The Project Gutenberg EBook of The 2000 CIA World Factbook, by United States. Central Intelligence Agency. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The 2000 CIA World Factbook Author: United States. Central Intelligence Agency. Posting Date: December 27, 2008 [EBook #3672] Release Date: January, 2003 Language: English Character set encoding: ASCII *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 2000 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK *** Produced by Martin M. Pedersen This etext was prepared by Martin M. Pedersen, as taken from the CIA's online version of the book published at the address: http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/guide.html Note the original book includes maps and other graphics. These are not included in the Project Gutenberg edition. The tables may not correctly align due to limitations of HTML conversion, but are otherwise intact. It is past experience that the CIA does not maintain past versions of The Factbook online. Hopefully, the Project Gutenberg edition will be useful to you for a long time in the future. The CIA World Factbook 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS Countries are listed in alphabetical order. Notes and appendixes follow the country listings. 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 Bahamas Bahrain Baker Island Bangladesh Barbados Bassas da India Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Clipperton Island Cocos Colombia Comoros Congo Congo Cook Islands Coral Sea Islands Costa Rica Cote d Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Europa Island Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern and Gabon Gambia Gaza Strip Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Glorioso Islands Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Howland Island Hungary Iceland India Indian Ocean Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Jan Mayen Japan Jarvis Island Jersey Johnston Atoll Jordan Juan de Nova Island Kazakhstan Kenya Kingman Reef Kiribati Korea Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Man Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Navassa Island Nepal Country Flag of Nepal Netherlands Antilles Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria Niger Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Ocean Pakistan Palau Palmyra Atoll Panama Papua New Guinea Paracel Islands Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Country Flag of Russia Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Country Flag of Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Country Flag of Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Southern Ocean South Georgia Spain Spratly Islands Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tromelin Island Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands Wake Island Wallis and Futuna West Bank Western Sahara World Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Notes and Definitions Appendixes Appendix A: Abbreviations Appendix B: United Nations System Appendix C: International Organizations and Groups Appendix D: Selected International Environmental Agreements Appendix E: Weights and Measures Appendix F: Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes Appendix G: Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes Appendix H: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names History Contributors and Copyright Information Purchase Information AFGHANISTAN @Afghanistan:Introduction Background: Afghanistan was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in 1979. The USSR was forced to withdraw 10 years later by anti-communist mujahidin forces supplied and trained by the US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fighting subsequently continued among the various mujahidin factions, but the fundamentalist Islamic Taliban movement has been able to seize most of the country. In addition to the continuing civil strife, the country suffers from enormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure, and widespread live mines. @Afghanistan:Geography Location: Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 65 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 652,000 sq km land: 652,000 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas Land boundaries: total: 5,529 km border countries: 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) Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest Elevation extremes: lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 3% other: 39% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 30,000 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding Environment - current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation Geography - note: landlocked @Afghanistan:People Population: 25,838,797 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.37% (male 5,598,403; female 5,371,054) 15-64 years: 54.86% (male 7,362,961; female 6,839,914) 65 years and over: 2.77% (male 378,741; female 337,724) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 3.54% (2000 est.) note: this rate reflects the continued return of refugees from Iran Birth rate: 41.82 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 18.01 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 11.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 149.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.88 years male: 46.62 years female: 45.1 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.87 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan Ethnic groups: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 31.5% male: 47.2% female: 15% (1999 est.) @Afghanistan:Government Country name: conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan; note - the self-proclaimed Taliban government refers to the country as Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan conventional short form: Afghanistan local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan local short form: Afghanestan former: Republic of Afghanistan Data code: AF Government type: no functioning central government, administered by factions Capital: Kabul Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol note: there may be two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and Khowst Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs) National holiday: Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April; Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day, 19 August Constitution: none Legal system: a new legal system has not been adopted but all factions tacitly agree they will follow Shari'a (Islamic law) Suffrage: NA; previously males 15-50 years of age Executive branch: on 27 September 1996, the ruling members of the Afghan Government were displaced by members of the Islamic Taliban movement; the Islamic State of Afghanistan has no functioning government at this time, and the country remains divided among fighting factions note: the Taliban have declared themselves the legitimate government of Afghanistan; however, the UN still recognizes the government of Burhanuddin RABBANI; the Organization of the Islamic Conference has left the Afghan seat vacant until the question of legitimacy can be resolved through negotiations among the warring factions; the country is essentially divided along ethnic lines; the Taliban controls the capital of Kabul and approximately two-thirds of the country including the predominately ethnic Pashtun areas in southern Afghanistan; opposing factions have their stronghold in the ethnically diverse north Legislative branch: non-functioning as of June 1993 Judicial branch: non-functioning as of March 1995, although there are local Shari'a (Islamic law) courts throughout the country Political parties and leaders: Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement) ; Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement) ; Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party) ; Hizbi Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party) ; Hizbi Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party) ; Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan) ; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli Afghanistan (Afghanistan National Liberation Front) [Sibghatullah MOJADDEDI]; Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front) [Sayed Ahamad GAILANI]; Taliban (Religious Students Movement) [Mohammad OMAR]; United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan comprised of Jumbesh-i-Melli Islami (National Islamic Movement) [Abdul Rashid DOSTAM]; Jamiat-i-Islami (Islamic Society) [Burhanuddin RABBANI and Ahmad Shah MASOOD]; and Hizbi Wahdat-Khalili faction (Islamic Unity Party) Political pressure groups and leaders: Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Australia, US, and elsewhere have organized politically; Mellat (Social Democratic Party) ; Peshawar, Pakistan-based groups such as the Coordination Council for National Unity and Understanding in Afghanistan or CUNUA ; tribal elders represent traditional Pashtun leadership; Writers Union of Free Afghanistan or WUFA International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO Diplomatic representation in the US: note: embassy operations suspended 21 August 1997 chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-3770 FAX: (202) 328-3516 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: the US embassy in Kabul has been closed since January 1989 due to security concerns Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by two crossed scimitars note: the Taliban uses a plain white flag @Afghanistan:Economy Economy - overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly dependent on farming and livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during two decades of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). During that conflict one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak of more than 6 million refugees. In early 1999, 1.2 million Afghan refugees remained in Pakistan and about 1.4 million in Iran. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the past 20 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport. The majority of the population continues to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Inflation remains a serious problem throughout the country. International aid can deal with only a fraction of the humanitarian problem, let alone promote economic development. The economic situation did not improve in 1998-99, as internal civil strife continued, hampering both domestic economic policies and international aid efforts. Numerical data are likely to be either unavailable or unreliable. Afghanistan was by far the largest producer of opium poppies in 1999, and narcotics trafficking is a major source of revenue. GDP: purchasing power parity - $21 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $800 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 53% industry: 28.5% services: 18.5% (1990) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Labor force: 8 million (1997 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 68%, industry 16%, services 16% (1980 est.) Unemployment rate: 8% (1995 est.) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, and cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, oil, coal, copper Electricity - production: 430 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.86% hydro: 58.14% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 510 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 110 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: opium poppies, wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts; wool, mutton Exports: $80 million (does not include opium) (1996 est.) Exports - commodities: opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems Exports - partners: FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic Imports: $150 million (1996 est.) Imports - commodities: capital goods, food and petroleum products; most consumer goods Imports - partners: FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India, South Korea, Germany Debt - external: $5.5 billion (1996 est.) Economic aid - recipient: US provided about $70 million in humanitarian assistance in 1997; US continues to contribute to multilateral assistance through the UN programs of food aid, immunization, land mine removal, and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced persons Currency: 1 afghani (AF) = 100 puls Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1 - 4,700 (January 2000), 4,750 (February 1999), 17,000 (December 1996), 7,000 (January 1995), 1,900 (January 1994), 1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991); note - these rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rate, which was fixed at 50.600 afghanis to the dollar until 1996, when it rose to 2,262.65 per dollar, and finally became fixed again at 3,000.00 per dollar in April 1996 Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March @Afghanistan:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 31,200 (1983); note - there were 21,000 main lines in use in Kabul in 1998 Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: domestic: very limited telephone and telegraph service; in 1997, telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave systems international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni Radio broadcast stations: AM 7 (6 are inactive; the active station is in Kabul), FM 1, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pushtu, Dari, Urdu, and English) (1999) Radios: 167,000 (1999) Television broadcast stations: at least 10 (one government run central television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 30 provinces; the regional stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan provinces) (1998) Televisions: 100,000 (1999) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Afghanistan:Transportation Railways: total: 24.6 km broad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to Towraghondi; 15 km 1.524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya Highways: total: 21,000 km paved: 2,793 km unpaved: 18,207 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to about 500 DWT Pipelines: petroleum products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan to Shindand; natural gas 180 km Ports and harbors: Kheyrabad, Shir Khan Airports: 46 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 11 (1999 est.) Heliports: 3 (1999 est.) @Afghanistan:Military Military branches: NA; note - the military does not exist on a national basis; some elements of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias still exist but are factionalized among the various groups Military manpower - military age: 22 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 6,401,980 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,432,236 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 244,958 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% @Afghanistan:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions; question over which group should hold Afghanistan's seat at the UN Illicit drugs: world's largest illicit opium producer, surpassing Burma (potential production in 1999 - 1,670 metric tons; cultivation in 1999 - 51,500 hectares, a 23% increase over 1998); a major source of hashish; increasing number of heroin-processing laboratories being set up in the country; major political factions in the country profit from drug trade ______________________________________________________________________ ALBANIA @Albania:Introduction Background: In 1990 Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to deal with severe unemployment, the collapse of a fraudulent nationwide investment scheme, widespread gangsterism, and massive refugee influxes from neighboring Kosovo. @Albania:Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 20 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland Land boundaries: total: 720 km border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro) Coastline: 362 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel, hydropower Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 38% other: 21% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 3,410 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) @Albania:People Population: 3,490,435 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 545,329; female 507,589) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,056,583; female 1,141,664) 65 years and over: 7% (male 104,086; female 135,184) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.26% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 19.47 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -10.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 41.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.57 years male: 68.75 years female: 74.59 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.) note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization) Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice Languages: Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek Literacy: definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 93% (1997 est.) male: NA% female: NA% @Albania:Government Country name: 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 Data code: AL Government type: emerging democracy Capital: Tirana Administrative divisions: 36 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqize, Delvine, Devoll (Bilisht), Diber (Peshkopi), Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Has (Krume), Kavaje, Kolonje (Erseke), Korce, Kruje, Kucove, Kukes, Kurbin, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Malesi e Madhe (Koplik), Mallakaster (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirdite (Rreshen), Peqin, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar (Corovode), Tepelene, Tirane (Tirana), Tirane* (Tirana), Tropoje (Bajram Curri), Vlore note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire) National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1912) Constitution: a new constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since 24 July 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Ilir META (since 29 October 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 122, for 110, against 3, abstained 2, invalid 7 Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some by proportional vote for four-year terms) elections: last held 29 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term Political parties and leaders: Albanian Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEHDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party) ; Albanian United Right or DBSH (includes PBK, Albanian Republican Party or PRS, AND PDD) ; Christian Democratic Party or PDK ; Democratic Alliance or PAD ; Democratic Party or PD ; Democratic Party of the Right or PDD ; Liberal Union Party ; Movement of Legality Party or PLL ; National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK ; Party of National Unity or PUK ; Right National Front [Hysni SELFO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD ; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ ; note - Teodar LACO of the Liberal Union Party was leader of the Social Democratic Union of Albania or PBSD International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 223-4942 FAX: (202) 628-7342 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph LIMPRECHT embassy: Rruga Elbasanit 103, Tirana mailing address: American Embassy, Tirana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-9510 telephone: (42) 47285 through 47289 FAX: (42) 32222 Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center @Albania:Economy Economy - overview: An extremely poor country by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a severe depression accompanying the collapse of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and 1991. However, a weakening of government resolve to maintain stabilization policies in the election year of 1996 contributed to renewal of inflationary pressures, spurred by the budget deficit which exceeded 12%. The collapse of financial pyramid schemes in early 1997 - which had attracted deposits from a substantial portion of Albania's population - triggered severe social unrest which led to more than 1,500 deaths, widespread destruction of property, and an 8% drop in GDP. The new government, installed in July 1997, has taken strong measures to restore public order and to revive economic activity and trade. The economy continues to be bolstered by remittances of some 20% of the labor force that works abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. In 1998, Albania recovered the 8% drop in GDP of 1997 and pushed ahead by 7% in 1999. International aid has helped defray the high costs of receiving and returning refugees from the Kosovo conflict. GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 8% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,650 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 54% industry: 25% services: 21% (1998) Population below poverty line: 19.6% (1996 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1999 est.) Labor force: 1.692 million (including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed) (1994 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 49.5%, industry and services 50.5% Unemployment rate: 14% (October 1997) officially, but may be as high as 28% Budget: revenues: $393 million expenditures: $676 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.) Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 5.15 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.91% hydro: 97.09% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 5.29 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 500 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products Exports: $242 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco Exports - partners: Italy 63%, Greece 12%, Germany 6%, Netherlands, Belgium, US (1998) Imports: $925 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals Imports - partners: Italy 43%, Greece 29%, Turkey 4%, Germany 4%, Bulgaria, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1998) Debt - external: $820 million (1998) Economic aid - recipient: EU pledged $100 million to share with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1999) Currency: 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1 - 135.31 (December 1999), 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93 (1997), 104.50 (1996), 92.70 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Albania:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 42,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 3,100 (1999) Telephone system: domestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for every village; in 1992, following the fall of the communist government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used it to build fences international: inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 2 (1999) Radios: 810,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 13 (1999) Televisions: 405,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) @Albania:Transportation Railways: total: 670 km standard gauge: 670 km 1.435-m gauge (1996) Highways: total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (1998 est.) 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 and harbors: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,907 GRT/16,101 DWT ships by type: cargo 6 (1999 est.) Airports: 10 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @Albania:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 856,820 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 701,194 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 35,508 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $42 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY99) @Albania:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders but has downplayed them to further its primary foreign policy goal of regional cooperation; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian Republic; Albanians in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government Illicit drugs: increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe ______________________________________________________________________ ALGERIA @Algeria:Introduction Background: After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent in 1962. The surprising first round success of the fundamentalist FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) party in December 1991 balloting caused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS, and postpone the subsequent elections. The FIS response has resulted in a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the secular state apparatus, which nonetheless has allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties. FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, dissolved itself in January 2000 and many armed insurgents surrendered under an amnesty program designed to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, some residual fighting continues. Other concerns include large-scale unemployment and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy. @Algeria:Geography Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 3 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 2,381,740 sq km land: 2,381,740 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 6,343 km border countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km Coastline: 998 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m highest point: Tahat 3,003 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 2% other: 82% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 5,550 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slides Environment - current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Geography - note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan) @Algeria:People Population: 31,193,917 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 5,591,044; female 5,389,046) 15-64 years: 61% (male 9,582,864; female 9,381,088) 65 years and over: 4% (male 577,875; female 672,000) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.74% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 23.14 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 41.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.65 years male: 68.34 years female: 71.02 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Algerian(s) adjective: Algerian Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% Religions: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1% Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 61.6% male: 73.9% female: 49% (1995 est.) @Algeria:Government Country name: 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 Data code: AG Government type: republic Capital: Algiers Administrative divisions: 48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France) National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954) Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996; note - referendum approving the revisions of 28 November 1996 was signed into law 7 December 1996 Legal system: socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed BENBITOUR (since 2 December 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 April 1999 (next to be held NA April 2004); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA elected president; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 70%; note - six of the seven candidates withdrew sighting persistent electoral fraud Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (380 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Council of Nations (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve six-year terms; created as a result of the constitutional revision of November 1996) elections: National People's Assembly - last held 5 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2001); elections for two-thirds of the Council of Nations - last held 25 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - RND 40.8%, MSP 18.2%, FLN 16.8%, Nahda Movement 8.9%, FFS 5%, RCD 5%, PT 1.1%, Republican Progressive Party 0.8%, Union for Democracy and Freedoms 0.3%, Liberal Social Party 0.3%, independents 2.8%; seats by party - RND 156, MSP 69, FLN 62, Nahda Movement 34, FFS 20, RCD 19, PT 4, Republican Progressive Party 3, Union for Democracy and Freedoms 1, Liberal Social Party 1, independents 11; Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 80, FLN 10, FFS 4, MSP 2 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president, party breakdown NA) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Political parties and leaders: Algerian Democratic Front or FAD ; Algerian National Front or ANF ; Algerian Renewal Party or PRA ; Democratic National Rally or RND ; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany)]; Liberal Social Party ; Movement for Democracy in Algeria or MDA [Ahmed Ben BELLA]; Movement for Loyalty and Justice [Ahmed Taleb IBRAHIMI, president; Movement of a Peaceful Society or MSP [Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman]; Nahda Movement or Al Nahda ; National Liberation Front or FLN [Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; National Party for Solidarity and Development or PNSD [Rabah BENCHERIF]; National Republican Alliance or ANR ; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD ; Republican Progressive Party ; Social Democratic Movement or MDS ; Socialist Forces Front or FFS ; Union for Democracy and Freedoms ; Workers Party or PT note: the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed; a new party law was enacted in March 1997 International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Idriss JAZAIRY chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-2800 FAX: (202) 667-2174 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron R. HUME embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers telephone: (2) 69-11-86, 69-12-55, 69-18-54, 69-38-75 FAX: (2) 69-39-79 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 52% of budget revenues, 25% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second largest gas exporter; it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves. Algiers' efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world stalled in 1992 as the country became embroiled in political turmoil. Burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers concluded a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994 and the following year signed onto a three-year extended fund facility which ended 30 April 1998. Some progress on economic reform, Paris Club debt reschedulings in 1995 and 1996, and oil and gas sector expansion contributed to a recovery in growth since 1995. Still, the economy remains heavily dependent on volatile oil and gas revenues. The government has continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, but has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards. GDP: purchasing power parity - $147.6 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 3.9% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,700 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 51% services: 37% (1997 est.) Population below poverty line: 23% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.8% (1995) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.2% (1999 est.) Labor force: 9.1 million (2000 est.) Labor force - 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) Unemployment rate: 30% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $15.5 billion expenditures: $15.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) Industries: petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 21.38 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.77% hydro: 0.23% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 19.882 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 313 million kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 312 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle Exports: $13.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% Exports - partners: Italy 21.2%, US 15.0%, France 12.9%, Spain 10.3%, Brazil 5.9%, Netherlands 5.5% (1998) Imports: $9.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: capital goods, food and beverages, consumer goods Imports - partners: France 29.5%, Italy 9.8%, US 7.2%, Spain 6.8%, Germany 6.2%, Canada 4.1% (1998) Debt - external: $30 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $897.5 million (1994) Currency: 1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 69.046 (January 2000), 66.574 (1999), 58.739 (1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996), 47.663 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Algeria:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 1.176 million (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 33,500 (1999) Telephone system: domestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth stations are planned) international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat Radio broadcast stations: AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999) Radios: 7.1 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 18 (not including low-power stations) (1999) Televisions: 3.1 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Algeria:Transportation Railways: total: 4,820 km (301 km electrified; 215 km double track) standard gauge: 3,664 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track) narrow gauge: 1,156 km 1.055-m gauge (1996) Highways: total: 104,000 km paved: 71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,344 km (1996 est.) Pipelines: crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas 2,948 km Ports and harbors: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes Merchant marine: total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 940,196 GRT/1,094,104 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquified gas 11, petroleum tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off 13, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 137 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 51 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 86 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 41 under 914 m: 19 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @Algeria:Military Military branches: National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 8,523,257 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 5,220,318 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 373,547 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.3 billion (FY94) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY94) @Algeria:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: part of southeastern region claimed by Libya ______________________________________________________________________ AMERICAN SAMOA @American Samoa:Introduction Background: Settled as early as 1000 B. C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year. @American Samoa:Geography Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Geographic coordinates: 14 20 S, 170 00 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 199 sq km land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island Area - comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 116 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; 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) Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Lata 966 m Natural resources: pumice, pumicite Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 70% other: 15% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines Geography - 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: 65,446 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 39% (male 13,071; female 12,304) 15-64 years: 56% (male 18,358; female 18,597) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,631; female 1,485) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.53% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 25.81 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 4.26 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 3.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 10.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.12 years male: 70.66 years female: 79.84 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.6 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: American Samoan(s) adjective: American Samoan Ethnic groups: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5% Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30% Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English note: most people are bilingual Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.) @American Samoa:Government Country name: conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa abbreviation: AS Data code: AQ Dependency status: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior Government type: NA Capital: Pago Pago Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western Independence: none (territory of the US) National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900) Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967 Legal system: NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1997) and Lieutenant Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 3 January 1997) cabinet: NA elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: Tauese P. SUNIA elected governor; percent of vote - Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 51%, Peter REID (independent) 49% Legislative branch: bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held NA November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2000); Senate - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA note: American Samoa elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held 7 November 2000); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) reelected as delegate for a sixth term Judicial branch: High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior) Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party ; Republican Party International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US) Flag description: blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer 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 Economy - overview: This is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts the great bulk of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being. Attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism, a developing sector, may be held back by the current financial difficulties in East Asia. GDP: purchasing power parity - $150 million (1995 est.) GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,600 (1995 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Labor force: 13,949 (1996) Labor force - by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990) Unemployment rate: 12% (1991) Budget: revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants) expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97) Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 125 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 116 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock Exports: $313 million (1996) Exports - commodities: canned tuna 93% Exports - partners: US 99.6% Imports: $471 million (1996) Imports - commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% Imports - partners: US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7% Debt - external: $NA Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - important financial support from the US Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September @American Samoa:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 10,000 (1994) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,200 (1994) Telephone system: domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 57,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: 14,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @American Samoa:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 350 km paved: 150 km unpaved: 200 km Ports and harbors: Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 4 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.) @American Samoa:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US @American Samoa:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ ANDORRA @Andorra:Introduction Background: Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra has achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes. @Andorra:Geography Location: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 468 sq km land: 468 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 120.3 km border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys Elevation extremes: lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 45% forests and woodland: 35% other: 16% (1998 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; waste water treatment and solid waste disposal Environment - international agreements: party to: Hazardous Wastes signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: landlocked @Andorra:People Population: 66,824 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% (male 5,382; female 4,883) 15-64 years: 72% (male 25,463; female 22,837) 65 years and over: 13% (male 4,160; female 4,099) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.22% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 10.58 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.27 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 6.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 4.