chancery:
  Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
 telephone:
  (202) 342-1575
 consulate general:
  New York
 note:
  Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991
US diplomatic representation:
  the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed indefinitely in January
  1991; United States Liaison Office (USLO) opened in December 1992
Flag:
  light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based
  on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)

*Somalia, Economy

Overview:
  One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few
  resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil
  war. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for
  about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads who
  are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods make up more than half 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. Greatly increased political turmoil in 1991-92 has resulted in a
  substantial drop in output, with widespread famine.
National product:
  $NA
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  bananas, livestock, fish, hides, skins
 partners:
  Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)
Imports:
  $NA
 commodities:
  petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
 partners:
  US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)
External debt:
  $1.9 billion (1989)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%, accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
  former public power capacity of 75,000 kW is completely shut down by the
  destruction of the civil war; UN, relief organizations, and foreign military
  units in Somalia use their own portable power systems
Industries:
  a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum
  refining; probably shut down by the widespread destruction during the civil
  war
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:
  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

*Somalia, Economy

Currency:
  1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates:
  Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00
  (December 1990), 490.7 (1989), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00 (1986)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Somalia, Communications

Highways:
  22,500 km total; including 2,700 km paved, 3,000 km gravel, and 16,800 km
  improved earth or stabilized soil (1992)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 15 km
Ports:
  Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Bender Cassim (Boosaaso)
Merchant marine:
  3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,913 GRT/8,718 DWT; includes 2 cargo,
  1 refrigerated cargo
Airports:
 total:
  69
 usable:
  48
 with permanent-surface runways:
  8
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  6
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  20
Telecommunications:
  the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled
  by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own
  private systems (1993)

*Somalia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  NA
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,596,380; fit for military service 897,660 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*South Africa, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, at the extreme southern tip of the continent
Map references:   Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  1,221,040 km2
 land area:
  1,221,040 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Texas
 note:
  includes Walvis Bay, Marion Island, and Prince Edward Island
Land boundaries:
  total 4,973 km, Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km,
  Namibia 1,078 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline:
  2,881 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claim by Namibia to Walvis Bay exclave and 12 offshore islands administered
  by South Africa; South Africa and Namibia have agreed to jointly administer
  the area for an interim period; the terms and dates to be covered by joint
  administration arrangements have not been established at this time; and
  Namibia will continue to maintain a claim to sovereignty over the entire
  area
Climate:
  mostly semiarid; subtropical along coast; sunny days, cool nights
Terrain:
  vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Natural resources:
  gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates,
  tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Land use:
 arable land:
  10%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  65%
 forest and woodland:
  3%
 other:
  21%
Irrigated land:
  11,280 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water
  conservation and control measures
Note:
  Walvis Bay is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia; South Africa completely
  surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

*South Africa, People

Population:
  42,792,804 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.63% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  33.77 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.65 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  48.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  64.81 years
 male:
  62.07 years
 female:
  67.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  South African(s)
 adjective:
  South African
Ethnic divisions:
  black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
Religions:
  Christian (most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of blacks), Hindu (60% of
  Indians), Muslim 20%
Languages:
  Afrikaans (official), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa, North Sotho, South
  Sotho, Tswana, and many other vernacular languages
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 55%, agriculture 10%, industry 20%, mining 9%, other 6%

*South Africa, Government

Names:  conventional long form:
  Republic of South Africa
 conventional short form:
  South Africa
Abbreviation:
  RSA
Digraph:
  SF
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial)
Administrative divisions:
  4 provinces; Cape, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal; there are 10
  homelands not recognized by the US - 4 independent (Bophuthatswana, Ciskei,
  Transkei, Venda) and 6 other (Gazankulu, Kangwane, KwaNdebele, KwaZulu,
  Lebowa, QwaQwa)
Independence:
  31 May 1910 (from UK)
Constitution:
  3 September 1984
Legal system:
  based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Republic Day, 31 May (1910)
Political parties and leaders:
 white political parties and leaders:
  National Party (NP), Frederik W. DE KLERK (majority party); Conservative
  Party (CP), leader NA (official opposition party); Democratic Party (DP),
  Zach DE BEER; Afrikaner Volksunie (AVU), Andries BEYERS
 Colored political parties and leaders (see Note):
  Labor Party (LP), Allan HENDRICKSE (majority party); National Party (NP);
  Democratic Party (DP); Freedom Party
 Indian political parties and leaders:
  Solidarity, J. N. REDDY (majority party); National People's Party (NPP),
  Amichand RAJBANSI; Merit People's Party
 note:
  the Democratic Reform Party (DRP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) were
  disbanded in May 1991
Other political or pressure groups:
  African National Congress (ANC), Nelson MANDELA, president; Inkatha Freedom
  Party (IFP), Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president; Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC),
  Clarence MAKWETU, president
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal, but voting rights are racially based
Elections:
 House of Assembly (whites):
  last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held by NA March 1995); results - NP
  58%, CP 23%, DP 19%; seats - (178 total, 166 elected) NP 103, CP 41, DP 34;
  note - by February 1992, because of byelections, splits, and defections,
  changes in number of seats held by parties were as follows: NP 102, CP 36,
  DP 28, AVU 5, independent 7

*South Africa, Government

 House of Representatives (Coloreds):
  last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held no later than March 1995);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total, 80 elected) LP 69,
  DRP 5, UDP 3, Freedom Party 1, independents 2; note - by October 1992 many
  representatives had changed their allegiance causing the following changes
  in seating: NP 44, LP 27, DP 6, Freedom Party 1, independents 6, vacant 1
 House of Delegates (Indians):
  last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held no later than March 1995);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total, 40 elected)
  Solidarity 16, NPP 9, Merit People's Party 3, independents 6, other 6; note
  - due to delegates changing party affiliation, seating as of October 1992
  is as follows: Solidarity 25, NPP 7, Merit People's Party 2, other 8,
  independents 3
 note:
  tentative agreement to hold national election open to all races for a
  400-seat constitutient assembly on 27 April 1994
Executive branch:
  state president, Executive Council (cabinet), Ministers' Councils (from the
  three houses of Parliament)
Legislative branch:
  tricameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of the House of Assembly
  (Volksraad; whites), House of Representatives (Raad van Verteenwoordigers;
  Coloreds), and House of Delegates (Raad van Afgevaardigdes; Indians)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  State President Frederik Willem DE KLERK (since 13 September 1989)
Member of:
  BIS, CCC, ECA, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO (suspended), ICC, IDA, IFC, IMF,
  INTELSAT, ISO, ITU (suspended), LORCS, SACU, UN, UNCTAD, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO (suspended)
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Harry SCHWARZ
 chancery:
  3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 232-4400
 consulates general:
  Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, Houston, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Princeton N. LYMAN
 embassy:
  Thibault House, 225 Pretorius Street, Pretoria
 telephone:
  [27] (12) 28-4266
 FAX:
  [27] (12) 21-9278
 consulates general:
  Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
Flag:
  actually four flags in one - three miniature flags reproduced in the center
  of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three
  equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags
  are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal
  flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old
  Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side

*South Africa, Economy

Overview:
  Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes,
  material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those of
  Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers from
  the poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment and lack of
  job skills. The main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral
  resources, which provide two-thirds of exports. Economic developments in the
  1990s will be driven partly by the changing relations among the various
  ethnic groups. The shrinking economy in recent years has absorbed less than
  10% 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.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $115 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  -2% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $2,800 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  13.9% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  45% (well over 50% in some homeland areas) (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $28 billion; expenditures $36 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $3 billion (FY93 est.)
Exports:
  $23.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  gold 27%, other minerals and metals 20-25%, food 5%, chemicals 3%
 partners:
  Italy, Japan, US, Germany, UK, other EC countries, Hong Kong
Imports:
  $18.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, oil, textiles,
  scientific instruments
 partners:
  Germany, Japan, UK, US, Italy
External debt:
  $18 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for about 40% of GDP
Electricity:
  46,000,000 kW capacity; 180,000 million kWh produced, 4,100 kWh per capita
  (1991)
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
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  1 rand (R) = 100 cents

*South Africa, Economy

Exchange rates:
  rand (R) per US$1 - 3.1576 (May 1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863
  (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*South Africa, Communications

Railroads:
  20,638 km route distance total; 20,324 km of 1.067-meter gauge trackage
  (counts double and multiple tracking as single track); 314 km of 610 mm
  gauge; substantial electrification of 1.067 meter gauge
Highways:
  188,309 km total; 54,013 km paved, 134,296 km crushed stone, gravel, or
  improved earth
Pipelines:
  crude oil 931 km, petroleum products 1,748 km, natural gas 322 km
Ports:
  Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richard's Bay, Saldanha, Mosselbaai,
  Walvis Bay
Merchant marine:
  5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 213,708 GRT/201,043 DWT; includes 4
  container, 1 vehicle carrier
Airports:
 total:
  899
 usable:
  713
 with permanent-surface runways:
  136
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  5
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  10
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  221
Telecommunications:   the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity
  in Africa; it consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables,
  radio relay links, fiber optic cable, and radiocommunication stations; key
  centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth,
  and Pretoria; over 4,500,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 286 FM,
  67 TV; 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
  and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

*South Africa, Defense Forces

Branches:
  South African Defense Force (SADF; including Army, Navy, Air Force, Medical
  Services), South African Police (SAP)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 10,294,211; fit for military service 6,279,190; reach
  military age (18) annually 425,477 (1993 est.); obligation for service in
  Citizen Force or Commandos begins at 18; black and white volunteers for
  service in permanent force must be 17; national service obligation for white
  conscripts is one year; figures include the so-called homelands not
  recognized by the US
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion, about 2.5% of GDP (FY93 budget)

*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the south Argentine coast, southeast of the
  Falkland Islands
Map references:
  Antarctic Region
Area:
 total area:
  4,066 km2
 land area:
  4,066 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Rhode Island
 note:
  includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  NA km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:   12 nm
International disputes:
  administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
Climate:
  variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed with
  periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
Terrain:
  most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and
  mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered
  mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some
  active volcanoes
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation
  consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia; weather
  conditions generally make it difficult to approach the South Sandwich
  Islands; the South Sandwich Islands are subject to active volcanism
Note:
  the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good
  anchorage

*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, People

Population:
  no indigenous population; there is a small military garrison on South
  Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on Bird
  Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited

*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
 conventional short form:
  none
Digraph:
  SX
Type:   dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
Administrative divisions:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  3 October 1985
Legal system:
  English common law
National holiday:
  Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Executive branch:
  British monarch, commissioner
Legislative branch:
  none
Judicial branch:
  none
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Commissioner
  David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident at Stanley, Falkland
  Islands)

*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Economy

Overview:
  Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of
  income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The islands receive income from
  postage stamps produced in the UK.
Budget:
  revenues $291,777; expenditures $451,011, including capital expenditures of
  $NA (FY88 est.)
Electricity:
  900 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita (1992)

*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Communications

Highways:
  NA
Ports:
  Grytviken on South Georgia
Airports:
 total:
  5
 usable:
  5
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0  with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  coastal radio station at Grytviken; no broadcast stations

*South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Spain, Geography

Location:
  Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
  Mediterranean Sea, between Portugal and France
Map references:
  Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  504,750 km2
 land area:
  499,400 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
 note:
  includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of sovereignty
  (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta, Mellila,
  Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera
Land boundaries:
  total 1,903.2 km, Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal
  1,214 km
Coastline:
  4,964 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty
  (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves
  of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of
  Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
Climate:
  temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along
  coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
Terrain:
  large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in
  north
Natural resources:   coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc,
  lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower
Land use:
 arable land:
  31%
 permanent crops:
  10%
 meadows and pastures:
  21%
 forest and woodland:
  31%
 other:
  7%
Irrigated land:
  33,600 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  deforestation; air pollution
Note:
  strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

*Spain, People

Population:
  39,207,159 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.24% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  10.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.76 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.51 years
 male:
  74.22 years
 female:
  81.04 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.38 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Spaniard(s)
 adjective:
  Spanish
Ethnic divisions:
  composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%
Languages:
  Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  95%
 male:
  97%
 female:
  93%
Labor force:
  14.621 million
 by occupation:
  services 53%, industry 24%, agriculture 14%, construction 9% (1988)

*Spain, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Spain
 conventional short form:
  Spain
 local short form:
  Espana
Digraph:
  SP
Type:
  parliamentary monarchy
Capital:
  Madrid
Administrative divisions:
  17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad
  autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La
  Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura,
  Galicia, Islas Baleares, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco
 note:
  there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco (Ceuta,
  Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la
  Gomera) with administrative status unknown
Independence:
  1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)
Constitution:
  6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Legal system:
  civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 12 October
Political parties and leaders:
 principal national parties, from right to left:
  Popular Party (PP), Jose Maria AZNAR; Social Democratic 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; United Left (IU) a
  coalition of parties including the PCE, a branch of the PSOE, and other
  small parties, leader NA
 chief regional parties:
  Convergence and Unity (CiU), Jordi PUJOL Saley, in Catalonia; Basque
  Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS; Basque Solidarity (EA), Carlos
  GARAICOETXEA Urizza; Basque Popular Unity (HB), Jon IDIGORAS; Basque Left
  (EE), Juan Maria BANDRES; Basque Socialist Party (PSE); coalition of the
  PSE, EE, and PSOE, Jose Maria BANEGAS; Euskal Ezkerra (EUE), Xabier
  GURRUTXAGA; Andalusian Party (PA), Pedro PACHECO; Independent Canary Group
  (AIC), leader NA; Aragon Regional Party (PAR), leader NA; Valencian Union
  (UV), leader NA
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);
  the Catholic Church; business and landowning interests; Opus Dei; university
  students
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

*Spain, Government

Elections:
 Senate:
  last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (208 total) PSOE 106, PP 79, CiU 10,
  PNV 4, HB 3, AIC 1, other 5
 Congress of Deputies:
  last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993); results - PSOE
  39.6%, PP 25.8%, CDS 9%, IU 9%, CiU 5%, PNV 1.2%, HB 1%, PA 1%, other 8.4%;
  seats - (350 total) PSOE 175, PP 106, CiU 18, IU 17, CDS 14, PNV 5, HB 4,
  other 11
Executive branch:
  monarch, president of the government (prime minister), deputy prime
  minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State
Legislative branch:
  bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales)
  consists of an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or Congress
  of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE,
  EBRD, AfDB, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-8, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), LORCS, MTRC, NACC,
  NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNAVEM
  II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA y Eiseley
 chancery:
  2700 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 265-0190 or 0191
 consulates 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 G. CAPEN, Jr.
 embassy:
  Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
 mailing address:
  PSC 61, APO AE 09642
 telephone:
  [34] (1) 577-4000
 FAX:
  [34] (1) 577-5735
 consulate general:
  Barcelona
 consulate:
  Bilbao

*Spain, Government

Flag:
  three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the
  national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms
  includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two
  promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the
  Strait of Gibraltar

*Spain, Economy

Overview:
  Spain has done well since joining the EC in 1986. Foreign and domestic
  investments have spurred GDP growth at an annual average of more than 4% in
  1986-91. As of 1 January 1993, Spain has wholly liberalized its trade and
  capital markets to EC standards, including integrating agriculture two years
  ahead of schedule. Beginning in 1989, Madrid implemented a tight monetary
  policy to fight 7% inflation. As a result of this action and the worldwide
  decline in economic growth, Spain's growth rate declined to 1% in 1992.
  Spain faces a likely recession in first half 1993. The government expects a
  recovery in the second half, but this depends on stepped-up growth in
  Germany and France. The slowdown in growth - along with displacements caused
  by structural adjustments in preparation for the EC single market - has
  pushed an already high unemployment rate up to 19%. However, many people
  listed as unemployed work in the underground economy. If the government can
  stick to its tough economic policies and push further structural reforms,
  the economy will emerge stronger at the end of the 1990s.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $514.9 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  1% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $13,200 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  19% (yearend 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $122.9 billion; expenditures $140.2 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $62 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs, machinery
 partners:
  EC 71.0%, US 4.9%, other developed countries 7.9% (1991)
Imports:
  $100 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs,
  consumer goods, chemicals
 partners:
  EC 60.0%, US 8.0%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 2.6% (1991)
External debt:
  $67.5 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 0.6% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  46,600,000 kW capacity; 157,000 million kWh produced, 4,000 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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

*Spain, Economy

Illicit drugs:
  key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the
  European market
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1.9 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-79), $545.0 million; not
  currently a recipient
Currency:   1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
  pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 114.59 (January 1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91
  (1991), 101.93 (1990), 118.38 (1989), 116.49 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Spain, Communications

Railroads:
  15,430 km total; Spanish National Railways (RENFE) operates 12,691 km (all
  1.668-meter gauge, 6,184 km electrified, and 2,295 km double track); FEVE
  (government-owned narrow-gauge railways) operates 1,821 km (predominantly
  1.000-meter gauge, 441 km electrified); privately owned railways operate 918
  km (predominantly 1.000-meter gauge, 512 km electrified, and 56 km double
  track)
Highways:
  150,839 km total; 82,513 km national (includes 2,433 km limited-access
  divided highway, 63,042 km bituminous treated, 17,038 km intermediate
  bituminous, concrete, or stone block) and 68,326 km provincial or local
  roads (bituminous treated, intermediate bituminous, or stone block)
Inland waterways:
  1,045 km, but of minor economic importance
Pipelines:
  crude oil 265 km, petroleum products 1,794 km, natural gas 1,666 km
Ports:
  Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon
  de la Plana, Ceuta, El Ferrol del Caudillo, Puerto de Gijon, Huelva, La
  Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Mahon, Malaga, Melilla, Rota, Santa
  Cruz de Tenerife, Sagunto, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo, and 175 minor ports
Merchant marine:
  242 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,394,175 GRT/4,262,868 DWT; includes
  2 passenger, 8 short-sea passenger, 71 cargo, 12 refrigerated cargo, 12
  container, 32 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 vehicle carrier, 41 oil tanker, 14
  chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 3 specialized tanker, 36 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  105
 usable:
  99
 with permanent-surface runways:
  60
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  22
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  26
Telecommunications:
  generally adequate, modern facilities; 15,350,464 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 190 AM, 406 (134 repeaters) FM, 100 (1,297 repeaters) TV; 22
  coaxial submarine cables; 2 communications satellite earth stations
  operating in INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean); MARECS, INMARSAT,
  and EUTELSAT systems; tropospheric links

*Spain, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, Coastal Civil
  Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 10,299,960; fit for military service 8,341,046; reach
  military age (20) annually 338,231 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $9.6 billion, 1.6% of GDP (1992)

*Spratly Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the South China Sea, between Vietnam and the Philippines
Map references:
  Asia, Southeast Asia
Area:
 total area:
  NA km2 but less than 5 km2
 land area:
  less than 5 km2
 comparative area:
  NA
 note:
  includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over the
  South China Sea
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  926 km
Maritime claims:
  NA
International disputes:
  all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts
  of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei
  established an exclusive economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but
  has not publicly claimed the island
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:
  flat
Natural resources:
  fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%  forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  subject to typhoons; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and
  coral reefs
Note:
  strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central
  South China Sea; serious navigational hazard

*Spratly Islands, People

Population:
  no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered garrisons

*Spratly Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Spratly Islands
Digraph:
  PG

*Spratly Islands, Economy

Overview:
  Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing; proximity to nearby oil-
  and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas
  deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable
  estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be
  developed.
Industries:
  none

*Spratly Islands, Communications

Ports:
  no natural harbors
Airports:
 total:
  4
 usable:
  4  with permanent-surfaced runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0

*Spratly Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the
  Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

*Sri Lanka, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, 29 km southeast of India across the Palk Strait in the Indian
  Ocean
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  65,610 km2
 land area:
  64,740 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  1,340 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon
  (June to October)
Terrain:
  mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Natural resources:
  limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay
Land use:  arable land:
  16%
 permanent crops:
  17%
 meadows and pastures:
  7%
 forest and woodland:
  37%
 other:
  23%
Irrigated land:
  5,600 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  occasional cyclones, tornados; deforestation; soil erosion
Note:
  strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

*Sri Lanka, People

Population:
  17,838,190 (July 1993 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; fewer
  than 10,000 Tamils have been successfully repatriated to Sri Lanka
Population growth rate:
  1.11% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  18.71 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.84 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  22.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  71.51 years
 male:
  68.94 years
 female:
  74.21 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.13 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Sri Lankan(s)
 adjective:
  Sri Lankan
Ethnic divisions:
  Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%
Religions:
  Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%
Languages:
  Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%
 note:
  English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the
  population
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  88%
 male:
  93%
 female:
  84%
Labor force:
  6.6 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 45.9%, mining and manufacturing 13.3%, trade and transport
  12.4%, services and other 28.4% (1985 est.)

*Sri Lanka, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
 conventional short form:
  Sri Lanka
 former:
  Ceylon
Digraph:
  CE
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Colombo
Administrative divisions:
  8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western,
  Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Independence:
  4 February 1948 (from UK)
Constitution:
  31 August 1978
Legal system:
  a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim,
  Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)
Political parties and leaders:
  United National Party (UNP), Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA; Sri Lanka Freedom
  Party (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), M. H.
  M. ASHRAFF; All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Kumar PONNAMBALAM; People's
  United Front (MEP, or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; Eelam
  Democratic Front (EDF), Edward SEBASTIAN PILLAI; Tamil United Liberation
  Front (TULF), leader NA; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students
  (EROS), Velupillai BALAKUMARAN; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama
  Samaja Party), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP,
  or Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. DE SILVA; Sri Lanka People's Party
  (SLMP, or Sri Lanka Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA; Communist Party,
  K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing (CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic
  United National Front (DUNF), Lalith ATHULATHMUDALI and Gamini DISSANAYAKE
 note:
  the United Socialist Alliance (USA) includes the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and
  CP/B
Other political or pressure groups:
  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist
  groups; Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP or People's Liberation Front and
  several other radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups); Buddhist clergy;
  Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups; labor unions
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 19 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1994); results -
  Ranasinghe PREMADASA (UNP) 50%, Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE (SLFP) 45%, other 5%;
  note - following the assassination of President PREMADASA on 1 May 1993,
  Prime Minister WIJETUNGA became acting president; on 7 May 1993, he was
  confirmed by a vote of Parliament to finish out the term of the assassinated
  president

*Sri Lanka, Government

 Parliament:
  last held 15 February 1989 (next to be held by NA February 1995); results -
  UNP 51%, SLFP 32%, SLMC 4%, TULF 3%, USA 3%, EROS 3%, MEP 1%, other 3%;
  seats - (225 total) UNP 125, SLFP 67, other 33
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA (since 7 May 1993)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMASINGHE (since 7 May 1993)
Member of:
  AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
  ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
  IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ananda GURUGE
 chancery:
  2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:   (202) 483-4025 through 4028
 consulate general:
  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) 44-80-07
 FAX:
  [94] (1) 43-73-45
Flag:
  yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical
  bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red
  rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf
  in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the
  entire flag and extends between the two panels

*Sri Lanka, Economy

Overview:
  Agriculture, forestry, and fishing dominate the economy, employing half of
  the labor force and accounting for one quarter of GDP. The plantation crops
  of tea, rubber, and coconuts provide about one-third of export earnings. 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
  1991-92 as domestic conditions began to improve and conditions for foreign
  investment brightened.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $7.75 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $440 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  10% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  15% (1991 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $2.0 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $500 million (1992)
Exports:
  $2.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  textiles and garments, teas, petroleum products, coconuts, rubber, other
  agricultural products, gems and jewelry, marine products, graphite
 partners:
  US 27.4%, Germany, Japan, UK, Belgium, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China
Imports:
  $3.1 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:   food and beverages, textiles and textile materials, petroleum and petroleum
  products, machinery and equipment
 partners:
  Japan, Iran, US 5.7%, India, Taiwan, Singapore, Germany, UK
External debt:
  $5.7 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
  1,300,000 kW capacity; 3,600 million kWh produced, 200 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities;
  cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco, clothing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 26% of GDP and nearly half of labor force; most important
  staple crop is paddy rice; other field crops - 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.0 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $5.1 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $169 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $369
  million
Currency:
  1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 46.342 (January 1993), 43.687 (1992),
  41.372 (1991), 40.063 (1990), 36.047 (1989), 31.807 (1988)

*Sri Lanka, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Sri Lanka, Communications

Railroads:
  1,948 km total (1990); all 1.868-meter broad gauge; 102 km double track; no
  electrification; government owned
Highways:
  75,749 km total (1990); 27,637 km paved (mostly bituminous treated), 32,887
  km crushed stone or gravel, 14,739 km improved earth or unimproved earth;
  several thousand km of mostly unmotorable tracks (1988 est.)
Inland waterways:
  430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft
Pipelines:
  crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)
Ports:
  Colombo, Trincomalee
Merchant marine:
  27 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 276,074 GRT/443,266 DWT; includes 12
  cargo, 6 refrigerated cargo, 3 container, 3 oil tanker, 3 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  14
 usable:
  13
 with permanent-surface runways:
  12
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  8
Telecommunications:
  very inadequate domestic service, good international service; 114,000
  telephones (1982); broadcast stations - 12 AM, 5 FM, 5 TV; submarine cables
  extend to Indonesia and Djibouti; 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Sri Lanka, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 4,779,221; fit for military service 3,730,737; reach
  military age (18) annually 178,032 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $365 million, 4.7% of GDP (1992)

*Sudan, Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, along the Red Sea, between Egypt and Ethiopia
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  2,505,810 km2
 land area:
  2.376 million km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Land boundaries:
  total 7,697 km, Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Egypt
  1,273 km, Ethiopia 2,221 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km,
  Zaire 628 km
Coastline:
  853 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  18 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to 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 km2, the dispute over this area escalated in 1993
Climate:
  tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October)
Terrain:
  generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west
Natural resources:
  small reserves of petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten,
  mica, silver
Land use:
 arable land:
  5%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  24%
 forest and woodland:
  20%
 other:
  51%
Irrigated land:
  18,900 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  dominated by the Nile and its tributaries; dust storms; desertification
Note:
  largest country in Africa

*Sudan, People

Population:
  28,730,381 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.38% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  42.65 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -6.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  81.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  53.85 years
 male:
  53 years
 female:
  54.73 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:   6.19 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Sudanese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Sudanese
Ethnic divisions:
  black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in
  south and Khartoum)
Languages:
  Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic,
  Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
 note:
  program of Arabization in process
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  27%
 male:
  43%
 female:
  12%
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.);
  52% of population of working age (1985)

*Sudan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of the Sudan
 conventional short form:
  Sudan
 local long form:
  Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
 local short form:
  As-Sudan
 former:
  Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Digraph:
  SU
Type:
  military civilian government suspended and martial law imposed after 30 June
  1989 coup
Capital:
  Khartoum
Administrative divisions:
  9 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or wilayah*); A'ali an Nil, Al Wusta*,,   Al Istiwa'iyah*,,
Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr al,   Ghazal, Darfur, Kurdufan
Independence:
  1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
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
  Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the six northern states
  of Al Wusta, Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah, Ash Sharqiyah, Darfur, and
  Kurdufan; the council is still studying criminal provisions under Islamic
  law; Islamic law will apply to all residents of the six northern states
  regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Political parties and leaders:
  none; banned following 30 June 1989 coup
Other political or pressure groups:
  National Islamic Front, Hasan al-TURABI
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
  none
Executive branch:
  executive and legislative authority vested in a 10-member Revolutionary
  Command Council (RCC); chairman of the RCC acts as prime minister; in July
  1989, RCC appointed a predominately civilian 22-member cabinet to function
  as advisers
 note:
  Lt. Gen. BASHIR's military 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

*Sudan, Government

Legislative branch:
  appointed 300-member Transitional National Assembly; note - as announced 1
  January 1992 by RCC Chairman BASHIR, the Assembly assumes all legislative
  authority for Sudan until the eventual, unspecified resumption of national
  elections
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Special Revolutionary Courts
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  Revolutionary Command Council Chairman and Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Umar
  Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 30 June 1989); Deputy Chairman of the Command
  Council and Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH Ahmed
  (since 9 July 1989)
Member of:
  ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
  ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU,
  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador 'Abdalla Ahmad 'ABDALLA
 chancery:
  2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 338-8565 through 8570
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Donald K. PETTERSON
 embassy:
  Shar'ia Ali Abdul Latif, Khartoum
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 699, Khartoum, or APO AE 09829
 telephone:
  74700 or 74611
 FAX:
  Telex 22619
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green
  isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

*Sudan, Economy

Overview:
  Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse
  weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances from abroad, and
  counterproductive economic policies. The economy is dominated by
  governmental entities that 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. The economy's base is
  agriculture, which 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. Despite subsequent government efforts to
  implement reforms urged by the IMF and the World Bank, the economy remained
  stagnant in FY91 as entrepreneurs lack the incentive to take economic risks.
  Growth in 1992 was featured by the recovery of agricultural production in
  northern Sudan after two years of drought.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5.2 billion (FY92 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  9% (FY92 est.)
National product per capita:
  $184 (FY92 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  150% (FY92 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  30% (FY92 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $1.3 billion; expenditures $2.1 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $505 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $315 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.)
 commodities:
  cotton 52%, sesame, gum arabic, peanuts
 partners:
  Western Europe 46%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Eastern Europe 9%, Japan 9%, US 3%
  (FY88)
Imports:
  $1.3 billion (c.i.f., FY92 est.)
 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% (FY88)
External debt:
  $15 billion (June 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.8%; accounts for 11% of GDP (FY92)
Electricity:
  610,000 kW capacity; 905 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling,
  shoes, petroleum refining
Agriculture:
  accounts for 35% of GDP and 80% of labor force; water shortages; two-thirds
  of land area suitable for raising crops and livestock; major products -
  cotton, oilseeds, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sheep; marginally
  self-sufficient in most foods

*Sudan, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.5 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $5.1 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $588
  million
Currency:
  1 Sudanese pound (#Sd) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates:
  official rate - Sudanese pounds (#Sd) per US$1 - 124 (January 1993), 90.1
  (March 1992), 5.4288 (1991), 4.5004 (fixed rate since 1987), 2.8121 (1987);
  note - free market rate 155 (January 1993)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Sudan, Communications

Railroads:
  5,516 km total; 4,800 km 1.067-meter gauge, 716 km 1.6096-meter-gauge
  plantation line
Highways:
  20,703 km total; 2,000 km bituminous treated, 4,000 km gravel, 2,304 km
  improved earth, 12,399 km unimproved earth and track
Inland waterways:
  5,310 km navigable
Pipelines:
  refined products 815 km
Ports:
  Port Sudan, Sawakin
Merchant marine:
  5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,277 GRT/59,588 DWT; includes 3
  cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off
Airports:
 total:
  68
 usable:
  56
 with permanent-surface runways:
  10
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  6
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  30
Telecommunications:
  large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequate and
  poorly maintained by modern standards; consists of microwave radio relay,
  cable, radio communications, troposcatter, and a domestic satellite system
  with 14 stations; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 3 TV; satellite earth stations
  for international traffic - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT

*Sudan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 6,488,864; fit for military service 3,986,084; reach
  military age (18) annually 301,573 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $339 million, 2.2% of GDP (1989 est.)

*Suriname, Geography

Location:
  Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between French
  Guiana and Guyana
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  163,270 km2
 land area:
  161,470 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
  total 1,707 km, Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline:
  386 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini
  (both headwaters of the Lawa); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper
  Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
  mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Natural resources:
  timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, and small
  amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  97%
 other:
  3%
Irrigated land:
  590 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  mostly tropical rain forest

*Suriname, People

Population:
  416,321 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.54% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  25.85 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:   -4.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  32.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.14 years
 male:
  66.65 years
 female:
  71.76 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.85 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Surinamer(s)
 adjective:
  Surinamese
Ethnic divisions:
  Hindustani (East Indian) 37%, Creole (black and mixed) 31%, Javanese 15.3%,
  Bush black 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, Sranan Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes
  called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles and much of the younger
  population and is lingua franca among others, Hindi Suriname Hindustani (a
  variant of Bhoqpuri), Javanese
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  95%
 male:
  95%
 female:
  95%
Labor force:
  104,000 (1984)
 by occupation:
  NA

*Suriname, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Suriname
 conventional short form:
  Suriname
 local long form:
  Republiek Suriname
 local short form:
  Suriname
 former:
  Netherlands Guiana Dutch Guiana
Digraph:
  NS
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Paramaribo
Administrative divisions:
  10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne,
  Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini,
  Wanica
Independence:
  25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
Constitution:
  ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Political parties and leaders:
  The New Front (NF), leader NA, a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI,
  SPA); 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 DARBY; 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), Cipriano
  ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire
  BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan
  KROLIS, chairman; National Republic Party (PNR), Robin RAVALES
Other political or pressure groups:
  Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY;
  Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Saramaccaner Bosneger
  Angula Movement, Carlos MAASSI; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement,
  Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  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)
 National Assembly:
  last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of
  vote NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, Independent 2

*Suriname, Government

Executive branch:
  president, vice president and prime minister, Cabinet of Ministers, Council
  of State; note - Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains
  significant power
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Ronald R. VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991); Vice President and
  Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since 16 September 1991)
Member of:
  ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, GATT, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, 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:
  (202) 244-7488 or 7490 through 7492
 consulate general:
  Miami
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador John (Jack) P. LEONARD
 embassy:
  Dr. Sophie Redmonstraat 129, Paramaribo
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribo
 telephone:
  [597] 472900, 477881, or 476459
 FAX:
  [597] 410025
Flag:
  five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple
  width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow
  five-pointed star centered in the red band

*Suriname, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for 15% of
  GDP and about 70% of export earnings. The economy has been in trouble since
  the Dutch ended development aid in 1982. A drop in world bauxite prices
  which started in the late 1970s and continued until late 1986 was followed
  by the outbreak of a guerrilla insurgency in the interior that crippled the
  important bauxite sector. Although the insurgency has since ebbed and the
  bauxite sector recovered, a military coup in December 1990 reflected
  continued political instability and deterred investment and economic reform.
  High inflation, high unemployment, widespread black market activity, and
  hard currency shortfalls continue to mark the economy.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.35 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -2.5% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $3,300 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  26% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  16.5% (1990)
Budget:
  revenues $466 million; expenditures $716 million, including capital
  expenditures of $123 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
  $417 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
 partners:
  Norway 36%, Netherlands 28%, US 11%, Japan 7%, Brazil 5%, UK 5% (1989)
Imports:
  $514 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
 partners:
  US 41%, Netherlands 24%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Brazil 4% (1989)
External debt:
  $138 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -5.0% (1991 est.); accounts for 27% of GDP
Electricity:
  458,000 kW capacity; 2,018 million kWh produced, 4,920 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing,
  fishing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 10.4% 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
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $2.5 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion
Currency:
  1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - 1.7850 (fixed rate
  until October 1992), 25.04 (January 1992)

*Suriname, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Suriname, Communications

Railroads:
  166 km total; 86 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned, and 80 km
  1.435-meter standard gauge; all single track
Highways:
  8,300 km total; 500 km paved; 5,400 km bauxite gravel, crushed stone, or
  improved earth; 2,400 km sand or clay
Inland waterways:
  1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts
  ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways
Ports:
  Paramaribo, Moengo, Nicuw Nickerie
Merchant marine:
  3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,472 GRT/8,914 DWT; includes 2 cargo,
  1 container
Airports:
 total:
  46
 usable:
  39
 with permanent-surface runways:
  6
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  international facilities good; domestic microwave system; 27,500 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 5 AM, 14 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT earth stations

*Suriname, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Army (including Navy which is company-size, small Air Force
  element), Civil Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 111,716; fit for military service 66,429 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Svalbard, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of Norway)

*Svalbard, Geography

Location:
  in the Arctic Ocean where the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and
  Norwegian Sea meet, 445 km north of Norway
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  62,049 km2
 land area:
  62,049 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than West Virginia
 note:
  includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  3,587 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia
 territorial sea:
  4 nm
International disputes:
  focus of maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and
  Russia
Climate:
  arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters;
  North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen,
  keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain:
  wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of
  ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Natural resources:
  coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  great calving glaciers descend to the sea
Note:
  northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands;
  glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area

*Svalbard, People

Population:   3,209 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -2.84% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years
 female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman
Ethnic divisions:
  Russian 64%, Norwegian 35%, other 1% (1981)
Languages:
  Russian, Norwegian
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

*Svalbard, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Svalbard
Digraph:
  SV
Type:
  territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through
  a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9
  February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway
Capital:
  Longyearbyen
Independence:
  none (territory of Norway)
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:   NA
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991)
 Head of Government:
  Governor (vacant)
Member of:
  none
Flag:
  the flag of Norway is used

*Svalbard, Economy

Overview:
  Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9
  February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to
  exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK,
  Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies
  still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are
  essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs
  nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local
  services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some
  trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
Budget:
  revenues $13.3 million; expenditures $13.3 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1990)
Electricity:
  21,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 13,860 kWh per capita (1992)
Currency:
  1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore
Exchange rates:
  Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.8774 (January 1993), 6.2145 (1992),
  6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988)

*Svalbard, Communications

Ports:
  limited facilities - Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay
Airports:
 total:
  4
 usable:
  4
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:   5 meteorological/radio stations; local telephone service; broadcast stations
  - 1 AM, 1 (2 repeaters) FM, 1 TV; satellite communication with Norwegian
  mainland

*Svalbard, Defense Forces

Note:
  demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)

*Swaziland, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  17,360 km2
 land area:
  17,200 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
  total 535 km, Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain:
  mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Natural resources:
  asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and
  diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
 arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  67%
 forest and woodland:
  6%
 other:
  19%
Irrigated land:
  620 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Note:
  landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

*Swaziland, People

Population:
  906,932 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.18% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  43.22 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  95.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  55.94 years
 male:
  51.97 years
 female:
  60.03 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Swazi(s)
 adjective:
  Swazi
Ethnic divisions:
  African 97%, European 3%
Religions:
  Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages:
  English (official; government business conducted in English), siSwati
  (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
 total population:
  55%
 male:
  57%
 female:
  54%
Labor force:
  195,000 (over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; about 92,000 wage
  earners - many only intermittently)
 by occupation:
  agriculture and forestry 36%, community and social service 20%,
  manufacturing 14%, construction 9%, other 21%
 note:
  15,980 employed in South African gold and coal mines (1991)

*Swaziland, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Swaziland
 conventional short form:
  Swaziland
Digraph:
  WZ
Type:
  monarchy independent member of Commonwealth
Capital:
  Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions:
  4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence:
  6 September 1968 (from UK)
Constitution:
  none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on 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
National holiday:
  Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Political parties and leaders:
  none; banned by the Constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
  direct legislative elections rescheduled for June 1993
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists of an upper house or Senate
  and a lower house or House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
  High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Obed Mfanyana DLAMINI (since 12 July 1989)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
  IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA
 chancery:   3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 362-6683
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Stephen H. ROGERS
 embassy:
  Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane

*Swaziland, Government

 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
 telephone:
  [268] 46441 through 46445
 FAX:
  [268] 45959
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red
  band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white
  shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all
  placed horizontally

*Swaziland, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies most of the
  labor force 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 in 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 75% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $700 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2.5% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $800 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  13% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $342 million; expenditures $410 million, including capital
  expenditures of $130 million (FY94 est.)
Exports:
  $575 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, citrus, canned fruit
 partners:
  South Africa 50% (est.), EC countries, Canada
Imports:
  $730 million (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products,
  foodstuffs, chemicals
 partners:
  South Africa 75% (est.), Japan, Belgium, UK
External debt:
  $290 million (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for 26% of GDP (1989)
Electricity:
  60,000 kW capacity; 155 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar
Agriculture:
  accounts for 23% of GDP and 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $142 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $518 million
Currency:
  1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  emalangeni (E) per US$1 -3.1576 (May 1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991),
  2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988); note - the Swazi emalangeni is
  at par with the South African rand

*Swaziland, Economy

Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Swaziland, Communications

Railroads:
  297 km (plus 71 km disused), 1.067-meter gauge, single track
Highways:
  2,853 km total; 510 km paved, 1,230 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized
  soil, and 1,113 km improved earth
Airports:
 total:
  23
 usable:
  21
 with permanent-surfaced runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:   0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and low-capacity
  microwave links; 17,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV;
  1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Swaziland, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 197,214; fit for military service 114,097 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $22 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)

*Sweden, Geography

Location:
  Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Norway and Finland
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  449,964 km2
 land area:
  410,928 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
  total 2,205 km, Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline:
  3,218 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy
  summers; subarctic in north
Terrain:
  mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Natural resources:
  zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  7%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  2%
 forest and woodland:
  64%
 other:
  27%
Irrigated land:
  1,120 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  water pollution; acid rain
Note:
  strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

*Sweden, People

Population:
  8,730,286 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.58% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.78 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.96 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  2.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  78.08 years
 male:
  75.3 years
 female:
  81.02 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.04 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Swede(s)
 adjective:
  Swedish
Ethnic divisions:
  white, Lapp, foreign born or first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns,
  Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5%
  (1987)
Languages:
  Swedish  note:
  small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities; immigrants speak native
  languages
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  4.552 million
 by occupation:
  community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing
  21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9.0%,
  communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry
  3.2% (1991)

*Sweden, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Sweden
 conventional short form:
  Sweden
 local long form:
  Konungariket Sverige
 local short form:
  Sverige
Digraph:
  SW
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Stockholm
Administrative divisions:
  24 provinces (lan, singular and plural); Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan,
  Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan,
  Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads
  Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan,
  Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan,
  Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan,
  Vastmanlands Lan
Independence:
  6 June 1809 (constitutional monarchy established)
Constitution:
  1 January 1975
Legal system:
  civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Political parties and leaders:   ruling four-party coalition consists of Moderate Party
(conservative), Carl
  BILDT; Liberal People's Party, Bengt WESTERBERG; Center Party, Olof
  JOHANSSON; and the Christian Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; Social
  Democratic Party, Ingvar CARLSSON; New Democracy Party, Count Ian
  WACHTMEISTER; Left Party (VP; Communist), Gudrun SCHYMAN; Communist Workers'
  Party, Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Riksdag:
  last held 15 September 1991 (next to be held NA September 1994); results -
  Social Democratic Party 37.6%, Moderate Party (conservative) 21.9%, Liberal
  People's Party 9.1%, Center Party 8.5%, Christian Democrats 7.1%, New
  Democracy 6.7%, Left Party (Communist) 4.5%, Green Party 3.4%, other 1.2%;
  seats - (349 total) Social Democratic 138, Moderate Party (conservative) 80,
  Liberal People's Party 33, Center Party 31, Christian Democrats 26, New
  Democracy 25, Left Party (Communist) 16; note - the Green Party has no seats
  in the Riksdag because it received less than the required 4% of the vote
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral parliament (Riksdag)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)

*Sweden, Government

Leaders:
 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 Carl BILDT (since 3 October 1991); Deputy Prime Minister
  Bengt WESTERBERG (since NA)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM
  (cooperating country), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-6, G-8, G-9, G-10,
  GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, INTELSAT, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTRC, NAM
  (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR,
  UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Carl Henrik LILJEGREN
 chancery:
  Suite 1200 and 715, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
 telephone:
  (202) 944-5600
 FAX:
  (202) 342-1319
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:  chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  [46] (8) 783-5300
 FAX:
  [46] (8) 661-1964
Flag:
  blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical
  part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog
  (Danish flag)

*Sweden, Economy

Overview:
  Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World War I through
  World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a
  mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has
  a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external
  communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore
  constitute the resource base of an economy that is heavily oriented toward
  foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial
  output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and
  exports. In 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 - almost 13% of
  GDP in FY94 projections - and record unemployment have forestalled many of
  the plans. Unemployment in 1993 is forecast at around 7% 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 around 2.5% against the dollar. The
  government hopes the boost in export competitiveness from the depreciation
  will help lift Sweden out of its 3-year recession. To curb the budget
  deficit and bolster confidence in the economy, BILDT continues to propose
  cuts in welfare benefits, subsidies, defense, and foreign aid. Sweden
  continues to harmonize its economic policies with those of the EC in
  preparation for concluding its EC membership bid by 1995.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $145.6 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  -1.7% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $16,900 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.3% (1992)
Unemployment rate:   5.3% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $70.4 billion; expenditures $82.5 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY92)
Exports:
  $56 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 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:
  $51.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles,
  foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing
 partners:
  EC 53.6% (Germany 17.9%, UK 6.3%, Denmark 7.5%, France 4.9%), EFTA (Norway
  6.6%, Finland 6%), US 8.4%, Central and Eastern Europe 3% (1992)
External debt:
  $19.5 billion (1992 est.)