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.46 years male: 80.56 years female: 86.56 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran Ethnic groups: Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998) Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant) Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian Literacy: definition: NA total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA% @Andorra:Government Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra Data code: AN Government type: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives Capital: Andorra la Vella Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria Independence: 1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of France and Spain) National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September (1278) Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; approved by referendum 14 March 1993; came into force 4 May 1993 Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Mr. Frederic de SAINT-SERNIN (since NA); Spanish Coprince Episcopal Monseigneur Joan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented by Mr. Nemesi MARQUES OSTE (since NA) head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne (since 21 December 1994) cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president elections: Executive Council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - 64% Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN 7%, ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party - UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO 2 Judicial branch: Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice or Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party of Andorra (Partit Liberal d'Andorra) or PLA ; Liberal Union or UL [Francesc CERQUEDA]; National Democratic Group or AND ; National Democratic Initiative or IDN ; New Democracy or ND ; Unio Parroquial d'Ordino or UPO note: there are two other small parties International organization participation: CCC, CE, ECE, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent Representative to the UN) chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 750-8064 FAX: (212) 750-6630 Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: (3493) 280-2227; FAX: (3493) 205-7705 Flag description: 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, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem @Andorra:Economy Economy - overview: Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1996 est.) GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $18,000 (1996 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.62% (1998) Labor force: 30,787 salaried employees (1998) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 72%, other 6% (1998) Unemployment rate: 0% Budget: revenues: $385 million expenditures: $342 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, tobacco, banking Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 116 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% Electricity - consumption: NA kWh (1998 est.) Electricity - exports: NA kWh Electricity - imports: NA kWh; note - imports electricity from Spain and France Agriculture - products: small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep Exports: $58 million (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: tobacco products, furniture Exports - partners: France 34%, Spain 58% (1998) Imports: $1.077 billion (c.i.f., 1998) Imports - commodities: consumer goods, food, electricity Imports - partners: Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (1998) Debt - external: $NA Economic aid - recipient: none Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 143.39 (January 1999), 149.40 (1998), 146.41 (1997), 126.66 (1996), 124.69 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Andorra:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 31,980 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 8,618 (1997) Telephone system: domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges international: landline circuits to France and Spain Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 16,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997) Televisions: 27,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Andorra:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 269 km paved: 198 km unpaved: 71 km (1994 est.) Ports and harbors: none Airports: none @Andorra:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain @Andorra:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ ANGOLA @Angola:Introduction Background: Civil war has been the norm in Angola since independence from Portugal in 1975. A 1994 peace accord between the government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the government and armed forces. A national unity government was installed in April of 1997, but serious fighting resumed in late 1998, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost in fighting over the past quarter century. @Angola:Geography Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 1,246,700 sq km land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 5,198 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 220 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km Coastline: 1,600 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 23% forests and woodland: 43% other: 32% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau Environment - current issues: overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change Geography - note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo @Angola:People Population: 10,145,267 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 2,215,706; female 2,172,106) 15-64 years: 54% (male 2,792,313; female 2,692,790) 65 years and over: 3% (male 124,404; female 147,948) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.15% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 46.89 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 25.01 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 195.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 38.31 years male: 37.11 years female: 39.56 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.52 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan Ethnic groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22% Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.) Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42% male: 56% female: 28% (1998 est.) @Angola:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Angola conventional short form: Angola local long form: Republica de Angola local short form: Angola former: People's Republic of Angola Data code: AO Government type: transitional government, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system Capital: Luanda Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal) National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975) Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992 Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since January 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 28-29 September 1992, the last elections to be held (next to be held NA) election results: DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place finisher Jonas SAVIMBI (40.1% of the vote); the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, others 7 Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA ; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA , largest opposition party engaged in years of armed resistance before joining the current unity government in April 1997; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA ruling party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party or PRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO] note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO; Antonio Bento BEMBE] note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu" chancery: 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 785-1156 FAX: (202) 785-1258 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6484, Luanda; pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 telephone: (2) 345-481, 346-418 FAX: (2) 346-924 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Angola is an economy in disarray because of a quarter century of nearly continuous warfare. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 45% to GDP and 90% of exports. Notwithstanding the signing of a peace accord in November 1994, violence continues, millions of land mines remain, and many farmers are reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the country's food must still be imported. To take advantage of its rich resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to implement the peace agreement and reform government policies. Despite the increase in the pace of civil warfare in late 1998, the economy grew by an estimated 4% in 1999. The government introduced new currency denominations in 1999, including a 1 and 5 kwanza note. Expanded oil production brightens prospects for 2000, but internal strife discourages investment outside of the petroleum sector. GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,030 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 53% services: 34% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 270% (1999 est.) Labor force: 5 million (1997 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.) Unemployment rate: extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $928 million expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.) Industries: petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar; textiles Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 1.886 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 24.97% hydro: 75.03% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 1.754 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish Exports: $5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton Exports - partners: US 63%, Benelux 9%, China, Chile, France (1998) Imports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods Imports - partners: Portugal 20%, US 17%, South Africa 10%, Spain, Brazil, France (1998) Debt - external: $10.5 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $493.1 million (1995) Currency: 1 kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei Exchange rates: kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 577,304 (January 2000), 2,790,706 (1999), 392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996), 2,750 (1995); note - beginning in June 1998, the official rate is determined weekly in accordance with a crawling peg scheme Fiscal year: calendar year @Angola:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 60,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,994 (1995) Telephone system: telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 34, FM 7, shortwave 9 (1999) Radios: 630,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 7 (1999) Televisions: 150,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) @Angola:Transportation Railways: total: 2,952 km (inland, much of the track is unusable because of land mines still in place from the civil war) narrow gauge: 2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge (1997) Highways: total: 76,626 km paved: 19,156 km unpaved: 57,470 km (1997 est.) Waterways: 1,295 km navigable Pipelines: crude oil 179 km Ports and harbors: Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo, Namibe, Porto Amboim, Soyo Merchant marine: total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 39,305 GRT/63,067 DWT ships by type: cargo 8, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 249 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 217 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 96 under 914 m: 83 (1999 est.) @Angola:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police Force Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,429,842 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,221,277 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 101,434 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.2 billion (FY97/98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 25% (FY97/98) @Angola:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African states ______________________________________________________________________ ANGUILLA @Anguilla:Introduction Background: Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980 with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency. @Anguilla:Geography Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 63 10 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 91 sq km land: 91 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 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 Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October) Environment - current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system @Anguilla:People Population: 11,797 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 1,565; female 1,519) 15-64 years: 67% (male 4,040; female 3,839) 65 years and over: 7% (male 369; female 465) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.93% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 15.34 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.76 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 19.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 25.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.11 years male: 73.22 years female: 79.09 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Anguillan(s) adjective: Anguillan Ethnic groups: black Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12% Languages: English (official) Literacy: definition: age 12 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: 95% female: 95% (1984 est.) @Anguilla:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Anguilla Data code: AV Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK Government type: NA Capital: The Valley Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK) Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990 Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Alan HOOLE (since 1 November 1995) head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March 1994) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held 10 March 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1 Judicial branch: High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court) Political parties and leaders: Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP ; Anguilla National Alliance or ANA ; Anguilla United Party or AUP International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate), ECLAC (associate) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below @Anguilla:Economy Economy - overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. The economy, and especially the tourism sector, suffered a setback in late 1995 due to the effects of Hurricane Luis in September but recovered in 1996. Increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, contributed to economic growth in 1997-98. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financing sector. A comprehensive package of financial services legislation was enacted in late 1994. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend on the tourism sector and, therefore, on continuing income growth in the industrialized nations as well as favorable weather conditions. GDP: purchasing power parity - $88 million (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 6.5% (1998 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,900 (1998 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 18% services: 78% (1997 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1998 est.) Labor force: 4,400 (1992) Labor force - by occupation: commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%, agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4% Unemployment rate: 7% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues: $20.4 million expenditures: $23.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.8 million (1997 est.) Industries: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services Industrial production growth rate: 3.1% (1997 est.) Electricity - production: NA kWh Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% Electricity - consumption: NA kWh Electricity - exports: NA kWh Electricity - imports: NA kWh Agriculture - products: small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising Exports: $4.5 million (1998) Exports - commodities: lobster, fish, livestock, salt Exports - partners: NA Imports: $57.6 million (1998) Imports - commodities: NA Imports - partners: NA Debt - external: $8.8 million (1998) Economic aid - recipient: $3.5 million (1995) Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Anguilla:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 4,000 (1994) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: domestic: modern internal telephone system international: microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 3,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: 1,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Anguilla:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 279 km paved: 253 km unpaved: 26 km (1998 est.) Ports and harbors: Blowing Point, Road Bay Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 3 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.) @Anguilla:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK @Anguilla:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ ANTARCTICA @Antarctica:Geography Location: continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle Geographic coordinates: 90 00 S, 0 00 E Map references: Antarctic Region Area: total: 14 million sq km land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km ice-covered) (est.) note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe Area - comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US Land boundaries: 0 km note: see entry on International disputes Coastline: 17,968 km Maritime claims: none, but see the Disputes - international entry 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 5,140 meters; 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Southern Ocean 0 m highest point: Vinson Massif 5,140 m 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993) Natural hazards: katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak Environment - current issues: in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light coming through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants Geography - note: the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitable @Antarctica:People Population: no indigenous inhabitants, but there are seasonally staffed research stations note: approximately 29 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, send personnel to perform seasonal (summer) and year-round research on the continent and in its surrounding oceans; the population of persons doing and supporting science on the continent and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the Antarctic Treaty) varies from approximately 4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard research are present in the waters of the treaty region; Summer (January) population - 3,687 total; Argentina 302, Australia 201, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16, Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11, France 100, Germany 51, India 60, Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway 40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia 254, South Africa 80, Spain 43, Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378 (1998-99); Winter (July) population - 964 total; Argentina 165, Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China 33, France 33, Germany 9, India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10, Poland 20, Russia 102, South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998-99); year-round stations - 42 total; Argentina 6, Australia 4, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Norway 1, Poland 1, Russia 6, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1 (1998-99); Summer-only stations - 32 total; Argentina 3, Australia 4, Bulgaria 1, Chile 7, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 3, NZ 1, Peru 1, Russia 3, Sweden 2, UK 5 (1998-99); in addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research (July 2000 est.) @Antarctica:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica Data code: AY Government 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 23rd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was in Peru in May 1999. At the end of 1999, there were 44 treaty member nations: 27 consultative and 17 acceding. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 20 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), Bulgaria (1998) China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), and the US. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1988), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1995), Ukraine (1992), and Venezuela (1999). Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel in cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations. Other agreements - some 200 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; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; 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 prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research. 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 one year in prison. The Departments of Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5801, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information, contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone: (703) 306-1031, or see their website at www.nsf.gov. @Antarctica:Economy Economy - overview: No economic activity is conducted at present, except for fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad. Antarctic fisheries in 1998-99 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 119,898 metric tons. Unregulated fishing landed five to six times more than the regulated fishery, and allegedly illegal fishing in antarctic waters in 1998 resulted in the seizure (by France and Australia) of at least eight fishing ships. A total of 10,013 tourists visited in the 1998-99 summer, up from the 9,604 who visited the previous year. Nearly all of them were passengers on 16 commercial (nongovernmental) ships and several yachts that made 116 trips during the summer. Most tourist trips lasted approximately two weeks. @Antarctica:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 0 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 1 (American Forces Antarctic Network-McMurdo) (1999) Televisions: several hundred at McMurdo Sound Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Antarctica:Transportation Ports and harbors: McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office under "Legal System"); offshore anchorage Airports: 18 note: 27 stations, operated by 16 national governments party to the Antarctic Treaty, have landing facilities for either helicopters and/or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial enterprises operate two additional air facilities; helicopter pads are available at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are gravel, sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft; of these, 1 is greater than 3 km in length, 6 are between 2 km and 3 km in length, 3 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 3 are less than 1 km in length, and 2 are of unknown length; snow surface skiways, limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft,are available at another 15 locations; of these, 4 are greater than 3 km in length, 3 are between 2 km and 3 km in length, 2 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 2 are less than 1 km in length, and 4 are of unknown length; airports generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; airports do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmental operating organization required for landing (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @Antarctica:Military Military - 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 @Antarctica:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in Government type entry); sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and UK; the US and most other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves (the US reserves the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west ______________________________________________________________________ ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA @Antigua and Barbuda:Introduction Background: The islands of Antigua and Barbuda became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. Some 3,000 refugees fleeing a volcanic eruption on nearby Montserrat have settled in Antigua and Barbuda since 1995. @Antigua and Barbuda:Geography Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico Geographic coordinates: 17 03 N, 61 48 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 442 sq km (Antigua 281 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) land: 442 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Redonda Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 153 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 11% other: 62% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts Environment - current issues: water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements @Antigua and Barbuda:People Population: 66,422 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 9,414; female 9,098) 15-64 years: 67% (male 22,199; female 22,341) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,424; female 1,946) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.73% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 19.6 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -6.