*Sweden, Economy

Industrial production:
  growth rate -3.0% (1992)
Electricity:
  39,716,000 kW capacity; 142,500 million kWh produced, 16,560 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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; farming accounted for 1.2% of GDP and 1.9% of jobs in 1990
Illicit drugs:
  increasingly used as transshipment point for Latin American cocaine to
  Europe and gateway for Asian heroin shipped via the CIS and Baltic states
  for the European market
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion
Currency:
  1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 ore
Exchange rates:
  Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 6.8812 (December 1992), 5.8238 (1992),
  6.0475 (1991) 5.9188 (1990), 6.4469 (1989), 6.1272 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Sweden, Communications

Railroads:
  12,000 km total; Swedish State Railways (SJ) - 10,819 km 1.435-meter
  standard gauge, 6,955 km electrified and 1,152 km double track; 182 km
  0.891-meter gauge; 117 km rail ferry service; privately-owned railways - 511
  km 1.435-meter standard gauge (332 km electrified) and 371 km 0.891-meter
  gauge (all electrified)
Highways:
  97,400 km total; 51,899 km paved, 20,659 km gravel, 24,842 km unimproved
  earth
Inland waterways:
  2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
Pipelines:
  natural gas 84 km
Ports:
  Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Kalmar, Malmo, Stockholm; numerous
  secondary and minor ports
Merchant marine:
  179 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,473,769 GRT/3,227,366 DWT; includes
  10 short-sea passenger, 29 cargo, 3 container, 43 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 13
  vehicle carrier, 2 railcar carrier, 32 oil tanker, 27 chemical tanker, 4
  specialized tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 2 combination ore/oil, 10 bulk, 1
  combination bulk, 1 refrigerated cargo
Airports:
 total:
  253
 usable:
  250
 with permanent-surface runways:
  139
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  12
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  94
Telecommunications:
  excellent domestic and international facilities; 8,200,000 telephones;
  mainly coaxial and multiconductor cables carry long-distance network;
  parallel microwave network carries primarily radio, TV and some telephone
  channels; automatic system; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 360 (mostly
  repeaters) FM, 880 (mostly repeaters) TV; 5 submarine coaxial cables;
  satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 EUTELSAT

*Sweden, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Swedish Army, Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,156,720; fit for military service 1,884,121; reach
  military age (19) annually 57,383 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $6.7 billion, 3.8% of GDP (FY92/93)

*Switzerland, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, between France and Austria
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  41,290 km2
 land area:
  39,770 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
  total 1,852 km, Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein
  41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool
  to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain:
  mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau
  of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Natural resources:
  hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  10%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  40%
 forest and woodland:
  26%
 other:
  23%
Irrigated land:
  250 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  dominated by Alps
Note:
  landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with
  southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in
  Europe

*Switzerland, People

Population:
  6,986,621 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.83% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.24 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  5.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.99 years
 male:
  74.6 years
 female:
  81.54 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.6 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Swiss (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Swiss
Ethnic divisions:
 total population:
  German 65%
  French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
 Swiss nationals:
  German 74%
  French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1% (1980)
Languages:
  German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%, Romansch 1%, other 4%
 note:
  these are figures for Swiss nationals only -
  German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  3.31 million (904,095 foreign workers, mostly Italian)
 by occupation:
  services 50%, industry and crafts 33%, government 10%, agriculture and
  forestry 6%, other 1% (1989)

*Switzerland, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Swiss Confederation
 conventional short form:
  Switzerland
 local long form:
  Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German) Confederation Suisse (French)
  Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)
 local short form:
  Schweiz (German) Suisse (French) Svizzera (Italian)
Digraph:
  SZ
Type:
  federal republic
Capital:
  Bern
Administrative divisions:
  26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular -
  cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau,
  Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve,
  Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden,
  Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino,
  Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Independence:
  1 August 1291
Constitution:
  29 May 1874
Legal system:
  civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative
  acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory
  character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Political parties and leaders:
  Free Democratic Party (FDP), Bruno HUNZIKER, president; Social Democratic
  Party (SPS), Helmut HUBACHER, chairman; Christian Democratic People's Party
  (CVP), Eva SEGMULLER-WEBER, chairman; Swiss People's Party (SVP), Hans
  UHLMANN, president; Green Party (GPS), Peter SCHMID, president; Automobile
  Party (AP), DREYER; Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Dr. Franz JAEGER,
  president; Swiss Democratic Party (SD), NA; Evangelical People's Party
  (EVP), Max DUNKI, president; Workers' Party (PdA; Communist), Jean
  SPIELMANN, general secretary; Ticino League, leader NA; Liberal Party (LPS),
  Gilbert COUTAU, president
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Council of States:
  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:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Federal Council (German - Bundesrat, French -
  Conseil Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale)

*Switzerland, Government

Legislative branch:
  bicameral Federal Assembly (German - Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee
  Federale, Italian - Assemblea Federale) consists of an upper council or
  Council of States (German - Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats, Italian -
  Consiglio degli Stati) and a lower council or National Council (German -
  Nationalrat, French - Conseil National, Italian - Consiglio Nazionale)
Judicial branch:
  Federal Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Adolf OGI (1993 calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice
  President Otto STICH (term runs concurrently with that of president)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM
  (coopeating country), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-8, G-10, GATT,
  IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTRC, NAM
  (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edouard BRUNNER
 chancery:
  2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 745-7900
 FAX:
  (202) 387-2564
 consulates general:
  Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Joseph B. GILDENHORN
 embassy:
  Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  [41] (31) 437-011
 FAX:
  [41] (31) 437-344
 branch office:
  Geneva
 consulate general:
  Zurich
Flag:   red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not
  extend to the edges of the flag

*Switzerland, Economy

Overview:
  Switzerland's economy - one of the most prosperous and stable in the world -
  is nonetheless undergoing a painful adjustment after both the inflationary
  boom of the late-1980s and the electorate's rejection late last year of
  membership in the European Economic Area. Stubborn inflation and a soft
  economy have afflicted Switzerland. Despite slow growth in 1991-92, the
  Swiss central bank had been unable to ease monetary policy in the past three
  years because of the threat to the Swiss franc posed by high German interest
  rates. As a result, unemployment is forecast to rise from 3% in 1992 to more
  than 4% in 1993, with inflation moving down from 4% to 3%. The voters'
  rejection in December 1992 of a referendum on membership in the EEA which
  was supported by most political, business, and financial leaders has raised
  doubts that the country can maintain its preeminent prosperity and
  leadership in commercial banking in the 21st century. Despite these
  problems, Swiss per capita output, general living standards, education and
  science, health care, and diet remain unsurpassed in Europe. The country has
  few natural resources except for the scenic natural beauty that has made it
  a world leader in tourism. Management-labor relations remain generally
  harmonious.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $152.3 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  -0.6% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $22,300 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.1% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  3% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $24.0 billion; expenditures $23.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1990)
Exports:
  $62.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal products, foodstuffs,
  textiles and clothing
 partners:
  Western Europe 64% (EC countries 56%, other 8%), US 9%, Japan 4%
Imports:
  $68.5 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  agricultural products, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals,
  textiles, construction materials
 partners:
  Western Europe 78% (EC countries 71%, other 7%), US 6%
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:   growth rate 0.4% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
  17,710,000 kW capacity; 56,000 million kWh produced, 8,200 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Agriculture:
  dairy farming predominates; less than 50% self-sufficient in food; must
  import fish, refined sugar, fats and oils (other than butter), grains, eggs,
  fruits, vegetables, meat

*Switzerland, Economy

Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $3.5 billion
Currency:
  1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates:
  Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.4781 (January 1993),
  1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Switzerland, Communications

Railroads:
  4,418 km total; 3,073 km are government owned and 1,345 km are nongovernment
  owned; the government network consists of 2,999 km 1.435-meter standard
  gauge and 74 km 1.000-meter narrow gauge track; 1,432 km double track, 99%
  electrified; the nongovernment network consists of 510 km 1.435-meter
  standard gauge, and 835 km 1.000-meter gauge, 100% electrified
Highways:
  62,145 km total (all paved); 18,620 km are canton, 1,057 km are national
  highways (740 km autobahn), 42,468 km are communal roads
Inland waterways:
  65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable
  lakes
Pipelines:
  crude oil 314 km, natural gas 1,506 km
Ports:
  Basel (river port)
Merchant marine:
  23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 308,725 GRT/548,244 DWT; includes 5
  cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 8
  bulk, 1 oil tanker
Airports:
 total:
  66
 usable:
  65
 with permanent-surface runways:
  42  with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  5
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  18
Telecommunications:
  excellent domestic, international, and broadcast services; 5,890,000
  telephones; extensive cable and microwave networks; broadcast stations - 7
  AM, 265 FM, 18 (1,322 repeaters) TV; communications satellite earth station
  operating in the INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) system

*Switzerland, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (Air Force is part of the Army), Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,852,213; fit for military service 1,590,308; reach
  military age (20) annually 44,124 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 1.7% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Syria, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, along the Mediterranean Sea, between Turkey and Lebanon
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  185,180 km2
 land area:
  184,050 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than North Dakota
 note:
  includes 1,295 km2 of Israeli-occupied territory
Land boundaries:
  total 2,253 km, Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km,
  Turkey 822 km
Coastline:
  193 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  41 nm
 territorial sea:
  35 nm
International disputes:
  separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Golan Heights is Israeli
  occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; periodic disputes with Iraq over
  Euphrates water rights; 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
Terrain:
  primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in
  west
Natural resources:
  petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock
  salt, marble, gypsum
Land use:
 arable land:
  28%
 permanent crops:
  3%
 meadows and pastures:
  46%
 forest and woodland:
  3%
 other:
  20%
Irrigated land:
  6,700 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
  there are 38 Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights

*Syria, People

Population:
  14,338,527 (July 1993 est.)
 note:
  in addition, there are at least 14,500 Druze and 14,000 Jewish settlers in
  the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.76% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  44.08 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  43.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  66.12 years
 male:
  65.07 years
 female:
  67.22 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.75 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Syrian(s)
 adjective:
  Syrian
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian
  (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and
  Aleppo)
Languages:
  Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French widely
  understood
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  64%
 male:
  78%
 female:
  51%
Labor force:
  2.951 million (1989)
 by occupation:
  miscellaneous and government services 36%, agriculture 32%, industry and
  construction 32%; note - shortage of skilled labor (1984)

*Syria, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Syrian Arab Republic
 conventional short form:
  Syria
 local long form:
  Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
 local short form:
  Suriyah
 former:
  United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Digraph:
  SY
Type:
  republic under leftwing military regime since March 1963
Capital:
  Damascus
Administrative divisions:
  14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah,
  Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab,
  Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Independence:
  17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Constitution:   13 March 1973
Legal system:
  based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not
  accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 17 April (1946)
Political parties and leaders:
  ruling party is the Arab Socialist Resurrectionist (Ba'th) Party; the
  Progressive National is dominated by Ba'thists but includes independents and
  members of the Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP); Arab Socialist Union
  (ASU); Syrian Communist Party (SCP); Arab Socialist Unionist Movement; and
  Democratic Socialist Union Party
Other political or pressure groups:
  non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence; Communist party
  ineffective; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held December 1998); results -
  President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth seven-year term with
  99.98% of the vote
 People's Council:
  last held 22-23 May 1990 (next to be held NA May 1994); results - Ba'th
  53.6%, ASU 3.2%, SCP 3.2%, Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 2.8%, ASP 2%,
  Democratic Socialist Union Party 1.6%, independents 33.6%; seats - (250
  total) Ba'th 134, ASU 8, SCP 8, Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 7, ASP 5,
  Democratic Socialist Union Party 4, independents 84; note - the People's
  Council was expanded to 250 seats total prior to the May 1990 election
Executive branch:
  president, three vice presidents, prime minister, three deputy prime
  ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab)

*Syria, Government

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation,
  State Security Courts
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971 see note); Vice Presidents
  'Abd al-Halim KHADDAM, Rif'at al-ASAD, and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since
  11 March 1984); 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)
Member of:
  ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Walid MOUALEM
 chancery:
  2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 232-6313
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS
 embassy:
  Abu Rumaneh, Al Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 29, Damascus
 telephone:
  [963] (11) 333052 or 332557, 330416, 332814, 332315, 714108, 337178, 333232
 FAX:
  [963] (11) 718687
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small
  green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
  similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq,
  which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal
  line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which
  has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

*Syria, Economy

Overview:
  Syria's state-dominated Ba'thist economy has benefited from the Gulf war,
  increased oil production, good weather, and economic deregulation. Economic
  growth averaged nearly 12% annually in 1990-91, buoyed by increased oil
  production and improved agricultural performance. The Gulf war of early 1991
  provided Syria an aid windfall of nearly $5 billion dollars from Arab,
  European, and Japanese donors. These inflows more than offset Damascus's
  war-related costs and will help Syria cover some of its debt arrears,
  restore suspended credit lines, and initiate selected military and civilian
  purchases. In 1992 the government spurred economic development by loosening
  controls on domestic and foreign investment while maintaining strict
  political controls. For the long run, Syria's economy is still saddled with
  a large number of poorly performing public sector firms and industrial and
  agricultural productivity is poor. A major long-term concern is the
  additional drain of upstream Euphrates water by Turkey when its vast dam and
  irrigation projects are completed by mid-decade.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $30 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  9% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,300 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):   20% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  5.7% (1989)
Budget:
  revenues $5.4 billion; expenditures $7.5 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $2.9 billion (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum 45%, farm products 11%, textiles, phosphates 5% (1990)
 partners:
  USSR and Eastern Europe 44%, EC 34%, Arab countries 17%, US/Canada 1% (1990)
Imports:
  $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs and beverages 21%, machinery 15%, metal and metal products 15%,
  textiles 7%, petroleum products (1990)
 partners:
  EC 42%, USSR and Eastern Europe 13%, other Europe 13%, US/Canada 11%, Arab
  countries 6% (1990)
External debt:
  $5.3 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 6% (1991 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
  3,205,000 kW capacity; 11,900 million kWh produced, 830 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining,
  petroleum
Agriculture:
  accounts for 27% 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

*Syria, Economy

Illicit drugs:
  a transit country for Lebanese and Turkish refined cocaine going to Europe
  and heroin and hashish bound for the Persian Gulf area
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $538 million; Western (non-US)
  ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.23 billion; OPEC bilateral
  aid (1979-89), $12.3 billion; former Communist countries (1970-89), $3.3
  billion
Currency:
  1 Syrian pound (#S) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates:
  Syrian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 22.0 (promotional rate since 1991), 22.0
  (official rate since 1991), 42.0 (official parallel rate since 1991),
  11.2250 (fixed rate 1987-90)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Syria, Communications

Railroads:
  1,998 km total; 1,766 km standard gauge, 232 km 1.050-meter (narrow) gauge
Highways:
  29,000 km total; 670 km expressways; 5,000 km main or national roads; 23,330
  km secondary or regional roads (not including municipal roads); 22,680 km of
  the total is paved (1988)
Inland waterways:
  870 km; minimal economic importance
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,304 km, petroleum products 515 km
Ports:
  Tartus, Latakia, Baniyas, Jablah
Merchant marine:
  41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 117,247 GRT/183,607 DWT; includes 36
  cargo, 2 vehicle carrier, 3 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  104
 usable:
  100
 with permanent-surface runways:
  24
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  21
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  3
Telecommunications:
  fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital
  upgrades, including fiber optic technology; 512,600 telephones (37
  telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations - 9 AM, 1 FM, 17 TV;
  satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Intersputnik; 1
  submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan,
  Lebanon, and Turkey

*Syria, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air
  Defense Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 3,168,429; fit for military service 1,777,413; reach
  military age (19) annually 151,102 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion, 6% of GDP (1992)

*Taiwan, Geography

Location:
  East Asia, off the southeastern coast of China, between Japan and the
  Philippines
Map references:
  Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia
Area:
 total area:
  35,980 km2
 land area:
  32,260 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland and Delaware combined
 note:
  includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  1,448 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia,
  Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by
  China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered
  Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan
Climate:
  tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August);
  cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain:
  eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in
  west
Natural resources:
  small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:
 arable land:
  24%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  5%
 forest and woodland:
  55%
 other:
  15%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to earthquakes and typhoons

*Taiwan, People

Population:
  21,091,663 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.54 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.04 years
 male:
  71.84 years
 female:
  78.39 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.81 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Chinese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Chinese
Ethnic divisions:
  Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religions:
  mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
Languages:
  Madarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  86%
 male:
  93%
 female:
  79%
Labor force:
  7.9 million
 by occupation:
  industry and commerce 53%, services 22%, agriculture 15.6%, civil
  administration 7% (1989)

*Taiwan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:   Taiwan
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  T'ai-wan
Digraph:
  TW
Type:
  multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties legalized in
  March, 1989
Capital:
  Taipei
Administrative divisions:
  some of the ruling party in Taipei claim to be the government of all China;
  in keeping with that claim, the central administrative divisions include 2
  provinces (sheng, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular,   and plural) -
Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province
  including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the island,   of Taiwan and the
Pescadores islands); the more commonly referenced
  administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties (hsien,
  singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2,   special
municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua,,   Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*,,
Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan,,   Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu,,
P'ing-tung,
  T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**,,   T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and
Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at
  Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un
 note:
  Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
Constitution:
  25 December 1947, presently undergoing revision
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
  reservations
National holiday:
  National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of the Revolution)
Political parties and leaders:
  Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic
  Progressive Party (DPP); China Social Democratic Party (CSDP); 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

*Taiwan, Government

Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 21 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - President
  LI Teng-hui was reelected by the National Assembly
 Vice President:
  last held 21 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - LI
  Yuan-zu was elected by the National Assembly
 Legislative Yuan:
  last held 19 December 1992 (next to be held near the end of 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 in 1997)
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, premier of the Executive Yuan, vice premier of
  the Executive Yuan, Executive Yuan
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Judicial Yuan
Leaders:
 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)
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, ICC, ICFTU, IOC
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US
  are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Coordination Council
  for North American Affairs (CCNAA) 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, Hsiu Yi Road, Section 3,
  telephone [886] (2) 709-2000, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road,
  telephone [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, and the American Trade Center at
  Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333
  Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (2) 720-1550
Flag:
  red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a
  white sun with 12 triangular rays

*Taiwan, Economy

Overview:
  Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable government
  guidance of investment and foreign trade and partial government ownership of
  some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GNP has averaged about
  9% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster
  and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Agriculture contributes
  about 4% to GNP, 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, and Malaysia. The tightening of labor markets
  has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal.
National product:
  GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $209 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6.7% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $10,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.4% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  1.6% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $30.3 billion; expenditures $30.1 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $82.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  electrical machinery 18.5%, textiles 14.7%, general machinery and equipment
  17.7%, footwear 4.5%, foodstuffs 1.1%, plywood and wood products 1.1% (1992
  est.)
 partners:
  US 29.1%, Hong Kong 18.7%, EC countries 17.1% (1992 est.)
Imports:
  $72.1 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and equipment 15.8%, chemicals 10.0%, crude oil 4.2%, foodstuffs
  2.1% (1992 est.)
 partners:
  Japan 30.3%, US 21.9%, EC countries 17.1% (1992 est.)
External debt:
  $620 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 6.5% (1992 est.); accounts for more than 40% of GDP
Electricity:
  18,382,000 kW capacity; 98,500 million kWh produced, 4,718 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:   electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar
  milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining
Agriculture:
  accounts for 4% of GNP 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

*Taiwan, Economy

Economic aid:
  US, including Ex-Im (FY46-82), $4.6 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA
  and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $500 million
Currency:
  1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  New Taiwan dollars per US$1 - 25.125 (1992 est.), 25.748 (1991), 27.108
  (1990), 26.407 (1989) 28.589 (1988), 31.845 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Taiwan, Communications

Railroads:
  about 4,600 km total track with 1,075 km common carrier lines and 3,525 km
  industrial lines; common carrier lines consist of the 1.067-meter gauge 708
  km West Line and the 367 km East Line; a 98.25 km South Link Line connection
  was completed in late 1991; common carrier lines owned by the government and
  operated by the Railway Administration under Ministry of Communications;
  industrial lines owned and operated by government enterprises
Highways:
  20,041 km total; 17,095 km bituminous or concrete pavement, 2,371 km crushed
  stone or gravel, 575 km graded earth
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 615 km, natural gas 97 km
Ports:
  Kao-hsiung, Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Su-ao, T'ai-tung
Merchant marine:
  223 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,761,609 GRT/9,375,677 DWT; includes
  1 passenger-cargo, 43 cargo, 11 refrigerated cargo, 85 container, 19 oil
  tanker, 2 combination ore/oil, 1 specialized tanker, 57 bulk, 1
  roll-on/roll-off, 2 combination bulk, 1 chemical tanker
Airports:
 total:
  40
 usable:
  38
 with permanent-surface runways:
  36  with runways over 3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  16
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  7
Telecommunications:
  best developed system in Asia outside of Japan; 7,800,000 telephones;
  extensive microwave radio relay links on east and west coasts; broadcast
  stations - 91 AM, 23 FM, 15 TV (13 repeaters); 8,620,000 radios; 6,386,000
  TVs (5,680,000 color, 706,000 monochrome); satellite earth stations - 1
  Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; submarine cable links to
  Japan (Okinawa), the Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
  Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

*Taiwan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  General Staff, Ministry of National Defense, Army, Navy (including Marines),
  Air Force, Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command,
  Military Police Command
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 6,095,857; fit for military service 4,731,172 (1993 est.);
  about 184,740 currently reach military age (19) annually
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $10.9 billion, 5.4% of GNP (FY93/94 est.)

*Tajikistan, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, between Uzbekistan and China
Map references:
  Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard
  Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  143,100 km2
 land area:
  142,700 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
  total 3,651 km, Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870 km,
  Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  boundary with China under dispute; territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan on
  northern boundary in Isfara Valley area; Afghanistan's support to Islamic
  fighters in Tajikistan's civil war
Climate:
  midlatitude; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain:
  Pamir and Altay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in
  north, Kafirnigan and Vakhsh Valleys in south or southwest
Natural resources:
  significant hydropower potential, petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal,
  lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten
Land use:
 arable land:
  6%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  23%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  71%
Irrigated land:
  6,940 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  NA
Note:
  landlocked

*Tajikistan, People

Population:
  5,836,140 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.72% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  35.52 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.87 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  63.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  68.5 years
 male:
  65.66 years
 female:
  71.48 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.7 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Tajik(s)
 adjective:
  Tajik
Ethnic divisions:
  Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration),
  other 6.6%
Religions:
  Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
Languages:
  Tajik (official)
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  99%
Labor force:
  1.938 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture and forestry 43%, industry and construction 22%, other 35%
  (1990)

*Tajikistan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Tajikistan
 conventional short form:
  Tajikistan
 local long form:
  Respublika i Tojikiston
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  TI
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Dushanbe
Administrative divisions:
  2 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast') and one autonomous oblast*;,   Gorno-Badakhshan*;,
Khatlon, Leninabad (Khudzhand)
 note:
  the rayons around Dushanbe are under direct republic jurisdiction; an oblast
  usually has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions have the
  administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
  9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  as of mid-1993, a new constitution had not been formally approved
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:   NA
Political parties and leaders:
  Tajik Democratic Party (TDP), Maksud IKRAMOV, Davia KOUDONAZAROV, Shodmon
  YUSUPOV; Tajik Socialist Party (TSP), Rakhman NABIYEV, Kakhkhor MAKHKAMOV;
  Islamic Revival Party (IRP), Mullah Mukhamedsharif KHIMATZODA, Daviat USMON
Other political or pressure groups:
  Tajik People's Front
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Rakhman NABIYEV,
  Communist Party 60%; Davlat KHUDONAZAROV, Democratic Party, Islamic Rebirth
  Party and Rastokhoz Party 30%
 Supreme Soviet:
  last held 25 February 1990 (next to be held NA); results - Communist Party
  99%, other 1%; seats - (230 total) Communist Party 227, other 3
 note:
  in May 1992, the Supreme Soviet was replaced by the transitional 80-member
  Assembly (Majlis) and in November 1992 Emomili RAKHMANOV, chairman of the
  Assembly, became Chief of State
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Assembly (Majlis)
Judicial branch:
  NA

*Tajikistan, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Acting President and Assembly Chairman Emomili RAKHMANOV (since NA November
  1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Abdumalik ABULAJANOV (since NA November 1992); First Deputy
  Prime Minister Tukhtaboy GAFAROV (since NA November 1992)
Member of:
  CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  NA
 chancery:
  NA
 telephone:
  NA
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO
 embassy:
  (temporary) #39 Ainii Street, Dushanbe
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09862
 telephone:   [7] (3772) 24-82-33
Flag:
  NA

*Tajikistan, Economy

Overview:
  Tajikistan has had the lowest living standards of the CIS republics and now
  faces the bleakest economic prospects. Agriculture (particularly cotton and
  fruit growing) is the most important sector, accounting for 38% of
  employment (1990). Industrial production includes aluminum reduction,
  hydropower generation, machine tools, refrigerators, and freezers.
  Throughout 1992 bloody civil disturbances disrupted food imports and several
  regions became desperately short of basic needs. Hundreds of thousands of
  people were made homeless by the strife. In late 1992, one-third of industry
  was shut down and the cotton crop was only one-half of that of 1991.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -34% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  35% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  0.4% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of
  underemployed workers
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $100 million to outside successor states of the former USSR (1992)
 commodities:
  aluminum, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
 partners:
  Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Imports:
  $100 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
 commodities:
  chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, textiles, foodstuffs
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $650 million (end of 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -25% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  4,585,000 kW capacity; 16,800 million kWh produced, 2,879 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil,
  metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers
Agriculture:
  cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, pigs, sheep and goats,
  yaks
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited
  government eradication programs; used as transshipment points for illicit
  drugs from Southwest Asia to Western Europe
Economic aid:
  $700 million offical and commitments by foreign donors (1992)
Currency:
  retaining Russian ruble as currency (January 1993)
Exchange rates:
  rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations

*Tajikistan, Economy

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Tajikistan, Communications

Railroads:
  480 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  29,900 km total (1990); 21,400 km hard surfaced, 8,500 km earth
Pipelines:
  natural gas 400 km (1992)
Airports:
 total:
  58
 useable:
  30
 with permanent-surface runways:
  12
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  13
Telecommunications:
  poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not reached by the
  national network; telephone density in urban locations is about 100 per 1000
  persons; linked by cable and microwave to other CIS republics, and by leased
  connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth
  stations - 1 orbita and 2 INTELSAT (TV receive-only; the second INTELSAT
  earth station provides TV receive-only service from Turkey)

*Tajikistan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (being formed), National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border
  troops)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,313,676; fit for military service 1,079,935; reach
  military age (18) annually 56,862 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP

*Tanzania, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean between Kenya and Mozambique
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  945,090 km2
 land area:
  886,040 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than twice the size of California
 note:
  includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Land boundaries:
  total 3,402 km, Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756
  km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
Coastline:
  1,424 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  boundary dispute with Malawi in Lake Nyasa; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint
  in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it is reported that the
  indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled
Climate:
  varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Terrain:
  plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
Natural resources:
  hydropower potential, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones,
  gold, natural gas, nickel
Land use:
 arable land:
  5%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  40%
 forest and woodland:
  47%
 other:
  7%
Irrigated land:   1,530 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  lack of water and tsetse fly limit agriculture; recent droughts affected
  marginal agriculture; Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

*Tanzania, People

Population:
  27,286,363 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.56% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  19.02 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  110.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  44 years
 male:
  42.19 years
 female:
  45.87 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.25 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Tanzanian(s)
 adjective:
  Tanzanian
Ethnic divisions:
 mainland:
  native African 99% (consisting of well over 100 tribes)
  Asian, European, and Arab 1%
 Zanzibar:
  NA
Religions:
 mainland:
  Christian 40%, Muslim 33%, indigenous beliefs 25%
 Zanzibar:
  Muslim
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 can read and write (1978)
 total population:
  46%  male:
  62%
 female:
  31%
Labor force:
  732,200 wage earners
 by occupation:
  agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1986 est.)

*Tanzania, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  United Republic of Tanzania
 conventional short form:
  Tanzania
 former:
  United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Digraph:
  TZ
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Dar es Salaam
 note:
  some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as
  the new national capital by the end of the 1990s
Administrative divisions:
  25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro,
  Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South,
  Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar
  Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi
Independence:
  26 April 1964 Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UN
  trusteeship under British administration); Zanzibar became independent 19
  December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to
  form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic
  of Tanzania 29 October 1964
Constitution:
  15 March 1984 (Zanzibar has its own constitution but remains subject to
  provisions of the union constitution)
Legal system:
  based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to
  matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Union Day, 26 April (1964)
Political parties and leaders:
  Chama Chr Mapinduzi (CCM or Revolutionary Party), Ali Hassan MWINYI; Civic
  United Front (CUF), James MAPALALA; National Committee for Constitutional
  Reform (NCCK), Mabere MARANDO; Union for Multiparty Democracy (UMD),
  Abdullah FUNDIKIRA; Democratic Party (DP), Christopher Mtikila
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:  President:
  last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - Ali
  Hassan MWINYI was elected without opposition
 National Assembly:
  last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - CCM
  was the only party; seats - (241 total, 168 elected) CCM 168
Executive branch:
  president, first vice president and prime minister of the union, second vice
  president and president of Zanzibar, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Bunge)
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal, High Court

*Tanzania, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Ali Hassan MWINYI (since 5 November 1985); First Vice President
  John MALECELA (since 9 November 1990); Second Vice President Salmin AMOUR
  (since 9 November 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister John MALECELA (since 9 November 1990)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-6, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
  NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Charles Musama NYIRABU
 chancery:
  2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 939-6125
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Peter Jon DE VOS
 embassy:
  36 Laibon Road (off Bagamoyo Road), Dar es Salaam
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
 telephone:
  [255] (51) 66010/13
 FAX:
  [255] (51) 66701
Flag:
  divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side
  corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is
  blue

*Tanzania, Economy

Overview:
  Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is
  heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for about 58% of GDP,
  provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. 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
  1991-92 featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial
  increase in output of minerals led by gold.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $7.2 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $260 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  22% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $495 million; expenditures $631 million, including capital
  expenditures of $118 million (FY90)
Exports:
  $422 million (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  coffee, cotton, tobacco, tea, cashew nuts, sisal
 partners:
  FRG, UK, Japan, Netherlands, Kenya, Hong Kong, US
Imports:
  $1.43 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment, cotton piece
  goods, crude oil, foodstuffs
 partners:
  FRG, UK, US, Japan, Italy, Denmark
External debt:
  $6.44 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 9.3% (1990); accounts for 7% of GDP
Electricity:
  405,000 kW capacity; 600 million kWh produced, 20 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine),
  diamond and gold mining, oil refinery, shoes, cement, textiles, wood
  products, fertilizer
Agriculture:
  accounts for over 58% of GDP; topography and climatic conditions limit
  cultivated crops to only 5% of land area; 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

*Tanzania, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $400 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $9.8 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $44 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $614
  million
Currency:
  1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1 - 325.00 (November 1992), 219.16 (1991),
  195.06 (1990), 143.38 (1989), 99.29 (1988), 64.26 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  1 July-30 June

*Tanzania, Communications

Railroads:
  3,555 km total; 960 km 1.067-meter gauge (including the 962 km Tazara
  Railroad); 2,595 km 1.000-meter gauge, including 6.4 km double track; 115 km
  of 1.000-meter gauge planned by end of decade
Highways:
  81,900 km total, 3,600 km paved; 5,600 km gravel or crushed stone; 72,700 km
  improved and unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
Pipelines:
  crude oil 982 km
Ports:
  Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Tanga, and Zanzibar are ocean ports; Mwanza on Lake
  Victoria and Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika are inland ports
Merchant marine:
  6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,185 GRT/22,916 DWT; includes 2
  passenger-cargo, 2 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 oil tanker
Airports:
 total:
  103
 usable:
  92
 with permanent-surface runways:
  12
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  40
Telecommunications:
  fair system operating below capacity; open wire, radio relay, and
  troposcatter; 103,800 telephones; broadcast stations - 12 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; 1
  Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Tanzania, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Tanzanian People's Defense Force (TPDF; including Army, Navy, and Air
  Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 5,835,064; fit for military service 3,375,567 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Thailand, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Burma and Cambodia
Map references:
  Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  514,000 km2
 land area:
  511,770 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
  total 4,863 km, Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506
  km
Coastline:
  3,219 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam
Climate:
  tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry,
  cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot
  and humid
Terrain:
  central plain; eastern plateau (Khorat); mountains elsewhere
Natural resources:
  tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum,
  lignite, fluorite
Land use:
 arable land:
  34%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%  forest and woodland:
  30%
 other:
  31%
Irrigated land:
  42,300 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok area
Note:
  controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

*Thailand, People

Population:
  58,722,437 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.36% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  19.97 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.33 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  38.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  68.28 years
 male:
  65.05 years
 female:
  71.66 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Thai (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Thai
Ethnic divisions:
  Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions:
  Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6%
  (1991)
Languages:
  Thai, English the secondary language of the elite, ethnic and regional
  dialects
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  93%
 male:
  96%
 female:   90%
Labor force:
  30.87 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services (including government)
  14% (1989 est.)

*Thailand, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Thailand
 conventional short form:
  Thailand
Digraph:
  TH
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Bangkok
Administrative divisions:
  73 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Ang Thong, Buriram,
  Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Changwat Mukdahan, 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, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom,
  Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, 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, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram,
  Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri,
  Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai
  Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence:
  1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Constitution:
  22 December 1978; new constitution approved 7 December 1991; amended 10 June
  1992
Legal system:
  based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; martial law in effect since 23 February 1991
  military coup
National holiday:
  Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)
Political parties and leaders:
  Democrat Party (DP), Chuan LIKPHAI; Thai Nation Pary (TNP or Chat Thai
  Party), Praman ADIREKSAN; National Development Party (NDP or Chat Phattana),
  Chatchai CHUNHAWAN; New Aspiration Party, Gen. Chawalit YONGCHAIYUT; Phalang
  Tham (Palang Dharma), Bunchu ROTCHANASATIEN; 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
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held 13 September 1992 (next to be held by 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
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, four deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers
  (cabinet), Privy Council

*Thailand, Government

Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha) consists of an upper house or
  Senate (Vuthisatha) and a lower house or House of Representatives
  (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Sarndika)
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
  LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador-designate PHIRAPHONG Kasemsi
 chancery:
  2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 483-7200
 consulates 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 general:
  Chiang Mai  consulates:
  Songkhla, Udorn
Flag:
  five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and
  red

*Thailand, Economy

Overview:
  Thailand's economy recovered rapidly from the political unrest in May 1992
  to post an impressive 7% growth rate for the year. Thailand, one of the more
  advanced developing countries in Asia, depends on exports of manufactures
  and the development of the service sector to fuel the country's rapid
  growth. The trade and current account deficits fell in 1992; 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 capital
  domestically. Prime Minister CHUAN's government - Thailand's fifth
  government in less than two years - is pledged to continue Bangkok's
  probusiness policies, and the return of a democratically elected government
  has improved business confidence. Nevertheless, CHUAN must overcome
  divisions within his ruling coalition to complete much needed infrastructure
  development programs if Thailand is to remain an attractive place for
  business investment. Over the longer-term, Bangkok must produce more college
  graduates with technical training and upgrade workers' skills to continue
  its rapid economic development.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $103 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  7% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,800 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  4.7% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $21.36 billion; expenditures $22.40 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $6.24 billion (FY93 est.)
Exports:
  $32.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and manufactures 76.9%, agricultural products 14.9%, fisheries
  products 5.9% (1992)
 partners:
  US 21.6%, Japan 18.0%, Singapore 8.7%, Hong Kong 4.8%, Germany 4.4%,
  Netherlands 4.2%, UK 3.4%, Malaysia, France, China (1992 est.)
Imports:
  $41.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  capital goods 41.4%, intermediate goods and raw materials 32.8%, consumer
  goods 10.4%, oil 8.2%
 partners:
  Japan 29.3%, US 11.4%, Singapore 7.6%, Taiwan 5.5%, Germany 5.4%, South
  Korea 4.6%, Malaysia 4.2%, China 3.3%, Hong Kong 3.3%, UK (1992 est.)
External debt:
  $33.4 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 18% (1990); accounts for about 26% of GDP
Electricity:
  10,000,000 kW capacity; 43,750 million kWh produced, 760 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Thailand, Economy

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 12% of GDP and 60% 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, major illicit trafficker of heroin, particularly from
  Burma and Laos, and cannabis 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
  affected by eradication efforts; also a major drug money laundering center
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.6 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million
Currency:
  1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Exchange rates:
  baht (B) per US$1 - 25.280 (April 1993), 25.400 (1992), 25.517 (1991),
  25.585 (1990), 25.702 (1989), 25.294 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 October-30 September

*Thailand, Communications

Railroads:
  3,940 km 1.000-meter gauge, 99 km double track
Highways:
  77,697 km total; 35,855 km paved (including 88 km expressways), 14,092 km
  gravel or other stabilization, 27,750 km mostly dirt and other (1988)
Inland waterways:
  3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or
  more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by
  shallow-draft native craft
Pipelines:
  natural gas 350 km, petroleum products 67 km
Ports:
  Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha
Merchant marine:
  169 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 752,055 GRT/1,166,136 DWT; includes 1
  short-sea passenger, 91 cargo, 12 container, 40 oil tanker, 9 liquefied gas,
  2 chemical tanker, 5 bulk, 6 refrigerated cargo, 2 combination bulk, 1
  passenger
Airports:
 total:
  106
 usable:
  95
 with permanent-surface runways:
  51
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  14
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  28
Telecommunications:
  service to general public inadequate; bulk of service to government
  activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network;
  739,500 telephones (1987); broadcast stations - over 200 AM, 100 FM, and 11
  TV in government-controlled networks; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian
  Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT; domestic satellite system being
  developed

*Thailand, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (including Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal
  Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 16,685,044; fit for military service 10,148,786; reach
  military age (18) annually 616,042 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.6 billion, about 2% of GNP (FY92/93 est.)

*Togo, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean beween Benin and Ghana
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  56,790 km2
 land area:
  54,390 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
  total 1,647 km, Benin 644 km, Burkina 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Coastline:
  56 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  30 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:
  gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low
  coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Natural resources:
  phosphates, limestone, marble
Land use:
 arable land:
  25%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  28%
 other:
  42%
Irrigated land:
  70 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; recent
  droughts affecting agriculture; deforestation

*Togo, People

Population:
  4,104,657 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.61% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  47.87 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  11.8 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  91.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  56.46 years
 male:
  54.45 years  female:
  58.53 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.96 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Togolese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Togolese
Ethnic divisions:
  37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabye, European and
  Syrian-Lebanese under 1%
Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 70%, Christian 20%, Muslim 10%
Languages:
  French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe (one of the two major
  African languages in the south), Mina (one of the two major African
  languages in the south), Dagomba (one of the two major African languages in
  the north), Kabye (one of the two major African languages in the north)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  43%
 male:
  56%
 female:
  31%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  agriculture 78%, industry 22%
 note:
  about 88,600 wage earners, evenly divided between public and private
  sectors; 50% of population of working age (1985)

*Togo, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Togo
 conventional short form:
  Togo
 local long form:
  Republique Togolaise
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  French Togo
Digraph:
  TO
Type:
  republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
  Lome
Administrative divisions:
  21 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 21 units may now be called prefectures (prefectures, singular -
  prefecture) and reported name changes for individual units are included in
  parentheses
Independence:
  27 April 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French administration)
Constitution:
  1980 constitution nullified during national reform conference; transition
  constitution adopted 24 August 1991; multiparty draft constitution sent to
  High Council of the Republic for approval in November 1991; adopted by
  public referendum September 1992
Legal system:
  French-based court system
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
  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;
  transition regime in place since August 1991
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Elections:
 President:
  last held 21 December 1986 (next to be held 1993); results - Gen. EYADEMA
  was reelected without opposition
 National Assembly:
  last held 4 March 1990; dissolved during national reform conference (next to
  be held 1993); results - RPT was the only party; seats - (77 total) RPT 77;
  interim legislative High Council of the Republic (HCR) in place since August
  1991
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

*Togo, Government

Legislative branch:
  National Assembly dissolved during national reform conference; 79-member
  interim High Council for the Republic (HCR) formed to act as legislature
  during transition to multiparty democracy; legislative elections scheduled
  to be held in 1993
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel), Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April 1967)
 Head of Government:
  interim Prime Minister Joseph Kokou KOFFIGOH (since 28 August 1991)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77,
  GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ellom-Kodjo SCHUPPIUS
 chancery:
  2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 234-4212 or 4213
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Harmon E. KIRBY
 embassy:
  Rue Pelletier Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome
 mailing address:
  B. P. 852, Lome
 telephone:
  [228] 21-29-91 through 94 and 21-77-17
 FAX:
  [228] 21-79-52
Flag:
  five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with
  yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in the upper
  hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

*Togo, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture, which accounts
  for about 33% of GDP and provides employment for 78% of the labor force.
  Primary agricultural exports are cocoa, coffee, and cotton, which together
  account for 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, with phosphate
  exports accounting for about 40% of total foreign exchange earnings. Togo
  serves as a regional commercial and trade center. The government, over the
  past decade, with IMF and World Bank support, has been implementing a number
  of economic reform measures to encourage foreign investment and bring
  revenues in line with expenditures. Political unrest, including private and
  public sector strikes throughout 1991 and 1992, has jeopardized the reform
  program and has disrupted vital economic activity.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.5 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $400 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.5% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  2% (1987)
Budget:
  revenues $284.8 million; expenditures $407 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $512 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  phosphates, cotton, cocoa, coffee
 partners:
  EC 40%, Africa 16%, US 1% (1990)
Imports:
  $583 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemical products
 partners:
  EC 57%, Africa 17%, US 5%, Japan 4% (1990)
External debt:
  $1.3 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 9.0% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
  179,000 kW capacity; 209 million kWh produced, 60 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles,
  beverages
Agriculture:
  accounts for 33% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, cocoa, cotton; food crops -
  yams, cassava, corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock production not
  significant; annual fish catch, 10,000-14,000 tons
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $142 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $2 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $51
  million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

*Togo, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Togo, Communications

Railroads:
  570 km 1.000-meter gauge, single track
Highways:
  6,462 km total; 1,762 km paved; 4,700 km unimproved roads
Inland waterways:   50 km Mono River
Ports:
  Lome, Kpeme (phosphate port)
Merchant marine:
  2 roll-on/roll-off ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,118 GRT/20,529 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  9
 usable:
  9
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  fair system based on network of radio relay routes supplemented by open wire
  lines; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 3 (2 relays) TV; satellite earth
  stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 SYMPHONIE

*Togo, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 862,427; fit for military service 452,974 (1993 est.); no
  conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $43 million, about 3% of GDP (1989)

*Tokelau, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of New Zealand)

*Tokelau, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, 3,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about
  halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  10 km2
 land area:
  10 km2  comparative area:
  about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  101 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain:
  coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  lies in Pacific typhoon belt

*Tokelau, People

Population:
  1,544 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -1.35% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  NA years
 male:
  NA years  female:
  NA years
Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman
Nationality:
 noun:
  Tokelauan(s)
 adjective:
  Tokelauan
Ethnic divisions:
  Polynesian
Religions:
  Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%
 note:
  on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on Nukunonu, all
  Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational
  Christian Church predominant
Languages:
  Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

*Tokelau, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Tokelau
Digraph:
  TL
Type:
  territory of New Zealand
Capital:
  none; each atoll has its own administrative center
Administrative divisions:
  none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence:
  none (territory of New Zealand)
Constitution:
  administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970
Legal system:
  British and local statutes
National holiday:
  Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British
  sovereignty over New Zealand)
Political parties and leaders:   NA
Suffrage:
  NA
Elections:
  NA
Executive branch:
  British monarch, administrator (appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
  in New Zealand), official secretary
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Council of Elders (Taupulega) on each atoll
Judicial branch:
  High Court in Niue, Supreme Court in New Zealand
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Administrator Graham ANSELL (since NA 1990); Official Secretary Casimilo J.
  PEREZ (since NA), Office of Tokelau Affairs; Tokelau's governing Council
  will elect its first head of government in 1993
Member of:
  SPC, WHO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territory of New Zealand)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag:
  the flag of New Zealand is used

*Tokelau, Economy

Overview:
  Tokelau's small size, isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain
  economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The
  people must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public services, annual
  aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue
  come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts.
  Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million (1988 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $800 (1988 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $430,830; expenditures $2.8 million, including capital expenditures
  of $37,300 (FY87)
Exports:
  $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983)
 commodities:
  stamps, copra, handicrafts
 partners:
  NZ
Imports:
  $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
 partners:
  NZ
External debt:
  $0
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  200 kW capacity; 300,000 kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (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:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $24
  million
Currency:
  1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9486 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992),
  l.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6708 (1989), 1.5244 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April-31 March

*Tokelau, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
  none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa
Telecommunications:
  radiotelephone service between islands and to Western Samoa

*Tokelau, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

*Tonga, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, 2,250 km north-northwest of New Zealand, about two-thirds of the
  way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references:
  Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  748 km2
 land area:
  718 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  419 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool
  season (May to December)
Terrain:
  most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation;
  others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Natural resources:
  fish, fertile soil
Land use:
 arable land:
  25%
 permanent crops:
  55%
 meadows and pastures:
  6%
 forest and woodland:
  12%
 other:
  2%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited); subject to cyclones (October to
  April); deforestation

*Tonga, People

Population:
  103,949 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.8% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:   25.16 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.75 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -10.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  21.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.79 years
 male:
  65.5 years
 female:
  70.24 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.68 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Tongan(s)
 adjective:
  Tongan
Ethnic divisions:
  Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Religions:
  Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:
  Tongan, English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
 total population:
  57%
 male:
  60%
 female:
  60%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  agriculture 70%, mining (600 engaged in mining)

*Tonga, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Tonga
 conventional short form:
  Tonga
 former:
  Friendly Islands
Digraph:
  TN
Type:
  hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital:   Nuku alofa
Administrative divisions:
  three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:
  4 June 1970 (from UK)
Constitution:
  4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
  based on English law
National holiday:
  Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Reform Movement, 'Akilisi POHIVA; Christian Democratic Party,
  leader NA
Suffrage:
  all literate, tax-paying males and all literate females over 21
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  last held 14-15 February 1990 (next to be held 3-4 February 1993); results -
  percent of vote NA; seats - (29 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform, 3
  traditionalist
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
  (cabinet), Privy Council
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
  INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London
US diplomatic representation:
  the US has no offices in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to
  Tonga and makes periodic visits
Flag:
  red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side
  corner

*Tonga, Economy

Overview:
  The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of the labor
  force and contributes 40% to GDP. Coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are
  the main crops and make up two-thirds of 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 island remains dependent on sizable external aid
  and remittances to offset its trade deficit.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $92 million (FY90)
National product real growth rate:
  0.4% (FY92 est.)
National product per capita:
  $900 (FY90)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4% (FY92 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $36.4 million; expenditures $68.1 million, including capital
  expenditures of $33.2 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $18.8 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.)
 commodities:
  coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra, bananas, taro, vanilla beans,
  fruits, vegetables, fish
 partners:
  Japan 34%, US 17%, Australia 13%, NZ 13% (FY91)
Imports:
  $68.3 million (c.i.f., FY92 est.)
 commodities:
  food products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels,
  chemicals
 partners:
  NZ 33%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 8% (FY91)
External debt:
  $47.5 million (FY91)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.7% (FY90); accounts for 11% of GDP
Electricity:
  6,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  tourism, fishing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 40% of GDP; dominated by coconut, copra, and banana production;
  vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $16 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $258 million
Currency:
  1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti
Exchange rates:
  pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.3996 (January 1993), 1.3471 (1992), 1.2961 (1991),
  1.2809 (1990), 1.2637 (1989), 1.2799 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July-30 June

*Tonga, Communications

Highways:
  198 km sealed road (Tongatapu); 74 km (Vava'u); 94 km unsealed roads usable
  only in dry weather
Ports:
  Nukualofa, Neiafu, Pangai
Merchant marine:
  3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,765 GRT/10,597 DWT; includes 1 cargo,
  1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 liquefied gas
Airports:
 total:
  6
 usable:
  6
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  3,529 telephones; 66,000 radios; no TV sets; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no
  FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Tonga, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Tonga Defense Force, Tonga Maritime Division, Royal Tongan Marines, Royal
  Tongan Guard, Police
Manpower availability:
  NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Trinidad and Tobago, Geography

Location:
  in the extreme southeastern Caribbean Sea, 11 km off the coast of Venezuela
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  5,130 km2
 land area:
  5,130 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:   362 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the outer edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain:
  mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use:
 arable land:
  14%
 permanent crops:
  17%
 meadows and pastures:
  2%
 forest and woodland:
  44%
 other:
  23%
Irrigated land:
  220 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

*Trinidad and Tobago, People

Population:
  1,313,738 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.1% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  20.08 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.31 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  16.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.53 years
 male:
  67.91 years
 female:   73.22 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
 adjective:
  Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic divisions:
  black 43%, East Indian 40%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%, other Protestant 14%,
  Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%
Languages:
  English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  95%
 male:
  97%
 female:
  93%
Labor force:
  463,900
 by occupation:
  construction and utilities 18.1%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying
  14.8%, agriculture 10.9%, other 56.2% (1985 est.)

*Trinidad and Tobago, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
 conventional short form:
  Trinidad and Tobago
Digraph:
  TD
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Port-of-Spain
Administrative divisions:
  8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva,,   Port-of-Spain*,,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San
  Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria, Independence:
  31 August 1962 (from UK)
Constitution:
  31 August 1976
Legal system:
  based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the
  Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:   Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Political parties and leaders:
  People's National Movement (PNM), Patrick MANNING; United National Congress
  (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY; National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), Carson
  CHARLES; Movement for Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH;
  National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
  or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal, Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Noor Mohammed HASSANALI (since 18 March 1987)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Patrick Augustus Mervyn MANNING (since 17 December 1991)
Member of:
  ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,
  LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Corinne BAPTISTE
 chancery:
  1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 467-6490

*Trinidad and Tobago, Government

 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Sally G. COWAL
 embassy:
  15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
 telephone:
  (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176
 FAX:
  (809) 628-5462
Flag:
  red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side

*Trinidad and Tobago, Economy

Overview:
  Trinidad and Tobago's petroleum-based economy has begun to emerge from a
  lengthy depression in the last few years. The economy fell sharply through
  most of the 1980s, largely because of the decline in oil prices. This sector
  accounts for 80% of export earnings and almost 20% of GDP. The government,
  in response to the oil revenue loss, pursued a series of austerity measures
  that pushed the unemployment rate as high as 22% in 1988. The economy showed
  signs of recovery in 1990 and 1991, however, helped along by rising oil
  prices. Agriculture employs only about 11% of the labor force and produces
  about 3% of GDP. Since this sector is small, it has been unable to absorb
  the large numbers of the unemployed. The government currently seeks to
  diversify its export base.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
  2.6% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $3,800 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.8% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  18.5% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $1.6 billion; expenditures $1.6 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $158 million (1993 est.)
Exports:
  $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  includes reexports - petroleum and petroleum products 82%, steel products
  9%, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus (1988)
 partners:
  US 49%, CARICOM 12%
Imports:
  $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  raw materials and intermediate goods 48%, capital goods 29%, consumer goods
  23% (1991)
 partners:
  US 39%, Venezuela 14%, UK 7%, CARICOM 5% (1991)
External debt:
  $2.4 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 2.3%, excluding oil refining (1986); accounts for 40% of GDP,
  including petroleum
Electricity:
  1,176,000 kW capacity; 3,480 million kWh produced, 2,680 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton
  textiles
Agriculture:   accounts for 3% of GDP; highly subsidized sector; 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

*Trinidad and Tobago, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $373 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $518 million
Currency:
  1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1 - 4.2500 (fixed rate since 1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Trinidad and Tobago, Communications

Railroads:
  minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando
Highways:
  8,000 km total; 4,000 km paved, 1,000 km improved earth, 3,000 km unimproved
  earth
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,032 km, petroleum products 19 km, natural gas 904 km
Ports:
  Port-of-Spain, Pointe-a-Pierre, Scarborough
Merchant marine:
  2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,507 GRT/21,923 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  6
 usable:
  5
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  excellent international service via tropospheric scatter links to Barbados
  and Guyana; good local service; 109,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2
  AM, 4 FM, 5 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Trinidad and Tobago, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and
  Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 351,183; fit for military service 253,084 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $59 million, 1-2% of GDP (1989 est.)

*Tromelin Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (possession of France)

*Tromelin Island, Geography

Location:
  in the western Indian Ocean, 350 km east of Madagascar and 600 km north of
  Reunion
Map references:
  World
Area:
 total area:
  1 km2
 land area:
  1 km2
 comparative area:
  about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  3.7 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  12 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claimed by Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:
  sandy
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:   0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100% (scattered bushes)
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  wildlife sanctuary
Note:
  climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones

*Tromelin Island, People

Population:
  uninhabited

*Tromelin Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Tromelin Island
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Ile Tromelin
Digraph:
  TE
Type:
  French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in
  Reunion
Capital:
  none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence:
  none (possession of France)

*Tromelin Island, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

*Tromelin Island, Communications

Ports:
  none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  0
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  important meteorological station

*Tromelin Island, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*Tunisia, Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, 144 km from Italy across the Strait of Sicily, between
  Algeria and Libya
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  163,610 km2
 land area:
  155,360 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
  total 1,424 km, Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline:
  1,148 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  maritime boundary dispute with Libya; land boundary disputes with Algeria
  under discussion
Climate:
  temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in
  south
Terrain:   mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the
  Sahara
Natural resources:
  petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  20%
 permanent crops:
  10%
 meadows and pastures:
  19%
 forest and woodland:
  4%
 other:
  47%
Irrigated land:
  2,750 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
  strategic location in central Mediterranean

*Tunisia, People

Population:
  8,570,868 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.84% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  24.24 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.04 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  35.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.54 years
 male:
  70.55 years
 female:
  74.62 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.02 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Tunisian(s)
 adjective:
  Tunisian
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab-Berber 98%, European 1%, Jewish less than 1%
Religions:
  Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish 1%
Languages:
  Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  65%
 male:
  74%
 female:
  56%
Labor force:
  2.25 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 32%
 note:
  shortage of skilled labor

*Tunisia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Tunisia
 conventional short form:
  Tunisia
 local long form:
  Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
 local short form:
  Tunis
Digraph:
  TS
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Tunis
Administrative divisions:
  23 governorates; Beja, Ben Arous, Bizerte, Gabes, Gafsa, Jendouba, Kairouan,
  Kasserine, Kebili, L'Ariana, Le Kef, Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul,
  Sfax, Sidi Bou Zid, Siliana, Sousse, Tataouine, Tozeur, Tunis, Zaghouan
Independence:
  20 March 1956 (from France)
Constitution:
  1 June 1959
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of
  legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
National holiday:
  National Day, 20 March (1956)
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
Suffrage:   20 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 2 April 1989 (next to be held NA March 1994); results - Gen. Zine
  el Abidine BEN ALI was reelected without opposition
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held 2 April 1989 (next to be held NA April 1994); results - RCD 80.7%,
  independents/Islamists 13.7%, MDS 3.2%, other 2.4%; seats - (141 total) RCD
  141
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab)
Judicial branch:
  Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Gen. Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September 1989)

*Tunisia, Government

Member of:
  ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC (withdrew from
  active membership in 1986), OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ismail KHELIL
 chancery:
  1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
 telephone:
  (202) 862-1850
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador John T. McCARTHY
 embassy:
  144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere
 mailing address:
  use embassy street address
 telephone:
  [216] (1) 782-566
 FAX:
  [216] (1) 789-719
Flag:
  red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling
  a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of
  Islam

*Tunisia, Economy

Overview:
  The economy depends primarily on petroleum, phosphates, tourism, and exports
  of light manufactures. Following two years of drought-induced economic
  decline, the economy came back strongly in 1990-92 as a result of good
  harvests, continued export growth, and higher domestic investment. High
  unemployment has eroded popular support for the government, however, and
  forced Tunis to slow the pace of economic reform. Nonetheless, the
  government appears committed to implementing its IMF-supported structural
  adjustment program and to servicing its foreign debt.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $13.6 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  8% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,650 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  15.7% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $4.3 billion; expenditures $5.5 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
  $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  hydrocarbons, agricultural products, phosphates and chemicals
 partners:
  EC countries 74%, Middle East 11%, US 2%, Turkey, former USSR republics
Imports:
  $6.1 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%, food 12%, consumer
  goods
 partners:
  EC countries 67%, US 6%, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Turkey, Algeria
External debt:
  $7.7 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5% (1989); accounts for about 25% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
  1,545,000 kW capacity; 5,096 million kWh produced, 600 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles,
  footwear, food, beverages
Agriculture:
  accounts for 15% 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; fish catch of 99,200
  metric tons (1987)
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $730 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $5.2 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $684 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $410
  million
Currency:
  1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes

*Tunisia, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 0.9931 (February 1993), 0.8844 (1992),
  0.9246 (1991), 0.8783 (1990), 0.9493 (1989), 0.8578 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Tunisia, Communications

Railroads:
  2,115 km total; 465 km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge; 1,650 km 1.000-meter
  gauge
Highways:
  17,700 km total; 9,100 km bituminous; 8,600 km improved and unimproved earth
Pipelines:
  crude oil 797 km, petroleum products 86 km, natural gas 742 km
Ports:
  Bizerte, Gabes, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, La Goulette, Zarzis
Merchant marine:
  22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 161,661 GRT/221,959 DWT; includes 1
  short-sea passenger, 4 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 oil tanker, 6
  chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 6 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  29
 usable:
  26
 with permanent-surface runways:
  13
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  7
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  7
 note:
  a new airport opened 6 May 1993, length and type of surface NA
Telecommunications:
  the system is above the African average; facilities consist of open-wire
  lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay; key centers are Sfax,
  Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; 233,000 telephones (28 telephones per 1,000
  persons); broadcast stations - 7 AM, 8 FM, 19 TV; 5 submarine cables;
  satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT with
  back-up control station; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria
  and Libya

*Tunisia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,164,686; fit for military service 1,244,683; reach
  military age (20) annually 90,349 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $618 million, 3.7% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Turkey, Geography

Location:
  Southeastern Europe/Southwest Asia, bordering the Mediterranean Sea and
  Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Iran
Map references:
  Africa, Europe, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  780,580 km2
 land area:
  770,760 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 2,627 km, Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia
  252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline:
  7,200 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  in Black Sea only - to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former
  USSR
 territorial sea:
  6 nm in the Aegean Sea,
  12 nm in the Black Sea and in the Mediterranean Sea
International disputes:
  complex maritime and air (but not territorial) disputes with Greece in
  Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; Hatay question with Syria; ongoing dispute with
  downstream riparians (Syria and Iraq) over water development plans for the
  Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Climate:
  temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
Terrain:
  mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central plateau (Anatolia)
Natural resources:
  antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate, sulphur, iron ore
Land use:
 arable land:
  30%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:   12%
 forest and woodland:
  26%
 other:
  28%
Irrigated land:
  22,200 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to severe earthquakes, especially along major river valleys in west;
  air pollution; desertification
Note:
  strategic location controlling the Turkish straits (Bosporus, Sea of
  Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas

*Turkey, People

Population:
  60,897,841 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.62 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.97 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  52 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  70.41 years
 male:
  68.11 years
 female:
  72.82 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.3 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Turk(s)
 adjective:
  Turkish
Ethnic divisions:
  Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (est.)
Religions:
  Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (Christian and Jews)
Languages:
  Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  81%
 male:
  90%  female:
  71%
Labor force:
  20.7 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 50%, services 35%, industry 15%
 note:
  about 1,800,000 Turks work abroad (1991)

*Turkey, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Turkey
 conventional short form:
  Turkey
 local long form:
  Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
 local short form:
  Turkiye
Digraph:
  TU
Type:
  republican parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Ankara
Administrative divisions:
  73 provinces (iller, singular - il); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray,
  Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik,
  Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli,
  Diyarbakir, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep,
  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, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag,
  Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Urfa, Usak, Van, Yozgat, Zonguldak
Independence:
  29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
Constitution:
  7 November 1982
Legal system:
  derived from various continental legal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic, 29 October (1923)
Political parties and leaders:
  Correct Way Party (DYP), Suleyman DEMIREL; Motherland Party (ANAP), Mesut
  YILMAZ; Social Democratic Populist Party (SHP), Erdal INONU; Refah Party
  (RP), Necmettin ERBAKAN; Democratic Left Party (DSP), Bulent ECEVIT;
  Nationalist Labor Party (MCP), Alpaslan TURKES; People's Labor Party (HEP),
  Ahmet TURK; Socialist Unity Party (SBP), Saden AREN; Democratic Center Party
  (DSP), Bedrettin DALAN; Republican People's Party (CHP), Deniz BAYKAL;
  Workers' Party (IP), Dogu PERINCEK; National Party (MP), Aykut EDIBALI
Other political or pressure groups:   Turkish Confederation of Labor (TURK-IS), Sevket YILMAZ
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Grand National Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, Presidential Council, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Grand National Assembly (Buyuk Millet Meclisi)
Judicial branch:
  Court of Cassation

*Turkey, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Tansu CILLER (since NA June 1993)
Member of:
  AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN (observer), COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECO, FAO,
  GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC,
  NATO, NEA, OECD, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNRWA,
  UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Nuzhet KANDEMIR
 chancery:
  1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
 telephone:
  (202) 659-8200
 consulates general:
  Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Richard C. BARKLEY
 embassy:
  110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara
 mailing address:
  PSC 88, Box 5000, Ankara, or APO AE 09823
 telephone:
  [90] (4) 426 54 70
 FAX:
  [90] (4) 467-0057 and 0019
 consulates general:
  Istanbul and Izmir
 consulate:
  Adana
Flag:
  red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist
  side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening

*Turkey, Economy

Overview:
  After an impressive economic performance through most of the 1980s, Turkey
  has experienced erratic rates of economic growth since 1988 - ranging from a
  high of 9.2% in 1990 to a low of 0.9% in 1991. Strong consumer demand and
  increased public investment led the way to a strong 5.9% growth in 1992.
  Chronic high inflation is Turkey's most serious economic problem, leading to
  high interest rates and the rapid depreciation of the Turkish lira. The huge
  public sector deficit - about 12% of GDP - and the Treasury's heavy reliance
  on Central Bank financing of the deficit are the major causes of Turkish
  inflation. Meanwhile, wage increases in both the public and private sector
  have outpaced productivity gains, limited the government's ability to reduce
  current expenditures, and hindered the return to profitability of many
  private companies. Agriculture remains an important economic sector,
  employing about half of the work force, contributing 18% to GDP, and
  accounting for about 20% of exports. The government has launched a
  multibillion-dollar development program in the southeastern region, which
  includes the building of a dozen dams on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to
  generate electric power and irrigate large tracts of farmland. The Turkish
  economy will probably continue to grow faster than the West European average
  in 1993, but the shaky coalition government of Prime Minister DEMIREL -
  which has seen its parliamentary majority shrink from 36 to 11 seats during
  its first year in power - is unlikely to risk further erosion of its support
  by implementing the belt-tightening measures necessary to substantially
  reduce inflation.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $219 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  5.9% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $3,670 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  70% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  11.1% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $40.5 billion; expenditures $46.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $5.5 billion (1993)
Exports:
  $13.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods 69%, foodstuffs 22%, fuels 2%
 partners:
  EC countries 51%, US 7%, Iran 5%, former USSR 5%
Imports:
  $21.1 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods 61%, foodstuffs 8%, fuels 21%
 partners:   EC countries 44%, US 12%, former USSR 5%
External debt:
  $48.7 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3.2% (1991 est.); accounts for 28% of GDP
Electricity:
  14,400,000 kW capacity; 44,000 million kWh produced, 750 kWh per capita
  (1991)
Industries:
  textiles, food processing, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron minerals),
  steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

*Turkey, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for 18% of GDP and employs about half of working force; 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 have sprung up 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:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.3 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $10.1 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $665 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $4.5
  billion; note - aid for Persian Gulf war efforts from coalition allies
  (1991), $4.1 billion; aid pledged for Turkish Defense Fund, $2.5 billion
Currency:
  1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
Exchange rates:
  Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 8,814.3 (January 1993), 6,872.4 (1992),
  4,171.8 (1991), 2,608.6 (1990), 2,121.7 (1989), 1,422.3 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Turkey, Communications

Railroads:
  8,429 km 1.435-meter gauge (including 795 km electrified)
Highways:
  320,611 km total; 138 km limited access expressways, 31,062 km national
  (main) roads, 27,853 km regional (secondary) roads, 261,558 km local and
  municipal roads; 45,526 km of hard surfaced roads (of which about 27,000 km
  are paved and about 18,500 km are surfaced with gravel or crushed stone)
  (1988 est.)
Inland waterways:
  about 1,200 km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,738 km, petroleum products 2,321 km, natural gas 708 km
Ports:
  Iskenderun, Istanbul, Mersin, Izmir
Merchant marine:
  353 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,825,274 GRT/6,628,207 DWT; includes
  7 short-sea passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 189 cargo, 1 container, 6
  roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 livestock carrier, 39 oil
  tanker, 10 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 9 combination ore/oil, 2
  specialized tanker, 80 bulk, 3 combination bulk
Airports:
 total:
  110
 usable:
  102
 with permanent-surface runways:
  65
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  32
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  26
Telecommunications:
  fair domestic and international systems; trunk radio relay microwave
  network; limited open wire network; 3,400,000 telephones; broadcast stations
  - 15 AM; 94 FM; 357 TV; 1 satellite ground station operating in the INTELSAT
  (2 Atlantic Ocean antennas) and EUTELSAT systems; 1 submarine cable

*Turkey, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Land Forces, Navy (including Naval Air and Naval Infantry), Air Force, Coast
  Guard, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 15,691,874; fit for military service 9,579,453; reach
  military age (20) annually 604,816 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $5.6 billion, 3.9% of GDP (1992)

*Turkmenistan, Geography

Location:
  South Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Uzbekistan
Map references:
  Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard
  Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  488,100 km2
 land area:
  488,100 km2  comparative area:
  slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
  total 3,736 km, Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379 km,
  Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Coastline:
  0 km
 note:
  Turkmenistan does border the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Maritime claims:
  landlocked, but boundaries in the Caspian Sea with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
  and Iran will have to be negotiated
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  subtropical desert
Terrain:
  flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; borders Caspian Sea in west
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulphur, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  69%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  28%
Irrigated land:
  12,450 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals,
  pesticides; salinization, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation
  methods
Note:
  landlocked

*Turkmenistan, People

Population:
  3,914,997 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.04% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  30.91 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.6 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  71.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  64.93 years
 male:
  61.4 years
 female:
  68.62 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.82 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Turkmen(s)
 adjective:
  Turkmen
Ethnic divisions:
  Turkmen 73.3%, Russian 9.8%, Uzbek 9%, Kazakhs 2%, other 5.9%
Religions:
  Muslim 87%, Eastern Orthodox 11%, unknown 2%
Languages:
  Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  1.542 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture and forestry 42%, industry and construction 21%, other 37%
  (1990)

*Turkmenistan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Turkmenistan
 conventional short form:
  Turkmenistan
 local long form:
  Tiurkmenostan Respublikasy
 local short form:
  Turkmanistan
 former:
  Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  TX
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
Administrative divisions:   5 velayets: Balkan (Nebit Dag), Doshkhovuz (formerly Tashauz), Lebap
  (Charjev), Mary, Akhal (Ashgabat)
 note:
  all oblasts have the same name as their administrative center except Balkan
  Oblast, centered at Nebit-Dag
Independence:
  27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  adopted 18 May 1992
Legal system:
  based on civil law system
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Political parties and leaders:
 ruling party:
  Democratic Party (formerly Communist), chairman vacant
 opposition:
  Party for Democratic Development, Durdymurat HOJA-MUHAMMET, chairman












  ; Agzybirlik, Nurberdy NURMAMEDOV, cochairman, Hubayberdi HALLIYEV,
  cochairman
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

*Turkmenistan, Government

Elections:
 President:
  last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA June 1997); results - Saparmurad
  NIYAZOV 99.5% (ran unopposed)
 Majlis:
  last held 7 January 1990 (next to be held NA 1995); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (175 total) elections not officially by party, but
  Communist Party members won nearly 90% of seats; note - seats to be reduced
  to 50 at next election
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, nine deputy prime ministers, 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)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Saparmurad NIYAZOV (since NA October 1990)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister (vacant); Deputy Prime Ministers Valery G. OCHERTSOV,
  Orazgeldi AYDOGDYEV, Yagmur OVEZOV, Jourakuli BABAKULIYEV, Matkarim RAJAPOV,
  Rejep SAPAROV, Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA); Chairman of the People's
  Council Sakhat MURADOV (since NA)
Member of:
  CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, IMF, NACC, UN, UNCTAD
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  NA
 chancery:
  NA
 telephone:
  NA
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Joseph S. HULINGS III
 embassy:
  Yubilenaya Hotel, Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09862
 telephone:
  [7] 36320 24-49-08
Flag:
  green field, including a vertical stripe on the hoist side, with a claret
  veritcal stripe in between containing five white, black, and orange carpet
  guls (an assymetrical design used in producing rugs) associated with five
  different tribes; a white crescent and five white stars in the upper left
  corner to the right of the carpet guls

*Turkmenistan, Economy

Overview:
  Like the other 15 former Soviet republics, Turkmenistan faces enormous
  problems of economic adjustment - to move away from Moscow-based central
  planning toward a system of decisionmaking by private entrepreneurs, local
  government authorities, and, hopefully, foreign investors. This process
  requires wholesale changes in supply sources, markets, property rights, and
  monetary arrangements. Industry - with 10% of the labor force - is heavily
  weighted toward the energy sector, which produced 11% of the ex-USSR's gas
  and 1% of its oil. Turkmenistan ranked second among the former Soviet
  republics in cotton production, mainly in the irrigated western region,
  where the huge Karakumskiy Canal taps the Amu Darya. The general decline in
  national product accelerated in 1992, principally because of inability to
  obtain spare parts and disputes with customers over the price of natural
  gas.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -10% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  53% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  15%-20% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $100 million to outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
 commodities:
  natural gas, oil, chemicals, cotton, textiles, carpets
 partners:
  Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Imports:
  $100 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and parts, plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles
 partners:
  mostly other than former Soviet Union
External debt:
  $650 million (end 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -17% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  2,920,000 kW capacity; 13,100 million kWh produced, 3,079 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  oil and gas, petrochemicals, fertilizers, food processing, textiles
Agriculture:
  cotton, fruits, vegetables
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited
  government eradication program; used as transshipment points for illicit
  drugs from Southwest Asia to Western Europe
Economic aid:
  $280 million offical aid commitments by foreign donors (1992)
Currency:
  retaining Russian ruble as currency; planning to establish own currency, the
  manat, but no date set (May 1993)

*Turkmenistan, Economy

Exchange rates:
  rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Turkmenistan, Communications

Railroads:
  2,120 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  23,000 km total; 18,300 km hard surfaced, 4,700 km earth (1990)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 250 km, natural gas 4,400 km
Ports:
  inland - Krasnovodsk (Caspian Sea)
Airports:
 total:
  7
 useable:
  7
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  poorly developed; only 65 telephones per 1000 persons (1991); linked by
  cable and microwave to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased
  connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new direct
  telephone link from Ashgabat (Ashkhabad) to Iran has been established;
  satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 INTELSAT for TV receive-only
  service; a newly installed satellite earth station provides TV receiver-only
  capability for Turkish broadcasts

*Turkmenistan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), Joint
  Command Turkmenistan/Russia (Ground, Navy or Caspian Sea Flotilla, Air, and
  Air Defense)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 933,285; fit for military service 765,824; reach military
  age (18) annually 39,254 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Turks and Caicos Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

*Turks and Caicos Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the western North Atlantic Ocean, 190 km north of the Dominican Republic
  and southeast of The Bahamas
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  430 km2
 land area:
  430 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  389 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain:
  low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Natural resources:
  spiny lobster, conch
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  98%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  30 islands (eight inhabited); subject to frequent hurricanes

*Turks and Caicos Islands, People

Population:
  13,137 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.97% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:   14.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.17 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  20.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.34 years
 male:
  73.41 years
 female:
  77.02 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.17 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  none
 adjective:
  none
Ethnic divisions:
  African
Religions:
  Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%,
  other 19.9% (1980)
Languages:
  English (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  99%
 female:
  98%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries; some subsistence
  agriculture

*Turks and Caicos Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Turks and Caicos Islands
Digraph:
  TK
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:   Grand Turk
Administrative divisions:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, and a Constitutional
  Commission is currently reviewing its contents
Legal system:
  based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica
  and The Bahamas
National holiday:
  Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Political parties and leaders:
  Progressive National Party (PNP), Washington MISSIC; People's Democratic
  Movement (PDM), Oswald SKIPPINGS; National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Ariel
  MISSICK
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Council:
  last held on 3 April 1991 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (20 total, 13 elected) PNP 8, PDM 5
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, Executive Council, chief minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Michael
  J. BRADLEY (since NA 1987)
 Head of Government:
  Chief Minister Washington MISSIC (since NA 1991)
Member of:
  CARICOM (associate), CDB
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as a dependent territory of the UK, the interests of the Turks and Caicos
  Islands are represented in the US by the UK
US diplomatic representation:
  none
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow
  and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus

*Turks and Caicos Islands, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and offshore banking. Only
  subsistence farming - corn, cassava, citrus, and beans - exists on the
  Caicos Islands, so that most foods, as well as nonfood products, must be
  imported.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $68.5 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $5,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  12% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $20.3 million; expenditures $44.0 million, including capital
  expenditures of $23.9 million (1989)
Exports:
  $4.1 million (f.o.b., 1987)
 commodities:
  lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
 partners:
  US, UK
Imports:
  $33.2 million (c.i.f., FY84)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, drink, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
 partners:
  US, UK
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  9,050 kW capacity; 11.1 million kWh produced, 860 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  fishing, tourism, offshore financial services
Agriculture:
  subsistence farming prevails, based on corn and beans; fishing more
  important than farming; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $110 million
Currency:
  US currency is used
Exchange rates:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Turks and Caicos Islands, Communications

Highways:
  121 km, including 24 km tarmac
Ports:
  Grand Turk, Salt Cay, Providenciales, Cockburn Harbour
Airports:
 total:   7
 usable:
  7
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  fair cable and radio services; 1,446 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM,
  no FM, several TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*Turks and Caicos Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

*Tuvalu, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, 3,000 km east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
  Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  26 km2
 land area:
  26 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  24 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly
  gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain:
  very low-lying and narrow coral atolls
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  severe tropical storms are rare

*Tuvalu, People

Population:
  9,666 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.74% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.79 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.41 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  26.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  62.64 years
 male:
  61.27 years
 female:
  63.82 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.11 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Tuvaluans(s)
 adjective:
  Tuvaluan
Ethnic divisions:
  Polynesian 96%
Religions:
  Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i
  1%, other 0.6%
Languages:
  Tuvaluan, English
Literacy:  total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  NA

*Tuvalu, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Tuvalu
 former:
  Ellice Islands
Digraph:
  TV
Type:
  democracy; began debating republic status in 1992; referendum expected in
  1993
Capital:
  Funafuti
Administrative divisions:
  none
Independence:
  1 October 1978 (from UK)
Constitution:
  1 October 1978
Legal system:
  NA
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Political parties and leaders:
  none
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Parliament:
  last held 28 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1993); results
  - percent of vote NA; seats - (12 total)
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
  Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament (Palamene)
Judicial branch:
  High Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:   Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
  Toaripi LAUTI (since NA 1992)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 16 October 1989); Deputy Prime
  Minister Dr. Alesana SELUKA (since October 1989)
Member of:
  ACP, C (special), ESCAP, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
US diplomatic representation:
  none
Flag:
  light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the
  outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow
  five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

*Tuvalu, Economy

Overview:
  Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil.
  The country has no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence
  farming and fishing are the primary economic activities. The islands are too
  small and too remote for development of a tourist industry. Government
  revenues largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker
  remittances. Substantial income is received annually from an international
  trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, New Zealand, and the UK and
  supported also by Japan and South Korea.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $4.6 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $530 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.9% (1984)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $4.3 million; expenditures $4.3 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports:
  $1.0 million (f.o.b., 1983 est.)
 commodities:
  copra
 partners:
  Fiji, Australia, NZ
Imports:
  $2.8 million (c.i.f., 1983 est.)
 commodities:
  food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods
 partners:
  Fiji, Australia, NZ
External debt:   $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  2,600 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced, 330 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  fishing, tourism, copra
Agriculture:
  coconuts
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $101 million
Currency:
  1 Tuvaluan dollar ($T) or 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January
  1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752
  (1988)
Fiscal year:
  NA