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 23.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.46 years male: 68.19 years female: 72.84 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan Ethnic groups: black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian Religions: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant, some Roman Catholic Languages: English (official), local dialects Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% (1960 est.) @Antigua and Barbuda:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda Data code: AC Government type: constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament Capital: Saint John's Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981) Constitution: 1 November 1981 Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; prime minister appointed by the governor general Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 9 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ALP 12, UPP 4, independent 1 Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia) (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction) Political parties and leaders: Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM ; Antigua Labor Party or ALP ; Barbuda People's Movement or BPM ; Progressive Labor Movement or PLM ; United National Democratic Party or UNDP ; United Progressive Party or UPP , a coalition of three opposition political parties - UNDP, ACLM, and PLM Political pressure groups and leaders: Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU ; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL] International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 362-5211 FAX: (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Tourism continues to be the dominant activity in the economy accounting directly or indirectly for more than half of GDP. In 1999 the budding offshore financial sector was seriously hurt by financial sanctions imposed by the US and UK as a result of the loosening of its money-laundering controls. The government has made efforts to comply with international demands in order to get the sanctions lifted. The dual island nation's agricultural production is mainly directed to the domestic market; the sector is constrained by the limited water supply and labor shortages that reflect the pull of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts for about one-third of all tourist arrivals. GDP: purchasing power parity - $524 million (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2.8% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,200 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 12.5% services: 83.5% (1996 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1999 est.) Labor force: 30,000 Labor force - by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983) Unemployment rate: 7% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $122.6 million expenditures: $141.2 million, including capital expenditures of $17.3 million (1997 est.) Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances) Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1997 est.) Electricity - production: 90 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 84 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock Exports: $38 million (1998) Exports - commodities: petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and live animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17% Exports - partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%, US 0.3% Imports: $330 million (1998) Imports - commodities: food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil Imports - partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3% Debt - external: $357 million (1998) Economic aid - recipient: $2.3 million (1995) Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Antigua and Barbuda:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 20,000 (1994) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: domestic: good automatic telephone system international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 36,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997) Televisions: 31,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Antigua and Barbuda:Transportation Railways: total: 77 km narrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost exclusively for handling sugarcane) Highways: total: 250 km (1996 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: Saint John's Merchant marine: total: 607 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,528,944 GRT/4,590,590 DWT ships by type: bulk 17, cargo 385, chemical tanker 9, combination bulk 2, container 149, liquified gas 3, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off 28 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry: Germany owns 10 ships, Slovenia 2, and Cyprus 2 (1998 est.) Airports: 3 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Antigua and Barbuda:Military Military branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (includes Coast Guard) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% @Antigua and Barbuda:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as a drug-money-laundering center ______________________________________________________________________ ARCTIC OCEAN @Arctic Ocean:Introduction Background: A spring 2000 decision by the International Hydrographic Organization delimited a fifth world ocean from the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The new ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude which coincides with the Antarctic Treaty Limit. The Arctic Ocean remains the smallest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Southern Ocean). @Arctic Ocean:Geography Location: body of water mostly north of the Arctic Circle Geographic coordinates: 90 00 N, 0 00 E Map references: Arctic Region Area: total: 14.056 million sq km note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies Area - comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US Coastline: 45,389 km 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 icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; 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 Lomonosov Ridge) Elevation extremes: lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m highest point: sea level 0 m Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales) Natural hazards: ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May Environment - current issues: endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack Geography - note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months @Arctic Ocean:Government Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix @Arctic Ocean:Economy Economy - overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals. @Arctic Ocean:Transportation Ports and harbors: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US) Transportation - note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways @Arctic Ocean:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute between Norway and Russia ______________________________________________________________________ ARGENTINA @Argentina:Introduction Background: Following independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina experienced periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, a long period of Peronist dictatorship was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and four free elections since then have underscored Argentina's progress in democratic consolidation. @Argentina:Geography Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay Geographic coordinates: 34 00 S, 64 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 2,766,890 sq km land: 2,736,690 sq km water: 30,200 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US Land boundaries: total: 9,665 km border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km Coastline: 4,989 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula Valdes) highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 52% forests and woodland: 19% other: 19% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 17,000 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding Environment - current issues: environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation 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: 36,955,182 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 27% (male 5,061,588; female 4,827,582) 15-64 years: 63% (male 11,625,574; female 11,613,358) 65 years and over: 10% (male 1,582,861; female 2,244,219) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.16% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 18.59 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.59 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 18.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.05 years male: 71.67 years female: 78.61 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine Ethnic groups: white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo, Amerindian, or other nonwhite groups 3% Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4% Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.2% male: 96.2% female: 96.2% (1995 est.) @Argentina:Government Country name: conventional long form: Argentine Republic conventional short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina local short form: Argentina Data code: AR Government 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, Antartica e Islas del Atlantico Sur; Tucuman note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain) National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810) Constitution: 1 May 1853; revised August 1994 Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Fernando DE LA RUA (since 10 December 1999); Vice President Carlos Alberto ALVAREZ (since 10 December 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fernando DE LA RUA (since 10 December 1999); Vice President Carlos Alberto ALVAREZ (since 10 December 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2003) election results: Fernando DE LA RUA elected president; percent of vote - 48.5% Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; formerly, three members appointed by each of the provincial legislatures; presently transitioning to one-third of the members being elected every two years to six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; one-half of the members elected every two years to four-year terms) elections: Senate - transition phase will begin in 2001 elections when all seats will be fully contested; winners will randomly draw to determine whether they will serve a two-year, four-year, or full six-year term, beginning a rotating cycle renovating a third of the body every two years; Chamber of Deputies - last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2001) election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - Peronist 40, UCR 20, Frepaso 1, other 11; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seats by bloc or party - Alliance 124 (UCR 85, Frepaso 36, others 3), Peronist 101, AR 12, other 20 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of the Senate Political parties and leaders: Action for the Republic or AR [Domingo CAVALLO]; Alliance (UCR, Frepaso and others) ; Front for a Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [Carlos ALVAREZ]; Justicialist Party or PJ (Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Raul ALFONSIN]; several provincial parties Political pressure groups and leaders: Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); Armed Forces; business organizations; General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Peronist-dominated labor movement; Roman Catholic Church; students International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MTCR, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Guillermo GONZALEZ Enrique chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 238-6400 FAX: (202) 238-6471 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires mailing address: international mail: use street address; APO address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034 telephone: (1) 777-4533, 4534 FAX: (1) 777-0197 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. However, when President Carlos MENEM took office in 1989, the country had piled up huge external debts, inflation had reached 200% per month, and output was plummeting. To combat the economic crisis, the government embarked on a path of trade liberalization, deregulation, and privatization. In 1991, it implemented radical monetary reforms which pegged the peso to the US dollar and limited the growth in the monetary base by law to the growth in reserves. Inflation fell sharply in subsequent years. In 1995, the Mexican peso crisis produced capital flight, the loss of banking system deposits, and a severe, but short-lived, recession; a series of reforms to bolster the domestic banking system followed. Real GDP growth recovered strongly, reaching 8% in 1997. In 1998, international financial turmoil caused by Russia's problems and increasing investor anxiety over Brazil produced the highest domestic interest rates in more than three years, halving the growth rate of the economy. Conditions worsened in 1999 with GDP falling by 3%. President Fernando DE LA RUA, who took office in December 1999, sponsored tax increases and spending cuts to reduce the deficit, which had ballooned to 2.5% of GDP in 1999. The new government also arranged a new $7.4 billion stand-by facility with the IMF for contingency purposes - almost three times the size of the previous arrangement. Key challenges facing the new government include reforming the country's rigid labor code and addressing the precarious financial situation of several highly indebted provinces. GDP: purchasing power parity - $367 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -3% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7% industry: 29% services: 64% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: 36% (1998 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): -2% (1999 est.) Labor force: 15 million (1999) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: 14% (December 1999) Budget: revenues: $44 billion expenditures: $48 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA billion (2000 est.) Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel Industrial production growth rate: -7% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 75.237 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.71% hydro: 47.55% nuclear: 9.47% other: 0.27% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 75.57 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 250 million kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 5.85 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock Exports: $23 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles Exports - partners: Brazil 24%, EU 21%, US 11% (1999 est.) Imports: $25 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal manufactures, plastics Imports - partners: EU 28%, US 22%, Brazil 21% (1999 est.) Debt - external: $149 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $2.833 billion (1995) Currency: 1 peso = 100 centavos Exchange rates: peso is pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate of 1 peso = $1 Fiscal year: calendar year @Argentina:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 7.5 million (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.8 million (1997) Telephone system: 12,000 public telephones; extensive modern system but many families do not have telephones; despite extensive use of microwave radio relay, the telephone system frequently fails during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires domestic: microwave radio relay and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two international gateways near Buenos Aires; Atlantis II submarine cable (1999) Radio broadcast stations: AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998) Radios: 24.3 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997) Televisions: 7.95 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 47 (1999) @Argentina:Transportation Railways: total: 38,326 km (160 km electrified) broad gauge: 24,481 km 1.676-m gauge (134 km electrified) standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified) narrow gauge: 11,080 km 1.000-m gauge (1999) Highways: total: 215,434 km paved: 63,553 km (including 734 km of expressways) unpaved: 151,881 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 10,950 km navigable Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 km Ports and harbors: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia Merchant marine: total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 218,540 GRT/333,413 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, petroleum tanker 11, rail car carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1999 est.) Airports: 1,359 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 142 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 60 914 to 1,523 m: 44 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,217 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 63 914 to 1,523 m: 614 under 914 m: 536 (1999 est.) @Argentina:Military Military branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes Naval Aviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Aeronautical Police Force Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 9,287,499 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 7,530,476 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 341,544 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $4.3 billion (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.3% (FY99) @Argentina:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: claims UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims UK-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US; increasing use as a money-laundering center; domestic consumption of drugs has skyrocketed ______________________________________________________________________ ARMENIA @Armenia:Introduction Background: An Orthodox Christian country, Armenia was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated exclave, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the exclave in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. @Armenia:Geography Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States Area: total: 29,800 sq km land: 28,400 sq km water: 1,400 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland Land boundaries: total: 1,254 km border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley Elevation extremes: lowest point: Debed River 400 m highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 15% other: 41% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 2,870 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts Environment - current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Geography - note: landlocked @Armenia:People Population: 3,344,336 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 415,297; female 400,590) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,084,588; female 1,131,387) 65 years and over: 10% (male 129,890; female 182,584) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: -0.28% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 10.97 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 9.53 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -4.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 41.