*Tuvalu, Communications

Highways:
  8 km gravel
Ports:
  Funafuti, Nukufetau
Merchant marine:
  6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 33,220 GRT/58,518 DWT; includes 1
  passenger-cargo, 1 oil tanker, 4 chemical tanker
Airports:
 total:
  1
 useable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  0
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 300 radiotelephones; 4,000 radios;
  108 telephones

*Tuvalu, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Police Force
Manpower availability:   NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GNP

*Uganda, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Africa, between Kenya and Zaire
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  236,040 km2
 land area:
  199,710 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
  total 2,698 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km,
  Zaire 765 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June
  to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain:
  mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Natural resources:
  copper, cobalt, limestone, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  23%
 permanent crops:
  9%
 meadows and pastures:
  25%
 forest and woodland:
  30%
 other:
  13%
Irrigated land:
  90 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  straddles Equator; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion
Note:
  landlocked

*Uganda, People

Population:
  19,344,181 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.69% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  49.86 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  22.98 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  112.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  38.4 years
 male:
  38.09 years
 female:
  38.71 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  7.15 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Ugandan(s)
 adjective:
  Ugandan
Ethnic divisions:
  African 99%, European, Asian, Arab 1%
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 (1990)
 total population:
  48%
 male:
  62%
 female:
  35%
Labor force:
  4.5 million (est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture over 80%
 note:
  50% of population of working age (1983)

*Uganda, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Uganda
 conventional short form:   Uganda
Digraph:
  UG
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Kampala
Administrative divisions:
  10 provinces; Busoga, Central, Eastern, Karamoja, Nile, North Buganda,
  Northern, South Buganda, Southern, Western
Independence:
  9 October 1962 (from UK)
Constitution:
  8 September 1967, in process of constitutional revision
Legal system:
  government plans to restore system based on English common law and customary
  law and reinstitute a normal judicial system; accepts compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Political parties and leaders:
  only party - National Resistance Movement (NRM), Yoweri MUSEVENI
 note:
  the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM); Ugandan People's Congress (UPC), Milton
  OBOTE; Democratic Party (DP), Paul SSEMOGEERE; and Conservative Party (CP),
  Jeshua NIKHGI continue to exist but are all proscribed from conducting
  public political activities
Other political or pressure groups:
  Uganda People's Front (UPF); Uganda People's Christian Democratic Army
  (UPCDA); Ruwenzori Movement
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Resistance Council:
  last held 11-28 February 1989 (next to be held by January 1995); results -
  NRM was the only party; seats - (278 total, 210 indirectly elected) 210
  members elected without party affiliation
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers,
  Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Resistance Council
Judicial branch:
  Court of Appeal, High Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 29 January 1986); Vice
  President Samson Babi Mululu KISEKKA (since NA January 1991)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister George Cosmas ADYEBO (since NA January 1991)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS,
  NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WTO

*Uganda, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Stephen Kapimpina KATENTA-APULI
 chancery:
  5909 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
 telephone:
  (202) 726-7100 through 7102
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Johnnie CARSON
 embassy:
  Parliament Avenue, Kampala
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
 telephone:
  [256] (41) 259792, 259793, 259795
Flag:
  six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and
  red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested
  crane (the national symbol) facing the staff side

*Uganda, Economy

Overview:
  Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular
  rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. The economy has
  been devastated by widespread political instability, mismanagement, and
  civil war since independence in 1962, keeping Uganda poor with a per capita
  income of about $300. (GDP remains below the levels of the early 1970s, as
  does industrial production.) 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
  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, which was running at over 300%
  in 1987, and boosting production and export earnings. In 1990-92, the
  economy has 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.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $6 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $300 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  41.5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $365 million; expenditures $545 million, including capital
  expenditures of $165 million (FY89 est.)
Exports:
  $170 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  coffee 97%, cotton, tea
 partners:
  US 25%, UK 18%, France 11%, Spain 10%
Imports:
  $610 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum products, machinery, cotton piece goods, metals, transportation
  equipment, food
 partners:
  Kenya 25%, UK 14%, Italy 13%
External debt:
  $1.9 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7.0% (1990); accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
  200,000 kW capacity; 610 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement
Agriculture:
  mainly subsistence; accounts for 57% of GDP and over 80% of labor force;
  cash crops - coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco; food crops - cassava, potatoes,
  corn, millet, pulses; livestock products - beef, goat meat, milk, poultry;
  self-sufficient in food

*Uganda, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $145 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.4 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $169
  million
Currency:
  1 Ugandan shilling (USh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Ugandan shillings (USh) per US$1 - 1,217.1 (January 1993), 1.133.8 (1992),
  734.0 (1991), 428.85 (1990), 223.1 (1989), 106.1 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Uganda, Communications

Railroads:
  1,300 km, 1.000-meter-gauge single track
Highways:
  26,200 km total; 1,970 km paved; 5,849 km crushed stone, gravel, and
  laterite; remainder earth roads and tracks
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:
  3 roll-on/roll-off (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,091 GRT
Airports:
 total:
  31
 usable:
  23
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  11
Telecommunications:
  fair system with microwave and radio communications stations; broadcast
  stations - 10 AM, no FM, 9 TV; satellite communications ground stations - 1
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

*Uganda, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 4,137,983; fit for military service 2,250,793 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, 15% of budget (FY89/90)

*Ukraine, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland and Russia
Map references:
  Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Europe, Standard
  Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  603,700 km2
 land area:
  603,700 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 4,558 km, Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km, Poland 428
  km, Romania (southwest) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia 1,576 km,
  Slovakia 90 km
Coastline:   2,782 km
Maritime claims:
  NA
International disputes:
  potential border disputes with Moldova and Romania in northern Bukovina and
  southern Odes'ka Oblast'; potential dispute with Moldova over former
  southern Bessarabian areas; 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; subtropical only on the southern Crimean coast;
  precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north,
  lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to
  cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the
  country, hot in the south
Terrain:
  most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaux, mountains
  being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula
  in the extreme south
Natural resources:
  iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulphur, graphite,
  titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber
Land use:
 arable land:
  56%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  12%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  30%
Irrigated land:
  26,000 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  air and water pollution, deforestation, radiation contamination around
  Chornobyl' nuclear power plant
Note:
  strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second largest
  country in Europe

*Ukraine, People

Population:
  51,821,230 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.06% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.38 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  12.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  21 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.87 years
 male:
  65.32 years
 female:
  74.65 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.82 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Ukrainian(s)
 adjective:
  Ukrainian
Ethnic divisions:
  Ukrainian 73%, Russian 22%, Jewish 1%, other 4%
Religions:
  Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev
  Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate),
  Protestant, Jewish
Languages:
  Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  25.277 million
 by occupation:
  industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 19%, health,
  education, and culture 18%, trade and distribution 8%, transport and
  communication 7%, other 7% (1990)

*Ukraine, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Ukraine
 local long form:
  none
 local short form:
  Ukrayina
 former:
  Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  UP
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Kiev (Kyyiv)
Administrative divisions:
  24 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtomnaya,   respublika), and 2
municipalites (singular - misto) with oblast status**;,   Chernihivs'ka, Cherkas'ka, Chernivets'ka,
Dnipropetrovs'ka, Donets'ka,
  Ivano-Frankivs'ka, Kharkivs'ka, Khersons'ka, Khmel'nyts'ka, Kirovohrads'ka,
  Kyyiv (Kiev)**, Kyyivs'ka (Kiev), Luhans'ka, L'vivs'ka, Mykolayivs'ka,,   Odes'ka, Poltavs'ka,
Respublika Krym*, Rivnens'ka, Sevastopol'**,Sums'ka,,   Ternopil's'ka, Vinnyts'ka, Volyns'ka,
Zakarpats'ka, Zaporiz'ka, Zhytomyrs'ka
Independence:
  1 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  using 1978 pre-independence constitution; new consitution currently being
  drafted
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 24 August (1991)
Political parties and leaders:
  Green Party of Ukraine, Vitaliy KONONOV, leader; Liberal Party of Ukraine,
  Ihor MERKULOV, chairman; 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 DOVGRAN', chairman; Party of
  Democratic Rebirth of Ukraine, Volodymyr FILENKO, chairman; Social
  Democratic Party of Ukraine, Yuriy ZBITNEV, 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 LANDIK, 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
Other political or pressure groups:
  Ukrainian People's Movement for Restructuring (Rukh); New Ukraine (Nova
  Ukrayina); Congress of National Democratic Forces
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

*Ukraine, Government

Elections:
 President:
  last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Leonid
  KRAVCHUK 61.59%, Vyacheslav CHERNOVIL 23.27%, Levko LUKYANENKO 4.49%,
  Volodymyr HRYNYOV 4.17%, Iher YUKHNOVSKY 1.74%, Leopold TABURYANSKYY 0.57%,
  other 4.17%
 Supreme Council:
  last held 4 March 1990 (next scheduled for 1995, may be held earlier in late
  1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (450 total) number of
  seats by party NA
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Supreme Council
Judicial branch:
  being organized
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Leonid Makarovych KRAVCHUK (since 5 December 1991)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Leonid Danilovych KUCHMA (since 13 October 1992); Acting
  First Deputy Prime Minister Yukhym Leonidovych ZVYAHIL'SKYY (since 11 June
  1993) and five deputy prime ministers
Member of:
  BSEC, CBSS (observer), CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ILO, IMF, INMARSAT,
  IOC, ITU, NACC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Oleh Hryhorovych BILORUS
 chancery:
  3350 M Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20007
 telephone:
  (202) 333-0606
 FAX:
  (202) 333-0817
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Roman POPADIUK
 embassy:
  10 Vul. Yuria Kotsyubinskovo, 252053 Kiev 53
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09862
 telephone:
  [7] (044) 244-7349
 FAX:
  [7] (044) 244-7350
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent
  grainfields under a blue sky

*Ukraine, Economy

Overview:
  After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important
  economic component of the former Soviet Union producing more than three
  times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil
  generated more than one fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms
  provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain and vegetables to other
  republics. Likewise, its well-developed and diversified heavy industry
  supplied equipment and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other
  regions of the former USSR. In 1992 the Ukrainian government liberalized
  most prices and erected a legal framework for privatizing state enterprises
  while retaining many central economic controls and continuing subsidies to
  state production enterprises. In November 1992 the new Prime Minister KUCHMA
  launched a new economic reform program promising more freedom to the
  agricultural sector, faster privatization of small and medium enterprises,
  and stricter control over state subsidies. Even so, the magnitude of the
  problems and the slow pace in building new market-oriented institutions
  preclude a near-term recovery of output to the 1990 level.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -13% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  20%-30% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $13.5 billion to outside of the successor states of the former USSR (1990)
 commodities:
  coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, machinery
  and transport equipment, grain, meat
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $16.7 billion from outside of the successor states of the former USSR (1990)
 commodities:
  machinery and parts, transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles
 partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $12 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -9% (1992)
Electricity:
  55,882,000 kW capacity; 281,000 million kWh produced, 5,410 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport
  equipment, chemicals, food-processing (especially sugar)
Agriculture:
  grain, vegetables, meat, milk, sugar beets
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited
  government eradication program; used as transshipment points for illicit
  drugs to Western Europe

*Ukraine, Economy

Economic aid:
  $NA
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 late 1993
Exchange rates:
  Ukrainian karbovantsi per $US1 - 3,000 (1 April 1993)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Ukraine, Communications

Railroads:
  22,800 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  273,700 km total (1990); 236,400 km hard surfaced, 37,300 km earth
Inland waterways:
  1,672 km perennially navigable (Pripyat and Dnipro River)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 2,010 km, petroleum products 1,920 km, natural gas 7,800 km (1992)
Ports:
  coastal - Berdyans'k, Illichivs'k Kerch, Kherson, Mariupol' (formerly
  Zhdanov), Mykolayiv, Odesa, Sevastopol', Pirdenne; inland - Kiev (Kyyiv)
Merchant marine:
  394 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,952,328 GRT/5,262,161 DWT; includes
  234 cargo, 18 container, 7 barge carriers, 55 bulk cargo, 10 oil tanker, 2
  chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 12 passenger, 5 passenger cargo, 9
  short-sea passenger, 33 roll-on/roll-off, 2 railcar carrier, 1
  multi-function-large-load-carrier, 5 refrigerated cargo
Airports:
 total:
  694
 useable:
  100
 with permanent-surface runways:
  111
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  81
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  78
Telecommunications:
  international electronic mail system established in Kiev; Ukraine has about
  7 million telephone lines (135 telephones for each 1000 persons); as of
  mid-1992, 650 telephone lines per 1000 persons in Kiev with 15-20 digital
  switches as of mid-1991; NMT-450 analog cellular network under construction
  in Kiev; 3.56 million applications for telephones could not be satisfied as
  of January 1990; international calls can be made via satellite, by landline
  to other CIS countries, and through the Moscow international switching
  center on 150 international lines; satellite earth stations employ INTELSAT,
  INMARSAT, and Intersputnik; fiber optic cable installation (intercity)
  remains incomplete; new international digital telephone exchange operational
  in Kiev for direct communication with 167 countries

*Ukraine, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Airspace Defense Forces, Republic Security Forces (internal and
  border troops), National Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 12,070,775; fit for military service 9,521,697; reach
  military age (18) annually 365,534 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  544,256 million karbovantsi, NA% of GDP (forecast for 1993); note -
  conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange
  rate could produce misleading results

*United Arab Emirates, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, along the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
  Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  75,581 km2
 land area:
  75,581 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
  total 867 km, Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline:
  1,318 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  defined by bilateral boundaries or equidistant line
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm assumed for most of country,
  12 nm for Ash Shariqah (Sharjah)
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 Tumb islands became more
  acute when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third country
  nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently
  backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the
  region
Climate:
  desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain:
  flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert
  wasteland; mountains in east
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  2%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  98%
Irrigated land:
  50 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  frequent dust and sand storms; lack of natural freshwater resources being
  overcome by desalination plants; desertification

*United Arab Emirates, Geography

Note:
  strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital
  transit point for world crude oil

*United Arab Emirates, People

Population:
  2,657,013 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  5.06% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  28.4 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  3.07 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  25.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  22.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72 years
 male:
  69.91 years
 female:
  74.2 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.67 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Emirian(s)  adjective:
  Emirian
Ethnic divisions:
  Emirian 19%, other Arab 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes
  Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
 note:
  less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
Religions:
  Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
Languages:
  Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy:
  age 10 and over can read and write (1980)
 total population:
  68%
 male:
  70%
 female:
  63%
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

*United Arab Emirates, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  United Arab Emirates
 conventional short form:
  none
 local long form:
  Al Imarata al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  Trucial States
Abbreviation:
  UAE
Digraph:
  TC
Type:
  federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central government and
  other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital:
  Abu Dhabi
Administrative divisions:
  7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al
  Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy, Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Independence:
  2 December 1971 (from UK)
Constitution:   2 December 1971 (provisional)
Legal system:
  secular codes are being introduced by the UAE Government and in several
  member emirates; Islamic law remains influential
National holiday:
  National Day, 2 December (1971)
Political parties and leaders:
  none
Other political or pressure groups:
  a few small clandestine groups may be active
Suffrage:
  none
Elections:
  none
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Supreme Council of Rulers, prime minister, deputy
  prime minister, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihad)
Judicial branch:
  Union Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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)

*United Arab Emirates, Government

Member of:
  ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, 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 740, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
 telephone:
  (202) 338-6500
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador William RUGH
 embassy:
  Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
 telephone:
  [971] (2) 336691, afterhours 338730  FAX:
  [971] (2) 318441
 consulate general:
  Dubayy (Dubai)
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker
  vertical red band on the hoist side

*United Arab Emirates, Economy

Overview:
  The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest incomes per
  capita outside the OECD nations. This wealth is based on oil and gas, 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.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $34.9 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $13,800 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NEGL% (1988)
Budget:
  revenues $4.3 billion; expenditures $4.8 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1993)
Exports:
  $21.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  crude oil 66%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates
 partners:
  Japan 39%, Singapore 5%, Korea 4%, Iran 4%, India
Imports:
  $13.9 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
 commodities:
  capital goods, consumer goods, food
 partners:
  Japan 15%, US 10%, UK 9%, Germany 7%, Korea 4%
External debt:
  $11 billion (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 30% (1990 est.); accounts for 56% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
  6,090,000 kW capacity; 17,850 million kWh produced, 6,718 kWh per capita
  (1992)
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 $9.1 billion in bilateral aid to less developed countries
  (1979-89)
Currency:
  1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils
Exchange rates:
  Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1 - 3.6710 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*United Arab Emirates, Communications

Highways:
  2,000 km total; 1,800 km bituminous, 200 km gravel and graded earth
Pipelines:
  crude oil 830 km, natural gas, including natural gas liquids, 870 km
Ports:
  Al Fujayrah, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid,
  Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid
Merchant marine:
  56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,197,306 GRT/2,153,673 DWT; includes
  15 cargo, 8 container, 3 roll-on/roll-off, 23 oil tanker, 4 bulk, 1
  refrigerated cargo, 1 liquified gas, 1 chemical tanker
Airports:
 total:
  37
 usable:
  34
 with permanent-surface runways:
  20
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  7
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  5
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  modern system consisting of microwave and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu
  Dhabi and Dubayy; 386,600 telephones; satellite ground stations - 1 Atlantic
  Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT; submarine cables to
  Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
  microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; broadcast stations - 8 AM, 3 FM, 12
  TV

*United Arab Emirates, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Federal Police Force
Manpower availability:   males age 15-49 1,008,076; fit for military service 550,965; reach military
  age (18) annually 15,499 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.47 billion, 5.3% of GDP (1989 est.)

*United Kingdom, Geography

Location:
  Western Europe, bordering on the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea,
  between Ireland and France
Map references:
  Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  244,820 km2
 land area:
  241,590 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Oregon
 note:
  includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
Land boundaries:
  total 360 km, Ireland 360 km
Coastline:
  12,429 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon
  boundaries
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Northern Ireland question with Ireland; Gibraltar question with Spain;
  Argentina claims Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); Argentina claims South
  Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Mauritius claims island of Diego
  Garcia in British Indian Ocean Territory; Rockall continental shelf dispute
  involving Denmark, Iceland, and Ireland (Ireland and the UK have signed a
  boundary agreement in the Rockall area); territorial claim in Antarctica
  (British Antarctic Territory)
Climate:
  temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic
  Current; more than half of the days are overcast
Terrain:
  mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and
  southeast
Natural resources:
  coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk,
  gypsum, lead, silica
Land use:
 arable land:
  29%
 permanent crops:   0%
 meadows and pastures:
  48%
 forest and woodland:
  9%
 other:
  14%
Irrigated land:
  1,570 km2 (1989)

*United Kingdom, Geography

Environment:
  pollution control measures improving air and water quality; because of
  heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal
  waters
Note:
  lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and now
  being linked by tunnel under the English Channel

*United Kingdom, People

Population:
  57,970,200 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.29% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.58 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  10.87 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  76.5 years
 male:
  73.71 years
 female:
  79.43 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Briton(s), British (collective pl.)
 adjective:
  British
Ethnic divisions:
  English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West
  Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%
Religions:   Anglican 27 million, Roman Catholic 9 million, Muslim 1 million,
  Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 400,000, Hindu 350,000, Jewish
  300,000 (1991 est.)
 note:
  the UK does not include a question on religion in its census
Languages:
  English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of
  Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1978)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  28.048 million
 by occupation:
  services 62.8%, manufacturing and construction 25.0%, government 9.1%,
  energy 1.9%, agriculture 1.2% (June 1992)

*United Kingdom, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
 conventional short form:
  United Kingdom
Abbreviation:
  UK
Digraph:
  UK
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  London
Administrative divisions:
  47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties, 26 districts, 9 regions, and 3 islands
  areas
 England:
  39 counties, 7 metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford, Berkshire, Buckingham,,   Cambridge,
Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derby, Devon, Dorset,
  Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucester, Greater London*, Greater,   Manchester*, Hampshire,,
Hereford and Worcester, Hertford, Humberside, Isle
  of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln, Merseyside*, Norfolk,,   Northampton,
Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Nottingham, Oxford,
  Shropshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire*, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and,   Wear*, Warwick,,
West Midlands*, West Sussex, West Yorkshire*, Wiltshire,  Northern Ireland:
  26 districts; Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge,
  Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Down,
  Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Londonderry, Magherafelt,
  Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane
 Scotland:
  9 regions, 3 islands areas*; Borders, Central, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife,,   Grampian, Highland,
Lothian, Orkney*, Shetland*, Strathclyde, Tayside,,   Western Isles*,  Wales:
  8 counties; Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan, Powys, South
  Glamorgan, West Glamorgan
Dependent areas:
  Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands,
  Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong (scheduled
  to become a Special Administrative Region of China on 1 July 1997), Jersey,
  Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and
  the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
Independence:
  1 January 1801 (United Kingdom established)
Constitution:
  unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
  common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; no
  judicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
  with reservations
National holiday:
  Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)

*United Kingdom, Government

Political parties and leaders:
  Conservative and Unionist Party, John MAJOR; Labor Party, John SMITH;
  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), James KILFEDDER; 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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Commons:
  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
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or House of Lords and a
  lower house or House of Commons
Judicial branch:
  House of Lords
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB
  (non-regional), CE, CERN, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE,
  ECLAC, EIB, ESCAP, ESA, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTRC, NACC, NATO,
  NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
  UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UPU,
  WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Sir Robin RENWICK
 chancery:
  3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 462-1340
 FAX:
  (202) 898-4255
 consulates general:
  Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San
  Francisco,
 consulates:
  Dallas, Miami, and Seattle
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Raymond G. H. SEITZ
 embassy:
  24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W.1A1AE

*United Kingdom, Government

 mailing address:
  PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040
 telephone:
  [44] (71) 499-9000
 FAX:
  [44] (71) 409-1637
 consulates general:
  Belfast and Edinburgh
Flag:
  blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in
  white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint
  of Ireland) which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint
  Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); known as the Union Flag or Union Jack;
  the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a
  number of other flags including dependencies, Commonwealth countries, and
  others

*United Kingdom, Economy

Overview:
  The UK is one of the world's great trading powers and financial centers, and
  its economy ranks among the four largest in Europe. The economy is
  essentially capitalistic; over the past thirteen 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 21% of GDP. The economy is emerging out of its
  3-year recession with only weak recovery expected in 1993. Unemployment is
  hovering around 10% of the labor force. The government in 1992 adopted a
  pro-growth strategy, cutting interest rates sharply and removing the pound
  from the European exchange rate mechanism. Excess industrial capacity
  probably will moderate inflation which for the first time in a decade is
  below the EC average. The major economic policy question for Britain in the
  1990s is the terms on which it participates in the financial and economic
  integration of Europe.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $920.6 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  -0.6% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $15,900 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  9.8% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $367.6 billion; expenditures $439.3 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $32.5 billion (FY92 est.)
Exports:
  $187.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods,
  transport equipment
 partners:
  EC countries 56.7% (Germany 14.0%, France 11.1%, Netherlands 7.9%), US 10.9%
Imports:
  $210.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  manufactured goods, machinery, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer
  goods
 partners:
  EC countries 51.7% (Germany 14.9%, France 9.3%, Netherlands 8.4%), US 11.6%
External debt:
  $16.2 billion (June 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 0.4% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  99,000,000 kW capacity; 317,000 million kWh produced, 5,480 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*United Kingdom, Economy

Industries:
  production machinery including machine tools, electric power equipment,
  equipment for the automation of production, 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 and 1% of labor force; highly mechanized and
  efficient farms; wide variety of crops and livestock products produced;
  about 60% self-sufficient in food and feed needs; fish catch of 665,000
  metric tons (1987)
Illicit drugs:
  increasingly important gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering
  the European market
Economic aid:
  donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $21.0 billion
Currency:
  1 British pound (#) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
  British pounds (#) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652
  (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 April-31 March

*United Kingdom, Communications

Railroads:
  UK, 16,914 km total; Great Britain's British Railways (BR) operates 16,584
  km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge (including 4,545 km electrified and 12,591
  km double or multiple track), several additional small standard-gauge and
  narrow-gauge lines are privately owned and operated; Northern Ireland
  Railways (NIR) operates 330 km 1.600-meter gauge (including 190 km double
  track)
Highways:
  UK, 362,982 km total; Great Britain, 339,483 km paved (including 2,573 km
  limited-access divided highway); Northern Ireland, 23,499 km (22,907 paved,
  592 km gravel)
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:
  London, Liverpool, Felixstowe, Tees and Hartlepool, Dover, Sullom Voe,
  Southampton
Merchant marine:   204 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,819,719 GRT/4,941,785 DWT; includes
  7 passenger, 16 short-sea passenger, 37 cargo, 25 container, 14
  roll-on/roll-off, 5 refrigerated cargo, 1 vehicle carrier, 65 oil tanker, 1
  chemical tanker, 8 liquefied gas, 1 specialized tanker, 22 bulk, 1
  combination bulk, 1 passenger cargo
Airports:
 total:
  496
 usable:
  385
 with permanent-surface runways:
  249
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  37
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  134
Telecommunications:
  technologically advanced domestic and international system; 30,200,000
  telephones; equal mix of buried cables, microwave and optical-fiber systems;
  excellent countrywide broadcast systems; broadcast stations - 225 AM, 525
  (mostly repeaters) FM, 207 (3,210 repeaters) TV; 40 coaxial submarine
  cables; 5 satellite ground stations operating in INTELSAT (7 Atlantic Ocean
  and 3 Indian Ocean), INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems; at least 8 large
  international switching centers

*United Kingdom, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 14,445,998; fit for military service 12,084,913 (1993 est.);
  no conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $42.5 billion, 3.8% of GDP (FY92/93)

*United States, Geography

Location:
  North America, between Canada and Mexico
Map references:
  North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  9,372,610 km2
 land area:
  9,166,600 km2
 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), Mexico 3,326 km
Coastline:
  19,924 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 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); US Naval Base at Guantanamo 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%

*United States, Geography

 forest and woodland:
  29%
 other:
  25%
Irrigated land:
  181,020 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  pollution control measures improving air and water quality; agricultural
  fertilizer and pesticide pollution; management of sparse natural water
  resources in west; desertification; tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake
  activity around Pacific Basin; permafrost in northern Alaska is a major
  impediment to development
Note:
  world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and China)

*United States, People

Population:
  258,103,721 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.02% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.48 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.67 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  3.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.36 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.8 years
 male:
  72.49 years
 female:
  79.29 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.05 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  American(s)
 adjective:
  American
Ethnic divisions:
  white 83.4%, black 12.4%, asian 3.3%, native american 0.8% (1992)
Religions:
  Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)
Languages:
  English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having completed 5 or more years of schooling (1991)
 total population:
  97.9%
 male:
  97.9%
 female:
  97.9%
Labor force:
  128.548 million (includes armed forces and unemployed; civilian labor force
  126.982 million) (1992)
 by occupation:
  NA

*United States, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  United States of America
 conventional short form:
  United States
Abbreviation:
  US or USA
Digraph:
  US
Type:
  federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital:
  Washington, DC
Administrative divisions:
  50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,,   Colorado,
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia,,   Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
  Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
  Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,
  North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
  Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
  Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas:
  American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston
  Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana
  Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
 note:
  since 18 July 1947, the US has administered the Trust Territory of the
  Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with
  three of the 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 that was approved
  by the US Congress but to date the Compact process has not been completed in
  Palau, which continues to be administered by the US as the Trust Territory
  of the Pacific Islands; the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact
  of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of
  the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US
  (effective 21 October 1986)
Independence:
  4 July 1776 (from England)
Constitution:
  17 September 1787, effective 4 June 1789
Legal system:
  based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
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
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  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%

*United States, Government

 Senate:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 8 November 1994); results -
  Democratic Party 53%, Republican Party 47%, other NEGL%; seats - (100 total)
  Democratic Party 57, Republican Party 43
 House of Representatives:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 8 November 1994); results -
  Democratic Party 52%, Republican Party 46%, other 2%; seats - (435 total)
  Democratic Party 258, Republican Party 176, Independent 1
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Congress consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or
  House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
  Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, COCOM,
  CP, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, FAO, ESCAP, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT,
  IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR,
  NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
  UNRWA, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Flag:
  thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with
  white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50
  small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of
  six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars
  represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
  known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number
  of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

*United States, Economy

Overview:
  The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy
  in the world, with a per capita GDP of $23,400, 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 1%, unemployment grew, and signs of recovery proved premature. Growth
  picked up to 2.1% in 1992. Unemployment, however, remained at nine million,
  the increase in GDP being mainly attributable to gains in output per worker.
  Ongoing problems for the 1990s include inadequate investment in economic
  infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs, and sizable budget and trade
  deficits.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $5.951 trillion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  2.1% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $23,400 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  7% (April 1993)
Budget:
  revenues $1,092 billion; expenditures $1,382 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY92)
Exports:
  $442.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer
  goods, agricultural products
 partners:
  Western Europe 27.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 12.1% (1989)
Imports:
  $544.1 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles, consumer
  goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages
 partners:
  Western Europe 21.5%, Japan 19.7%, Canada 18.8% (1989)
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.5% (1992 est.); accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
  780,000,000 kW capacity; 3,230,000 million kWh produced, 12,690 kWh per
  capita (1992)
Industries:
  leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified; petroleum, steel,
  motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food
  processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

*United States, Economy

Agriculture:
  accounts for 2% of GDP and 2.8% of labor force; favorable climate and soils
  support a wide variety of crops and livestock production; world's second
  largest producer and number one exporter of grain; surplus food producer;
  fish catch of 4.4 million metric tons (1990)
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption with 1987 production
  estimated at 3,500 metric tons or about 25% of the available marijuana;
  ongoing eradication program aimed at small plots and greenhouses has not
  reduced production
Economic aid:
  donor - commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89), $115.7 billion
Currency:
  1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
 British pounds:
  (#) per US$ - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603
  (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988)
 Canadian dollars:
  (Can$) per US$ - 1.2776 (January 1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668
  (1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988)
 French francs:
  (F) per US$ - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453
  (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
 Italian lire:
  (Lit) per US$ - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991),
  1,198.1 (1990), 1.372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988)
 Japanese yen:
  (Y) per US$ - 125.01 (January 1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79
  (1990), 137.96 (1989), 128.15 (1988)
 German deutsche marks:
  (DM) per US$ - 1.6158 (January 1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157
  (1990), 1.8800 (1989), 1.7562 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*United States, Communications

Railroads:
  240,000 km of mainline routes, all standard 1.435 meter track, no government
  ownership (1989)
Highways:
  7,599,250 km total; 6,230,000 km state-financed roads; 1,369,250 km
  federally-financed roads (including 71,825 km interstate limited access
  freeways) (1988)
Inland waterways:
  41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes (est.)
Pipelines:
  petroleum 276,000 km (1991), natural gas 331,000 km (1991)
Ports:   Anchorage, Baltimore, Beaumont, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland,
  Duluth, Freeport, Galveston, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville,
  Long Beach, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans, New York,
  Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Richmond (California), San Francisco,
  Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Wilmington
Merchant marine:
  385 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,567,000 GRT/19,511,000 DWT;
  includes 3 passenger-cargo, 36 cargo, 23 bulk, 169 tanker, 13 tanker
  tug-barge, 13 liquefied gas, 128 intermodal; in addition, there are 219
  government-owned vessels
Airports:
 total:
  14,177
 usable:
  12,417
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4,820
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  63
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  325
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2,524
Telecommunications:
  126,000,000 telephone access lines; 7,557,000 cellular phone subscribers;
  broadcast stations - 4,987 AM, 4,932 FM, 1,092 TV; about 9,000 TV cable
  systems; 530,000,000 radio sets and 193,000,000 TV sets in use; 16
  satellites and 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite ground stations - 45
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT (1990)

*United States, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (including Marine Corps),
  Department of the Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 66.826 million; fit for military service NA (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $315.5 billion, 5.3% of GDP (1992)

*Uruguay, Geography

Location:
  Eastern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Argentina
  and Brazil
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  176,220 km2
 land area:
  173,620 km2  comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Washington State
Land boundaries:
  total 1,564 km, Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline:
  660 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 territorial sea:
  200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted 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 Quarai and the islands at the confluence of the
  Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay
Climate:
  warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain:
  mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Natural resources:
  soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals
Land use:
 arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  78%
 forest and woodland:
  4%
 other:
  10%
Irrigated land:
  1,100 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods

*Uruguay, People

Population:
  3,175,050 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.75% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  17.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  18 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:   73.74 years
 male:
  70.52 years
 female:
  77.11 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.46 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Uruguayan(s)
 adjective:
  Uruguayan
Ethnic divisions:
  white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 66% (less than half adult population attends church
  regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%
Languages:
  Spanish
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  96%
 male:
  97%
 female:
  96%
Labor force:
  1.355 million (1991 est.)
 by occupation:
  government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities,
  construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988
  est.)

*Uruguay, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Oriental Republic of Uruguay
 conventional short form:
  Uruguay
 local long form:
  Republica Oriental del Uruguay
 local short form:
  Uruguay
Digraph:
  UY
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Montevideo
Administrative divisions:
  19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones,
  Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado,
  Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano,
  Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
Independence:
  25 August 1828 (from Brazil)
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
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 25 August (1828)
Political parties and leaders:
  National (Blanco) Party, Carlos CAT; Colorado Party, Secretary General
  (vacant); Broad Front Coalition, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera - includes PSU, PCU,
  MLN, MRO, PVP; Uruguayan Socialist Party (PSU), Jose Pedro CARDOSO, and;
  Communist Party (PCU), Marina ARISMENDI; National Liberation Movement (MLN)
  or Tupamaros, Eleuterio FERNANDEZ Huidobro; Oriental Rvolutionary Movement
  (MRO), Walter ARTOLA; Party for the Victory of the Poor (PVP), Hugo CORES;
  New Space Coalition consists of PGP, PDC, and Civic Union, Hugo BATALLA;
  People's Government Party (PGP), Hugo BATALLA, secretary general; Christian
  Democratic Party (PDC), Carlos VASSALLO, secretary general; Civic Union,
  Humberto CIGANDA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 President:
  last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -
  Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera (Blanco) 37%, Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (Colorado)
  29%, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera (Broad Front) 20%
 Chamber of Senators:
  last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -
  Blanco 40%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 23% New Space 7%; seats - (30 total)
  Blanco 12, Colorado 9, Broad Front 7, New Space 2
 Chamber of Representatives:
  last held NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -
  Blanco 39%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 22%, New Space 8%, other 1%; seats -
  (99 total) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

*Uruguay, Government

Legislative branch:
  bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General) consists of an upper chamber
  or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber
  of Representatives (Camera de Representantes)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Luis Alberto LACALLE (since 1 March 1990); Vice President Gonzalo
  AGUIRRE Ramirez (since 1 March 1990)
Member of:
  AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICC, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO
  (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS,
  OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNTAC,
  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:
  telephone (202) 331-1313 through 1316
 consulates general:
  Los Angeles, Miami, and New York,
 consulate:
  New Orleans
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Richard C. BROWN
 embassy:
  Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34035
 telephone:
  [598] (2) 23-60-61 or 48-77-77
 FAX:
  [598] (2) 48-86-11
Flag:
  nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with
  blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow
  sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately
  triangular and wavy

*Uruguay, Economy

Overview:
  Uruguay is a small economy with favorable climate, good soils, and solid
  hydropower potential. Economic development has been held back by excessive
  government regulation of economic detail and 50% to 130% inflation. After
  several years of sluggish growth, real GDP jumped by about 8% in 1992. The
  rise is attributable mainly to an increase in Argentine demand for Uruguayan
  exports, particularly agricultural products and electricity. In a major step
  toward greater regional economic cooperation, Uruguay in 1991 had joined
  Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay in forming the Southern Cone Common Market
  (Mercosur). A referendum in December 1992 overturned key portions of
  landmark privatization legislation, dealing a serious blow to President
  LACALLE's broad economic reform plan.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $9.8 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  8% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $3,100 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  58% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  9% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $2.9 billion; expenditures $3.0 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $388 million (1991)
Exports:
  $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  hides and leather goods 17%, beef 10%, wool 9%, fish 7%, rice 4%
 partners:
  Argentina, Brazil, US, Germany
Imports:
  $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  crude oil, fuels, and lubricants, metals, machinery, transportation
  equipment, industrial chemicals
 partners:
  Brazil 23%, Argentina 17%, US 10%, EC 27.1% (1990)
External debt:
  $4.1 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -1.4% (1990), accounts for almost 25% of GDP
Electricity:
  2,168,000 kW capacity; 5,960 million kWh produced, 1,900 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel,
  tires, cement, fishing, petroleum refining, wine
Agriculture:
  large areas devoted to livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum;
  self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $420 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $69 million
Currency:
  1 new Uruguayan peso (N$Ur) = 100 centesimos

*Uruguay, Economy

Exchange rates:
  new Uruguayan pesos (N$Ur) per US$1 - 3,457.5 (December 1992), 3,026.9
  (1992), 2,489 (1991), 1,594 (1990), 805 (1989), 451 (1988), 281 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Uruguay, Communications

Railroads:
  3,000 km, all 1.435-meter (standard) gauge and government owned
Highways:
  49,900 km total; 6,700 km paved, 3,000 km gravel, 40,200 km earth
Inland waterways:
  1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft
Ports:
  Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia
Merchant marine:
  4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,797 GRT/132,296 DWT; includes 1
  cargo, 2 container, 1 oil tanker
Airports:
 total:
  88
 usable:
  81
 with permanent-surface runways:
  16
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  14
Telecommunications:
  most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave
  network; 337,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 99 AM, no FM, 26 TV, 9
  shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

*Uruguay, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air Force,
  Grenadier Guards, Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 755,667; fit for military service 613,585 (1993 est.); no
  conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $216 million, 2.3% of GDP (1991 est.)

*Uzbekistan, Geography

Location:
  Central Asia, bordering the Aral Sea, between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan
Map references:
  Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard
  Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  447,400 km2
 land area:
  425,400 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
  total 6,221 km, Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099
  km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline:
  0 km
 note:
  Uzbekistan does border the Aral Sea (420 km)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  mostly mid latitude desert; semiarid grassland in east
Terrain:
  mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; 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:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  47%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  43%
Irrigated land:
  41,550 km2 (1990)
Environment:
  drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical
  pesticides and natural salts
Note:
  landlocked

*Uzbekistan, People

Population:
  22,127,946 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.17% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  30.57 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.63 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  54.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  68.36 years  male:
  65.05 years
 female:
  71.84 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.78 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Uzbek(s)
 adjective:
  Uzbek
Ethnic divisions:
  Uzbek 71.4%, Russian 8.3%, Tajik 4.7%, Kazakhs 4.1%, Tartars 2.4% (includes
  70% of Crimean Tatars deported during World War II), Karakalpaks 2.1%, other
  7%
Religions:
  Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages:
  Uzbek 85%, Russian 5%, other 10%
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  100%
 female:
  100%
Labor force:
  7.941 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture and forestry 39%, industry and construction 24%, other 37%
  (1990)

*Uzbekistan, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Uzbekistan
 conventional short form:
  Uzbekistan
 local long form:
  Uzbekiston Respublikasi
 local short form:
  none
 former:
  Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  UZ
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions:
  12 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast') and 1 autonomous republic*,   (avtomnaya respublika);
Andizhan, Bukhara, Dzhizak, Fergana, Karakalpakstan*,   (Nukus), Kashkadar'ya (Karshi), Khorezm
(Urgench), Namangan, Navoi,
  Samarkand, Surkhandar'ya (Termez), Syrdar'ya (Gulistan), Tashkent
 note:
  an administrative division has the same name as its administrative center
  (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
  31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
  new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system:
  evolution of Soviet civil law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Political parties and leaders:
  People's Democratic Party (PDP; formerly Communist Party), Islam A. KARIMOV,
  chairman; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party (EDP), Muhammad SOLIKH, chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
  Birlik (Unity) People's Movement (BPM), Abdul Rakhman PULATOV, chairman;
  Islamic Rebirth Party (IRP), Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results -
  Islam KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%
 Supreme Soviet:
  last held 18 February 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (500 total) Communist 450, ERK 10, other 40; note -
  total number of seats will be reduced to 150 in next election
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Supreme Soviet
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Islam KARIMOV (since NA March 1990)

*Uzbekistan, Government

 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Abdulkhashim MUTALOV (since 13 January 1992), First Deputy
  Prime Minister Ismail Hakimovitch DJURABEKOV (since NA); Supreme Soviet
  Chairman Shavkat Muhitdinovitch YULDASHEV (since NA June 1991)
Member of:
  CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, IDA, IMF, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Muhammed Babir MALIKOV
 chancery:
  200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
 telephone:   (202) 778-0107
 FAX:
  (202) 861-0472
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Henry L. CLARKE
 embassy:
  55 Chelanzanskaya, Tashkent
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09862
 telephone:
  [7] (3712) 77-14-07
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by
  red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side
  quadrant

*Uzbekistan, Economy

Overview:
  Although Uzbekistan accounted for only 3.4% of total Soviet output, it
  produced two-thirds of the USSR's cotton and ranks as the fourth largest
  global producer. Moscow's push for ever-increasing amounts of cotton had
  included massive irrigation projects which caused extensive environmental
  damage to the Aral Sea and rivers of the republic. Furthermore, the lavish
  use of chemical fertilizers has caused extensive pollution and widespread
  health problems. Recently the republic has sought to encourage food
  production at the expense of cotton. The small industrial sector specializes
  in such items as agricultural machinery, mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil,
  and bridge cranes. Uzbekistan also has some important natural resources
  including gold (about 30% of former Soviet production), uranium, and natural
  gas. The Uzbek Government has encouraged some land reform but has shied away
  from other aspects of economic reform. Output and living standards continued
  to fall in 1992 largely because of the cumulative impact of disruptions in
  supply that have followed the dismemberment of the USSR.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  -10% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  at least 17% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
  0.1% includes only officially registered unemployed; there are also large
  numbers of underemployed workers
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $900 million to outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
 commodities:
  cotton, gold, textiles, chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil
 partners:
  Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe
Imports:
  $900 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and parts, consumer durables, grain, other foods
 partners:
  principally other former Soviet republics
External debt:
  $2 billion (end 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -6%
Electricity:
  11,950,000 kW capacity; 50,900 million kWh produced, 2,300 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil, textiles
Agriculture:
  cotton, with much smaller production of grain, fruits, vegetables, and
  livestock
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited
  government eradication programs; used as transshipment points for illicit
  drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
  $950 million official aid commitments by foreign donors (1992)

*Uzbekistan, Economy

Currency:
  retaining Russian ruble as currency (January 1993)
Exchange rates:
  rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Uzbekistan, Communications

Railroads:
  3,460 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
  78,400 km total; 67,000 km hard-surfaced, 11,400 km earth (1990)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 250 km, petroleum products 40 km, natural gas 810 km (1992)
Ports:
  none; landlocked
Airports:
 totol:
  265
 useable:
  74
 with permanent-surface runways:
  30
 with runways over 3,659 m:   2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  20
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  19
Telecommunications:
  poorly developed; NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent;
  1.4 million telephone lines with 7.2 lines per 100 persons (1992); linked by
  landline or microwave with CIS member states and by leased connection via
  the Moscow international gateway switch to other countries; satellite earth
  stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only); new intelsat earth station
  provides TV receive only capability for Turkish broadcasts; new satellite
  ground station also installed in Tashkent for direct linkage to Tokyo.

*Uzbekistan, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 5,214,075; fit for military service 4,272,398; reach
  military age (18) annually 218,916 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Vanuatu, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about
  three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Australia
Map references:
  Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  14,760 km2
 land area:
  14,760 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Connecticut
 note:
  includes more than 80 islands
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  2,528 km
Maritime claims:
  measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain:
  mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Natural resources:
  manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%
 permanent crops:
  5%
 meadows and pastures:
  2%
 forest and woodland:
  1%
 other:
  91%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism
  causes minor earthquakes

*Vanuatu, People

Population:
  165,876 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.36% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  33.16 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  69.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  58.8 years
 male:
  57.11 years
 female:
  60.58 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
 adjective:   Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic divisions:
  indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific Islanders
Religions:
  Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%,
  Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%
Languages:
  English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as Bislama or
  Bichelama)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
 total population:
  53%
 male:
  57%
 female:
  48%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  NA

*Vanuatu, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Vanuatu
 conventional short form:
  Vanuatu
 former:
  New Hebrides
Digraph:
  NH
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Port-Vila
Administrative divisions:
  11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula,
  Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, Tafea
Independence:
  30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
Constitution:
  30 July 1980
Legal system:
  unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Political parties and leaders:
  Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge
  VOHOR; 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
Suffrage:   18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Parliament:
  last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November 1995); note - after
  election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the
  National United Party to form new government on 16 December 1991; seats -
  (46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1; Nagriamel 1; Friend 1
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
  (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament; note - the National Council of Chiefs advises on
  matters of custom and land
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Frederick TIMAKATA (since 30 January 1989)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT KORMAN (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime
  Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, IOC,
  ITU, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  Vanuatu does not have a mission in Washington
US diplomatic representation:
  the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

*Vanuatu, Government

Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles
  triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow
  stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the
  hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's
  tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow

*Vanuatu, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a
  living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the other
  mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has
  no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the
  local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $142 million (1988 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  6% (1990)
National product per capita:
  $900 (1988 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $90 million; expenditures $103 million, including capital
  expenditures of $45 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
  $15.6 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  copra 59%, cocoa 11%, meat 9%, fish 8%, timber 4%
 partners:
  Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium
Imports:
  $60.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  machines and vehicles 25%, food and beverages 23%, basic manufactures 18%,
  raw materials and fuels 11%, chemicals 6%
 partners:
  Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%
External debt:
  $30 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%; accounts for about 10% of GDP
Electricity:
  17,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Agriculture:
  accounts for 40% of GDP; export crops - coconuts, cocoa, coffee, fish;
  subsistence crops - taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $606 million
Currency:
  1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  vatu (VT) per US$1 - 120.77 (January 1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991),
  116.57 (1990), 116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Vanuatu, Communications

Railroads:
  none
Highways:
  1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads
Ports:
  Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo, Santu
Merchant marine:
  125 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,121,819 GRT/3,193,942 DWT; includes
  23 cargo, 16 refrigerated cargo, 6 container, 11 vehicle carrier, 1
  livestock carrier, 6 oil tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 54
  bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger; note - a flag
  of convenience registry
Airports:
 total:
  31
 usable:
  31
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; 1 Pacific Ocean
  INTELSAT ground station

*Vanuatu, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF)
 note:
  no military forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Venezuela, Geography

Location:
  Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Colombia and
  Guyana
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  912,050 km2
 land area:
  882,050 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
  total 4,993 km, Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline:
  2,800 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  15 nm
 continental shelf:   200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo river; maritime boundary dispute
  with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela
Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
  Andes mountains and Maracaibo lowlands in northwest; central plains
  (llanos); Guyana highlands in southeast
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower,
  diamonds
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  20%
 forest and woodland:
  39%
 other:
  37%
Irrigated land:
  2,640 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts; increasing
  industrial pollution in Caracas and Maracaibo
Note:
  on major sea and air routes linking North and South America

*Venezuela, People

Population:
  20,117,687 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.22% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.69 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  28.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.69 years
 male:
  69.76 years  female:
  75.77 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.14 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Venezuelan(s)
 adjective:
  Venezuelan
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Indian 2%
Religions:
  nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%
Languages:
  Spanish (official), Indian dialects spoken by about 200,000 Amerindians in
  the remote interior
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  88%
 male:
  87%
 female:
  90%
Labor force:
  5.8 million
 by occupation:
  services 56%, industry 28%, agriculture 16% (1985)

*Venezuela, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Venezuela
 conventional short form:
  Venezuela
 local long form:
  Republica de Venezuela
 local short form:
  Venezuela
Digraph:
  VE
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Caracas
Administrative divisions:
  21 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 territory* ( territorio), 1,   federal district**,
(distrito federal), and 1 federal dependence***,   (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 dependence consists of 11 federally controlled island groups
  with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:
  5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  23 January 1961
Legal system:
  based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation
  Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Political parties and leaders:
  Social Christian Party (COPEI), Hilarion CARDOZO, president, and Jose
  CURIEL, secretary general (acting); Democratic Action (AD), Humberto CELLI,
  president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general; Movement Toward
  Socialism (MAS), Argelia LAYA, president, and Freddy MUNOZ, secretary
  general; The Radical Cause ( La Causa R), Pablo Medina, secretary general
Other political or pressure groups:
  FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of
  Workers (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS
  groups
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results -
  Carlos Andres PEREZ (AD) 54.6%, Eduardo FERNANDEZ (COPEI) 41.7%, other 3.7%;
  note - President Carlos Andres PEREZ suspended pending trial on corruption
  charges
 Senate:
  last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) AD 23, COPEI 22, other 4;
  note - 3 former presidents (1 from AD, 2 from COPEI) hold lifetime senate
  seats

*Venezuela, Government

 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held 4 December 1992 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results - AD
  43.7%, COPEI 31.4%, MAS 10.3%, other 14.6%; seats - (201 total) AD 97, COPEI
  67, MAS 18, other 19
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica) consists of an
  upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies
  (Camara de Diputados)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  Interim President Ramon Jose VELASQUEZ (since 5 June 1993); note - President
  Carlos Andres PEREZ suspended pending trial on corruption charges
Member of:   AG, CARICOM (observer), CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24,
  G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM,
  OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Simon Alberto CONSALVI Bottaro
 chancery:
  1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
 telephone:
  (202) 342-2214
 consulates general:
  Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
  Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Michael Martin SKOL
 embassy:
  Avenida Francisco de Miranda and Avenida Principal de la Floresta, Caracas
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A, or APO AA 34037
 telephone:
  [58] (2) 285-2222
 FAX:
  [58] (2) 285-0336
 consulate:
  Maracaibo
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of
  arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white
  five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

*Venezuela, Economy

Overview:
  Petroleum is the backbone of the economy, accounting for 23% of GDP, 70% of
  central government revenues, and 82% of export earnings in 1992. President
  PEREZ introduced an economic readjustment program when he assumed office in
  February 1989. Lower tariffs and the removal of price controls, a free
  market exchange rate, and market-linked interest rates threw the economy
  into confusion, causing an 8% decline in GDP in 1989. However, the economy
  recovered part way in 1990 and grew by 10.4% in 1991 and 7.3% in 1992, led
  by the non-petroleum sector.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $57.8 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  7.3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,800 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  32% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  8.4% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $13.2 billion; expenditures $13.1 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $14.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum 82%, bauxite and aluminum, iron ore, agricultural products, basic
  manufactures
 partners:
  US 50.7%, Europe 13.7%, Japan 4.0% (1989)
Imports:
  $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, chemicals, manufactures, machinery and transport equipment
 partners:
  US 44%, FRG 8.0%, Japan 4%, Italy 7%, Canada 2% (1989)
External debt:
  $27.1 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 11.9% (1992 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
  21,130,000 kW capacity; 58,541 million kWh produced, 2,830 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food processing,
  textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Agriculture:
  accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force; 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 and coca leaf for the international drug trade
  on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine transit the country
  from Colombia; important money-laundering hub
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist countries
  (1970-89), $10 million
Currency:
  1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos

*Venezuela, Economy

Exchange rates:
  bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 80.18 (January 1993), 68.38 (1992), 56.82 (1991),
  46.90 (1990), 34.68 (1989), 14.50 (fixed rate 1987-88)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Venezuela, Communications

Railroads:
  542 km total; 363 km 1.435-meter standard gauge all single track, government
  owned; 179 km 1.435-meter gauge, privately owned
Highways:
  77,785 km total; 22,780 km paved, 24,720 km gravel, 14,450 km earth roads,
  and 15,835 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
Pipelines:
  crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km
Ports:
  Amuay Bay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Puerto Ordaz
Merchant marine:
  56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 837,375 GRT/1,344,795 DWT; includes 1
  short-sea passenger, 1 passenger cargo, 19 cargo, 2 container, 4
  roll-on/roll-off, 18 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 6 bulk,
  1 vehicle carrier, 1 combination bulk
Airports:
 total:
  360
 usable:
  331
 with permanent-surface runways:
  133
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  15
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  87
Telecommunications:
  modern and expanding; 1,440,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 181 AM, no
  FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite ground
  stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic

*Venezuela, Defense Forces

Branches:
  National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales, FAN) includes - Ground
  Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas
  Navales or Armada), Air Forces (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of
  Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperation or Guardia
  Nacional)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 5,192,107; fit for military service 3,769,441; reach
  military age (18) annually 221,043 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.95 billion, 4% of GDP (1991)

*Vietnam, Geography

Location:
  Southeast Asia, bordering the South China Sea, between Laos and the
  Philippines
Map references:
  Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  329,560 km2
 land area:
  325,360 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
  total 3,818 km, Cambodia 982 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 1,555 km
Coastline:
  3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex dispute
  over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and
  possibly Brunei; unresolved maritime boundary with Thailand; maritime
  boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied
  by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan
Climate:
  tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to
  mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)
Terrain:
  low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in
  far north and northwest
Natural resources:
  phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil deposits,
  forests
Land use:
 arable land:
  22%
 permanent crops:
  2%
 meadows and pastures:
  1%
 forest and woodland:
  40%
 other:
  35%
Irrigated land:
  18,300 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding

*Vietnam, People

Population:
  71,787,608 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.85% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  27.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  7.92 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  46.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  65.1 years
 male:
  63.08 years
 female:
  67.25 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.45 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Vietnamese (singular and plural)
 adjective:
  Vietnamese
Ethnic divisions:
  Vietnamese 85-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham
Religions:
  Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islamic, Protestant
Languages:
  Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer, tribal languages
  (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  88%
 male:
  92%
 female:
  84%
Labor force:
  32.7 million
 by occupation:
  agricultural 65%, industrial and service 35% (1990 est.)

*Vietnam, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Socialist Republic of Vietnam
 conventional short form:
  Vietnam  local long form:
  Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
 local short form:
  Viet Nam
Abbreviation:
  SRV
Digraph:
  VM
Type:
  Communist state
Capital:
  Hanoi
Administrative divisions:
  50 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3 municipalities* (thanh pho,,   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, Tien
  Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phu, Yen Bai
Independence:
  2 September 1945 (from France)
Constitution:
  NA April 1992
Legal system:
  based on Communist legal theory and French civil law system
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Political parties and leaders:
  only party - Vietnam Communist Party (VCP), DO MUOI, general secretary
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 National Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme People's Court
Leaders:
 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)

*Vietnam, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none
US diplomatic representation:
  none
Flag:
  red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

*Vietnam, Economy

Overview:
  Vietnam has made significant progress in recent years moving away from the
  planned economic model and 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. Despite such positive
  indicators, the country's economic turnaround remains tenuous. Nearly
  three-quarters of export earnings are generated by only two commodities,
  rice and crude oil. Meanwhile, industrial production stagnates, burdened by
  uncompetitive state-owned enterprises the government is unwilling or unable
  to privatize. Unemployment looms as the most serious problem with over 25%
  of the workforce without jobs and population growth swelling the ranks of
  the unemployed yearly.
National product:
  GNP - exchange rate conversion - $16 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  7.4% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $230 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  15%-20% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  25% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1990)
Exports:
  $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  agricultural and handicraft products, coal, minerals, crude oil, ores,
  seafood
 partners:
  Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Imports:
  $1.9 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  petroleum products, steel products, railroad equipment, chemicals,
  medicines, raw cotton, fertilizer, grain
 partners:
  Japan, Singapore, Thailand
External debt:
  $16.8 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 15% (1992); accounts for 30% of GNP
Electricity:
  3,300,000 kW capacity; 9,000 million kWh produced, 130 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  food processing, textiles, machine building, mining, cement, chemical
  fertilizer, glass, tires, oil
Agriculture:
  accounts for half of GNP; 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.)

*Vietnam, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-74), $3.1 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.9 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $61 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $12.0
  billion
Currency:
  1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
Exchange rates:
  new dong (D) per US$1 - 10,800 (November 1992), 8,100 (July 1991), 7,280
  (December 1990), 3,996 (March 1990), 2,047 (1988), 225 (1987); note -
  1985-89 figures are end of year
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Vietnam, Communications

Railroads:
  3,059 km total; 2,454 1.000-meter gauge, 151 km 1.435-meter (standard)
  gauge, 230 km dual gauge (three rails), and 224 km not restored to service
  after war damage
Highways:
  85,000 km total; 9,400 km paved, 48,700 km gravel or improved earth, 26,900
  km unimproved earth (est.)
Inland waterways:
  17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by vessels up
  to 1.8 meter draft
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 150 km
Ports:
  Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City
Merchant marine:
  99 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 460,712 GRT/739,246 DWT; includes 84
  cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 8 oil tanker, 3 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  100
 usable:
  100
 with permanent-surface runways:
  50
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  10
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  20
Telecommunications:
  the inadequacies of the obsolete switching equipment and cable system is a
  serious constraint on the business sector and on economic growth, and
  restricts access to the international links that Vietnam has established
  with most major countries; the telephone system is not generally available
  for private use (25 telephones for each 10,000 persons); 3 satellite earth
  stations; broadcast stations - NA AM, 288 FM; 36 (77 repeaters) TV; about
  2,500,000 TV receivers and 7,000,000 radio receivers in use (1991)

*Vietnam, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 17,835,536; fit for military service 11,338,880; reach
  military age (17) annually 771,792 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GNP

*Virgin Islands, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Virgin Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  352 km2
 land area:
  349 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  188 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity,
  little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Terrain:
  mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Natural resources:
  sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
 arable land:
  15%
 permanent crops:
  6%
 meadows and pastures:
  26%
 forest and woodland:
  6%
 other:
  47%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts, floods,
  earthquakes; lack of natural freshwater resources
Note:
  important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the
  Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in
  the Caribbean

*Virgin Islands, People

Population:
  98,130 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  -0.76% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  20.26 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:   -22.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.29 years
 male:
  73.6 years
 female:
  77.2 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.64 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Virgin Islander(s)
 adjective:
  Virgin Islander; US citizens
Ethnic divisions:
  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%; black 80%,
  white 15%, other 5%; Hispanic origin 14%
Religions:
  Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:
  English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  45,500 (1988)
 by occupation:
  tourism 70%

*Virgin Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Virgin Islands of the United States
 conventional short form:
  Virgin Islands
Digraph:
  VQ
Type:
  organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of
  Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital:
  Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions:
  none (territory of the US)
Constitution:   Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:
  based on US
National holiday:
  Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM),
  Virdin C. BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Governor:
  last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results -
  Governor Alexander FARRELLY (Democratic Party) 56.5% defeated Juan LUIS
  (independent) 38.5%
 Senate:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) number of seats by party NA
 US House of Representatives:
  last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994); results - Ron
  DE LUGO reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total); seat by party NA; note -
  the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of
  Representatives
Executive branch:
  US president, popularly elected governor and lieutenant governor
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Senate
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
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
  Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
 Head of Government:
  Governor Alexander A. FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant Governor
  Derek M. HODGE (since 5 January 1987)
Member of:
  ECLAC (associate), IOC

*Virgin Islands, Government

Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (territory of the US)
Flag:
  white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue
  initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding an olive branch in
  one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of
  vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel

*Virgin Islands, Economy

Overview:
  Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of
  GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of textile,
  electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural
  sector is small, most food being imported. International business and
  financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of
  the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.2 billion (1987)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $11,000 (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  3.7% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $364.4 million; expenditures $364.4 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY90)
Exports:
  $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  refined petroleum products
 partners:
  US, Puerto Rico
Imports:
  $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
 partners:
  US, Puerto Rico
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate 12%; accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
  380,000 kW capacity; 565 million kWh produced, 5,710 kWh per capita (1992)
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:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $42
  million
Currency:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  1 October - 30 September

*Virgin Islands, Communications

Highways:
  856 km total
Ports:
  Saint Croix - Christiansted, Frederiksted; Saint Thomas - Long Bay, Crown
  Bay, Red Hook; Saint John - Cruz Bay
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways :
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
 note:
  international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix
Telecommunications:
  modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave
  radio, and satellite facilities; 58,931 telephones; 98,000 radios; 63,000 TV
  sets in use; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 8 FM, 4 TV (1988)

*Virgin Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Wake Island, Header

Affiliation:
  (territory of the US)

*Wake Island, Geography

Location:
  in the North Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km west of Honolulu, about two-thirds of
  the way between Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  6.5 km2
 land area:
  6.5 km2  comparative area:
  about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  19.3 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m or depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claimed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Climate:
  tropical
Terrain:
  atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central
  lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim; average elevation less
  than 4 meters
Natural resources:
  none
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  subject to occasional typhoons
Note:
  strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location
  for transpacific flights

*Wake Island, People

Population:
  no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 302 US Air Force personnel,
  civilian weather service personnel, and US and Thai contractors; population
  peaked about 1970 with over 1,600 persons during the Vietnam conflict

*Wake Island, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Wake Island
Digraph:
  WQ
Type:
  unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Air Force (under
  an agreement with the US Department of Interior) since 24 June 1972
Capital:
  none; administered from Washington, DC
Independence:
  none (territory of the US)
Flag:
  the US flag is used

*Wake Island, Economy

Overview:
  Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel
  and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must
  be imported.
Electricity:
  supplied by US military

*Wake Island, Communications

Ports:
  none; because of the reefs, there are only two offshore anchorages for large
  ships
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  underwater cables to Guam and through Midway to Honolulu; 1 Autovon circuit
  off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS); Armed Forces Radio/Television
  Service (AFRTS) radio and television service provided by satellite;
  broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV
Note:
  formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used only by US military
  and some commercial cargo planes

*Wake Island, Defense Forces

  defense is the responsibility of the US

*Wallis and Futuna, Header

Affiliation:
  (overseas territory of France)

*Wallis and Futuna, Geography

Location:
  in the South Pacific Ocean, 4,600 km southwest of Honolulu, about two-thirds
  of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references:
  Oceania
Area:
 total area:
  274 km2
 land area:
  274 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Washington, DC
 note:
  includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi,
  and 20 islets
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  129 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to
  October)
Terrain:
  volcanic origin; low hills
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  5%
 permanent crops:   20%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  75%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  both island groups have fringing reefs

*Wallis and Futuna, People

Population:
  14,175 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.15% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  26.42 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -9.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  27.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  71.2 years
 male:
  70.54 years
 female:
  71.9 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.34 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
 adjective:
  Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic divisions:
  Polynesian
Religions:
  Roman Catholic
Languages:
  French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Literacy:
  all ages can read and write (1969)
 total population:
  50%
 male:
  50%
 female:
  51%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)

*Wallis and Futuna, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
 conventional short form:
  Wallis and Futuna
 local long form:
  Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
 local short form:
  Wallis et Futuna
Digraph:
  WF
Type:
  overseas territory of France
Capital:
  Mata Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas territory of France)
Independence:
  none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution:
  28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
  French legal system
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)
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Territorial Assembly:
  last held 15 March 1987 (next to be held NA March 1992); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 7, UPL 5, UDF 4, UNF 4
 French Senate:
  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:
  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
Executive branch:
  French president, chief administrator; note - there are three traditional
  kings with limited powers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale)
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
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
 Head of Government:
  Chief Administrator Robert POMMIES (since 26 September 1990)
Member of:
  FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as an overseas territory of France, local interests are represented in the
  US by France

*Wallis and Futuna, Government

US diplomatic representation:
  none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
  the flag of France is used

*Wallis and Futuna, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about
  80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and
  vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the
  population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government
  subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import
  taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and
  Futuna imports food, fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but
  its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $25 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $1,500 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $2.7 million; expenditures $2.7 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1983)
Exports:
  negligible
 commodities:
  copra, handicrafts
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $13.3 million (c.i.f., 1984)
 commodities:   foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel
 partners:
  France, Australia, New Zealand
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  1,200 kW capacity; 1 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Agriculture:
  dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro,
  bananas, and herds of pigs and goats
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $118 million
Currency:
  1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 99.65 (January
  1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.0 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30
  (1988); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year:
  NA

*Wallis and Futuna, Communications

Highways:
  100 km on Ile Uvea, 16 km sealed; 20 km earth surface on Ile Futuna
Inland waterways:
  none
Ports:
  Mata-Utu, Leava
Airports:
 total:
  2
 useable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  225 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

*Wallis and Futuna, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

*West Bank, Header

  The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended with Israel in
  control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Sinai, and the Golan
  Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords and reaffirmed by
  President Bush's post-Gulf crisis peace initiative, the final status of the
  West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a
  peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the
  concerned parties. Camp David further specifies that these negotiations will
  resolve the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process,
  it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
  has yet to be determined. In the view of the US, the term West Bank
  describes all of the area west of the Jordan River under Jordanian
  administration before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. However, with respect to
  negotiations envisaged in the framework agreement, it is US policy that a
  distinction must be made between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank
  because of the city's special status and circumstances. Therefore, a
  negotiated solution for the final status of Jerusalem could be different in
  character from that of the rest of the West Bank.

*West Bank, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, between Jordan and Israel
Map references:
  Middle East
Area:
 total area:
  5,860 km2
 land area:
  5,640 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Delaware
 note:
  includes West Bank, East Jerusalem, Latrun Salient, Jerusalem No Man's Land,
  and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus
Land boundaries:
  total 404 km, Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  Israeli occupied with status to be determined
Climate:
  temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot
  summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain:
  mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east
Natural resources:
  negligible
Land use:
 arable land:
  27%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  32%
 forest and woodland:
  1%
 other:
  40%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers
Note:
  landlocked; there are 175 Jewish settlements in the West Bank and 14
  Israeli-built Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem

*West Bank, People

Population:
  1,404,114 (July 1993 est.)
 note:
  in addition, there are 102,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank and 134,000
  in East Jerusalem (1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.9% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  33.78 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.32 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  35.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.93 years
 male:
  68.48 years
 female:
  71.46 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  NA
 adjective:
  NA
Ethnic divisions:
  Palestinian Arab and other 88%, Jewish 12%
Religions:
  Muslim 80% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12%, Christian and other 8%
Languages:
  Arabic, Hebrew spoken by Israeli settlers, English widely understood
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  small industry, commerce, and business 29.8%, construction 24.2%,
  agriculture 22.4%, service and other 23.6% (1984)
 note:
  excluding Israeli Jewish settlers

*West Bank, Government

Note:
  The West Bank is currently governed by Israeli military authorities and
  Israeli civil administration. It is US policy that the final status of the
  West Bank will be determined by negotiations among the concerned parties.
  These negotiations will determine how the area is to be governed.
Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  West Bank
Digraph:
  WG

*West Bank, Economy

Overview:
  Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by Israeli military
  administration and the effects of the Palestinian uprising (intifadah).
  Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable investment have
  been discouraged by a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli
  policies. Capital investment consists largely of residential housing, not
  productive assets that would enable local firms to compete with Israeli
  industry. A major share of GNP is derived from remittances of workers
  employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states, but such transfers from the Gulf
  dropped dramatically 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 plunged because of
  the loss of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. Israeli measures to
  curtail the intifadah also have pushed unemployment up and lowered living
  standards. The area's economic outlook remains bleak.
National product:   GNP - exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -10% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,200 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  11% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  15% (1990 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $31.0 million; expenditures $36.1 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (FY88)
Exports:
  $150 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  Jordan, Israel
Imports:
  $410 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.)
 commodities:
  NA
 partners:
  Jordan, Israel
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1% (1989); accounts for about 4% of GNP
Electricity:
  power supplied by Israel
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:
  accounts for about 15% of GNP; olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables,
  beef, and dairy products
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000
  fils

*West Bank, Economy

Exchange rates:
  new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.6480 (November 1992), 2.2791 (1991),
  2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987); Jordanian dinars
  (JD) per US$1 - 0.6890 (January 1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991), 0.6636
  (1990), 0.5704 (1989), 0.3709 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year (since 1 January 1992)

*West Bank, Communications

Highways:
  small road network, Israelis developing east-west axial highways to service
  new settlements
Airports:
 total:
  2
 usable:
  2
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  open-wire telephone system currently being upgraded; broadcast stations - no
  AM, no FM, no TV

*West Bank, Defense Forces

Branches:
  NA
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Western Sahara, Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean, between Morocco and Mauritania
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  266,000 km2
 land area:
  266,000 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:
  total 2,046 km, Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline:
  1,110 km
Maritime claims:
  contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
International disputes:
  claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the
  UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered
  cease-fire has been currently in effect since September 1991
Climate:
  hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and
  heavy dew
Terrain:
  mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising
  to small mountains in south and northeast
Natural resources:
  phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  19%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  81%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring;
  widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting
  visibility; sparse water and arable land

*Western Sahara, People

Population:
  206,629 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.52% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  47.54 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  19.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  155.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  44.88 years
 male:
  43.98 years
 female:
  46.06 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  7.01 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:  noun:
  Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
 adjective:
  Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab, Berber
Religions:
  Muslim
Languages:
  Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Literacy:
 total population:
  NA%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  12,000
 by occupation:
  animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%

*Western Sahara, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Western Sahara
Digraph:
  WI
Type:
  legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved; territory
  contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation
  of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally
  proclaimed a government in exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
  (SADR); territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976,
  with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from
  Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979;
  Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since
  asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government in exile was
  seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued
  sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September
  1991
Capital:
  none
Administrative divisions:
  none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Leaders:
  none
Member of:
  none
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none
US diplomatic representation:
  none

*Western Sahara, Economy

Overview:
  Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little
  rainfall, has a per capita GDP of roughly $300. Pastoral nomadism, fishing,
  and phosphate mining are 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.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $60 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $300 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $8 million (f.o.b., 1982 est.)
 commodities:
  phosphates 62%
 partners:
  Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are
  included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports:
  $30 million (c.i.f., 1982 est.)
 commodities:
  fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
 partners:
  Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are
  included in overall Moroccan accounts
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  60,000 kW capacity; 79 million kWh produced, 425 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries:
  phosphate mining, fishing, handicrafts
Agriculture:
  limited largely to subsistence agriculture; some barley is grown in
  nondrought years; fruit and vegetables are grown in the few oases; food
  imports are essential; camels, sheep, and goats are kept by the nomadic
  natives; cash economy exists largely for the garrison forces
Economic aid:
  NA
Currency:
  1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 9.034 (January 1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707
  (1991), 8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989), 8.209 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  NA

*Western Sahara, Communications

Highways:
  6,200 km total; 1,450 km surfaced, 4,750 km improved and unimproved earth
  roads and tracks
Ports:
  El Aaiun, Ad Dakhla
Airports:
 total:
  14
 usable:
  14
 with permanent-surface runways:
  3
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  sparse and limited system; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio
  relay, troposcatter, and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations linked to
  Rabat, Morocco; 2,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV

*Western Sahara, Defense Forces

Branches:
  NA
Manpower availability:
  NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Western Samoa, Geography

Location:
  Oceania, 4,300 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about
  halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references:
  Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  2,860 km2  land area:
  2,850 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  403 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Terrain:
  narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
Natural resources:
  hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  19%
 permanent crops:
  24%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  47%
 other:
  10%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to occasional typhoons; active volcanism

*Western Samoa, People

Population:
  199,652 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.37% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  33 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  38.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.58 years  male:
  65.19 years
 female:
  70.08 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.28 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Western Samoan(s)
 adjective:
  Western Samoan
Ethnic divisions:
  Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood),
  Europeans 0.4%
Religions:
  Christian 99.7% (about half of population associated with the London
  Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist,
  Latter Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages:
  Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
 total population:
  97%
 male:
  97%
 female:
  97%
Labor force:
  38,000
 by occupation:
  agriculture 22,000 (1987 est.)

*Western Samoa, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Independent State of Western Samoa
 conventional short form:
  Western Samoa
Digraph:
  WS
Type:
  constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital:
  Apia
Administrative divisions:
  11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga,
  Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence:
  1 January 1962 (from UN trusteeship administered by New Zealand)
Constitution:
  1 January 1962
Legal system:   based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of
  legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not
  accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 1 June
Political parties and leaders:
  Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti, chairman; Samoan National
  Development Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal, but only matai (head of family) are able to run
  for the Legislative Assembly
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  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
Executive branch:
  chief, Executive Council, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IOC, ITU,
  LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador-designate Neroni SLADE
 chancery:
  (temporary) suite 510, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
 telephone:
  (202) 833-1743
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  the ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Western Samoa

*Western Samoa, Government

 embassy:
  address NA, Apia
 mailing address:
  P.O. Box 3430, Apia
 telephone:
  (685) 21-631
 FAX:
  (685) 22-030
Flag:
  red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five
  white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation

*Western Samoa, Economy

Overview:
  Agriculture employs more than half of the labor force, contributes 50% to
  GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports. The bulk of export earnings comes from
  the sale of coconut oil and copra. The economy depends on emigrant
  remittances and foreign aid to support a level of imports several times
  export earnings. Tourism has become the most important growth industry, and
  construction of the first international hotel is under way.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $115 million (1990)
National product real growth rate:
  -4.5% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $690 (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  15% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $95.3 million; expenditures $95.4 million, including capital
  expenditures of $41 million (FY92)
Exports:
  $9 million (f.o.b., 1990)
 commodities:
  coconut oil and cream 54%, taro 12%, copra 9%, cocoa 3%
 partners:
  NZ 28%, American Samoa 23%, Germany 22%, US 6% (1990)
Imports:
  $75 million (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12%
 partners:
  New Zealand 41%, Australia 18%, Japan 13%, UK 6%, US 6%
External debt:
  $83 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -4% (1990 est.); accounts for 14% of GDP
Electricity:
  29,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 240 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
  timber, tourism, food processing, fishing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 50% of GDP; coconuts, fruit (including bananas, taro, yams)
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $18 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $306 million; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $4 million
Currency:
  1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene
Exchange rates:
  tala (WS$) per US$1 - 2.5681 (January 1993), 2.4655 (1992), 2.3975 (1991),
  2.3095 (1990), 2.2686 (1989), 2.0790 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Western Samoa, Communications

Highways:
  2,042 km total; 375 km sealed; 1,667 km mostly gravel, crushed stone, or
  earth
Ports:
  Apia
Merchant marine:
  1 roll-on/roll-off ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,838 GRT/5,536 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  7,500 telephones; 70,000 radios; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1
  Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground station

*Western Samoa, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Department of Police and Prisons
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*World, Geography

Map references:
  Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  510.072 million km2
 land area:
  148.94 million km2
 water area:
  361.132 million km2
 comparative area:   land area about 16 times the size of the US
 note:
  70.8% of the world is water, 29.2% is land
Land boundaries:
  the land boundaries in the world total 250,883.64 km (not counting shared
  boundaries twice)
Coastline:
  356,000 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm claimed by most but can vary
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth claimed by most or to the 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; 42 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, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger,
  Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan,
  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%

*World, Geography

 meadows and pastures:
  24%
 forest and woodland:   31%
 other:
  34%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), natural disasters
  (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions), overpopulation,
  industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances),
  loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of
  wildlife resources, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion

*World, People

Population:
  5,554,552,453 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.6% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  25 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  66 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  62 years
 male:
  60 years
 female:
  64 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.2 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
 combined:
  74%
 male:
  81%
 female:
  67%
Labor force:
  2.24 billion (1992)
 by occupation:
  NA

*World, Government

Digraph:
  XX
Administrative divisions:
  265 sovereign nations, dependent areas, other, and miscellaneous entries
Legal system:
  varies by individual country; 182 are parties to the United Nations
  International Court of Justice (ICJ or World Court)

*World, Economy

Overview:
  Real global output--gross world product (GWP)--rose one-half of 1% in 1992,
  with results varying widely among regions and countries. Average growth of
  1.5% in the GDP of industrialized countries (62% of GWP in 1992) and average
  growth of 5% in the GDP of less developed countries (30% of GWP) were offset
  by a further 15-20% drop in the GDP of the former Soviet-East European area
  (now only 8% of GWP). The United States accounted for 23% of GWP in 1992;
  the 12-member European Community, which established a single internal market
  on 1 January 1993, accounted for another 23%, and Japan accounted for 10%.
  These are the three "economic superpowers" presumably destined to compete
  for mastery in international markets on into the 21st century. In general,
  growth in the industrialized countries was sluggish in 1992, with
  unemployment typically at 7-11%. As for the less developed countries, China,
  India, and the Four Dragons--South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and
  Singapore--posted good records; however, many other countries, especially in
  Africa, suffered bitterly from drought, rapid population growth, and civil
  strife. The continued plunge in production in practically all the former
  Warsaw Pact economies strained the political and social fabric of these
  newly independent nations, in particular in Russia. 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 equivalent - $25.6 trillion
  (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $4,600 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
 developed countries:
  5% (1992 est.)
 developing countries:
  50% (1992 est.)
 note:
  these figures vary widely in individual cases
Unemployment rate:
  developed countries typically 7-11%; developing countries, extensive
  unemployment and underemployment (1992)
Exports:
  $3.64 trillion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
 partners:   in value, about 75% of exports from the developed countries
Imports:
  $3.82 trillion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
 partners:
  in value, about 75% of imports by the developed countries
External debt:
  $1 trillion for less developed countries (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -1% (1992 est.)

*World, Economy

Electricity:
  2,864,000,000 kW capacity; 11,450,000 million kWh produced, 2,150 kWh per
  capita (1990)
Industries:
  industry worldwide is dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in
  computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical
  equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small
  portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these
  technological forces, and the technological gap between the industrial
  nations and the less-developed countries continues to widen; the rapid
  development of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating
  already grim environmental problems
Agriculture:
  the production of major food crops has increased substantially in the last
  20 years; the annual production of cereals, for instance, has risen by 50%,
  from about 1.2 billion metric tons to about 1.8 billion metric tons;
  production increases have resulted mainly from increased yields rather than
  increases in planted areas; while global production is sufficient for
  aggregate demand, about one-fifth of the world's population remains
  malnourished, primarily because local production cannot adequately provide
  for large and rapidly growing populations, which are too poor to pay for
  food imports; conditions are especially bad in Africa where drought in
  recent years has intensified the consequences of overpopulation
Economic aid:
  NA

*World, Communications

Railroads:
  239,430 km of narrow gauge track; 710,754 km of standard gauge track;
  251,153 km of broad gauge track; 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 only 4,160 km in
  North America; fastest speed in daily service is 300 km/hr attained by
  France's SNCF TGV-Atlantique line
Ports:
  Mina al Ahmadi (Kuwait), Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, Marseille, New
  Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama
Merchant marine:
  23,943 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 397,225,000 GRT/652,025,000 DWT;
  includes 347 passenger-cargo, 12,581 freighters, 5,473 bulk carriers, and
  5,542 tankers (January 1992)

*World, Defense Forces

Branches:
  ground, maritime, and air forces at all levels of technology
Defense expenditures:
  $1.0 trillion, 4% of total world output; decline of 5-10% (1991 est.)

*Yemen, Geography

Location:
  Middle East, along the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, south of Saudi Arabia
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  527,970 km2
 land area:
  527,970 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
 note:
  includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North
  Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South
  Yemen)
Land boundaries:
  total 1,746 km, Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
Coastline:
  1,906 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  18 nm in the North
  24 nm in the South
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth in the North
  200 nm in the South 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; Administrative Line with
  Oman; a treaty with Oman to settle the Yemeni-Omani boundary was ratified in
  December 1992
Climate:
  mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western
  mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh
  desert in east
Terrain:
  narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains;
  dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of
  the Arabian Peninsula
Natural resources:
  petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold, lead,
  nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
Land use:
 arable land:
  6%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  30%
 forest and woodland:
  7%
 other:
  57%
Irrigated land:
  3,100 km2 (1989 est.)