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.4 years male: 61.98 years female: 71.04 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian Ethnic groups: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989) note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94% Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2% Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.) @Armenia:Government Country name: 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 Data code: AM Government type: republic Capital: Yerevan Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (marzer, singular - marz) and 1 city* (k'aghak'ner, singular - k'aghak'); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan* Independence: 28 May 1918-2 December 1920 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Referendum Day, 21 September Constitution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995 Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Aram SARKISYAN (since 3 November 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special election last held 30 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 59%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 41% Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 May 1999 (next to be held in the spring of 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - unity bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People's Party of Armenia 20), Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a bloc) 21, ACP 10, independents 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6, Law-Governed Party 6, unfilled 2; note - seats by party change frequently Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court Political parties and leaders: Armenian Communist Party or ACP ; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Vano SIRADEGIAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF ; Christian Democratic Union or CDU ; Democratic Liberal Party [Ramkavar AZATAKAN, chairman]; Free Armenian's Mission [Ruben MNATSANIAN, chairman]; Law and Unity Party ; Law-Governed Party ; Mission Party ; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National State Party ; People's Party of Armenia ; Republican Party ; Shamiram Women's Movement or SWM ; Social Democratic (Hnchakian) Party ; Stability Group [Vartan AYVAZIAN, chairman]; Union of National Self-Determination or NSDU International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arman KIRAKOSIAN chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 319-1976 FAX: (202) 319-2982 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LEMMON embassy: 18 General Bagramian Avenue, Yerevan mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7020 telephone: (2) 151-551 FAX: (2) 151-550 Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange @Armenia:Economy Economy - overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-99. Armenia also managed to slash inflation and to privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in recent years have been largely offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Continued Russian financial difficulties have hurt the trade sector especially, but have been offset by international aid, domestic restructuring, and foreign direct investment. GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.9 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,900 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 25% services: 35% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: 45% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1999) Labor force: 1.5 million (1999) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 55%, services 25%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 20% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 20% (1998 est.) note: official rate is 9.3% for 1998 Budget: revenues: $360 million expenditures: $566 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, washing machines, chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, microelectronics Industrial production growth rate: -2% (1998) Electricity - production: 5.764 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 48.92% hydro: 26.44% nuclear: 24.64% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 5.361 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock Exports: $240 million (1999 est.) Exports - commodities: diamonds, scrap metal, machinery and equipment, cognac, copper ore Exports - partners: Belgium, Russia, Iran, Turkmenistan, US, Georgia (1998) Imports: $782 million (1999 est.) Imports - commodities: natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds Imports - partners: Russia, US, UK, Iran, Turkey, Belgium (1998) Debt - external: $862.7 million (1999) Economic aid - recipient: $245.5 million (1995) Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma Exchange rates: dram per US$1 - 527.02 (January 2000), 535.06 (1999), 504.92 (1998), 490.85 (1997), 414.04 (1996), 405.91 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Armenia:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 583,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion domestic: the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service) international: Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 850,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 4 (1998) Televisions: 825,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Armenia:Transportation Railways: total: 825 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 825 km 1.520-m gauge (825 km electrified) (1995) Highways: total: 15,998 km paved: 15,998 km (including 7,567 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.) Waterways: NA km Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991) Ports and harbors: none Airports: 11 (1996 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.) @Armenia:Military Military branches: Army, Air Force and Air Defense Aviation, Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 896,646 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 708,940 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 33,391 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $75 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 4% (FY99) @Armenia:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional demands regarding former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - to Western Europe and the US via Iran, Central Asia, and Russia ______________________________________________________________________ ARUBA @Aruba:Introduction Background: Formerly one of the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba became an autonomous part of the Netherlands in 1986. @Aruba:Geography Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N, 69 58 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 193 sq km land: 193 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 68.5 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches Land use: arable land: 7% aloe plantations included (0.01%) permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 93% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 0.01 sq km Natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt Environment - current issues: NA @Aruba:People Population: 69,539 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 7,770; female 7,194) 15-64 years: 69% (male 22,944; female 24,810) 65 years and over: 9% (male 2,831; female 3,990) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.7% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 13.1 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.37 years male: 75 years female: 81.9 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban Ethnic groups: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 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: definition: NA total population: 97% male: NA% female: NA% @Aruba:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba Data code: AA Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles Government type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Oranjestad Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; in 1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996) National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March Constitution: 1 January 1986 Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten) elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001) election results: Jan (Henny) H. EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA; Dr. Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ elected deputy prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NA December 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - AVP 43%, MEP 39%, OLA 9% PPA 4%, ADN 2%, PARA 1%, MAS 0.5%; seats by party - AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2 Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch) Political parties and leaders: Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo BERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA ; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA ; Aruban People's Party or AVP ; Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS ; Democratic Action '86 or AD '86 ; Electoral Movement Party or MEP ; Electoral People's Movement or MEP ; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA ; National Democratic Action or ADN ; New Patriotic Party or PPN International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS embassy: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: (9) 461-3066 FAX: (9) 461-6489 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.6 billion (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1998) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $22,800 (1998 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1999 est.) Labor force: 41,501 (1997 est.) Labor force - by occupation: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants (1997 est.) Unemployment rate: 0.6% (1996 est.) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $541 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 475 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 442 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: aloes; livestock; fish Exports: $1.17 billion (including oil reexports)(1998) Exports - commodities: transport equipment, live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment Exports - partners: US 53.2%, Colombia 14.9%, Netherlands 8.8% (1998) Imports: $1.52 billion (1998) Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport; foodstuffs Imports - partners: US 55.5%, Netherlands 12.3%, Japan 3.5% (1998) Debt - external: $285 million (1996) Economic aid - recipient: $26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996 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 Telephones - main lines in use: 27,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,718 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: more than adequate international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 50,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: 20,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Aruba:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 800 km paved: 513 km unpaved: 287 km note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995 est.) Ports and harbors: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas Airports: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Aruba:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands @Aruba:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: drug-money-laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe ______________________________________________________________________ ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS @Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia Geographic coordinates: 12 14 S, 123 05 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island Area - comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 74.1 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: tropical Terrain: low with sand and coral Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993) Natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983 @Ashmore and Cartier Islands:People Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are only seasonal caretakers (July 2000 est.) @Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Government Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands Data code: AT Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia) Flag description: the flag of Australia is used @Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Economy Economy - overview: no economic activity @Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Transportation Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only @Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force @Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ ATLANTIC OCEAN @Atlantic Ocean:Introduction Background: A spring 2000 decision by the International Hydrographic Organization delimited a fifth world ocean from the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The new ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude which coincides with the Antarctic Treaty Limit. The Atlantic Ocean remains the second-largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). @Atlantic Ocean:Geography Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and the Western Hemisphere Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W Map references: World Area: total: 76.762 million sq km note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of the Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies Area - comparative: slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US Coastline: 111,866 km Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin Elevation extremes: lowest point: Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m highest point: sea level 0 m Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones Natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to September; hurricanes (May to December) Environment - current issues: endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea Geography - note: major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean @Atlantic Ocean:Government Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix @Atlantic Ocean:Economy Economy - overview: The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea). @Atlantic Ocean:Transportation Ports and harbors: 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), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden) Transportation - note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways @Atlantic Ocean:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states) ______________________________________________________________________ AUSTRALIA @Australia:Introduction Background: Australia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901. It was able to take advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. A referendum to change Australia's status, from a commonwealth headed by the British monarch to an independent republic, was defeated in 1999. @Australia:Geography Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 7,686,850 sq km land: 7,617,930 sq km water: 68,920 sq km note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 25,760 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m 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% permanent pastures: 54% forests and woodland: 19% other: 21% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 21,070 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts Environment - current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification Geography - note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer @Australia:People Population: 19,169,083 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 2,052,095; female 1,954,543) 15-64 years: 67% (male 6,458,083; female 6,322,475) 65 years and over: 12% (male 1,040,950; female 1,340,937) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.02% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 13.08 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 4.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.75 years male: 76.9 years female: 82.74 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian Ethnic groups: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1% Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11% Languages: English, native languages Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1980 est.) @Australia:Government Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia conventional short form: Australia Data code: AS Government type: democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign Capital: Canberra Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies) National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788) Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901 Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir William DEANE (since 16 February 1996) head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON (since NA) cabinet: Cabinet selected from among the members of Federal Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term note: government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the two territories; one-half of the members elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (148 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve three-year terms; no state can have fewer than five representatives) elections: Senate - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by October 2001); House of Representatives - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by October 2001) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 35, Australian Labor Party 29, Australian Democratic Party 9, Green Party 1, One Nation Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 80, Australian Labor Party 67, independent 1 Judicial branch: High Court, the Chief Justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general Political parties and leaders: Australian Democratic Party ; Australian Labor Party ; Green Party ; Liberal Party ; National Party ; One Nation Party Political pressure groups and leaders: Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group) International organization participation: ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael THAWLEY chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 797-3000 FAX: (202) 797-3168 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMES embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 mailing address: APO AP 96549 telephone: (6) 6214-5600 FAX: (6) 6214-5970 consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four dominant West European economies. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57% of the value of total exports, so that 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. While Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s and during the recent financial problems in East Asia, the economy has expanded at a solid 4% annual growth pace in the last five years. Canberra's emphasis on reforms is a key factor behind the economy's resilience to the regional crisis and its stronger than expected growth rate. Growth in 2000 will depend on key international commodity prices, the extent of recovery in nearby Asian economies, and the strength of US and European markets. GDP: purchasing power parity - $416.2 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4.3% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $22,200 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 71% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24.8% (1989) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1999 est.) Labor force: 8.9 million (December 1999) Labor force - by occupation: services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (1997 est.) Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1999) Budget: revenues: $90.73 billion expenditures: $89.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.) Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 186.387 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.85% hydro: 8.35% nuclear: 0% other: 1.8% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 173.34 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry Exports: $58 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment Exports - partners: Japan 20%, EU 14%, ASEAN 11%, US 10%, South Korea, NZ, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1998) Imports: $67 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products Imports - partners: EU 24%, US 22%, Japan 14%, ASEAN 12% (1998) Debt - external: $222 billion (1999) Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.43 billion (FY97/98) Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.52068 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June @Australia:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 92 million (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 5.29 million (1998) Telephone system: excellent domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean regions) Radio broadcast stations: AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 25.5 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 104 (1997) Televisions: 10.15 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 709 (1999) @Australia:Transportation Railways: total: 33,819 km (2,540 km electrified) broad gauge: 3,719 km 1.600-m gauge standard gauge: 15,422 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 14,506 km 1.067-m gauge dual gauge: 172 km NA gauges (1999) Highways: total: 913,000 km paved: 353,331 km (including 13,630 km of expressways) unpaved: 559,669 km (1996 est.) 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 and harbors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport (Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville Merchant marine: total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,657,194 GRT/2,206,574 DWT ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 4, chemical tanker 4, container 1, liquified gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 8, roll-on/roll-off 6 (1999 est.) Airports: 408 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 265 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 115 914 to 1,523 m: 120 under 914 m: 8 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 143 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 113 under 914 m: 12 (1999 est.) @Australia:Military Military branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,963,948 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 4,282,821 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 135,434 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $6.9 billion (FY98/99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY98/99) @Australia:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory) 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 ______________________________________________________________________ AUSTRIA @Austria:Introduction Background: Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies, Austria's 1955 State Treaty declared the country "permanently neutral" as a condition of Soviet military withdrawal. Neutrality, once ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question since the Soviet collapse and Austria's increasingly prominent role in European affairs. A prosperous country, Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and the euro monetary system in 1999. @Austria:Geography Location: Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 83,858 sq km land: 82,738 sq km water: 1,120 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maine Land boundaries: total: 2,562 km border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m Natural resources: iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 23% forests and woodland: 39% other: 20% (1996 est.) Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere @Austria:People Population: 8,131,111 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 697,283; female 663,459) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,787,555; female 2,731,446) 65 years and over: 15% (male 474,067; female 777,301) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.25% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 9.9 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 9.91 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.68 years male: 74.52 years female: 80.99 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian Ethnic groups: German 98%, Croatian, Slovene, other (includes Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma) Religions: Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, Muslim and other 17% Languages: German Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: NA% female: NA% @Austria:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich Data code: AU Government type: federal republic Capital: Vienna Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien Independence: 1156 (from Bavaria) National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955) Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945) Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 19 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections Executive branch: chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992) head of government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4 February 2000); Vice Chancellor Susanne RIESS-PASSER (FPOe) (since 4 February 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 19 April 1998 (next to be held in the spring of 2004); chancellor traditionally chosen by the president from the plurality party in the National Council; in the case of the current coalition, the chancellor was chosen from another party after the plurality party failed to form a government; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor election results: Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent of vote - Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT 11%, Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2% note: government coalition - FPOe and OeVP Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (64 members; members represent each of the states on the basis of population, but with each state having at least three representatives; members serve a four- or six-year term) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: National Council - last held 3 October 1999 (next to be held in the fall of 2003) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 33.2%, OeVP 26.9%, FPOe 26.9%, Greens 7.4%; seats by party - SPOe 65, OeVP 52, FPOe 52, Greens 14 Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof Political parties and leaders: Austrian People's Party or OeVP ; Communist Party or KPOe [Walter BAIER, chairman]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe ; Liberal Forum or LF ; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe ; The Greens or GA [Alexander VAN DER BELLEN, party spokesman] Political pressure groups and leaders: Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter MOSER chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: (202) 895-6700 FAX: (202) 895-6750 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Walt HALL embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (1) 313-39 FAX: (1) 310-0682 Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red @Austria:Economy Economy - overview: Austria with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market. Through privatization efforts, the 1996-98 budget consolidation programs, and austerity measures, Austria has brought its total public sector deficit down to 2.1% of GDP in 1999 and public debt - at 63.1% of GDP in 1998 - more or less in line with the 60% of GDP required by the EMU's Maastricht criteria. Cuts mainly have affected the civil service and Austria's generous social benefit system, the two major causes of the government's deficit. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy and deregulate the service sector. Growth, which slowed to 2.0% in 1999, probably will rebound to 2.8% in both 2000 and 2001. GDP: purchasing power parity - $190.6 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,400 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.3% industry: 32.4% services: 66.3% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1999) Labor force: 3.7 million (1999) Labor force - by occupation: services 68%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and forestry 3% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 4.4% (1999) Budget: revenues: $54 billion expenditures: $59.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) Industries: construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism (1997) Industrial production growth rate: 2.3% (1999) Electricity - production: 56.066 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.46% hydro: 65.92% nuclear: 0% other: 2.62% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 51.891 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 10.5 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 10.25 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber Exports: $62.9 billion (1999 est.) Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles, foodstuffs (1998) Exports - partners: EU 65% (Germany 36%, Italy 9%, France 5%), Switzerland 5%, Hungary 5%, US 4.5% (1999 est.) Imports: $69.9 billion (1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs (1998) Imports - partners: EU 70% (Germany 42%, Italy 8%, France 5%), US 5%, Hungary 3%, Switzerland 3% (1999 est.) Debt - external: $31.7 billion (1998) Economic aid - donor: ODA, $452 million (1998) Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (AS) = 100 groschen Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Austrian schillings (AS) per US$1 - 11.86 (January 1999), 12.91 (1999), 12.379 (1998), 12.204 (1997), 10.587 (1996), 10.081 (1995) note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 13.7603 Austrian shillings per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002 Fiscal year: calendar year @Austria:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 3.726 million (plus 83,100 ISDN or Integrated Services Digital Network connections) (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.31 million (1998) Telephone system: domestic: highly developed and efficient international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 61 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 6.08 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 51 (plus 920 repeaters) (1999) Televisions: 4.25 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 35 (1999) @Austria:Transportation Railways: total: 6,123 km (3,523 km electrified) standard gauge: 5,639 km 1.435-m gauge (3,429 km electrified) narrow gauge: 484 km (13 km 0.600-m gauge, 468 km 0.760-m gauge - 94 km electrified, and 3 km 0.600-m gauge) (1999) Highways: 200,000 km paved: 200,000 km (including 1,613 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1999) Waterways: 358 km (1999) Pipelines: crude oil 777 km; natural gas 840 km (1999) Ports and harbors: Linz, Vienna, Enns, Krems Merchant marine: total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 65,284 GRT/91,951 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 15, combination bulk 2, container 2 (1999 est.) Airports: 55 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 12 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 29 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @Austria:Military Military branches: Army (includes Flying Division) Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,088,993 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,733,681 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 51,335 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.7 billion (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY98) @Austria:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe ______________________________________________________________________ AZERBAIJAN @Azerbaijan:Introduction Background: Azerbaijan - a nation of Turkic Muslims - has been an independent republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a cease-fire, in place since 1994, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost almost 20% of its territory and must support some 750,000 refugees as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled. @Azerbaijan:Geography Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States Area: total: 86,600 sq km land: 86,100 sq km water: 500 sq km note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991 Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maine Land boundaries: total: 2,013 km border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: dry, semiarid steppe Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 11% other: 41% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 10,000 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising levels of the Caspian Sea Environment - current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity Geography - note: landlocked @Azerbaijan:People Population: 7,748,163 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 1,172,944; female 1,127,624) 15-64 years: 63% (male 2,388,737; female 2,525,797) 65 years and over: 7% (male 210,774; female 322,287) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.27% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 18.08 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 9.47 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -5.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 83.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.87 years male: 58.51 years female: 67.45 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani Ethnic groups: Azeri 90%, Dagestani 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2%, other 2.3% (1998 est.) note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower Languages: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.) @Azerbaijan:Government Country name: conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: none former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic Data code: AJ Government type: republic Capital: Baku (Baki) Administrative divisions: 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika); Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Ali Bayramli Sahari*, Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 28 May (1918) Constitution: adopted 12 November 1995 Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 26 November 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; election last held 11 October 1998 (next to be held October 2003); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly election results: Heydar ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Heydar ALIYEV 76% Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 and 26 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NAP and allies 115, APF 4, PNIA 3, Musavat Party 1, vacant 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Democratic Party or ADP ; Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Abulfaz ELCHIBEY, chairman]; Civic Solidarity ; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA-2 ; Democratic Party of Independence of Azerbaijan ; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan ; Motherland Party ; Musavat Party ; New Azerbaijan Party or NAP [Heydar ALIYEV, chairman]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA ; People's Democratic Party of Azerbaijan ; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP ; Vahdat Party [Leyla YUNUSOV, Jabrayil ALIZADE] Political pressure groups and leaders: Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 or P. O. Box 28790, Washington, DC 20038-8790 telephone: (202) 842-0001 FAX: (202) 842-0004 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO embassy: Azadliq Prospekt 83, Baku 370007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: (9412) 98-03-35, 36, 37 FAX: (9412) 90-66-71 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia, the other Caucasian 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 oil, cotton, and natural gas. Production from the Caspian oil field declined through 1997 but registered an increase in 1998-99. Negotiation of 19 production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to oil field development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. An obstacle to economic progress, including stepped up foreign investment, is the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building up with Turkey, Iran, UAE, and the nations of Europe. Growth in 2000 should match growth in 1999. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices and the location of new pipelines in the region. GDP: purchasing power parity - $14 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,770 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 18% services: 60% (1997 est.) Population below poverty line: 60% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): -6.8% (1999 est.) Labor force: 2.9 million (1997) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 15%, services 53% (1997) Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $565 million expenditures: $682 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.) Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 18.062 billion kWh (1999) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.98% hydro: 9.02% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 15.508 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 1 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 1.2 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats Exports: $885 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: oil and gas 70%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs Exports - partners: Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Italy, Iran Imports: $1.62 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals Imports - partners: Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, UAE, Iran Debt - external: $684 million (1998) Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $113 million (1996) Currency: 1 manat = 100 gopiks Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 4,342 (October 1999), 4,373 (1999), 3,869 (1998), 3,985.38 (1997), 4,301.26 (1996), 4,413.54 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Azerbaijan:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 640,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 6,000 (1995) Telephone system: Azerbaijan's telephone system is a combination of old Soviet era technology used by Azerbaijani citizens and small- to medium-size commercial establishments, and modern cellular telephones used by an increasing middle class, large commercial ventures, international companies, and most government officials; the average citizen waits on a 200,000-person list for telephone service; Internet and e-mail service are available in Baku domestic: local - the majority of telephones are in Baku or other industrial centers - about 700 villages still do not have public telephone service; intercity; all long distance service must use Azertel's (Ministry of Communications) lines; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its separated enclave of Naxcivan international: the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite service between Baku and Turkey provides access to 200 countries; additional satellite providers supply services between Baku and specific countries; Azerbaijan is a signator of the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE); their lines are not laid but a Turkish satellite and a microwave link between Azerbaijan and Iran could provide Azerbaijan worldwide access Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 175,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997) Televisions: 170,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) @Azerbaijan:Transportation Railways: total: 2,125 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993) Highways: total: 24,981 km paved: 23,057 km unpaved: 1,924 km (1998 est.) Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas 1,240 km Ports and harbors: Baku (Baki) Merchant marine: total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 248,155 GRT/304,215 DWT ships by type: cargo 12, petroleum tanker 40, roll-on/roll-off 2, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 69 (1996 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 33 (1996 est.) @Azerbaijan:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guards Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,073,067 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,662,435 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 74,496 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $121 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.6% (FY99) @Azerbaijan:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment point for opiates via Iran, Central Asia, and Russia to Western Europe ______________________________________________________________________ BAHAMAS ______________________________________________________________________ BAHRAIN @Bahrain:Introduction Background: Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Possessing minimal oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining, and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir is pushing economic and political reforms, and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. @Bahrain:Geography Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia Geographic coordinates: 26 00 N, 50 33 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 620 sq km land: 620 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 161 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms Environment - current issues: desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for all water needs Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean @Bahrain:People Population: 634,137 note: includes 228,424 non-nationals (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 96,240; female 93,846) 15-64 years: 67% (male 252,767; female 173,072) 65 years and over: 3% (male 9,270; female 8,942) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.78% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 20.61 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 3.89 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 1.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.46 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female total population: 1.3 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 20.