*Yemen, Geography

Environment:
  subject to sand and dust storms in summer; scarcity of natural freshwater
  resources; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
  controls Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,
  one of world's most active shipping lanes

*Yemen, People

Population:
  10,742,395 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.31% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  51 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  15.37 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  115.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  50.94 years
 male:
  49.83 years
 female:
  52.11 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:   7.27 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Yemeni(s)
 adjective:
  Yemeni
Ethnic divisions:
  predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in coastal locations; South
  Asians in southern regions; small European communities in major metropolitan
  areas; 60,000 (est.) Somali refugees encamped near Aden
Religions:
  Muslim (including Sha'fi, Sunni, and Zaydi Shi'a), Jewish, Christian, Hindu
Languages:
  Arabic
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  38%
 male:
  53%
 female:
  26%
Labor force:
 North:
  NA
 by occupation:
  agriculture and herding 70%, expatriate laborers 30% (est.)
 South:
  477,000
 by occupation:
  agriculture 45.2%, services 21.2%, construction 13.4%, industry 10.6%,
  commerce and other 9.6% (1983)

*Yemen, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Yemen
 conventional short form:
  Yemen
 local long form:
  Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
 local short form:
  Al Yaman
Digraph:
  YM
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Sanaa
Administrative divisions:
  17 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Al Bayda',
  Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb,
  Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izz
 note:
  there may be a new capital district of San'a'
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)
Constitution:
  16 April 1991
Legal system:
  based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local customary
  law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)
Political parties and leaders:
  General People's Congress, 'Ali 'Abdallah SALIH; Yemeni Socialist Party
  (YSP; formerly South Yemen's ruling party - a coalition of National Front,
  Ba'th, and Communist Parties), Ali Salim al-BIDH; Yemen Grouping for Reform
  or Islaah, Abdallah Husayn AHMAR
Other political or pressure groups:
  conservative tribal groups; Muslim Brotherhood; Islamist parties; pro-Iraqi
  Ba'thists; Nasirists
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held NA (next to be held 27 April 1993); results - percent of vote NA;
  seats - (301); number of seats by party NA; note - the 301 members of the
  new House of Representatives come from North Yemen's Consultative Assembly
  (159 members), South Yemen's Supreme People's Council (111 members), and
  appointments by the New Presidential Council (31 members)
Executive branch:
  five-member Presidential Council (president, vice president, two members
  from northern Yemen and one member from southern Yemen), prime minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court

*Yemen, Government

Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President 'Ali 'Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of
  North Yemen); Vice President Ali Salim al-BIDH (since 22 May 1990);
  Presidential Council Member Salim Salih MUHAMMED; Presidential Council
  Member Kadi Abdul-Karim al-ARASHI; Presidential Council Member Abdul-Aziz
  ABDUL-GHANI; Prime Minister Haydar Abu Bakr al-'ATTAS (since 22 May 1990,
  the former president of South Yemen)
Member of:
  ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, 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 840, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
 telephone:
  (202) 965-4760 or 4761
 consulate general:
  Detroit
 consulate:
  San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Arthur H. HUGHES
 embassy:
  Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 22347 Sanaa or Sanaa, Department of State, Washington, DC
  20521-6330
 telephone:
  [967] (2) 238-842 through 238-852
 FAX:
  [967] (2) 251-563
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the
  flag of Syria which has two green stars and of Iraq which has three green
  stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the
  white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle
  centered in the white band

*Yemen, Economy

Overview:
  Whereas the northern city Sanaa is the political capital of a united Yemen,
  the southern city Aden, with its refinery and port facilities, is the
  economic and commercial capital. Future economic development depends heavily
  on Western-assisted development of promising 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
  have made northern Yemen dependent on imports for virtually all of its
  essential needs. Large trade deficits have been compensated for by
  remittances from Yemenis working abroad and by foreign aid. 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 qat, a mildly narcotic shrub chewed by
  Yemenis which has no significant export market. Oil export revenues started
  flowing in late 1987 and boosted 1988 earnings by about $800 million.
  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.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $8 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:   NA%
National product per capita:
  $775 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  100% (December 1992)
Unemployment rate:
  30% (December 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $NA, expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $908 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  crude oil, cotton, coffee, hides, vegetables, dried and salted fish
 partners:
  US, EC countries, South Korea, Saudi Arabia
Imports:
  $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  textiles and other manufactured consumer goods, petroleum products, sugar,
  grain, flour, other foodstuffs, cement, machinery, chemicals
 partners:
  Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, EC countries, China, Russia, US
External debt:
  $5.75 billion (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%, accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
  714,000 kW capacity; 1,224 million kWh produced, 120 kWh per capita (1992)
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:
  accounted for 26% of GDP; products - grain, fruits, vegetables, qat (mildly
  narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton, dairy, poultry, meat, fish; not
  self-sufficient in grain

*Yemen, Economy

Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $389 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.0 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); 30-40 (unofficial) (est.); North
  Yemeni riyals (YR) per US$1 - 12.1000 (June 1992), 12.0000 (1991), 9.7600
  (1990), 9.7600 (January 1989), 9.7717 (1988), 10.3417 (1987); South Yemeni
  dinars (YD) per US$1 - 0.3454 (fixed rate)
 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
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Yemen, Communications

Highways:
  15,500 km total; 4,000 km paved, 11,500 km natural surface (est.)
Pipelines:
  crude oil 644 km, petroleum products 32 km
Ports:
  Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Khalf, Al Mukalla, Mocha, Nishtun, Ra's Kathib, Salif
Merchant marine:
  3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,309 GRT/6,568 DWT; includes 2 cargo,
  1 oil tanker
Airports:
 total:
  45
 usable:
  39
 with permanent-surface runways:
  10
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  18
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  11
Telecommunications:
  since unification in 1990, efforts are still being made to create a national
  domestic civil telecommunications network; the network consists of microwave
  radio relay, cable and troposcatter; 65,000 telephones (est.); broadcast
  stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 10 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Indian Ocean
  INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, 2 ARABSAT; microwave
  radio relay to Saudi Arabia, and Djibouti

*Yemen, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,060,124; fit for military service 1,172,633; reach
  military age (14) annually 133,727 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $762 million, 10% of GDP (1992)

*Zaire, Geography

Location:
  Central Africa, between Congo and Zambia
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  2,345,410 km2
 land area:
  2,267,600 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than one-quarter the size of US
Land boundaries:
  total 10,271 km, Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic
  1,577 km, Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia
  1,930 km
Coastline:
  37 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be
  indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the
  Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled; long section with Congo along the
  Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been
  made)
Climate:
  tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in
  southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator
  - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of
  Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October
Terrain:
  vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
Natural resources:
  cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold,
  silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore,
  coal, hydropower potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  3%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  78%
 other:
  15%
Irrigated land:
  100 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:   dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands;
  periodic droughts in south
Note:
  straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo
  River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean

*Zaire, People

Population:
  41,345,738 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.2% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  48.43 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  16.91 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  113.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  47.26 years
 male:
  45.45 years
 female:
  49.12 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.7 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Zairian(s)
 adjective:
  Zairian
Ethnic divisions:
  over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are Bantu; four largest tribes
  - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up
  about 45% of the population
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other
  syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%
Languages:
  French, Lingala, Swahili, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  72%
 male:
  84%
 female:
  61%
Labor force:
  15 million (13% of the labor force is wage earners; 51% of the population is
  of working age)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 75%, industry 13%, services 12% (1985)

*Zaire, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Zaire
 conventional short form:
  Zaire
 local long form:
  Republique du Zaire
 local short form:
  Zaire
 former:
  Belgian Congo Congo/Leopoldville Congo/Kinshasa
Digraph:
  CG
Type:
  republic with a strong presidential system
Capital:
  Kinshasa
Administrative divisions:
  10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 town* (ville); Bandundu,,   Bas-Zaire, Equateur,
Haut-Zaire, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental,
  Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Shaba, Sud-Kivu, Independence:
  30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
Constitution:
  24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978; amended April
  1990; new constitution to be put to referendum in 1993
Legal system:
  based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965)
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),
  Joseph ILEO; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI), NGUZ
  a Karl-I-Bond; Unified Lumumbast Party (PALU), leader NA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
 President:
  last held 29 July 1984 (next to be scheduled by High Council, the
  opposition-controlled transition legislature); results - President MOBUTU
  was reelected without opposition
 Legislative Council:
  last held 6 September 1987 (next to be scheduled by High Council); results -
  MPR was the only party; seats - (210 total) MPR 210; note - MPR still holds
  majority of seats but some deputies have joined other parties
Executive branch:   president, prime minister, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Parliament; anti-Mobutu opposition claims National
  Parliament replaced by High Council
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga (since 24
  November 1965)

*Zaire, Government

 Head of Government:
  Interim Prime Minister Faustin BIRINDWA (since 18 March 1993)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
  ITU, LORCS, 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:
  (202) 234-7690 or 7691
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Deputy Chief of Mission John YATES
 embassy:
  310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
 mailing address:
  APO AE 09828
 telephone:
  [243] (12) 21532, 21628
 FAX:
  [243] (12) 21232
 consulate general:
  Lubumbashi (closed and evacuated in October 1991 because of the poor
  security situation)
Flag:
  light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a
  red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist
  side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

*Zaire, Economy

Overview:
  In 1992, Zaire's formal economy continued to disintegrate. While meaningful
  economic figures are difficult to come by, Zaire's hyperinflation, the
  largest government deficit ever, and plunging mineral production have made
  the country one of the world's poorest. Most formal transactions are
  conducted in hard currency as indigenous banknotes 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 Momentary Fund or put in place the
  financial measures advocated by the IMF. Although short-term prospects for
  improvement are dim, improved political stability would boost Zaire's
  long-term potential to effectively exploit its vast wealth of mineral and
  agricultural resources.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $9.2 billion (1992, at 1990 exchange rate)
National product real growth rate:
  -6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $235 (1992, at 1990 exchange rate)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  35-40% per month (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $NA, expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  copper, coffee, diamonds, cobalt, crude oil
 partners:
  US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa
Imports:
  $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment,
  fuels
 partners:
  South Africa, US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK
External debt:
  $9.2 billion (May 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth grate NA%
Electricity:
  2,580,000 kW capacity; 6,000 million kWh produced, 160 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear,
  and cigarettes), processed foods and beverages, cement, diamonds
Agriculture:
  cash crops - coffee, palm oil, rubber, quinine; food crops - cassava,
  bananas, root crops, corn
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption
Economic aid:
  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; except for humanitarian aid to private organizations, no US
  assistance was given to Zaire in 1992

*Zaire, Economy

Currency:
  1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta
Exchange rates:
  zaire (Z) per US$1 - 2,000,000 (January1993), 15,587 (1991), 719 (1990), 381
  (1989), 187 (1988), 112 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Zaire, Communications

Railroads:
  5,254 km total; 3,968 km 1.067-meter gauge (851 km electrified); 125 km
  1.000-meter gauge; 136 km 0.615-meter gauge; 1,025 km 0.600-meter gauge;
  limited trackage in use because of civil strife
Highways:
  146,500 km total; 2,800 km paved, 46,200 km gravel and improved earth;
  97,500 unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 390 km
Ports:
  Matadi, Boma, Banana
Merchant marine:
  1 passenger cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,489 GRT/13,481 DWT
Airports:
 total:
  281
 usable:
  235
 with permanent-surface runways:
  25
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  6
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  73
Telecommunications:
  barely adequate wire and microwave service; broadcast stations - 10 AM, 4
  FM, 18 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 14 domestic

*Zaire, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, Civil Guard,
  Special Presidential Division
Manpower availability:   males age 15-49 8,879,731; fit for military service 4,521,768 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $49 million, 0.8% of GDP (1988)

*Zambia, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, between Zaire and Zimbabwe
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  752,610 km2
 land area:
  740,720 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 5,664 km, Angola 1,110 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia
  233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zaire 1,930 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement;
  Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be
  indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the
  Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled
Climate:
  tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain:
  mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Natural resources:
  copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium,
  hydropower potential
Land use:
 arable land:
  7%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  47%
 forest and woodland:
  27%
 other:
  19%
Irrigated land:
  320 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
  landlocked

*Zambia, People

Population:
  8,926,099 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.96% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  46.53 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  16.88 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  83.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  45.56 years
 male:
  44.97 years
 female:
  46.16 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.75 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Zambian(s)
 adjective:
  Zambian
Ethnic divisions:
  African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religions:
  Christian 50-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
  English (official)
 note:
  about 70 indigenous languages
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  73%
 male:
  81%
 female:
  65%
Labor force:
  2.455 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and
  services 9%

*Zambia, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Zambia
 conventional short form:
  Zambia
 former:
  Northern Rhodesia
Digraph:
  ZA
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Lusaka
Administrative divisions:
  9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern,
  North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence:
  24 October 1964 (from UK)
Constitution:
  NA August 1991
Legal system:
  based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
  legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Political parties and leaders:
  Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Frederick CHILUBA; United National
  Independence Party (UNIP), Kebby MUSOKATWANE; United Democratic Party, Enoch
  KAVINDELE
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 31 October 1991 (next to be held mid-1995); results - Frederick
  CHILUBA 84%, Kenneth KAUNDA 16%
 National Assembly:
  last held 31 October 1991 (next to be held mid-1995); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (150 total) MMD 125, UNIP 25
Executive branch:
  president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-19, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,
  SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Dunstan KAMONA
 chancery:   2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  (202) 265-9717 through 9721

*Zambia, Government

US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Gordon L. STREEB
 embassy:
  corner of Independence Avenue and United Nations Avenue, Lusaka
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
 telephone:
  [260-1] 228-595, 228-601, 228-602, 228-603
 FAX:
  [260-1] 251-578
Flag:
  green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and
  orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag

*Zambia, Economy

Overview:
  The economy has been in decline for more than a decade with falling imports
  and growing foreign debt. Economic difficulties stem from a chronically
  depressed level of copper production and ineffective economic policies. In
  1991 real GDP fell by 2% and in 1992 by 3% more. An annual population growth
  of more than 3% has brought a decline in per capita GDP of 50% over the past
  decade. A high inflation rate has also added to Zambia's economic woes in
  recent years, as well as severe drought in the crop year 1991/92.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.7 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $550 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  170% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $665 million; expenditures $767 million, including capital
  expenditures of $300 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco
 partners:
  EC countries, Japan, South Africa, US, India
Imports:
  $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels, manufactures
 partners:
  EC countries, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, US
External debt:
  $7.6 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -2% (1991); accounts for 50% of GDP
Electricity:
  2,775,000 kW capacity; 12,000 million kWh produced, 1,400 kWh per capita
  (1991)
Industries:
  copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,
  chemicals, textiles, and fertilizer
Agriculture:
  accounts for 17% of GDP and 85% of labor force; crops - corn (food staple),
  sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava;
  cattle, goats, beef, eggs
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $4.8 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.8 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $533
  million
Currency:
  1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee
Exchange rates:
  Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 178.5714 (August 1992), 61.7284 (1991),
  28.9855 (1990), 12.9032 (1989), 8.2237 (1988), 8.8889 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Zambia, Communications

Railroads:
  1,266 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 13 km double track
Highways:
  36,370 km total; 6,500 km paved, 7,000 km crushed stone, gravel, or
  stabilized soil; 22,870 km improved and unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula Rivers, Lake Tanganyika
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,724 km
Ports:
  Mpulungu (lake port)
Airports:
 total:
  116
 usable:
  104
 with permanent-surface runways:
  13
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:   4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  22
Telecommunications:
  facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa; high-capacity microwave
  connects most larger towns and cities; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 5 FM, 9
  TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT

*Zambia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air Force, Police, paramilitary
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,810,442; fit for military service 949,878 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $45 million, 1% of GDP (1992 est.)

*Zimbabwe, Geography

Location:
  Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  390,580 km2
 land area:
  386,670 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries:
  total 3,066 km, Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km,
  Zambia 797 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia is in disagreement
Climate:
  tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain:
  mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in
  east
Natural resources:
  coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium,
  lithium, tin, platinum group metals
Land use:
 arable land:
  7%
 permanent crops:   0%
 meadows and pastures:
  12%
 forest and woodland:
  62%
 other:
  19%
Irrigated land:
  2,200 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare; deforestation; soil
  erosion; air and water pollution
Note:
  landlocked

*Zimbabwe, People

Population:
  10,837,772 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.32% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  38.16 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  17.68 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -7.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  75.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  42.82 years
 male:
  41.2 years
 female:
  44.49 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.26 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Zimbabwean(s)
 adjective:
  Zimbabwean
Ethnic divisions:
  African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%), white 1%, mixed and Asian
  1%
Religions:
  syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%,
  indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
Languages:
  English (official), Shona, Sindebele
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:   67%
 male:
  74%
 female:
  60%
Labor force:
  3.1 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 74%, transport and services 16%, mining, manufacturing,
  construction 10% (1987)

*Zimbabwe, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Zimbabwe
 conventional short form:
  Zimbabwe
 former:
  Southern Rhodesia
Digraph:
  ZI
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Harare
Administrative divisions:
  8 provinces; Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland
  West, Masvingo (Victoria), Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands
Independence:
  18 April 1980 (from UK)
Constitution:
  21 December 1979
Legal system:
  mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
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, Enock DUMBUTSHENA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Executive President:
  last held 28-30 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - Robert
  MUGABE 78.3%, Edgar TEKERE 21.7%
 Parliament:
  last held 28-30 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1995); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (150 total, 120 elected) ZANU-PF 117,
  ZUM 2, ZANU-S 1
Executive branch:
  executive president, 2 vice presidents, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 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)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS,
  NAM, OAU, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL,
  WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Counselor (Political Affairs), Head of Chancery, Ambassador-designate Amos
  Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI

*Zimbabwe, Government

 chancery:
  1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  (202) 332-7100
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edward Gibson LANPHER
 embassy:
  172 Herbert Chitapo Avenue, Harare
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 3340, Harare
 telephone:
  [263] (4) 794-521
 FAX:
  [263] (4) 796-488
Flag:
  seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and
  green with a white equilateral triangle edged in black based on the hoist
  side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in
  the center of the triangle

*Zimbabwe, Economy

Overview:
  Agriculture employs three-fourths of the labor force and supplies almost 40%
  of exports. The manufacturing sector, based on agriculture and mining,
  produces a variety of goods and contributes 35% to GDP. Mining accounts for
  only 5% of both GDP and employment, but supplies of minerals and metals
  account for about 40% of exports. Wide fluctuations in agricultural
  production over the past six years have resulted in an uneven growth rate,
  one that on average has matched the 3% annual increase in population. Helped
  by an IMF/World Bank structural adjustment program, output rose 3.5% in
  1991. A severe drought in 1991/92 caused the economy to contract by about
  10% in 1992.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $6.2 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -10% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $545 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  45% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  at least 35% (1993 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $2.7 billion; expenditures $3.3 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $330 million (FY91)
Exports:
  $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  agricultural 35% (tobacco 20%, other 15%), manufactures 20%, gold 10%,
  ferrochrome 10%, cotton 5%
 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 37%, other manufactures 22%,
  chemicals 16%, fuels 15%
 partners:
  UK 15%, Germany 9%, South Africa 5%, Botswana 5%, US 5%, Japan 5% (1991)
External debt:
  $3.9 billion (March 1993 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5% (1991 est.); accounts for 38% of GDP
Electricity:
  3,650,000 kW capacity; 8,920 million kWh produced, 830 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  mining, steel, clothing and footwear, chemicals, foodstuffs, fertilizer,
  beverage, transportation equipment, wood products
Agriculture:
  accounts for 13% of GDP and employs 74% of population; 40% of land area
  divided into 4,500 large commercial farms and 42% in communal lands; crops -
  corn (food staple), cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts;
  livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $389 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.6 billion; OPEC
  bilateral aid (1979-89), $36 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $134
  million
Currency:
  1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 cents

*Zimbabwe, Economy

Exchange rates:
  Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1 - 6.3532 (February 1993), 5.1046 (1992),
  3.4282 (1991), 2.4480 (1990), 2.1133 (1989), 1.8018 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

*Zimbabwe, Communications

Railroads:
  2,745 km 1.067-meter gauge (including 42 km double track, 355 km
  electrified)
Highways:
  85,237 km total; 15,800 km paved, 39,090 km crushed stone, gravel,
  stabilized soil: 23,097 km improved earth; 7,250 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  Lake Kariba is a potential line of communication
Pipelines:
  petroleum products 212 km
Airports:
 total:
  485
 usable:
  403
 with permanent-surface runways:
  22
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  3
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  29
Telecommunications:
  system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor
  maintenance; consists of microwave links, open-wire lines, and radio
  communications stations; 247,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 8 AM, 18
  FM, 8 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Zimbabwe, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police
  (including Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police), People's Militia
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,315,461; fit for military service 1,436,671 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $412.4 million, about 6% of GDP (FY91 est.)

***

Appendix A:

The United Nations System

  The UN is composed of six principal organs and numerous
subordinate agencies and bodies as follows:

1) Secretariat

2) General Assembly:
    UNCHS   United Nations Center for Human Settlements (Habitat)
    UNCTAD  United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
    UNDP    United Nations Development Program
    UNEP    United Nations Environment Program
    UNFPA   United Nations Population Fund
    UNHCR   United Nations Office of High Commissioner for
            Refugees
    UNICEF  United Nations Children's Fund
    UN Institute for Training and Research
    UNRWA   United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
            Refugees in the Near East
    UN Special Fund
    UN University
    WFC     World Food Council
    WFP     World Food Program

3) Security Council:
    UNAVEM II  United Nations Angola Verification Mission
    UNDOF      United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
    UNFICYP    United Nations Force in Cyprus
    UNIFIL     United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
    UNMOGIP    United Nations Military Observer Group in India
               and Pakistan
    UNTSO      United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
    UNIKOM     United Nations Iran-Kuwait Observation Mission
    MINURSO    United Nations Mission for the Referendum in
               Western Sahara
    ONUSAL     United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador
    UNTAC      United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
    UNPROFOR   United Nations Protection Force
    UNOSOM     United Nations Operation in Somolia
    UNOMOZ     United Nations Operation in Mozambique

4) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):
    Specialized agencies
     FAO       Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
               Nations
     IBRD      International Bank for Reconstruction and
               Development
     ICAO      International Civil Aviation Organization
     IDA       International Development Association
     IFAD      International Fund for Agricultural Development
     IFC       International Finance Corporation
     ILO       International Labor Organization
     IMF       International Monetary Fund
     IMO       International Maritime Organization
     ITU       International Telecommunication Union
     UNESCO    United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
               Cultural Organization
     UNIDO     United Nations Industrial Development Organization
     UPU       Universal Postal Union
     WHO       World Health Organization
     WIPO      World Intellectual Property Organization
     WMO       World Meteorological Organization

    Related organizations
     GATT      General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
     IAEA      International Atomic Energy Agency

    Regional commissions
     ECA       Economic Commission for Africa
     ECE       Economic Commission for Europe
     ECLAC     Economic Commission for Latin America and the
               Caribbean
     ESCAP     Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
               Pacific
     ESCWA     Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

    Functional commissions
     Commission on Human Rights
     Commission on Narcotics Drugs
     Commission for Social Development
     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
     Commission on Transnational Corporations

5) Trusteeship Council

6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)

***

Appendix B
Abbreviations for
International
Organizations and Groups
A     ABEDA    Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
      ACC      Arab Cooperation Council
      ACCT     Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique;
               see Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation
      ACP      African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries
      AfDB     African Development Bank
      AFESD    Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
      AG       Andean Group
      AL       Arab League
      ALADI    Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion;
               see Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
      AMF      Arab Monetary Fund
      AMU      Arab Maghreb Union
      ANZUS    Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty
      APEC     Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
      AsDB     Asian Development Bank
      ASEAN    Association of Southeast Asian Nations
B     BAD      Banque Africaine de Developpement;
               see African Development Bank (AfDB)
      BADEA    Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique;
               see Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
      BCIE     Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico;
               see Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)
      BDEAC    Banque de Developpment des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale;
               see Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)
      Benelux  Benelux Economic Union
      BID      Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo;
               see Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
      BIS      Bank for International Settlements
      BOAD     Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement;
               see West African Development Bank (WADB)
      BSEC     Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone
C     C        Commonwealth
      CACM     Central American Common Market
      CAEU     Council of Arab Economic Unity
      CARICOM  Caribbean Community and Common Market
      CBSS     Council of the Baltic Sea States
      CCC      Customs Cooperation Council
      CDB      Caribbean Development Bank
      CE       Council of Europe
      CEAO     Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest;
               see West African Economic Community (CEAO)
      CEEAC    Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale;
               see Economic Community of Central African
States (CEEAC)
      CEI      Central European Initiative
      CEMA     Council for Mutual Economic Assistance;
               also known as CMEA or Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991
      CEPGL    Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs;
               see Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries
(CEPGL)
       CERN     Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire;
                see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
      CG        Contadora Group
      CIS       Commonwealth of Independent States
      CMEA      Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as
Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991
      COCOM     Coordinating Committee on Export Controls
Comecon Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as CMEA;
abolished 1 January 1991
      CP        Colombo Plan
      CSCE      Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
D     DC        developed country
E     EADB      East African Development Bank
      EBRD      European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
      EC        European Community
      ECA       Economic Commission for Africa
      ECAFE     Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East;
                see Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
            (ESCAP)
      ECE       Economic Commission for Europe
      ECLA      Economic Commission for Latin America;
                see Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
                (ECLAC)
      ECLAC     Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
      ECO       Economic Cooperation Organization
      ECOSOC    Economic and Social Council
      ECOWAS    Economic Community of West African States
      ECWA      Economic Commission for Western Asia;
                see Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
      EFTA      European Free Trade Association
      EIB       European Investment Bank
      Entente   Council of the Entente
      ESA       European Space Agency
      ESCAP     Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
      ESCWA     Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
F     FAO       Food and Agriculture Organization
      FLS       Front Line States
      FZ        Franc Zone
G     G-2       Group of 2
      G-3       Group of 3
      G-5       Group of 5
      G-6       Group of 6 (not to be
confused with the Big Six)
      G-7       Group of 7
      G-8       Group of 8
      G-9       Group of 9
      G-10      Group of 10
      G-11      Group of 11
      G-15      Group of 15
      G-19      Group of 19
      G-24      Group of 24
      G-30      Group of 30
      G-33      Group of 33
      G-77      Group of 77
      GATT      General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
      GCC       Gulf Cooperation Council
H     Habitat   Commission on Human Settlements
I     IADB      Inter-American Development Bank
      IAEA      International Atomic Energy Agency
      IBEC      International Bank for Economic Cooperation
      IBRD      International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
      ICAO      International Civil Aviation Organization
      ICC       International Chamber of Commerce
      ICEM      Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration;
                see International Organization for Migration (IOM)
      ICFTU     International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
      ICJ       International Court of Justice
      ICM       Intergovernmental Committee for Migration;
                see International Organization for Migration (IOM)
      ICRC      International Committee of the Red Cross
      IDA       International Development Association
      IDB       Islamic Development Bank
      IEA       International Energy Agency
      IFAD      International Fund for Agricultural Development
      IFC       International Finance Corporation
      IGADD     Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development
      IIB       International Investment Bank
      ILO       International Labor Organization
      IMCO      Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization;
                see International Maritime Organization (IMO)
      IMF       International Monetary Fund
      IMO       International Maritime Organization
      INMARSAT  International Maritime Satellite Organization
      INTELSAT  International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
      INTERPOL  International Criminal Police Organization
      IOC       International Olympic Committee
      IOM       International Organization for Migration
      ISO       International Organization for Standardization
      ITU       International Telecommunication Union
L     LAES      Latin American Economic System
      LAIA      Latin American Integration Association
      LAS       League of Arab States; see Arab League (AL)
      LDC       less developed country
      LLDC      least developed country
      LORCS     League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
M     MERCOSUR  Mercado Comun del Cono Sur;
                see Southern Cone Common Market
      MINURSO   United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
      MTCR      Missile Technology Control Regime
N     NACC      North Atlantic Cooperation Council
      NAM       Nonaligned Movement
      NATO      North Atlantic Treaty Organization
      NC        Nordic Council
      NEA       Nuclear Energy Agency
      NIB       Nordic Investment Bank
      NIC       newly industrializing country;
                see newly industrializing economy (NIE)
      NIE       newly industrializing economy
      NSG       Nuclear Suppliers Group
O     OAPEC     Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
      OAS       Organization of American States
      OAU       Organization of African Unity
      OECD      Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
      OECS      Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
      OIC       Organization of the Islamic Conference
      ONUSAL    United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador
      OPANAL    Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la
            America Latina y el Caribe; see Agency for the Prohibition of
          Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
      OPEC      Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
P     PCA       Permanent Court of Arbitration
R     RG        Rio Group
S     SAARC     South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
      SACU      Southern African Customs Union
      SADC      Southern African Development Community
      SELA      Sistema Economico Latinoamericana;
                see Latin American Economic System (LAES)
      SPARTECA  South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement
      SPC       South Pacific Commission
      SPF       South Pacific Forum
U     UDEAC     Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale;
                see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
      UN        United Nations
      UNAVEM II United Nations Angola Verification Mission
      UNCTAD    United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
      UNDOF     United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
      UNDP      United Nations Development Program
      UNEP      United Nations Environment Program
      UNESCO    United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization
      UNFICYP   United Nations Force in Cyprus
      UNFPA     United Nations Fund for Population Activities;
                see UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
      UNHCR     United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees
      UNICEF    United Nations Children's Fund
      UNIDO     United Nations Industrial Development Organization
      UNIFIL    United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
      UNIKOM    United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission
      UNMOGIP   United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
      UNOMOZ    United Nations Operation in Mozambique
      UNOSOM    United Nations Operation in Somalia
      UNPROFOR  United Nations ProtectionForce
      UNRWA     United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
                Palestine Refugees in the Near East
      UNTAC     United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
      UNTSO     United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
      UPU       Universal Postal Union
      USSR/EE   USSR/Eastern Europe
W     WADB      West African Development Bank
      WCL       World Confederation of Labor
      WEU       Western European Union
      WFC       World Food Council
      WFP       World Food Program
      WFTU      World Federation of Trade Unions
      WHO       World Health Organization
      WIPO      World Intellectual Property Organization
      WMO       World Meteorological Organization
      WP        Warsaw Pact (members met 1 July 1991 to
                dissolve the alliance)
      WTO       World Tourism Organization
Z     ZC        Zangger Committee
Note: Not all international organizations and groups have
abbreviations

***

Appendix C:
International Organizations
and Groups

advanced developing countries
another term for those less
developed countries (LDCs) with particularly
rapid industrial development; see newly
industrializing economies (NIEs) African,
Caribbean, and Pacific Countries (ACP)

established-1 April 1976

aim-members have a preferential
economic and aid relationship with the EC

members-(69) 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, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho,
Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe


African Development Bank (AfDB),
also known as Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)

established-4 August 1963

aim-to promote economic and social
development

regional members-(50)
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, Niger,
Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
nonregional members-(25)
Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US, Yugoslavia


Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT)
see Agency for Cultural and
Technical Cooperation (ACCT)


Agency for Cultural
and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)

note-acronym from Agence de Cooperation
Culturelle et Technique

established-21 March 1970

aim-to promote cultural and technical
cooperation among French-speaking countries

members-(31) Belgium, Benin, Burkina, Burundi,
Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,
Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial
Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda,
Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zaire

associate members-(7) Cameroon, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Mauritania,
Morocco, Saint Lucia
participating governments-(2) New Brunswick (Canada),
Quebec (Canada)


Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the
Caribbean (OPANAL)

note-acronym from Organismo para
la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la
America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)

established-14 February 1967

aim-to encourage the peaceful uses
of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons

members-(26) Antigua and Barbuda, 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, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,
Uruguay, Venezuela Andean Group (AG)

established-26 May 1969

effective-16 October 1969

aim-to promote harmonious development
through economic integration

members-(5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador,
Peru, Venezuela
associate member-(1) Panama
observers-(26) Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark,
Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy,
Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, US, Uruguay, Yugoslavia
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 The World Factbook therefore continues to list
Yugoslavia under international organizations where the SFRY seat remains or
where no action has yet been taken.


Arab Bank for Economic
Development in Africa (ABEDA)

note-also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)
established-18 February 1974

effective-16 September 1974

aim-to promote economic development

members-(17 plus the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq,
Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania,
Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria,
Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation Organization;

note-these are all the members of the Arab League
except Djibouti, Somalia, and Yemen


Arab Cooperation Council
(ACC)

established-16 February 1989

aim-to promote economic cooperation and integration,
possibly leading to an Arab Common Market

members-(4) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen


Arab Fund for Economic
and Social Development (AFESD)

established-16 May 1968

aim-to promote economic and social
development

members-(20 plus the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt
(suspended from 1979 to 1988), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen,
Palestine Liberation Organization


Arab League (AL)

note-also known as League of Arab States (LAS)

established-22 March 1945

aim-to promote economic, social,
political, and military cooperation

members-(20 plus the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt,
Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania,
Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,
Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation
Organization


Arab Maghreb Union
(AMU)

established-17 February 1989

aim-to promote cooperation and integration
among the Arab states of northern Africa

members-(5) Algeria, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia


Arab Monetary Fund (AMF)

established-27 April 1976

effective-2 February 1977

aim-to promote Arab cooperation,
development, and integration in monetary and
economic affairs

members-(19 plus the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia,
UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization


Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

established-NA November 1989

aim-to promote trade and investment
in the Pacific basin

members-(15) all ASEAN members (Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand)
plus Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South
Korea, NZ, Taiwan, US


Asian Development Bank
(AsDB)

established-19 December 1966

aim-to promote regional economic
cooperation

regional members-(36)
Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma,
Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, India,
Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, South Korea, 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,
Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa nonregional members-(16)
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US


Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)
see Latin American
Integration Association (LAIA)


Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

established-9 August 1967

aim-to encourage regional economic, social, and
cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries
of Southeast Asia

members-(6) Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
observer-(1) Papua New Guinea


Australia Group

established-1984

aim-to consult on and coordinate
export controls related to chemical and biological weapons

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
observer-(1) Singapore


Australia--New Zealand--United States Security Treaty (ANZUS)

established-1 September 1951

effective-29 April 1952

aim-to implement a trilateral mutual security
agreement, although the US suspended security
obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986
members-(3) Australia, NZ, US


Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico (BCIE)
see Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)


Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)
see Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)


Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

established-20 January 1930

effective-17 March 1930

aim-to promote cooperation among
central banks in international financial settlements

members-(30) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia


Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)
see African Development Bank (AfDB)


Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)
see Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)


Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique
Centrale (BDEAC) see Central African States
Development Bank (BDEAC)


Banque Ouest-Africaine de  Developpement (BOAD)
see West African Development Bank (WADB)


Benelux Economic Union (Benelux)

note-acronym from Belgium,
Netherlands, and Luxembourg

established-3 February 1958

effective-1 November 1960

aim-to develop closer economic cooperation and integration

members-(3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands


Big Seven

note-membership is the same as the Group of 7

established-NA

aim-to discuss and coordinate major economic policies

members-(7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
UK) plus the US Big Six

note-not to be confused with the Group of 6

established-NA

aim-to foster economic cooperation

members-(6) Canada, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, UK


Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC)

established-25 June 1992

aim-to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation

members-(11) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia,
Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia,
Turkey, Ukraine


Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)

established-4 July 1973

effective-1 August 1973

aim-to promote economic integration
and development, especially among the less developed
countries

members-(13) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica,
Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
associate members-(2)
British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
observers-(10) Anguilla, Bermuda,
Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico,
Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Venezuela


Caribbean Development Bank
(CDB)

established-18 October 1969

effective-26 January 1970

aim-to promote economic development and cooperation

regional members-(20)
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados,
Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands,
Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico,
Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks
and Caicos Islands, Venezuela
nonregional members-(5) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, UK


Cartagena Group
see Group of 11


Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)

note-acronym from Union Douaniere
et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale

established-8 December 1964

effective-1 January 1966

aim-to promote the establishment of a Central African Common
Market

members-(6) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon


Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)

note-acronym from Banque de Developpement des Etats de
l'Afrique Centrale

established-3 December 1975

aim-to provide loans for economic
development

members-(9) Cameroon, Central African
Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France,
Gabon, Germany, Kuwait


Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)

note-acronym from Banco Centroamericano
de Integracion Economico

established-13 December 1960

aim-to promote economic integration
and development

members-(5) Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua


Central American Common Market (CACM)

established-13 December 1960

effective-3 June 1961

aim-to promote establishment of
a Central American Common Market

members-(5) Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua


Central European Initiative (CEI)

note-evolved from the Hexagonal Group
established-July 1991

aim-to form an economic and political
cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and
the Baltic Seas

members-(10) Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Yugoslavia


centrally planned economies a term applied mainly to the
traditionally Communist states that looked to the
former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving
toward more democratic and market-oriented
systems; also known formerly as the Second World
or as the Communist countries; through the 1980s,
this group included
Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, GDR, Hungary,
North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yugoslavia


Colombo Plan (CP)

established-1 July 1951

aim-to promote economic and social
development in Asia and the Pacific

members-(26) Afghanistan,
Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Canada,
Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos,
Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New
Guinea, Philippines, Singapore,
Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK, US


Commission for Social Development

established-21 June 1946 as the Social Commission, renamed 29 July 1966

aim-Economic and Social Council
organization dealing with social
development programs of UN

members-(32) selected on a rotating
basis from all regions


Commission on Human Rights

established-18 February 1946

aim-Economic and Social Council organization dealing
with human rights programs of UN

members-(53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Commission on Human Settlements (Habitat)

established-12 October 1978

aim-Economic and Social Council organization assisting in solving human
settlement problems of UN

members-(58) selected on a rotating
basis from all regions


Commission on Narcotic Drugs

established-16 February 1946

aim-Economic and Social Council organization dealing
with illicit drugs programs of UN

members-(53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
with emphasis on producing and processing countries


Commission on the Status of Women

established-21 June 1946

aim-Economic and Social Council organization dealing with
women's rights goals of UN

members-(32) selected on a rotating
basis from all regions


Commonwealth (C)

established-31 December 1931

aim-voluntary association that evolved
from the British Empire and that seeks to foster
multinational cooperation and assistance

members-(48) 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, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
special members-(2) Nauru, Tuvalu


Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

established-8 December 1991

effective-21 December 1991

aim-to coordinate intercommonwealth relations and to provide a mechanism for
the orderly dissolution of the USSR

members-(10) Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan


Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEAO)
see West African Economic Community (CEAO)


Communaute Economique des
Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
(CEEAC)

see Economic Community of Central
African States (CEEAC)


Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs
(CEPGL)

see Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)


Communist countries
traditionally the Marxist-Leninist
states with authoritarian governments and command
economies based on the Soviet model; most of the
successor states are no longer Communist; see
centrally planned economies


Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
(CSCE)

established-NA November 1972

aim-discusses issues of mutual concern and reviews 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
observer-(1) Japan


Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN)

see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)


Contadora Group (CG)

was established 5 January 1983 (on the Panamanian island of Contadora) to
reduce tensions and conflicts in Central America but evolved into the Rio Group
(RG); members included Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela


Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the
Gulf

see Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)


Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM)

established-NA 1949

aim-to control the export of strategic
products and technical data from member countries to
proscribed destinations

members-(17) Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France,
Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Spain, Turkey, UK, US
cooperating countries-(8) Austria, Finland, Ireland,
South Korea, NZ, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland


Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA)
also known as CMEA or Comecon,

was established 25 January 1949 to promote the
development of socialist economies and was abolished
1 January 1991; members included Afghanistan (observer),
Albania (had not participated since 1961 break with
USSR), Angola (observer), Bulgaria, Cuba,
Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), GDR, Hungary, Laos
(observer), Mongolia, Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua
(observer), Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yemen
(observer), Yugoslavia (associate)


Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU)

established-3 June 1957

effective-30 May 1964

aim-to promote economic integration
among Arab nations

members-(11 plus the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya,
Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine


Liberation Organization Council of the Baltic Sea States
(CBSS)

established-5 March 1992

aim-to promote cooperation among the Baltic Sea states in
the areas of aid to new democratic institutions, economic
development, humanitarian aid, energy and the environment,
cultural and education, and transportation and communication
members-(10) Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia,
Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden
observers-(2) Belarus, Ukraine


Council of Europe (CE)

established-5 May 1949

effective-3 August 1949

aim-to promote increased unity and
quality of life in Europe

members-(29) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK


Council of the Entente (Entente)

established-29 May 1959

aim-to promote economic, social,and political coordination

members-(5) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo


Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)

established-15 December 1950

aim-to promote international cooperation
in customs matters

members-(114) Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,
Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic,
Chile, China, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France,
Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Yugoslavia,
Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


developed countries (DCs)

the top group in the comprehensive
but mutually exclusive 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 GNP/GDP in excess of
$10,000 although some 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 34 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, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ,
Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

developing countries

an imprecise term for the less developed countries with growing economies; see
less developed countries (LDCs)


East African Development Bank (EADB)

established-6 June 1967

effective-1 December 1967

aim-to promote economic development

members-(3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda


Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific (ESCAP)

established-28 March 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East
(ECAFE)

aim-to promote economic development
as a regional commission for the UN's Economic and
Social Council

members-(46) Afghanistan, Australia,
Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, 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, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa
associate members-(10) American Samoa, Cook Islands, French
Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana
Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands (Palau)


Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
(ESCWA)

established-9 August 1973 as Economic
Commission for Western Asia (ECWA)

aim-to promote economic development
as a regional commission for the UN's Economic and
Social Council

members-(12 and the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen,
Palestine Liberation Organization


Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

established-26 June 1945

effective-24 October 1945

aim-to coordinate the economic and
social work of the UN; includes five regional
commissions (see Economic Commission for Africa,
Economic Commission for Europe, Economic Commission
for Latin America and the Caribbean, Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Economic
and Social Commission for Western Asia) and six
functional commissions
(see Commission for Social Development, Commission on
Human Rights, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission
on the Status of Women, Population Commission, Statistical
Commission, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on
Sustainable Development, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,
and Commission on Transnational Corporations)

members-(54) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

established-29 April 1958

aim-to promote economic development
as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and
Social Council

members-(52) 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, South Africa (suspended), Sudan, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe associate members-(2)
France, UK


Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East
(ECAFE)
see Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)


Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)

established-28 March 1947

aim-to promote economic development
as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council

members-(44) Albania, Austria, Belarus,
Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San
Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK,
US, Yugoslavia


Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA)
see Economic Commission for
Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)


Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean (ECLAC)

established-25 February 1948 as
Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA)

aim-to promote economic development
as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and
Social Council

members-(41) Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia,
Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,
France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay,
Venezuela
associate members-(6)
Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Netherlands
Antilles, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands


Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA)
see Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)


Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)-acronym from Communaute
Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale

established-18 October 1983

aim-to promote regional economic
cooperation and establish a Central African Common
Market

members-(10) Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zaire
observer-(1) Angola


Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries
(CEPGL)

note-acronym from Communaute Economique
des Pays des Grands Lacs

established-26 September 1976

aim-to promote regional economic
cooperation and integration

members-(3) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire
Economic Community of


West African States (ECOWAS)

established-28 May 1975

aim-to promote regional economic
cooperation

members-(17) Benin, Burkina, Cape
Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal,
Sierra Leone,Togo


Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)

established-1985

aim-to promote regional cooperation
in trade, transportation, communications, tourism, cultural
affairs,and economic development

members-(10) Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan


European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD)

established-15 April 1991

aim-to facilitate the transition
of seven centrally planned economies in Europe (Bulgaria, former
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, former USSR, and former Yugoslavia)
to market economies by committing 60% of its loans to privatization

members-(58) Albania, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, European Community (EC), Egypt,
European Investment Bank (EIB), Estonia, Finland, France,
Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico,
Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan,
Yugoslavia; note-includes all 24 members of the OECD and the EC as an
institution


European Community (EC)

established-8 April 1965

effective-1 July 1967

aim-to integrate the European Atomic


Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel
Community (ESC), and the European Economic Community
(EEC or Common Market); the EC plans to establish a
completely integrated common market and an eventual
federation of Europe

members-(12) Belgium, Denmark, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK


European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

established-4 January 1960

effective-3 May 1960

aim-to promote expansion of free rade

members-(7) Austria, Finland, Iceland, Leichtenstein,
Norway, Sweden, Switzerland


European Investment Bank EIB)

established-25 March 1957

effective-1 January 1958

aim-to promote economic development
of the EC

members-(12) Belgium, Denmark, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK

European Organization for uclear Research (CERN)

note-acronym retained from the predecessor
organization Conseil Europeen pour la
Recherche Nucleaire established-1 July 1953

effective-29 September 1954

aim-to foster nuclear research for
peaceful purposes only

members-(19) Austria, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
observers-(6) EC, Israel, Russia, Turkey, United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),
Yugoslavia


European Space Agency ESA)

established-31 July 1973

effective-1 May 1975

aim-to promote peaceful cooperation
in space research and technology

members-(13) Austria, Belgium, Denmark,
France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands,
Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
associate member-(1) Finland
cooperating state-(1) Canada


First World

another term for countries ith advanced, industrialized
economies; this term is fading from use; see developed countries
(DCs)


Food and Agriculture rganization (FAO)

established-16 October 1945

aim-UN specialized agency to raise
living standards and increase availability of
agricultural products

members-(162) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, 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, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, EC, 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, Kenya,
North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 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, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swazi
land, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe associate member-(1) Puerto Rico


Former USSR/Eastern Europe former USSR/EE)

the middle group in the comprehensive
but mutually exclusive 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 includes Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia,
Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia. Moldova, oland,
Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan


Four Dragons

the four small Asian less developed
countries (LDCs) that have experienced unusually rapid economic
growth; also known as the Four Tigers; this group
includes Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan


Four Tigers

another term for the Four Dragons;
see Four Dragons


Franc Zone (FZ)

established-NA

aim-to form a monetary union among countries whose currencies are
linked to the French franc

members-(15) Benin, Burkina, Cameroon,
Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote
d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Mali,
Niger, Senegal, Togo; note-France includes
metropolitan France, the four overseas departments
of France (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique,
Reunion), the two territorial collectivities of
France (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon), and the
three overseas territories of France (French
Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna)

Front Line States (FLS)

established-NA

aim-to achieve black majority rule
in South Africa

members-(7) Angola, Botswana, Mozambique,
Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe


General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

established-30 October 1947

effective-1 January 1948

aim-to promote the expansion of
international trade on a nondiscriminatory basis

members-(104) Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,
Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa
Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador,
Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho,
Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


Group of 2 (G-2)

established-informal term that came
into use about 1986

aim-bilateral economic cooperation
between the two most powerful economic giants

members-(2) Japan, US


Group of 3 (G-3)

established-NA October 1990

aim-mechanism for policy coordination

members-(3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela


Group of 5 (G-5)

established-22 September 1985

aim-the five major non-Communist economic powers

members-(5) France, Germany, Japan,
UK, US


Group of 6 (G-6)

note-not to be confused with theBig Six

established-22 May 1984

aim-to achieve nuclear disarmament

members-(6) Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico,
Sweden, Tanzania


Group of 7 (G-7)

note-membership is the same as the Big Seven

established-22 September 1985

aim-the seven major non-Communist economic powers

members-(7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus
Canada and Italy


Group of 8 (G-8)

established-NA October 1975

aim-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, EC
(as one member), Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
US


Group of 9 (G-9)

established-NA

aim-informal group that meets occasionally
on matters of mutual interest

members-(9) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania,
Sweden, Yugoslavia


Group of 10 (G-10)

note-also known as the Paris Club

established-NA October 1962

aim-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

members-(11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US


Group of 11 (G-11)

note-also known as the Cartagena Group

established-22 June 1984, in Cartagena,
Colombia

aim-forum for largest debtor nations
in Latin America

members-(11) Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela


Group of 15 (G-15)

note-byproduct of the Non-Aligned
Movement

established-1989

aim-to promote economic cooperation
among developing nations; to act as the main political
organ for the Non-Aligned Movement

members-(15) Algeria, Argentina,
Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia,
Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Venezuela, Yugoslavia,
Zimbabwe


Group of 19 (G-19)

established-NA October 1975

aim-the less developed countries (LDCs) that participated in the Conference on
International Economic Cooperation (CIEC) held in several sessions between NA
December 1975 and 3 June
1977

members-(19) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Egypt, India, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela,
Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia


Group of 24 (G-24)

established-NA January 1972

aim-to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa, Asia,
and Latin America within the IMF

members-(24) Algeria, Argentina,
Brazil, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon,
Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri
Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela,
Yugoslavia, Zaire


Group of 30 (G-30)

established-NA 1979

aim-to discuss and propose solutions
to the world's economic problems

members-(30) informal group of 30
leading international bankers, economists, financial
experts, and businessmen organized by Johannes
Witteveen (former managing director of the IMF)


Group of 33 (G-33)

established-NA 1987

aim-to promote solutions to international economic
problems

members-(33) leading economists from 13 countries


Group of 77 (G-77)

established-NA October 1967

aim-to promote economic cooperation among developing countries;
name persists in spite of increased membership

members-(127 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa
Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia,
Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,
Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation


Organization Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

note-also known as the Cooperation Council for the
Arab States of the Gulf

established-25-26 May 1981

aim-to promote regional cooperation in economic, social,
political, and military affairs

members-(6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE


Habitat

Commission on Human Settlements


Hexagonal Group
see Central European Initiative (CEI)


high-income countries

another term for the industrialized
countries with high per capita GNPs/GDPs; see
developed countries (DCs)


industrial countries

another term for the developed countries; see developed
countries (DCs)

Inter-American DevelopmentBank (IADB)
note-also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)

established-8 April 1959

effective-30 December 1959

aim-to promote economic and social development in Latin
America

members-(44) Argentina, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia,
Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, 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, Spain, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia


Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development
(IGADD)

established-NA January 1986

aim-to promote cooperation on drought-related
matters

members-(6) Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda


International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

established-26 October 1956

effective-29 July 1957

aim-to promote peaceful uses of tomic energy

members-(115) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh,
Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, 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, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, alaysia, Mali, 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, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Bank for conomic Cooperation (IBEC)

established in 22 October 1963;

aim was to promote economic cooperation and development;

members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East
Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR,
Vietnam; now it is a Russian bank with a new charter


International Bank for econstruction and Development
(IBRD)

note-also known as the World Bank

established-22 July 1944

effective-27 December 1945

aim-UN specialized agency that initially
promoted economic rebuilding after World War II and now
provides economic development loans

members-(174) 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, 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, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New
Zealand, 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,
 Solvenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, ganda, Ukraine, UAE,
UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

established-NA 1919

aim-to promote free trade and private
enterprise and to represent business interests at
national and international levels

members-(58 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,
Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco,
Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan,
Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire


International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

established-7 December 1944

effective-4 April 1947

aim-UN specialized agency to promote international
cooperation in civil aviation

members-(173) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, 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, 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, Kenya, Kiribati,
North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,
Madagacar, 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
(suspended), 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, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe


International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

established-NA 1863

aim-to provide humanitarian aid in wartime

members-(25 individuals) all Swiss nationals


International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
(ICFTU)

established-NA December 1949

aim-to promote the trade union movement

members-(144 national organizations
in the following 104 areas) Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Basque Country, Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Canada, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Falkland Islands,
Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, The Gambia,
Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Holy See,
Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, South Korea, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Morocco,
Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Saint Helena,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela,
Western Samoa


International Court of Justice (ICJ)

note-also known as the World Court

established-26 June 1945

effective-24 October 1945

aim-primary judicial organ of the UN

members-(15 judges) elected by the
General Assembly and Security Council to represent
all principal legal systems


International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)

established-13 June 1956

aim-to promote international cooperation between criminal
police authorities

members-(159) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, 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, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea,
Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, 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, Somalia, 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, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,  Zimbabwe

subbureaus-(5) American Samoa, Bermuda, Cayman Islands,
Gibraltar, Hong Kong


International Development Association
(IDA)

established-26 January 1960

effective-24 September 1960

aim-UN specialized agency and IBRD
affiliate that provides economic loans for low
income countries

members-(147) Part I-(23 more economically advanced countries) Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, South Africa,
Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US

members-Part II-(124 less developed nations) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, 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, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, 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, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Energy Agency (IEA)

established-15 November 1974

aim-established by the OECD to promote
cooperation on energy matters, especially emergency
oil sharing and relations between oil consumers and
oil producers

members-(21) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US


International Finance Corporation (IFC)

established-25 May 1955

effective-20 July 1956

aim-UN specialized agency and IBRD
affiliate that helps private enterprise sector in economic development

members-(149) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados,
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, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, 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, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,
Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall
Islands, 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, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, 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, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

established-NA November 1974

aim-UN specialized agency that promotes
agricultural development

members-(147) 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

members-Category II-(12 petroleum-exporting
aid contributors) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
UAE, Venezuela
members-Category III-(114 aid recipients) Afghanistan,
Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh,
Barbados, 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,
Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia,
Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Israel,
Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Laos,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
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, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Investment Bank (IIB)

established on 7 July 1970;
to promote economic development; members were
Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany,
Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam;
now it is a Russian bank with a new charter


International Labor Organization (ILO)

established-11 April 1919 (affiliated
with the UN 14 December 1946)

aim-UN specialized agency concerned
with world labor issues

members-(158) Afghanistan, Algeria,
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, 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, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,
El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, 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 Lucia,
San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Maritime Organization (IMO)

note-name changed from Intergovernmental
Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982

established-17 March 1958

aim-UN specialized agency concerned
with world maritime affairs

members-(138) Algeria, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
Bolivia, 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, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, 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, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco,
Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, 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, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire
associate members-(2) Hong Kong, Macau


International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT)

established-3 September 1976

effective-26 July 1979

aim-to provide worldwide communications
for maritime and other applications

members-(66) Algeria, Argentina,
Australia, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland,
France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco,
Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Yugoslavia


International Monetary Fund (IMF)

established-22 July 1944

effective-27 December 1945

aim-UN specialized agency concerned
with world monetary stability and economic development

members-(175) 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, 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, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, 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,
San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
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, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE,
UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
observers-(3) Holy See, North Korea, Monaco


International Olympic Committee (IOC)

established-23 June 1894

aim-to promote the Olympic ideals
and administer the Olympic games: 1992 Winter Olympics in
Albertville, France (8-23 February); 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona, Spain (25 July-9 August); 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer;
Norway (12-27 February); 1996 Summer
Olympics in Atlanta, United States (20 July-4
August); 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan (date
NA)

members-(168) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina,
Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, 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 Vincent and the
Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands,
Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe


International Organization for Migration (IOM)-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

established-5 December 1951

aim-to facilitate orderly international
emigration and immigration

members-(46) Angola, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia,
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras,
Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,
Thailand, Uganda, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia
observers-(41) Albania, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia Inc.,
Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, India, Indonesia, Japan, Japan International
Friendship and Welfare Foundation, Jordan, Latvia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco,
Namibia, NZ, Niwano Peace Foundation, Pakistan, Partnership with the Children
of the Third World, Poland, Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief/Episcopal
Church Refuge Council of Australia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and
Principe, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Turkey, UK, Vietnam,
Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe


International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

established-NA February 1947

aim-to promote the development of international standards

members-(73 national standards organizations)
Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile,
China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia,
Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
Slovakia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UK,
US, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia
correspondent members-(14) Bahrain, Barbados, Brunei, Guinea, Hong Kong,
Iceland, Jordan, Kuwait, Malawi, Mauritius, Oman, Senegal, UAE, Uruguay
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

established-NA 1928

aim-to promote worldwide humanitarian
aid through the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and League of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS) in peacetime

members-(9) 2 representatives from
ICRC, 2 from LORCS, and 5 from national societies
elected by the international conference of the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement


International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

established-9 December 1932

effective-1 January 1934 affiliated
with the UN-15 November 1947

aim-UN specialized agency concerned
with world telecommunications

members-(168) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, 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, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,
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, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,
Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, 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, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa (suspended), Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,
US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western
Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
(INTELSAT)

established-20 August 1971

effective-12 February 1973

aim-to develop and operate a global
commercial telecommunications satellite system

members-(125) Afghanistan, Algeria,
Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco,
Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar,
Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Singapore, Slovakia, 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


Islamic Development Bank (IDB)

established-15 December 1973

aim-to promote Islamic economic
aid and social development

members-(44 plus the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Afghanistan (suspended), Algeria,
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina,
Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation
Organization


Latin American Economic System (LAES)

note-also known as Sistema
Economico Latinoamericana (SELA)

established-17 October 1975

aim-to promote economic and
social development through
regional cooperation

members-(26) Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay,
Venezuela

Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
note-also known as Asociacion
Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)

established-12 August 1980

effective-18 March 1981

aim-to promote freer regional trade

members-(11) Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay,
Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers-(16) Commission of the European Communities, Costa
Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Inter-American Development Bank, Italy, Nicaragua,
Organization of American States, Panama, Portugal,
Spain, United Nations Development Program, United
Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean


League of Arab States (LAS)
see Arab League (AL)


League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(LORCS)

established-5 May 1919

aim-to provide humanitarian aid in peacetime

members-(148) 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, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, 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, 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-(2) Equatorial Guinea, Gabon


least developed countries (LLDCs)
that subgroup of the less developed
countries (LDCs) initially identified by the UN
General Assembly in 1971 as having no significant
economic growth, per capita GNPs/GDPs normally less
than $500, and low literacy rates; also known as the
undeveloped countries. The 42 LLDCs are: Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina, Burma,
Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,
Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia,
The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho,
Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda,
Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania,
Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Yemen


less developed countries (LDCs)
the bottom group in the comprehensive
but mutually exclusive hierarchy of developed
countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former
USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs);
mainly countries with low levels of output,
living standards, and technology; per capita GNPs/GDPs
are generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,000;
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 175 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,
Mexico, 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, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), Pakistan, Panama, Papua
New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn
Islands, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint
Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre
and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome
and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE,
Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis
and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara, Western Samoa,
Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


low-income countries
another term for those less
developed countries with below-average per capita
GNPs/GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)


London Suppliers Group
see Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)


Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (MERCOSUR)
see Southern Cone Common Market


middle-income countries
another term for those less
developed countries with above-average per capita GNPs/GDPs;
see less developed countries (LDCs)


Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

established-April 1987

aim-to arrest missile proliferation
by controlling the export of key missile technologies and
equipment

members-(24) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US


newly industrializing countries (NICs)
former term for the newly industrializing
economies; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)


newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
that subgroup of the less developed
countries (LDCs) that has experienced particularly rapid
industrialization of their economies; formerly known as the
newly industrializing countries (NICs); also known as advanced developing
countries; usually includes the Four Dragons (Hong Kong, South Korea,
Singapore, Taiwan) plus Brazil and Mexico


Nonaligned Movement (NAM)

established-1-6 September 1961

aim-to establish political and military
cooperation apart from the traditional
East or West blocs

members-(102 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
CapeVerde, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote
d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia,
Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, 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,
Qatar, Rawada, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Palestine Liberation Organization
observers-(19) African National Congress, Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization,
Antigua and Barbuda, Arab League, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Dominica, El
Salvador, Islamic Conference, Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (New
Caledonia), Mexico, Mongolia, Organization of African Unity, Pan Africanist
Congress of Azania, Philippines,
Socialist Party of Puerto Rico, UN, Uruguay
guests-(21) Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
Republic, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland


Nordic Council (NC)

established-16 March 1952

effective-12 February 1953

aim-to promote regional economic, cultural, and
environmental cooperation

members-(5) Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
Norway, Sweden; note-Denmark includes Faroe
Islands and Greenland


Nordic Investment Bank (NIB)

established-4 December 1975

effective-1 June 1976

aim-to promote economic cooperation and development

members-(5) Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
Norway, Sweden


North
a popular term for the rich
industrialized countries generally located in the
northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the
counterpart of the South; see developed countries
(DCs)


North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC)-an extension of NATO

established-8 November 1991

effective-20 December 1991

aim-to form a forum to discuss cooperation
concerning mutual political and security issues

members-(38) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Slovakia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

established-17 September 1949

aim-to promote mutual defense and cooperation

members-(16) Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US


Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)

established-NA 1958

aim-associated with OECD, seeks
to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy

members-(23) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US


Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
note-also known as the London Suppliers Group

established-1974

aim-to establish guidelines on exports
of enrichment and processing plant assistance and
nuclear exports 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 AmericaLatina y el Caribe (OPANAL)
see Agency for the Prohibition
of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the
Caribbean (OPANAL)


Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD)

established-14 December 1960, effective
30 September 1961

aim-to promote economic cooperation
and development

members-(24) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US special members-(2) EC, Yugoslavia


Organization of African Unity (OAU)

established-25 May 1963

aim-to promote unity and cooperation among African states

members-(52) 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,
Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe


Organization of American States (OAS)

established-30 April 1948

effective-13 December 1951

aim-to promote 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-(24) Algeria, Austria,
Belgium, Cyprus, EC, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Holy See, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, Netherlands,
Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, ?


Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)

established-9 January 1968

aim-to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry

members-(11) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt,
Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia
(withdrew from active membership in 1986),


UAE Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

established-18 June 1981

effective-4 July 1981

aim-to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation

members-(7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
associate member-(1) British Virgin Islands


Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

established-14 September 1960

aim-to coordinate petroleum policies

members-(12) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait,
Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela


Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)

established-22-25 September 1969

aim-to promote Islamic solidarity
and cooperation in economic, social, cultural, and
political affairs

members-(47 plus the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Afghanistan (suspended), Albania, Algeria,
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina,
Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria,
Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
observer-(1) Turkish-Cypriot administered area of Cyprus


Paris Club
see Group of 10


Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)

established-NA 1899

aim-to facilitate the settlement
of international disputes

members-(78) Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China,
Colombia, Cuba, 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, Slovakia,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay,
Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zimbabwe


Population Commission

established-3 October 1946

aim-Economic and Social Council organization dealing
with population matters of importance to the UN

members-(27) selected on a rotating
basis from all regions


Rio Group (RG)

established-NA 1988

aim-a consultation mechanism on regional Latin American issues
members-(11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico,
Paraguay, Peru (suspended), Uruguay, Venezuela; note-Panama was expelled in
1988; Peru was suspended after April 1992 coup

Second World another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states with
authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model;
the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies socialist
countries in general, countries in which the government owns and plans
the use of the major factors of production; note-the term is sometimes
used incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries

South a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized
countries generally located south of the developed countries;
the counterpart of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)


South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

established-8 December 1985

aim-to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation

members-(7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka


South Pacific Commission (SPC)

established-6 February 1947

effective-29 July 1948

aim-to promote regional
cooperation n economic and social matters

members-(27) American Samoa, Australia,
Cook Islands, Fiji, France, French Polynesia,
Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States
of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue,
Northern Mariana Islands, Trust Territory
of the Pacific Islands (Palau), Papua New Guinea,
Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga,
Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa


South Pacific Forum (SPF)

established-5 August 1971

aim-to promote regional cooperation
in political matters

members-(15) Australia, Cook Islands,
Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon
Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
observer-(1) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)


South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement
(SPARTECA)

established-NA 1981

aim-to redress unequal trade relationship of Australia and New
Zealand with small island economies in Pacific region

members-(15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea,
Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa


Southern African Customs Union (SACU)

established-11 December 1969

aim-to promote free trade and cooperation
in customs matters

members-(9) Bophuthatswana, Botswana,
Ciskei, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Transkei, Venda


Southern African Development Community (SADC)

note-evolved from the Southern African Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC) established-17 August 1992

aim-to promote regional economic
development and integration

members-(10) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho,
Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Zambia, Zimbabwe


Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR)

established-26 March 1991

aim-regional economic cooperation

members-(4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay,
Uruguay

Statistical Commission

established-21 June 1946

aim-Economic and Social Council organization dealing
with development and standardization of national statistics of
interest to the UN

members-(25) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
Third World another term for the less developed
countries; the term is fading from use; see less developed
countries (LDCs)


underdeveloped countries
refers to those less developed
countries with the potential for above-average economic growth;
see less developed countries (LDCs)


undeveloped countries
refers to those extremely poor
less developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth;
see least developed countries (LLDCs)


Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale
(UDEAC)
see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
United Nations (UN)

established-26 June 1945

effective-24 October 1945

aim-to maintain international peace
and security and to promote cooperation involving
economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems

members-(182 excluding Yugoslavia) 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,
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, 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, 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, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe; note-all UN members are represented in the General Assembly
observers-(2 and the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Holy See, Switzerland, Palestine Liberation
Organization


United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II)

note-successor to original UNAVEM

established-20 December 1988

aim-established by the UN Security
Council to verify the withdrawal of Cuban troops from
Angola

members-(25) Algeria, Argentina,
Brazil, Canada, Congo, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guinea-
Bissau, Hungary, India, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia,
Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Senegal,
Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Yugoslavia,
Zimbabwe


United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

note-acronym retained from the predecessor
organization UN International Children's Emergency
Fund established-11 December 1946

aim-to help establish child health and welfare services

members-(41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD)

established-30 December 1964

aim-to promote international trade

members-(186) all UN members plus Holy See, Switzerland, Tonga


United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

established-22 November 1965

aim-to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social
development

members-(48) selected on a rotating
basis from all regions

United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

established-31 May 1974

aim-established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli
ceasefire

members-(4) Austria, Canada, Finland,Poland


United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

established-16 November 1945

effective-4 November 1946

aim-to promote cooperation in education,
science, and culture

members-(172) 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, 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, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco,
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,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members-(3) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Netherlands Antilles


United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)

established-15 December 1972

aim-to promote international cooperation
on all environmental matters

members-(58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)

established-4 March 1964

aim-established by the UN Security Council to serve as a
peacekeeping force beween Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus

members-(7) Austria,Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, UK


United Nations General Assembly

established-26 June 1945

effective-24 October 1945

aim-primary deliberative organ in the UN

members-(183) all UN members are represented in the


General Assembly United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO)

established-17 November 1966

effective-1 January 1967

aim-UN specialized agency that promotes
industrial development especially among the members

members-(160) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
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, 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, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 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, 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,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe


United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

established-19 March 1978

aim-established by the UN Security
Council to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli
forces, restore peace, and reestablish Lebanese
authority in southern Lebanon

members-(10) Fiji, Finland, France,
Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Sweden


United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM)

established-NA 1991

aim-established by the UN Security
Council to observe and monitor the demilitarized zone
established between Iraq and Kuwait

members-(34) Argentina, Austria,
Bangladesh, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Fiji, Finland,
France, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland,
Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay,
Venezuela


United Nations Military Observer Group in India
and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)

established-13 August 1948

aim-established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1949
India-Pakistan ceasefire

members-(8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark,
Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Uruguay


United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
(MINURSO)

established-NA 1990

aim-established by the UN Security Council to supervise the
referendum in Western Sahara

members-(25) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Egypt,
France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Tunisia, UK, US, Venezuela


United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL)

established-NA 1991

aim-established by the UN Security Council to verify ceasefire arrangments and
to monitor the maintenance of public order pending the organization of a new
National Civil Police

members-(9) Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Ireland, Spain, Sweden,
Venezuela


United Nations Office of the High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR)

established-3 December 1949

effective-1 January 1951

aim-to try to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent
solutions to refugee problems
members-(46) 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, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda,UK, US, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire


United Nations Operation in Mozambique (UNOMOZ)

established-NA 1992

aim-established by the UN Security Council to supervise the
ceasefire

members-(18) Argentina, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde,
Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden,


Uruguay, Zambia United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM)

established-NA 1992

aim-established by the UN Security Council to facilitate an
immediate cessation of hostilities, to maintain a ceasefire to
promote a political settlement, and to provide urgent
humanitarian assistance

members-(17) Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,
Egypt, Fiji, Finland, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, NZ, Norway, Pakistan,
Slovakia, Zimbabwe


United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

note-acronym retained from predecessor
organization UN Fund for Population Activities

established-NA July 1967

aim-to promote assistance in dealing with population problems

members-(51) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR)

established-NA 1992

aim-established by the UN Security Council to create conditions for peace
and security required for the negotiation of an overall settlement of the
"Yugoslav" crisis

members-(31) Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Egypt, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Jordan,
Kenya, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Venezuela


United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA)

established-8 December 1949

aim-to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees

members-(10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon,
Syria, Turkey, UK, US


United Nations Secretariat

established-26 June 1945

effective-24 October 1945

aim-primary administrative organ
of the UN

member-Secretary General appointed
for a five-year term by the General Assembly on the
recommendation of the Security Council


United Nations Security Council

established-26 June 1945

effective-24 October 1945

aim-to maintain international peace and security

permanent members-(5)
China, France, Russia, UK, US
nonpermanent members-(10)
elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly;
Austria (1991-92), Belgium (1991-92), Cape Verde (1992-
93), Ecuador (1991-92), Hungary (1992-93), India (1991-
92), Japan (1992-93), Morocco (1992-93), Venezuela (1992-
93), Zimbabwe (1991-92)


United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)

established-NA 1992

aim-established by the UN Security Council to contribute to the restoration
and maintenance of peace and to the holding of free elections

members-(31) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Cameroon,Canada, Chile, China, Congo, France, Germany, Ghana, India,
Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Netherlands, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland,
Russia, Senegal, Thailand, Tunisia, UK, US, Uruguay


United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)

established-NA May 1948

aim-initially established by the UN Security Council to supervise the 1948
Arab-Israeli ceasefire and subsequently extended to work in the Sinai, Lebanon,
Jordan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan

members-(19) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,
Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France,
Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Sweden,
Switzerland, US


United Nations Trusteeship Council

established-26 June 1945

effective-24 October 1945

aim-to supervise the administration
of the UN trust territories; only one of the original 11
trusteeships remains-the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands (Palau)

members-(5) China, France, Russia, UK, US


Universal Postal Union (UPU)

established-9 October 1874, affiliated
with the UN 15 November 1947

effective-1 July 1948

aim-UN specialized agency that promotes
international postal cooperation

members-(178) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, 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, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia, 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, Laos, Latvia,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
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, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe


Warsaw Pact (WP)

was established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members met 1 July 1991
to dissolve the alliance; member states at the time of dissolution were
Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR; earlier
members included East Germany and Albania


West African Development Bank (WADB)
note-also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD)

established-14 November 1973

aim-to promote economic development and integration

members-(7) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo


West African Economic Community (CEAO)

note-acronym from Communaute Economique
de l'Afrique de l'Ouest

established-3 June 1972

aim-to promote regional economic development

members-(7) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania,
Niger, Senegal
observers-(2) Guinea, Togo


Western European Union (WEU)

established-23 October 1954

effective-6 May 1955

aim-mutual defense and progressive political unification

members-(9) Belgium, France, Germany,
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
associate member-(1) Iceland
observer-(1) Greece


World Bank

see International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)


World Bank Group
includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD),
International Development Association (IDA), and International Finance
Corporation (IFC)


World Confederation of Labor (WCL)

established-19 June 1920 as the
International Federation of Christian Trade Unions
(IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1968

aim-to promote the trade union movement

members-(94 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, Guadaloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica,
Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Mali, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico,
Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe


World Court
see International Court of
Justice (ICJ)


World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

established-NA 1945

aim-to promote the trade union movement

members-(67) Afghanistan, Angola,
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia,
Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, The Gambia,
Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Madagascar,
Mauritius, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,
Puerto Rico, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria,
Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire


World Food Council (WFC)

established-17 December 1974

aim-ECOSOC organization that studies world food problems and
recommends solutions

members-(36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


World Food Program (WFP)

established-24 November 1961

aim-ECOSOC organization that provides food aid to assist in
development or disaster relief

members-(42) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


World Health Organization (WHO)

established-22 July 1946

effective-7 April 1948

aim-UN specialized agency concerned with health matters

members-(180) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, 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, 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, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,
Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 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, 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, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,
US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
associate members-(2) Puerto Rico, Tokelau


World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

established-14 July 1967

effective-26 April 1970

aim-UN specialized agency concerned
with the protection of literary, artistic, and
scientific works

members-(133) Albania, Algeria,
Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

established-11 October 1947

effective-4 April 1951

aim-specialized UN agency concerned
with meteorological cooperation

members-(162) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, 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, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, 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, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa (suspended),
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


World Tourism Organization (WTO)

established-2 January 1975

aim-promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic
development, international understanding, and peace
members-(110) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh,
Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San
Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, UAE, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
associate members-(4) Aruba, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico
observer-(1) Holy See


Zangger Committee (ZC)

established-early 1970s

aim-to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty

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

***

Appendix D:
Weights and Measures
Mathmatical Notation
Mathmatical Power                              Name
10^18 or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000             one quintillion
10^15 or 1,000,000,000,000,000                 one quadrillion
10^12 or 1,000,000,000,000                     one trillion
10^9 or 1,000,000,000                          one billion
10^6 or 1,000,000                              one million
10^3 or 1,000                                  one thousand
10^2 or 100                                    one hundred
10^1 or 10                                     ten
10^0 or 1                                      one
10-^1 or 0.1                                   one tenth
10-^2 or 0.01                                  one hundredth
10-^3 or 0.001                                 one thousandth
10-^6 or 0.000 001                             one millionth
10-^9 or 0.000 000 001                         one billionth
10-^12 or0.000 000 000 001                     one trillionth
10-^15 or 0.000 000 000 000 001                one quadrillionth
10-^18 or 0.000 000 000 000 000 00             one quintillionth

Metric Interrelationships

Conversions from a multiple or submultiple to the basic units of meters,
liters, or grams can be done using the table.  For example, to convert from
kilometers to meters, multiply by 1,000 (9.26 kilometers equals 9,260 meters)
or to convert from meters to kilometers, multiply by 0.001 (9,260 meters equals
9.26 kilometers).

Prefix Symbol  Length, weight, or capacity     Area        Volume
exa    E         0^18                          10^36        10^54
peta   P        10^15                          10^30        10^45
tera   T        10^12                          10^24        10^36
giga   G        10^9                           10^18        10^27
mega   M        10^6                           10^12        10^18
hectokilo hk    10^5                           10^10        10^15
myria  ma       10^4                           10^8         10^12
kilo   k        10^3                           10^6          10^9
hecto  h        10^2                           10^4          10^6
basic unit  -   1 meter                     1 meter^2   1 meter^3
                1 gram,
                1 liter
deci  d         10-^1                         10-^2         10-^3
centi c         10-^2                         10-^4         10-^6
milli m         10-^3                         10-^6         10-^9
decimilli dm    10-^4                         10-^8        10-^12
centimilli cm   10-^5                         10-^10        10^15
micro u         10-^6                         10-^12       10-^18
nano  n         10-^9                         10-^18       10-^27
pico  p         10-^12                        10-^24       10-^36
femto f         10-^15                        10-^30       10-^45
atto  a         10-^18                        10-^36       10-^54

Equivalents
Units          Metric Equivalent                    US Equivalent
acre           0.404 685 64 hectares                43,560 feet^2
acre          4,046,856 4 meters^2                 4,840 yards^ 2
acre    0.004 046 856 4 kilometers^2    0.001 562 miles^2,statute
are            100 meters^2                       119.599 yards^2
barrel
 (petroleum, US)   158.987 29 liters                   42 gallons
 (proof spirits, US)  151.416 47 liters                40 gallons
 (beer, US)           117.347 77 liters                31 gallons
bushel         35.239 07 liters                           4 pecks
cable          219.456 meters                         120 fathoms
chain (surveyor's)  20.116 8 meters                       66 feet
cord (wood)   3.624 556 meters^3                       128 feet^3
cup       0.236 588 2 liters                8 ounces, liquid (US)
degrees, celsius
  water boils at 100 degrees C, freezes at 0 degrees C)
  multiply by 1.8 and add 32 to obtain degrees F
degrees, fahrenheit
  subtract 32 and divide by 1.8 to obtain degrees C
  (water boils at 212 degrees F, freezes at 32 degrees F)
dram, avdp.   1.771 845 2 grams 0.0625             5 ounces, avdp
dram, troy    3.887 934 6 grams                0.125 ounces, troy
dram, liquid (US)   3.696 69 milliliters     0.125 ounces, liquid
fathom        1.828 8 meters                               6 feet
foot          30.48 centimeters                         12 inches
foot          0.304 8 meters                    0.333 333 3 yards
foot          0.000 304 8 kilometers  0.000 189 39 miles, statute
foot^2        929.030 4 centimeters^2                144 inches^2
foot          2 0.092 903 04 meters^2         0.111 111 1 yards^2
foot^3        28.316 846 592 liters             7.480 519 gallons
foot^3        0.028 316 847 meters^3               1,728 inches^3
furlong       201.168 meters                            220 yards
gallon, liquid (US)   3.785 411 784 liters       4 quarts, liquid
gill (US)     118.294 118 milliliters            4 ounces, liquid
grain         64.798 91 milligrams     0.002 285 71 ounces, advp.
gram          1,000 milligrams         0.035 273 96 ounces, advp.
hand (height of horse)   10.16 centimeters               4 inches
hectare      10,000 meters^2                    2.471 053 8 acres
hundredweight, long   50.802 345 kilograms       112 pounds, avdp
hundredweight, short   45.359 237 kilograms      100 pounds, avdp
inch         2.54 centimeters                   0.083 333 33 feet
inch^2       6.451 6 centimeters^2            0.006 944 44 feet^2
inch^3       16.387 064 centimeters^3         0.000 578  7 feet^3
inch^3       16.387 064 milliliters        0.029 761 6 pints, dry
inch^3       16.387 064 milliliters     0.034 632 0 pints, liquid
kilogram     0.001 tons, metric            2.204 623 pounds, avdp
kilometer    1,000 meters             0.621 371 19 miles, statute
kilometer^2  100 hectares                        247.105 38 acres
kilometer^2  1,000,000 meters^2      0.386 102 16 miles^2,statute
knot (1 nautical mi/hr)   1.852 kilometers/hour     1.151 statute
                                                       miles/hour
league, nautical   5.559 552 kilometers         3 miles, nautical
league, statute   4.828.032 kilometers           3 miles, statute
link (surveyor's)   20.116 8 centimeters              7.92 inches
liter            0.001 meters^3                61.023 74 inches^3
liter            0.1 dekaliter              0.908 083 quarts, dry
liter            1,000 milliliters       1.056 688 quarts, liquid
meter           100 centimeters                   1.093 613 yards
meter^2         10,000 centimeters^2            1.195 990 yards^2
meter^3         1,000 liters                    1.307 951 yards^3
micron          0.000 001 meter                0.000 039 4 inches
mil             0.025 4 millimeters                    0.001 inch
mile, nautical  1.852 kilometers       1.150 779 4 miles, statute
mile^2, nautical  3.429 904 kilometers^2   1.325 miles^2, statute
mile, statute   1.609 344 kilometers     5,280 feet or 8 furlongs
mile^2 statute  258.998 811 hectares       640 acres or 1 section
mile^2, statute 2.589 988 11 kilometers^2  0.755 miles2, nautical
minim (US)  0.061 611 52 milliliters  0.002 083 33 ounces, liquid
ounce,avoirdupois   28.349 523 125 grams             437.5 grains
ounce, liquid (US)  29.573 53 milliliters   0.062 5 pints, liquid
ounce, troy         31.103 476 8 grams                 480 grains
pace                76.2 centimeters                    30 inches
peck                8.809 767 5 liters              8 quarts, dry
pennyweight         1.555 173 84 grams                  24 grains
pint, dry (US)      0.550 610 47 liters           0.5 quarts, dry
pint, liquid (US)   0.473 176 473 liters       0.5 quarts, liquid
point (typographical)  0.351 459 8 millimeters   0.013 837 inches
pound, avdp         453.592 37 grams              16 ounces, avdp
pound, troy         373.241 721 6 grams           12 ounces, troy
quart, dry (US)     1.101 221 liters                 2 pints, dry
quart, liquid (US)  0.946 352 946 liters          2 pints, liquid
quintal             100 kilograms        220.462 26 pounds, avdp.
rod                 5.029 2 meters                      5.5 yards
scruple             1.295 978 2 grams                   20 grains
section (US)        2.589 988 1 kilometers^2    1 mile^2, statute
                                                     or 640 acres
span                22.86 centimeters                    9 inches
stere               1 meter^3                    1.307 95 yards^3
tablespoon          14.786 76 milliliters             3 teaspoons
teaspoon            4.928 922 milliliters   0.333 333 tablespoons
ton, long or deadweight
                    1,016.046 909 kilograms   2,240 pounds, avdp.
ton, metric         1,000 kilograms       2,204.623 pounds, avdp.
ton, metric         1,000 kilograms        32,150.75 ounces, troy
ton, register       2.831 684 7 meters^3               100 feet^3
ton, short          907.184 74 kilograms      2,000 pounds, avdp.
township (US)       93.239 572 kilometers^2   36 miles^2, statute
yard                0.914 4 meters                         3 feet
yard^2              0.836 127 36 meters^2                9 feet^2
yard^3              0.764 554 86 meters^3               27 feet^3
yard^3              764.554 857 984 liters        201.974 gallons

***

Appendix E
Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names
This list indicates where various names including all United States Foreign
Service Posts, alternate names, former names, and political or geographical
portions of larger entities can be found in The World Fact-book. Spellings
are not necessarily those approved by the United States Board on Geographic
Names (BGN). Alternate names are included in parentheses;
additional information is included in brackets.