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.98 years male: 70.58 years female: 75.45 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.82 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8% Religions: Shi'a Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 25% Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.2% male: 89.1% female: 79.4% (1995 est.) @Bahrain:Government Country name: conventional long form: State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn Data code: BA Government type: traditional monarchy Capital: Manama Administrative divisions: 12 municipalities (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, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah note: all municipalities administered from Manama Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK) National holiday: National Day, 16 December (1971) Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973 Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law Suffrage: none Executive branch: chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969) head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992 Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited Political pressure groups and leaders: Shi'a activists have fomented unrest sporadically since late 1994, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 342-0741 FAX: (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG embassy: Building Number 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 311, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; International Mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: 273-300 FAX: 272-594 Flag description: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side @Bahrain:Economy Economy - overview: In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems. GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.6 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $13,700 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 46% services: 53% (1996 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1998 est.) Labor force: 295,000 (1998 est.) note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.) Labor force - by occupation: industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.) Unemployment rate: 15% (1998 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998) Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1995) Electricity - production: 4.77 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 1.09 billion kWh (1999) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish Exports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 61%, aluminum 7% Exports - partners: India 18%, Japan 11%, Saudi Arabia 8%, South Korea 7%, UAE 5% (1997) Imports: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998) Imports - commodities: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41% Imports - partners: Saudi Arabia 45%, US 10%, UK 6%, Japan 5%, Germany 4% (1997) Debt - external: $2 billion (1997) Economic aid - recipient: $48.4 million (1995) 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 Telephones - main lines in use: 141,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 130,000 (1999 est.) Telephone system: modern system; good domestic services and excellent international connections domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones international: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 338,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997) Televisions: 275,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999) @Bahrain:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 3,164 km paved: 2,433 km unpaved: 731 km (1998 est.) note: there is a paved causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia Pipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km Ports and harbors: Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 228,273 GRT/304,654 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 3 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @Bahrain:Military Military branches: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force Military manpower - military age: 15 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 221,109 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 121,442 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 5,699 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $318 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.2% (FY99) @Bahrain:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: the territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Qatar are currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ______________________________________________________________________ BAKER ISLAND @Baker Island:Geography Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia Geographic coordinates: 0 13 N, 176 31 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 1.4 sq km land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 4.8 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891) Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993) Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources Geography - note: treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife @Baker Island:People Population: uninhabited note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2000 est.) @Baker Island:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island Data code: FQ Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system Legal system: NA Flag description: the flag of the US is used @Baker Island:Economy Economy - overview: no economic activity @Baker Island:Transportation Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable Transportation - note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast @Baker Island:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard @Baker Island:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ BANGLADESH @Bangladesh:Introduction Background: Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. A third of this desperately poor country annually floods during the monsoon rainy season, hampering normal economic development. @Bangladesh:Geography Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 144,000 sq km land: 133,910 sq km water: 10,090 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin Land boundaries: total: 4,246 km border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km Coastline: 580 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber Land use: arable land: 73% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 15% other: 5% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 31,000 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season Environment - current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water; water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe overpopulation Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea @Bangladesh:People Population: 129,194,224 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 24,055,675; female 22,918,354) 15-64 years: 60% (male 39,924,040; female 37,992,459) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,342,134; female 1,961,562) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.59% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 25.44 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 8.73 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 71.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.16 years male: 60.4 years female: 59.91 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Bangladeshi(s) adjective: Bangladesh Ethnic groups: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1 million Religions: Muslim 88.3%, Hindu 10.5%, other 1.2% Languages: Bangla (official), English Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.1% male: 49.4% female: 26.1% (1995 est.) @Bangladesh:Government Country name: conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh conventional short form: Bangladesh former: East Pakistan Data code: BG Government type: republic Capital: Dhaka Administrative divisions: 5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi note: there may be one additional division named Sylhet Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan) National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971) Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Shahabuddin AHMED (since 9 October 1996); note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at presidential direction - to supervise the elections head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed (since 23 June 1996) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without opposition; percent of National Parliament vote - NA Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad (330 seats; 300 elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies, 30 seats reserved for women; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - AL 33.87%, BNP 30.87%; seats by party - AL 178, BNP 113, JP 33, JI 3, other 2, election still to be held for 1 seat; note - the elections of 12 June 1996 brought to power an Awami League government for the first time in twenty-one years; held under a neutral, caretaker administration, the elections were characterized by a peaceful, orderly process and massive voter turnout, ending a bitter two-year impasse between the former BNP and opposition parties that had paralyzed National Parliament and led to widespread street violence Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other judges are appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA Wajed]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP ; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP ; Jamaat-E-Islami or JI ; Jatiyo Party or JP International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Khwaja Mohammad SHEHABUDDIN chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 342-8372 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John C. HOLZMAN embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212 mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000 telephone: (2) 884700 through 884722 FAX: (2) 883744 Flag description: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam @Bangladesh:Economy Economy - overview: Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed nations. The economy is largely agricultural, with the cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the economy. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, the inefficiency of state-owned enterprises, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), inadequate power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed's Awami League government has made some headway improving the climate for foreign investors and liberalizing the capital markets; for example, it has negotiated with foreign firms for oil and gas exploration, better countrywide distribution of cooking gas, and the construction of natural gas pipelines and power plants. Progress on other economic reforms has been halting because of opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups. The especially severe floods of 1998 increased the country's reliance on large-scale international aid. So far the East Asian financial crisis has not had major impact on the economy. GDP: purchasing power parity - $187 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,470 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 17% services: 53% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: 35.6% (FY95/96 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 23.7% (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (FY98/99 est.) Labor force: 56 million (1995-96) note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, and Singapore Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 63%, services 26%, industry 11% (FY95/96) Unemployment rate: 35.2% (1996) Budget: revenues: $4.3 billion expenditures: $6.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) Industries: cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar Industrial production growth rate: 2.5% (1997 est.) Electricity - production: 12.5 billion kWh (1999 est.) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98% hydro: 2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999) Electricity - consumption: 11.039 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999) Agriculture - products: rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes; beef, milk, poultry, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit Exports: $5.1 billion (1998) Exports - commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood Exports - partners: US 33%, Germany 10%, UK 9%, France 6%, Italy 5% (1997) Imports: $8.01 billion (1998) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, raw cotton, food, crude oil and petroleum products, cement Imports - partners: India 12%, China 9%, Japan 7%, Hong Kong 6%, South Korea 6% (1997) Debt - external: $16.5 billion (1998) Economic aid - recipient: $1.475 billion (FY96/97) Currency: 1 taka (Tk) = 100 poisha Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1 - 51.000 (January 2000), 49.085 (1999), 46.906 (1998), 43.892 (1997), 41.794 (1996), 40.278 (1995) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June @Bangladesh:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 470,000 (1998) Telephones - mobile cellular: 41,000 (1998) Telephone system: domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave, and some fiber-optic cable in cities international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999) Radios: 6.15 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 15 (1999) Televisions: 770,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (1999) @Bangladesh:Transportation Railways: total: 2,745 km broad gauge: 923 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (1998 est.) Highways: total: 201,182 km paved: 19,112 km unpaved: 182,070 km (1997 est.) Waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes 2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes) Pipelines: natural gas 1,220 km Ports and harbors: Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port Merchant marine: total: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 284,489 GRT/405,845 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 28, container 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.) Airports: 16 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.) @Bangladesh:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps), Armed Police battalions Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 34,683,414 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 20,565,193 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $559 million (FY96/97) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY96/97) @Bangladesh:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: a portion of the boundary with India is indefinite; dispute with India over South Talpatty/New Moore Island Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries ______________________________________________________________________ BARBADOS @Barbados:Introduction Background: The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Its economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. @Barbados:Geography Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela Geographic coordinates: 13 10 N, 59 32 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 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 Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October) Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas Land use: arable land: 37% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 12% other: 46% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity Geography - note: easternmost Caribbean island @Barbados:People Population: 274,540 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 30,687; female 30,172) 15-64 years: 69% (male 92,241; female 96,866) 65 years and over: 9% (male 9,506; female 15,068) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.55% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 14.45 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 12.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73 years male: 70.43 years female: 75.6 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial) adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial) Ethnic groups: black 80%, white 4%, other 16% Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12% Languages: English Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97.4% male: 98% female: 96.8% (1995 est.) @Barbados:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados Data code: BB Government type: parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth 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 city of Bridgetown may be given parish status Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966) Constitution: 30 November 1966 Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6 September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor general Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 20 January 1999 (next to be held by January 2004) election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BLP 26, DLP 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service) Political parties and leaders: Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP ; National Democratic Party or NDP Political pressure groups and leaders: Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union ; People's Progressive Movement ; Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE] International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-9200 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York consulate(s): Los Angeles Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affairs Roland BULLEN embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055 telephone: (246) 436-4950 FAX: (246) 429-5246 Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, 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 Economy - overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The start of the Port Charles Marina project in Speightstown helped the tourism industry continue to expand in 1996-99. Offshore finance and informatics are important foreign exchange earners, and there is also a light manufacturing sector. The government continues its efforts to reduce the unacceptably high unemployment rate, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.9 billion (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4.4% (1998 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,200 (1998 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.9% industry: 15.6% services: 79.5% (1997) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1998) Labor force: 136,000 (1998 est.) Labor force - by occupation: services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% (1996 est.) Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.) Budget: revenues: $725.5 million expenditures: $750.6 million, including capital expenditures of $126.3 million (FY97/98 est.) Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (1996) Electricity - production: 672 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 625 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: sugarcane, vegetables, cotton Exports: $211.2 million (1998) Exports - commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothing Exports - partners: UK 14.8%, US 11.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.6%, Venezuela 6.1%, Jamaica 5.8% (1998) Imports: $1.01 billion (1998) Imports - commodities: consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components Imports - partners: US 30.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.2%, Japan 8.3%, UK 7.7%, Canada 2.2% (1998) Debt - external: $550 million (1998 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $9.1 million (1995) Currency: 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Barbados:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 90,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,614 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: island-wide automatic telephone system international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 237,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus two cable channels) (1997) Televisions: 76,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999) @Barbados:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 1,600 km paved: 1,578 km unpaved: 22 km (1998 est.) Ports and harbors: Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina) Merchant marine: total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 654,580 GRT/1,103,780 DWT ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 29, combination bulk 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries: Canada owns 2 ships, Hong Kong 1 (1998 est.) Airports: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Barbados:Military Military branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 77,789 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 53,472 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% @Barbados:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for the US and Europe ______________________________________________________________________ BASSAS DA INDIA @Bassas da India:Geography Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 39 50 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 0.2 sq km land: 0.2 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 35.2 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical Terrain: volcanic rock Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m Natural resources: none Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all rock) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993) Natural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones Environment - current issues: NA @Bassas da India:People Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.) @Bassas da India:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India Data code: BS Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion Flag description: the flag of France is used @Bassas da India:Economy Economy - overview: no economic activity @Bassas da India:Transportation Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only @Bassas da India:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France @Bassas da India:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar ______________________________________________________________________ BELARUS @Belarus:Introduction Background: After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration but, to date, neither side has actively sought to implement the accord. @Belarus:Geography Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 28 00 E Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States Area: total: 207,600 sq km land: 207,600 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Kansas Land boundaries: total: 3,098 km border countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime Terrain: generally flat and contains much marshland Elevation extremes: lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m Natural resources: forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas Land use: arable land: 29% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 34% other: 21% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea Geography - note: landlocked @Belarus:People Population: 10,366,719 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 982,959; female 942,062) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,411,684; female 3,614,453) 65 years and over: 13% (male 466,929; female 948,632) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: -0.17% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 9.27 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 13.96 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 3.