Name Entry in The World Factbook

A
Abidjan [US Embassy]
Cote d'Ivoire

Abu Dhabi [US Embassy]
United Arab Emirates

Abuja [US Embassy Branch Office]
Nigeria

Acapulco [US Consular Agency]
Mexico

Accra [US Embassy]
Ghana

Adamstown
Pitcairn Islands

Adana [US Consulate]
Turkey

Addis Ababa [US Embassy]
Ethiopia

Adelaide [US Consular Agency]
Australia

Adelie Land (Terre Adelie) [claimed by France]
Antarctica

Aden
Yemen

Aden, Gulf of
Indian Ocean

Admiralty Islands
Papua New Guinea

Adriatic Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Aegean Islands
Greece

Aegean Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Afars and Issas, French Territory of the (F.T.A.I.)
Djibouti

Agalega Islands
Mauritius

Agana
Guam

Aland Islands
Finland

Alaska
United States

Alaska, Gulf of
Pacific Ocean

Aldabra Islands
Seychelles

Alderney
Guernsey

Aleutian Islands
United States

Alexander Island
Antarctica

Alexandria [US Consulate General]
Egypt

Algiers [US Embassy]
Algeria

Alhucemas, Penon de
Spain

Alma-Ata (Almaty)
Kazakhstan

Almaty (Alma-Ata) [US Embassy]
Kazakhstan

Alofi
Niue

Alphonse Island
Seychelles

Amami Strait
Pacific Ocean

Amindivi Islands
India

Amirante Isles
Seychelles

Amman [US Embassy]
Jordan

Amsterdam [US Consulate General]
Netherlands

Amsterdam Island (Ile Amsterdam)
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Amundsen Sea
Pacific Ocean

Amur
China; Russia

Andaman Islands
India

Andaman Sea
Indian Ocean

Andorra la Vella
Andorra

Anegada Passage
Atlantic Ocean

Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Sudan

Anjouan
Comoros

Ankara [US Embassy]
Turkey

Annobon
Equatorial Guinea

Antananarivo [US Embassy]
Madagascar

Antipodes Islands
New Zealand

Antwerp [US Consulate General]
Belgium

Aozou Strip [claimed by Libya]
Chad

Apia [US Embassy]
Western Samoa

Aqaba, Gulf of
Indian Ocean

Arabian Sea
Indian Ocean

Arafura Sea
Pacific Ocean

Argun
China; Russia

Ascension Island
Saint Helena

Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
Turkmenistan

Ashkhabad [US Embassy]
Turkmenistan

Asmara [US Embassy]
Eritrea

Asmera (see Asmara)
Eritrea

Assumption Island
Seychelles

Asuncion [US Embassy]
Paraguay

Asuncion Island
Northern Mariana Islands

Atacama
Chile

Athens [US Embassy]
Greece

Attu
United States

Auckland [US Consulate General]
New Zealand

Auckland Islands
New Zealand

Australes Iles (Iles Tubuai)
French Polynesia

Avarua
Cook Islands

Axel Heiberg Island
Canada

Azores
Portugal

Azov, Sea of
Atlantic Ocean

B
Bab el Mandeb
Indian Ocean

Babuyan Channel
Pacific Ocean

Babuyan Islands
Philippines

Baffin Bay
Arctic Ocean

Baffin Island
Canada

Baghdad
[US Embassy temporarily suspended; US Interests Section located in
Poland's embassy in Baghdad]
Iraq

Baku [US Embassy]
Azerbaijan

Baky (Baku)
Azerbaijan

Balabac Strait
Pacific Ocean

Balearic Islands
Spain

Balearic Sea (Iberian Sea)
Atlantic Ocean

Bali [US Consular Agency]
Indonesia

Bali Sea
Indian Ocean

Balintang Channel
Pacific Ocean

Balintang Islands
Philippines

Balleny Islands
Antarctica

Balochistan
Pakistan

Baltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean


Bamako [US Embassy]
Mali

Banaba (Ocean Island)
Kiribati

Bandar Seri Begawan [US Embassy]
Brunei

Banda Sea
Pacific Ocean

Bangkok [US Embassy]
Thailand

Bangui [US Embassy]
Central African Republic

Banjul [US Embassy]
Gambia, The

Banks Island
Canada

Banks Islands (Iles Banks)
Vanuatu

Barcelona [US Consulate General]
Spain

Barents Sea
Arctic Ocean

Barranquilla [US Consulate]
Colombia

Bashi Channel
Pacific Ocean

Basilan Strait
Pacific Ocean

Bass Strait
Indian Ocean

Basse-Terre
Gaudeloupe

Basseterre
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Batan Islands
Philippines

Basutoland
Lesotho

Bavaria (Bayern)
Germany

Beagle Channel
Atlantic Ocean

Bear Island (Bjornoya)
Svalbard

Beaufort Sea
Arctic Ocean

Bechuanaland
Botswana

Beijing [US Embassy]
China

Beirut [US Embassy]
Lebanon

Belau
Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the

Belem [US Consular Agency]
Brazil

Belep Islands (Iles Belep)
New Caledonia

Belfast [US Consulate General]
United Kingdom

Belgian Congo
Zaire

Belgrade [US Embassy; US does not maintain full diplomatic relations with
 Serbia and Montenegro]
Serbia and Montenegro

Belize City [US Embassy]
Belize

Belle Isle, Strait of
Atlantic Ocean

Bellingshausen Sea
Pacific Ocean

Belmopan
Belize

Belorussia
Belarus

Bengal, Bay of
Indian Ocean

Bering Sea
Pacific Ocean

Bering Strait
Pacific Ocean

Berkner Island
Antarctica

Berlin [US Branch Office]
Germany

Berlin, East
Germany

Berlin, West
Germany

Bern [US Embassy]
Switzerland

Bessarabia
Romania; Moldova

Bijagos, Arquipelago dos
Guinea-Bissau

Bikini Atoll
Marshall Islands

Bilbao [US Consulate]
Spain

Bioko
Equatorial Guinea

Biscay, Bay of
Atlantic Ocean

Bishkek [Interim Chancery]
Kyrgyzstan

Bishop Rock
United Kingdom

Bismarck Archipelago
Papua New Guinea

Bismarck Sea
Pacific Ocean

Bissau [US Embassy]
Guinea-Bissau

Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Svalbard

Black Rock
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Black Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Bloemfontein
South Africa

Boa Vista
Cape Verde

Bogota [US Embassy]
Colombia

Bombay [US Consulate General]
India

Bonaire
Netherlands Antilles

Bonifacio, Strait of
Atlantic Ocean

Bonin Islands
Japan

Bonn [US Embassy]
Germany

Bophuthatswana
South Africa

Bora-Bora
French Polynesia

Bordeaux [US Consulate General]
France

Borneo
Brunei; Indonesia; Malaysia

Bornholm
Denmark

Bosporus
Atlantic Ocean

Bothnia, Gulf of
Atlantic Ocean

Bougainville Island
Papua New Guinea

Bougainville Strait
Pacific Ocean

Bounty Islands
New Zealand

Brasilia [US Embassy]
Brazil

Bratislava [US Embassy]
Slovakia

Brazzaville [US Embassy]
Congo

Bridgetown [US Embassy]
Barbados

Brisbane [US Consulate]
Australia


British East Africa
Kenya

British Guiana
Guyana

British Honduras
Belize

British Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands

British Somaliland
Somalia

Brussels [US Embassy, US Mission to European Communities,
US Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (USNATO)]
Belgium

Bucharest [US Embassy]
Romania

Budapest [US Embassy]
Hungary

Buenos Aires [US Embassy]
Argentina

Bujumbura [US Embassy]
Burundi

Burnt Pine
Norfolk Island

Byelorussia
Belarus

C
Cabinda
Angola

Cabot Strait
Atlantic Ocean

Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands

Cairo [US Embassy]
Egypt

Calcutta [US Consulate General]
India

Calgary [US Consulate General]
Canada

California, Gulf of
Pacific Ocean

Campbell Island
New Zealand

Canal Zone
Panama

Canary Islands
Spain

Canberra [US Embassy]
Australia

Cancun [US Consular Agency]
Mexico

Canton (Guangzhou)
China

Canton Island
Kiribati

Cape Town [US Consulate General]
South Africa

Caracas [US Embassy]
Venezuela

Cargados Carajos Shoals
Mauritius

Caroline Islands
Micronesia, Federated States of; Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the

Caribbean Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Carpentaria, Gulf of
Pacific Ocean

Casablanca [US Consulate General]
Morocco

Castries
Saint Lucia

Cato Island
Australia

Cayenne
French Guiana

Cebu [US Consulate General]
Philippines

Celebes
Indonesia

Celebes Sea
Pacific Ocean

Celtic Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Central African Empire
Central African Republic

Ceuta
Spain

Ceylon
Sri Lanka

Chafarinas, Islas
Spain

Chagos Archipelago (Oil Islands)
British Indian Ocean Territory

Channel Islands
Guernsey; Jersey

Charlotte Amalie
Virgin Islands

Chatham Islands
New Zealand

Cheju-do
Korea, South

Cheju Strait
Pacific Ocean

Chengdu [US Consulate General]
China

Chesterfield Islands (Iles Chesterfield)
New Caledonia

Chiang Mai [US Consulate General]
Thailand

Chihli, Gulf of (Bo Hai)
Pacific Ocean

China, People's Republic of
China

China, Republic of
Taiwan

Chisinau [US Embassy]
Moldova

Choiseul
Solomon Islands

Christchurch [US Consular Agency]
New Zealand

Christmas Island [Indian Ocean]
Australia

Christmas Island [Pacific Ocean] (Kiritimati)
Kiribati

Chukchi Sea
Arctic Ocean

Ciskei
South Africa

Ciudad Juarez [US Consulate General]
Mexico

Cochabamba [US Consular Agency]
Bolivia

Coco, Isla del
Costa Rica

Cocos Islands
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Colombo [US Embassy]
Sri Lanka

Colon [US Consular Agency]
Panama

Colon, Archipielago de (Galapagos Islands)
Ecuador

Commander Islands (Komandorskiye Ostrova)
Russia

Conakry [US Embassy]
Guinea

Congo (Brazzaville)
Congo

Congo (Kinshasa)
Zaire

Congo (Leopoldville)
Zaire

Con Son Islands
Vietnam

Cook Strait
Pacific Ocean

Copenhagen [US Embassy]
Denmark

Coral Sea
Pacific Ocean

Corn Islands (Islas del Maiz)
Nicaragua

Corsica
France

Cosmoledo Group
Seychelles

Cotonou [US Embassy]
Benin

Crete
Greece

Crooked Island Passage
Atlantic Ocean

Crozet Islands (Iles Crozet)
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Curacao [US Consulate General]
Netherlands Antilles

Cusco [US Consular Agency]
Peru

Czechoslovakia
Czech Republic; Slovakia

D
Dahomey
Benin

Daito Islands
Japan

Dakar [US Embassy]
Senegal

Daman (Damao)
India

Damascus [US Embassy]
Syria

Danger Atoll
Cook Islands

Danish Straits
Atlantic Ocean

Danzig (Gdansk)
Poland

Dao Bach Long Vi
Vietnam

Dardanelles
Atlantic Ocean

Dar es Salaam [US Embassy]
Tanzania

Davis Strait
Atlantic Ocean

Deception Island
Antarctica

Denmark Strait
Atlantic Ocean

D'Entrecasteaux Islands
Papua New Guinea

Devon Island
Canada

Dhahran [US Consulate General]
Saudi Arabia

Dhaka [US Embassy]
Bangladesh

Diego Garcia
British Indian Ocean Territory

Diego Ramirez
Chile

Diomede Islands
Russia [Big Diomede]; United States [Little Diomede]

Diu
India

Djibouti [US Embassy]
Djibouti

Dodecanese
Greece

Dodoma
Tanzania

Doha [US Embassy]
Qatar

Douala [US Consulate]
Cameroon

Douglas
Man, Isle of

Dover, Strait of
Atlantic Ocean

Drake Passage
Atlantic Ocean

Dubai (Dubayy) [US Consulate General]
United Arab Emirates

Dublin [US Embassy]
Ireland

Durango [US Consular Agency]
Mexico

Durban [US Consulate General]
South Africa

Dushanbe [Interim Chancery]
Tajikistan

Dusseldorf [US Consulate General]
Germany

Dutch East Indies
Indonesia

Dutch Guiana
Suriname

E
East China Sea
Pacific Ocean

Easter Island (Isla de Pascua)
Chile

Eastern Channel (East Korea Strait or Tsushima Strait)
Pacific Ocean

East Germany (German Democratic Republic)
Germany

East Korea Strait (Eastern Channel or Tsushima Strait)
Pacific Ocean

East Pakistan
Bangladesh

East Siberian Sea
Arctic Ocean

East Timor (Portuguese Timor)
Indonesia

Edinburgh [US Consulate General]
United Kingdom

Elba
Italy

Ellef Ringnes Island
Canada

Ellesmere Island
Canada

Ellice Islands
Tuvalu

Elobey, Islas de
Equatorial Guinea

Enderbury Island
Kiribati

Enewetak Atoll (Eniwetok Atoll)
Marshall Islands

England
United Kingdom

English Channel
Atlantic Ocean

Eniwetok Atoll
Marshall Islands

Epirus, Northern
Albania; Greece
Essequibo [claimed by Venezuela]
Guyana

Etorofu
Russia [de facto]

F
Farquhar Group
Seychelles

Fernando de Noronha
Brazil

Fernando Po (Bioko)
Equatorial Guinea

Finland, Gulf of
Atlantic Ocean

Florence [US Consulate General]
Italy

Florida, Straits of
Atlantic Ocean

Formosa
Taiwan

Formosa Strait (Taiwan Strait)
Pacific Ocean

Fort-de-France [US Consulate General]
Martinique

Frankfurt am Main [US Consulate General]
Germany

Franz Josef Land
Russia

Freetown [US Embassy]
Sierra Leone

French Cameroon
Cameroon

French Indochina
Cambodia; Laos; Vietnam

French Guinea
Guinea

French Sudan
Mali

French Territory of the Afars and Issas (F.T.A.I.)
Djibouti

French Togo
Togo

Friendly Islands
Tonga

Frunze (Bishkek)
Kyrgyzstan

Fukuoka [US Consulate]
Japan

Funafuti
Tuvalu

Funchal [US Consular Agency]
Portugal

Fundy, Bay of
Atlantic Ocean

Futuna Islands (Hoorn Islands)
Wallis and Futuna

G
Gaborone [US Embassy]
Botswana

Galapagos Islands (Archipielago de Colon)
Ecuador

Galleons Passage
Atlantic Ocean

Gambier Islands (Iles Gambier)
French Polynesia

Gaspar Strait
Indian Ocean

Geneva [Branch Office of the US Embassy, US Mission to European Office of the
UN and Other International Organizations]
Switzerland

Genoa [US Consulate General]
Italy

George Town [US Consular Agency]
Cayman Islands

Georgetown [US Embassy]
Guyana

German Democratic Republic (East Germany)
Germany

German Federal Republic of (West Germany)
Germany

Gibraltar
Gibraltar

Gibraltar, Strait of
Atlantic Ocean

Gilbert Islands
Kiribati

Goa
India

Gold Coast
Ghana

Golan Heights
Syria

Good Hope, Cape of
South Africa

Goteborg
Sweden

Gotland
Sweden

Gough Island
Saint Helena

Grand Banks
Atlantic Ocean

Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands

Grand Turk [US Consular Agency]
Turks and Caicos Islands

Great Australian Bight
Indian Ocean

Great Belt (Store Baelt)
Atlantic Ocean

Great Britain
United Kingdom

Great Channel
Indian Ocean

Greater Sunda Islands
Brunei; Indonesia; Malaysia

Green Islands
Papua New Guinea

Greenland Sea
Arctic Ocean

Grenadines, Northern
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Grenadines, Southern
Grenada

Guadalajara [US Consulate General]
 Mexico

Guadalcanal
Solomon Islands

Guadalupe, Isla de
Mexico

Guangzhou [US Consulate General]
China

Guantanamo [US Naval Base]
Cuba

Guatemala [US Embassy]
Guatemala

Gubal, Strait of
Indian Ocean

Guinea, Gulf of
Atlantic Ocean

Guayaquil [US Consulate General]
Ecuador

H
Ha'apai Group
Tonga

Habomai Islands
Russia [de facto]

Hague, The [US Embassy]
Netherlands

Haifa [US Consular Agency]
Israel

Hainan Dao
China

Halifax [US Consulate General]
Canada

Halmahera
Indonesia

Hamburg [US Consulate General]
Germany

Hamilton [US Consulate General]
Bermuda

Hanoi
Vietnam

Harare [US Embassy]
Zimbabwe

Hatay
Turkey

Havana [US post not maintained, representation by US Interests Section (USINT)
of the Swiss Embassy]
Cuba

Hawaii
United States

Heard Island
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Helsinki [US Embassy]
Finland

Hermosillo [US Consulate]
Mexico

Hispaniola
Dominican Republic; Haiti

Hokkaido
Japan

Hong Kong [US Consulate General]
Hong Kong

Honiara [US Consulate]
Solomon Islands

Honshu
Japan

Hormuz, Strait of
Indian Ocean

Horn, Cape (Cabo de Hornos)
Chile

Horne, Iles de
Wallis and Futuna

Horn of Africa
Ethiopia; Somalia

Hudson Bay
Arctic Ocean

Hudson Strait
Arctic Ocean
I
Inaccessible Island
Saint Helena

Indochina
Cambodia; Laos; Vietnam

Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol)
China

Ionian Islands
Greece

Ionian Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Irian Jaya
Indonesia

Irish Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Islamabad [US Embassy]
Pakistan

Islas Malvinas
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Istanbul [US Consulate General]
Turkey

Italian Somaliland
Somalia

Ivory Coast
Cote d'Ivoire

Iwo Jima
Japan

Izmir [US Consulate General]
Turkey

J
Jakarta [US Embassy]
Indonesia

Jamestown
Saint Helena

Japan, Sea of
Pacific Ocean

Java
Indonesia

Java Sea
Indian Ocean

Jeddah [US Consulate General]
Saudi Arabia

Jerusalem [US Consulate General]
Israel; West Bank

Johannesburg [US Consulate General]
South Africa

Juan de Fuca, Strait of
Pacific Ocean

Juan Fernandez, Isla de
Chile

Juventud, Isla de la (Isle of Youth)
Cuba

K
Kabul [US Embassy now closed]
Afghanistan

Kaduna [US Consulate General]
Nigeria

Kalimantan
Indonesia
Kamchatka Peninsula (Poluostrov Kamchatka)
Russia

Kampala [US Embassy]
Uganda

Kampuchea
Cambodia

Karachi [US Consulate General]
Pakistan

Kara Sea
Arctic Ocean

Karimata Strait
Indian Ocean

Kathmandu [US Embassy]
Nepal

Kattegat
Atlantic Ocean

Kauai Channel
Pacific Ocean

Keeling Islands
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Kerguelen, Iles
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Kermadec Islands
New Zealand

Khabarovsk
Russia

Khartoum [US Embassy]
Sudan

Khmer Republic
Cambodia

Khuriya Muriya Islands (Kuria Muria Islands)
Oman

Khyber Pass
Pakistan

Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee Kanal)
Atlantic Ocean

Kiev [US Embassy]
Ukraine

Kigali [US Embassy]
Rwanda

Kingston [US Embassy]
Jamaica

Kingston
Norfolk Island

Kingston
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Kinshasa [US Embassy]
Zaire

Kirghiziya
Kyrgyzstan

Kiritimati (Christmas Island)
Kiribati

Kishinev (Chisinau)
Moldova

Kithira Strait
Atlantic Ocean

Kodiak Island
United States

Kola Peninsula (Kol'skiy Poluostrov)
Russia

Kolonia [US Embassy]
Micronesia, Federated States of

Korea Bay
Pacific Ocean

Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
Korea, North

Korea, Republic of
Korea, South

Korea Strait
Pacific Ocean

Koror [US Liaison Office]
Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of

Kosovo
Serbia and Montenegro

Kowloon
Hong Kong

Krakow [US Consulate General]
Poland

Kuala Lumpur [US Embassy]
Malaysia

Kunashiri (Kunashir)
Russia [de facto]

Kuril Islands
Russia [de facto]

Kuwait [US Embassy]
Kuwait

Kwajalein Atoll
Marshall Islands

Kyushu
Japan

Kyyiv (Kiev)
Ukraine

L
Labrador
Canada

Laccadive Islands
India

Laccadive Sea
Indian Ocean

La Coruna [US Consular Agency]
Spain

Lagos [US Embassy]
Nigeria

Lahore [US Consulate General]
Pakistan

Lakshadweep
India

La Paz [US Embassy]
Bolivia

La Perouse Strait
Pacific Ocean

Laptev Sea
Arctic Ocean

Las Palmas [US Consular Agency]
Spain

Lau Group
Fiji

Leipzig [US Consulate General]
Germany

Leningrad (see Saint Petersburg)
Russia

Lesser Sunda Islands
Indonesia

Leyte
Philippines

Liancourt Rocks [claimed by Japan]
Korea, South

Libreville [US Embassy]
Gabon

Ligurian Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Lilongwe [US Embassy]
Malawi

Lima [US Embassy]
Peru

Lincoln Sea
Arctic Ocean

Line Islands
Kiribati; Palmyra Atoll

Lisbon [US Embassy]
Portugal

Ljubljana [US Embassy]
Slovenia

Lobamba
Swaziland

Lombok Strait
Indian Ocean

Lome [US Embassy]
Togo

London [US Embassy]
United Kingdom

Longyearbyen
Svalbard

Lord Howe Island
Australia

Louisiade Archipelago
Papua New Guinea

Loyalty Islands (Iles Loyaute)
New Caledonia

Luanda [US Liaison Office]
Angola

Lubumbashi [US Consulate General closed since October 1991]
Zaire

Lusaka [US Embassy]
Zambia

Luxembourg [US Embassy]
Luxembourg

Luzon
Philippines

Luzon Strait
Pacific Ocean

Lyon [US Consulate General]
France

M
Macao
Macau

Macedonia
Bulgaria

Macquarie Island
Australia

Madeira Islands
Portugal

Madras [US Consulate General]
India

Madrid [US Embassy]
Spain

Magellan, Strait of
Atlantic Ocean

Maghreb
Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia

Mahe Island
Seychelles

Maiz, Islas del (Corn Islands)
Nicaragua

Majorca (Mallorca)
Spain

Majuro [US Embassy]
Marshall Islands

Makassar Strait
Pacific Ocean

Malabo [US Embassy]
Equatorial Guinea

Malacca, Strait of
Indian Ocean

Malaga [US Consular Agency]
Spain

Malagasy Republic
Madagascar

Male [US post not maintained, representation from Colombo, Sri Lanka]
Maldives

Mallorca (Majorca)
Spain

Malpelo, Isla de
Colombia

Malta Channel
Atlantic Ocean

Malvinas, Islas
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Mamoutzou
Mayotte

Managua [US Embassy]
Nicaragua

Manama [US Embassy]
Bahrain

Manaus [US Consular Agency]
Brazil

Manchukuo
China

Manchuria
China

Manila [US Embassy]
Philippines

Manipa Strait
Pacific Ocean

Mannar, Gulf of
Indian Ocean

Manua Islands
American Samoa

Maputo [US Embassy]
Mozambique

Maracaibo [US Consulate]
Venezuela

Marcus Island (Minami-tori-shima)
Japan

Mariana Islands
Guam; Northern Mariana Islands

Marion Island
South Africa

Marmara, Sea of
Atlantic Ocean

Marquesas Islands (Iles Marquises)
French Polynesia

Marseille [US Consulate General]
France

Martin Vaz, Ilhas
Brazil

Mas a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)
Chile

Mascarene Islands
Mauritius; Reunion

Maseru [US Embassy]
Lesotho

Matamoros [US Consulate]
Mexico

Mata Utu
Wallis and Futuna

Mazatlan [US Consulate]
Mexico

Mbabane [US Embassy]
Swaziland

McDonald Islands
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Medan [US Consulate]
Indonesia

Mediterranean Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Melbourne [US Consulate General]
Australia

Melilla
Spain

Mensk (Minsk)
Belarus

Merida [US Consulate]
Mexico

Messina, Strait of
Atlantic Ocean

Mexico [US Embassy]
Mexico

Mexico, Gulf of
Atlantic Ocean

Milan [US Consulate General]
Italy

Minami-tori-shima
Japan

Mindanao
Philippines

Mindoro Strait
Pacific Ocean

Minicoy Island
India

Minsk [US Embassy]
Belarus

Mogadishu [US Liaison Office]
Somalia

Moldovia
Moldova

Mombasa [US Consulate]
Kenya

Monaco
Monaco

Mona Passage
Atlantic Ocean

Monrovia [US Embassy]
Liberia

Montego Bay [US Consular Agency]
Jamaica

Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro

Monterrey [US Consulate General]
Mexico

Montevideo [US Embassy]
Uruguay

Montreal
[US Consulate General,
US Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)]
Canada

Moravian Gate
Czech Republic

Moroni [US Embassy]
Comoros

Mortlock Islands
Micronesia, Federated States of

Moscow [US Embassy]
Russia

Mozambique Channel
Indian Ocean

Mulege [US Consular Agency]
Mexico

Munich [US Consulate General]
Germany

Musandam Peninsula
Oman; United Arab Emirates

Muscat [US Embassy]
Oman

Muscat and Oman
Oman

Myanma, Myanmar
Burma

N
Naha [US Consulate General]
Japan

Nairobi [US Embassy]
Kenya

Nampo-shoto
Japan

Naples [US Consulate General]
Italy

Nassau [US Embassy]
Bahamas, The

Natuna Besar Islands
Indonesia

N'Djamena [US Embassy]
Chad

Netherlands East Indies
Indonesia

Netherlands Guiana
Suriname

Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis

New Delhi [US Embassy]
India

Newfoundland
Canada

New Guinea
Indonesia; Papua New Guinea

New Hebrides
Vanuatu

New Siberian Islands
Russia

New Territories
Hong Kong

New York, New York [US Mission to the United Nations (USUN)]
United States

Niamey [US Embassy]
Niger

Nice [US Consular Agency]
France

Nicobar Islands
India

Nicosia [US Embassy]
Cyprus

Nightingale Island
Saint Helena

North Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean

North Channel
Atlantic Ocean

Northeast Providence Channel
Atlantic Ocean

Northern Epirus
Albania; Greece

Northern Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Northern Ireland
United Kingdom

Northern Rhodesia
Zambia

North Island
New Zealand

North Korea
Korea, North

North Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean

North Sea
Atlantic Ocean

North Vietnam
Vietnam

Northwest Passages
Arctic Ocean

North Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic)
Yemen

Norwegian Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Nouakchott [US Embassy]
Mauritania

Noumea
New Caledonia

Nuku' alofa
Tonga

Novaya Zemlya
Russia

Nuevo Laredo [US Consulate]
Mexico

Nuuk (Godthab)
Greenland

Nyasaland
Malawi

O
Oahu
United States

Oaxaca [US Consular Agency]
Mexico

Ocean Island (Banaba)
Kiribati

Ocean Island (Kure Island)
United States

Ogaden
Ethiopia; Somalia

Oil Islands (Chagos Archipelago)
British Indian Ocean Territory

Okhotsk, Sea of
Pacific Ocean

Okinawa
Japan

Oman, Gulf of
Indian Ocean

Ombai Strait
Pacific Ocean

Oporto [US Consulate]
Portugal

Oran [US Consulate]
Algeria

Oranjestad
Aruba

Oresund (The Sound)
Atlantic Ocean

Orkney Islands
United Kingdom

Osaka-Kobe [US Consulate General]
Japan

Oslo [US Embassy]
Norway

Otranto, Strait of
Atlantic Ocean

Ottawa [US Embassy]
Canada

Ouagadougou [US Embassy]
Burkina

Outer Mongolia
Mongolia

P
Pagan
Northern Mariana Islands

Pago Pago
American Samoa

Palau
Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the

Palawan
Philippines

Palermo [US Consulate General]
Italy

Palk Strait
Indian Ocean

Palma de Mallorca [US Consular Agency]
Spain

Pamirs
China; Tajikistan

Panama [US Embassy]
Panama

Panama Canal
Panama

Panama, Gulf of
Pacific Ocean

Papeete
French Polynesia

Paramaribo [US Embassy]
Suriname

Parece Vela
Japan

Paris
[US Embassy, US Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD), US Observer Mission at the UN Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)]
France

Pascua, Isla de (Easter Island)
Chile

Passion, Ile de la
Clipperton Island

Pashtunistan
Afghanistan; Pakistan

Peking (Beijing)
China

Pemba Island
Tanzania

Pentland Firth
Atlantic Ocean

Perim
Yemen

Perouse Strait, La
Pacific Ocean

Persian Gulf
Indian Ocean

Perth [US Consulate General]
Australia

Pescadores
Taiwan

Peshawar [US Consulate]
Pakistan

Peter I Island
Antarctica

Philip Island
Norfolk Island

Philippine Sea
Pacific Ocean

Phnom Penh [US Embassy]
Cambodia

Phoenix Islands
Kiribati

Pines, Isle of (Isla de la Juventud)
Cuba

Piura [US Consular Agency]
Peru

Pleasant Island
Nauru

Plymouth
Montserrat

Ponape (Pohnpei)
Micronesia

Ponta Delgada [US Consulate]
Portugal

Port-au-Prince [US Embassy]
Haiti

Port Louis [US Embassy]
Mauritius

Port Moresby [US Embassy]
Papua New Guinea

Porto Alegre [US Consulate]
Brazil

Port-of-Spain [US Embassy]
Trinidad and Tobago

Porto-Novo
Benin

Port Said [US Consular Agency]
Egypt

Portuguese Guinea
Guinea-Bissau

Portuguese Timor (East Timor)
Indonesia

Port-Vila
Vanuatu

Poznan [US Consulate General]
Poland

Prague [US Embassy]
Czech Republic

Praia [US Embassy]
Cape Verde

Pretoria [US Embassy]
South Africa

Pribilof Islands
United States

Prince Edward Island
Canada

Prince Edward Islands
South Africa

Prince Patrick Island
Canada

Principe
Sao Tome and Principe

Puerto Plata [US Consular Agency]
Dominican Republic

Puerto Vallarta [US Consular Agency]
Mexico

Pusan [US Consulate]
Korea, South

P'yongyang
Korea, North

Q
Quebec [US Consulate General]
Canada

Queen Charlotte Islands
Canada

Queen Elizabeth Islands
Canada

Queen Maud Land [claimed by Norway]
Antarctica

Quito [US Embassy]
Ecuador

R
Rabat [US Embassy]
Morocco

Ralik Chain
Marshall Islands

Rangoon [US Embassy]
Burma

Ratak Chain
Marshall Islands

Recife [US Consulate]
Brazil

Redonda
Antigua and Barbuda

Red Sea
Indian Ocean

Revillagigedo Island
United States

Revillagigedo Islands
Mexico

Reykjavik [US Embassy]
Iceland

Rhodes
Greece

Rhodesia
Zimbabwe

Rhodesia, Northern
Zambia

Rhodesia, Southern
Zimbabwe

Riga [US Embassy]
Latvia

Rio de Janeiro [US Consulate General]
Brazil

Rio de Oro
Western Sahara

Rio Muni
Equatorial Guinea

Riyadh [US Embassy]
Saudi Arabia

Road Town
British Virgin Islands

Robinson Crusoe Island (Mas a Tierra)
Chile

Rocas, Atol das
Brazil

Rockall [disputed]
United Kingdom

Rodrigues
Mauritius

Rome
[US Embassy, US Mission to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture (FODAG)]
Italy

Roncador Cay
Colombia

Roosevelt Island
Antarctica

Roseau
Dominica

Ross Dependency [claimed by New Zealand]
Antarctica

Ross Island
Antarctica

Ross Sea
Antarctica

Rota
Northern Mariana Islands

Rotuma
Fiji

Ryukyu Islands
Japan

S
Saba
Netherlands Antilles

Sabah
Malaysia

Sable Island
Canada

Sahel
Burkina, Cape Verde, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,
Senegal

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Vietnam

Saint Brandon
Mauritius

Saint Christopher and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint-Denis
Reunion

Saint George's [US Embassy]
Grenada

Saint George's Channel
Atlantic Ocean

Saint Heliar
Jersey

Saint John's [US Embassy]
Antigua and Barbuda

Saint Lawrence, Gulf of
Atlantic Ocean

Saint Lawrence Island
United States

Saint Lawrence Seaway
Atlantic Ocean

Saint Martin
Guadeloupe

Saint Martin (Sint Maarten)
Netherlands Antilles

Saint Paul Island
Canada

Saint Paul Island
United States

Saint Paul Island (Ile Saint-Paul)
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Saint Peter and Saint Paul Rocks (Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo)
Brazil

Saint Peter Port
Guernsey

Saint Petersburg [US Consulate]
Russia

Saint-Pierre
Saint Pierre and Miguelon

Saint Vincent Passage
Atlantic Ocean

Saipan
Northern Mariana Islands

Sakhalin Island (Ostrov Sakhalin)
Russia

Sala y Gomez, Isla
Chile

Salisbury (Harare)
Zimbabwe

Salvador de Bahia [US Consular Agency]
Brazil

Salzburg [US Consulate General]
Austria

Sanaa [US Embassy]
Yemen

San Ambrosio
Chile

San Andres y Providencia, Archipielago
Colombia

San Bernardino Strait
Pacific Ocean

San Felix, Isla
Chile

San Jose [US Embassy]
Costa Rica

San Juan
Puerto Rico

San Luis Potosi [US Consular Agency]
Mexico

San Marino
San Marino

San Miguel Allende [US Consular Agency]
Mexico

San Salvador [US Embassy]
El Salvador

Santa Cruz [US Consular Agency]
Bolivia

Santa Cruz Islands
Solomon Islands

Santiago [US Embassy]
Chile

Santo Domingo [US Embassy]
Dominican Republic

Sao Luis [US Consular Agency]
Brazil

Sao Paulo [US Consulate General]
Brazil

Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo, Penedos de
Brazil

Sao Tome
Sao Tome and Principe

Sapporo [US Consulate General]
Japan

Sapudi Strait
Indian Ocean

Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarawak
Malaysia

Sardinia
Italy

Sargasso Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Sark
Guernsey

Scotia Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Scotland
United Kingdom

Scott Island
Antarctica

Senyavin Islands
Micronesia, Federated States of
Seoul [US Embassy]
Korea, South

Serbia
Serbia and Montenegro

Serrana Bank
Colombia

Serranilla Bank
Colombia

Settlement, The
Christmas Island

Severnaya Zemlya (Northland)
Russia

Seville [US Consular Agency]
Spain

Shag Island
Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Shag Rocks
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Shanghai [US Consulate General]
China

Shenyang [US Consulate General]
China

Shetland Islands
United Kingdom

Shikoku
Japan

Shikotan (Shikotan-to)
Japan

Siam
Thailand

Sibutu Passage
Pacific Ocean

Sicily
Italy

Sicily, Strait of
Atlantic Ocean

Sikkim
India

Sinai
Egypt

Singapore [US Embassy]
Singapore

Singapore Strait
Pacific Ocean

Sinkiang (Xinjiang)
China

Sint Eustatius
Netherlands Antilles

Sint Maarten (Saint Martin)
Netherlands Antilles

Skagerrak
Atlantic Ocean

Skopje
Macedonia

Society Islands (Iles de la Societe)
French Polynesia

Socotra
Yemen

Sofia [US Embassy]
Bulgaria

Solomon Islands, northern
Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands, southern
Solomon Islands

Soloman Sea
Pacific Ocean

Songkhla [US Consulate]
Thailand

Sound, The (Oresund)
Atlantic Ocean

South Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean

South China Sea
Pacific Ocean

Southern Grenadines
Grenada

Southern Rhodesia
Zimbabwe

South Georgia
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Island
New Zealand

South Korea
Korea, South

South Orkney Islands
Antarctica

South Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean

South Sandwich Islands
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Shetland Islands
Antarctica

South Tyrol
Italy

South Vietnam
Vietnam

South-West Africa
Namibia

South Yemen (People's Democratic Republic of Yemen)
Yemen

Soviet Union
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Spanish Guinea
Equatorial Guinea

Spanish Sahara
Western Sahara

Spitsbergen
Svalbard

Stanley
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Stockholm [US Embassy]
Sweden

Strasbourg [US Consulate General]
France

Stuttgart [US Consulate General]
Germany

Suez, Gulf of
Indian Ocean

Sulu Archipelago
Philippines

Sulu Sea
Pacific Ocean

Sumatra
Indonesia

Sumba
Indonesia

Sunda Islands (Soenda Isles)
Indonesia; Malaysia

Sunda Strait
Indian Ocean

Surabaya [US Consulate]
Indonesia

Surigao Strait
Pacific Ocean

Surinam
Suriname

Suva [US Embassy]
Fiji

Swains Island
American Samoa

Swan Islands
Honduras

Sydney [US Consulate General] Australia

T
Tahiti
French Polynesia

Taipei
Taiwan

Taiwan Strait
Pacific Ocean

Tallin [US Embassy]
Estonia

Tampico [US Consular Agency]
Mexico

Tanganyika
Tanzania

Tangier
Morocco

Tarawa
Kiribati

Tartar Strait
Pacific Ocean

Tashkent [US Embassy]
Uzbekistan

Tasmania
Australia

Tasman Sea
Pacific Ocean

Taymyr Peninsula (Poluostrov Taymyra)
Russia

Tegucigalpa [US Embassy]
Honduras

Tehran [US post not maintained, representation by Swiss Embassy]
Iran

Tel Aviv [US Embassy]
Israel

Terre Adelie (Adelie Land) [claimed by France]
Antarctica

Thailand, Gulf of
Pacific Ocean

Thessaloniki [US Consulate General]
Greece

Thimphu
Bhutan

Thurston Island
Antarctica

Tibet (Xizang)
China

Tibilisi (Tbilisi) [US Embassy]
Georgia

Tierra del Fuego
Argentina; Chile

Tijuana [US Consulate General]
Mexico

Timor
Indonesia

Timor Sea
Indian Ocean

Tinian
Northern Mariana Islands

Tiran, Strait of
Indian Ocean

Tirane [US Embassy]
Albania

Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago

Tokyo [US Embassy]
Japan

Tonkin, Gulf of
Pacific Ocean

Toronto [US Consulate General]
Canada

Torres Strait
Pacific Ocean

Torshavn
Faroe Islands

Toshkent (Tashkent)
Uzbekistan

Transjordan
Jordan

Transkei
South Africa

Transylvania
Romania

Trieste [US Consular Agency]
Italy

Trindade, Ilha de
Brazil

Tripoli [US post not maintained, representation by Belgian Embassy]
Libya

Tristan da Cunha Group
Saint Helena

Trobriand Islands
Papua New Guinea

Trucial States
United Arab Emirates

Truk Islands
Micronesia

Tsugaru Strait
Pacific Ocean

Tuamotu Islands (Iles Tuamotu)
French Polynesia

Tubuai Islands (Iles Tubuai)
French Polynesia

Tunis [US Embassy]
Tunisia

Turin
Italy

Turkish Straits
Atlantic Ocean

Turkmeniya
Turkmenistan

Turks Island Passage
Atlantic Ocean

Tyrol, South
Italy

Tyrrhenian Sea
Atlantic Ocean

U
Udorn [US Consulate]
Thailand

Ulaanbaatar [US Embassy]
Mongolia

Ullung-do
Korea, South

Unimak Pass [strait]
Pacific Ocean

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan

United Arab Republic
Egypt; Syria

Upper Volta
Burkina

USSR
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan

V
Vaduz [US post not maintained, representation from Zurich,
Switzerland]
Liechtenstein

Vakhan Corridor (Wakhan)
Afghanistan

Valencia [US Consular Agency]
Spain

Valletta [US Embassy]
Malta

Valley, The
Anguilla

Vancouver [US Consulate General]
Canada

Vancouver Island
Canada

Van Diemen Strait
Pacific Ocean

Vatican City [US Embassy]
Holy See

Velez de la Gomera, Penon de
Spain

Venda
South Africa

Veracruz [US Consular Agency]
Mexico

Verde Island Passage
Pacific Ocean

Victoria [US Embassy]
Seychelles

Vienna [US Embassy, US Mission to International Organizations in Vienna
(UNVIE)]
Austria

Vientiane [US Embassy]
Laos

Vilnius [US Embassy]
Lithuania

Vladivostok [US Consulate]
Russia

Volcano Islands
Japan

Vostok Island
Kiribati

Vrangelya, Ostrov (Wrangel Island)
Russia

W
Wakhan Corridor (now Vakhan Corridor)
Afghanistan

Wales
United Kingdom

Walvis Bay
South Africa

Warsaw [US Embassy]
Poland

Washington, DC [The Permanent Mission of the USA to the Organization of
American States (OAS)]
United States

Weddell Sea
Atlantic Ocean

Wellington [US Embassy]
New Zealand

Western Channel (West Korea Strait)
Pacific Ocean

West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany)
Germany

West Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands

West Korea Strait (Western Channel)
Pacific Ocean

West Pakistan
Pakistan

Wetar Strait
Pacific Ocean

White Sea
Arctic Ocean

Willemstad
Netherlands Antilles

Windhoek [US Embassy]
Namibia

Windward Passage
Atlantic Ocean

Winnipeg [US Consular Agency]
Canada

Wrangel Island (Ostrov Vrangelya)
Russia [de facto]

Y
Yamoussoukro
Cote d'Ivoire

Yaounde [US Embassy]
Cameroon

Yap Islands
Micronesia

Yellow Sea
Pacific Ocean

Yemen (Aden) [People's Democratic Republic of Yemen]
Yemen

Yemen Arab Republic
Yemen

Yemen, North [Yemen Arab Republic]
Yemen

Yemen (Sanaa) [Yemen Arab Republic]
Yemen

Yemen, People's Democratic Republic of
Yemen

Yemen, South [People's Democratic Republic of Yemen]
Yemen

Yerevan [US Embassy]
Armenia

Youth, Isle of (Isla de la Juventud)
Cuba

Yucatan Channel
Atlantic Ocean

Yugoslavia
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia

Z
Zagreb [US Embassy]
Croatia

Zanzibar
Tanzania

Zurich [US Consulate General]
Switzerland