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68 years male: 61.83 years female: 74.48 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian Ethnic groups: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9% Religions: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.) Languages: Byelorussian, Russian, other Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97% (1989 est.) @Belarus:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus' local short form: none former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic Data code: BO Government type: republic Capital: Minsk Administrative divisions: 6 voblastsi (singular - voblasts') and one municipality* (harady, singular - horad); Brestskaya (Brest), Homyel'skaya (Homyel'), Horad Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna), Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk) note: voblasti have the administrative center name following in parentheses Independence: 25 August 1991 (Belarusian Supreme Soviet declaration of independence from the Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - represents Minsk liberation from German occupation Constitution: 30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996 Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Sergey LING (acting since 18 November 1996, confirmed 19 February 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Vasiliy DOLGOLEV (since 2 December 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir ZAMETALIN (since 15 July 1997), Ural LATYPOV (since 30 December 1997), Gennadiy NOVITSKIY (since 11 February 1997), Leonid KOZIK (since 4 February 1997), Aleksandr POPKOV (since 10 November 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 24 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via the November 1996 referendum); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO elected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15% note: first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994 Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; eight appointed by the president and 56 indirectly elected by deputies of local councils for four-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Pretsaviteley (110 seats; note - present members came from the former Supreme Soviet which LUKASHENKO disbanded in November 1996) elections: last held May and November-December 1995 (two rounds, each with a run-off; disbanded after the November 1996 referendum; next to be held NA) election results: after the November 1996 referendum, seats for the Chamber of Representatives were filled by former Supreme Soviet members as follows: PKB 24, Agrarian 14, Party of Peoples Concord 5, LDPB 1, UPNAZ 1, Green World Party 1, Belarusian Social Sports Party 1, Ecological Party 1, Republican Party of Labor and Justice 1, independents 61; 58 of the 64 seats in the Council of the Republic have been appointed/elected Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party [Aleksandr PAVLOV, acting chairman]; Belarusian Communist Party or KPB [Viktor CHIKIN, chairman]; Belarusian Green Party or BPZ ; Belarusian Labor Party or BPP ; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR ; Belarusian Popular Front or BNF ; Belarusian Social-Democrat or SDBP ; Belarusian Social-Democratic Party Hramada ; Belarusian Social Sports Party or BSSP ; Belarusian Socialist Party ; Civic Accord Bloc (United Civic Party) or CAB ; Ecological Party or BEP ; Liberal-Democratic Party or LDPB ; Party of All-Belarusian Unity and Concord or UPNAZ ; Party of Communists Belarusian or PKB ; Party of Popular Accord or PPA ; Republican Party of Labor and Justice or RPPS ; Women's Party Nadezhda International organization participation: CCC, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Valery TSEPAKO chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 986-1604 FAX: (202) 986-1805 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD embassy: Starovilenskaya #46-220002, Minsk mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (17) 231-5000 FAX: (17) 234-7853 Flag description: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears the Belarusian national ornament in red @Belarus:Economy Economy - overview: Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO re-imposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprise. In addition to the burdens imposed by high inflation, businesses have been subject to pressure on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, and retroactive application of new business regulations prohibiting practices that had been legal. Further economic problems are two consecutive bad harvests, 1998-99, and persistent trade deficits. Close relations with Russia, possibly leading to reunion, color the pattern of economic developments. For the time being, Belarus remains self-isolated from the West and its open-market economies. GDP: purchasing power parity - $55.2 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,300 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 28% services: 49% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: 22% (1995 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.9% highest 10%: 19.4% (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 295% (1999 est.) Labor force: 4.3 million (1998) Labor force - by occupation: industry and construction NA%, agriculture and forestry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: 2.3% officially registered unemployed (December 1998); large number of underemployed workers Budget: revenues: $4 billion expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1997 est.) Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earth movers, motorcycles, TV sets, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators Industrial production growth rate: 8% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 21.893 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.89% hydro: 0.11% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 28.66 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 2.3 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 10.6 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk Exports: $6 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, textiles, foodstuffs Exports - partners: Russia 66%, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Lithuania (1998) Imports: $6.4 billion (c.i.f., 1999) Imports - commodities: mineral products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, foodstuffs Imports - partners: Russia 54%, Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Lithuania (1998) Debt - external: $1.1 billion (1998 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $194.3 million (1995) Currency: Belarusian rubel (BR) Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1 - 730,000 (15 December 1999), 139,000 (25 January 1999), 46,080 (2nd qtr 1998), 25,964 (1997), 15,500 (yearend 1996), 11,500 (yearend 1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Belarus:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 2.537 million (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 8,000 (1999) Telephone system: the Ministry of Telecommunications controls all telecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company) Beltelcom which is a monopoly domestic: local - Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and a cellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long; local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity - Belarus has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently serving at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus's fiber optics form synchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries' systems; an inadequate analog system remains operational international: Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE) and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations Radio broadcast stations: AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998) Radios: 3.02 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 17 (1997) Televisions: 2.52 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Belarus:Transportation Railways: total: 5,563 km broad gauge: 5,563 km 1.520-m gauge (894 km electrified) Highways: total: 63,355 km paved: 60,567 km unpaved: 2,788 km (1998 est.) Waterways: NA km; note - Belarus has extensive and widely used canal and river systems Pipelines: crude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; natural gas 1,980 km (1992) Ports and harbors: Mazyr Airports: 118 (1996 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (1996 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 82 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 62 (1996 est.) @Belarus:Military Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,714,420 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,126,655 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 82,720 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $156 million (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY98) @Belarus:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe ______________________________________________________________________ BELGIUM @Belgium:Introduction Background: Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. @Belgium:Geography Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 30,510 sq km land: 30,230 sq km water: 280 sq km Area - comparative: about the size of Maryland Land boundaries: total: 1,385 km border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km Coastline: 66 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: median line with neighbors exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast) territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: North Sea 0 m highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m Natural resources: coal, natural gas Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 21% other: 34% Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes Environment - current issues: the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling environmental challenges Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO @Belgium:People Population: 10,241,506 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 919,445; female 877,896) 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,386,193; female 3,334,081) 65 years and over: 16% (male 701,842; female 1,022,049) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.18% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 10.91 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 10.13 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.8 years male: 74.47 years female: 81.3 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian Ethnic groups: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25% Languages: Dutch 58%, French 32%, German 10%, legally bilingual Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: NA% female: NA% @Belgium:Government Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium conventional short form: Belgium local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie local short form: Belgique/Belgie Data code: BE Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch Capital: Brussels Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams Brabant, West-Vlaanderen note: the Brussels Capital Region is not included within the 10 provinces Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands) National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King LEOPOLD I to the throne in 1831) Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state Legal system: civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch head of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch and then approved by Parliament note: government coalition - VLD, PRL, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held in NA 2003) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, CVP 14.7%, PRL 10.6%, PS 9.7%, VB 9.4%, SP 8.9%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.1%, PSC 6.0%, VU 5.1%; seats by party - VLD 11, CVP 10, PS 10, PRL 9, VB 6, SP 6, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, PSC 5, VU 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 14.3%, CVP 14.1%, PS 10.2%, PRL 10.1%, VB 9.9%, SP 9.5%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.0%, PSC 5.9%, VU 5.6%; seats by party - VLD 23, CVP 22, PS 19, PRL 18, VB 15, SP 14, ECOLO 11, PSC 10, AGALEV 9, VU 8, FN 1 note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other acronyms of the listed parties see Political parties and leaders Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch, Cour de Cassation in French, judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch Political parties and leaders: AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Wilfried BERVOETS]; ECOLO (Francophone Greens) ; Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP (Christian People's Party) [Stefaan DE CLERCK, president]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT, president]; Flemish Socialist Party or SP [Patrick JANSSENS, president]; Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party) ; Francophone Democratic Front or FDF ; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL ; Francophone Socialist Party or PS ; National Front or FN ; Vlaams Blok or VB ; Volksunie or VU [Geert BOURGEOIS, president]; other minor parties Political pressure groups and leaders: 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 International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYN chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 333-6900 FAX: (202) 333-3079 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CEJAS embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710 telephone: (2) 508-2111 FAX: (2) 511-2725 Flag description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France @Belgium:Economy Economy - overview: This modern 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 investment in the southern region of Wallonia. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. About three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium's public debt fell from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998 and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries. Belgium became a charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999. The dioxin crisis - beginning in June 1999 with the discovery of a cancer-causing substance in animal feed - constituted a serious blow to the food-processing industry, both domestically and internationally. This crisis slowed down GDP growth with recovery expected in the year 2000. GDP: purchasing power parity - $243.4 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 1.8% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,900 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 27% services: 71.6% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: 4% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1999 est.) Labor force: 4.341 million (1999) Labor force - by occupation: services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 9% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $116.5 billion expenditures: $119 billion, including capital expenditures of $10.7 billion (1998 est.) Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal Industrial production growth rate: -1% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 78.702 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.48% hydro: 0.49% nuclear: 55.72% other: 1.31% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 74.543 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 6.4 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 7.75 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk Exports: $187.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products Exports - partners: EU 76% (Germany 19%, France 18%, Netherlands 12%, UK 10%) (1998) Imports: $172.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products Imports - partners: EU 71% (Germany 18%, Netherlands 17%, France 14%, UK 9%) (1998) Debt - external: $28.3 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - donor: ODA, $764 million (1997) Currency: 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995) note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002 Fiscal year: calendar year @Belgium:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 4.632 million (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 664,000 (1999) Telephone system: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat Radio broadcast stations: FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 8.075 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 24 (1997) Televisions: 4.72 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 51 (1999) @Belgium:Transportation Railways: total: 3,437 km (2,446 km electrified; 2,563 km double track) standard gauge: 3,437 km 1.435-m gauge (1998) Highways: total: 145,850 km paved: 117,701 km (including 1,682 km of expressways) unpaved: 28,149 km (1998) Waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural gas 3,300 km Ports and harbors: Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge Merchant marine: total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,075 GRT/57,347 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, petroleum tanker 7 (1999 est.) Airports: 42 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @Belgium:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,527,752 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,090,800 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 64,165 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.8 billion (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY99) @Belgium:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe ______________________________________________________________________ BELIZE @Belize:Introduction Background: Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime. @Belize:Geography Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico Geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 45 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 22,960 sq km land: 22,800 sq km water: 160 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km Coastline: 386 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; 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 Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February) Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 92% other: 3% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south) Environment - current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid waste disposal Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean @Belize:People Population: 249,183 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 54,009; female 51,945) 15-64 years: 54% (male 68,052; female 66,366) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,298; female 4,513) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.75% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 32.29 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 25.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.91 years male: 68.66 years female: 73.28 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.14 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean Ethnic groups: mestizo 44.1%, Creole 31%, Maya 9.2%, Garifuna 6.2%, other 9.5% 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, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.3% male: 70.3% female: 70.3% (1991 est.) note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75% @Belize:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras Data code: BH Government type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Belmopan Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1981) Constitution: 21 September 1981 Legal system: English law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; governor general appoints the member of the House of Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime minister Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (eight members, five appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one by the governor general; members are appointed for five-year terms); and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 27 August 1998 (next to be held NA August 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 3 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister Political parties and leaders: People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP Political pressure groups and leaders: Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR ; United Worker's Front International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-9636 FAX: (202) 332-6888 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025 telephone: (2) 77161 through 77163 FAX: (2) 30802 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and bananas. The new government faces important challenges to economic stability. Rapid action to improve tax collection has been promised, but a lack of progress in reining in spending could bring the exchange rate under pressure. The tourist and construction sectors strengthened in early 1999, leading to a preliminary estimate of revived growth at 4%. GDP: purchasing power parity - $740 million (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,100 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 22% services: 56% (1998) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.9% (1999 est.) Labor force: 71,000 note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1997 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 38%, industry 32%, services 30% (1994) Unemployment rate: 14.3% (1998) Budget: revenues: $140 million expenditures: $180 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction Industrial production growth rate: -4.4% (1998) Electricity - production: 175 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.14% hydro: 42.86% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 163 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish, cultured shrimp Exports: $150 million (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: sugar, bananas, citrus fruits, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood Exports - partners: US 45.5%, UK 30%, EU 10%, Caricom 4.2%, Mexico 3.4%, Canada 3.3% (1997) Imports: $320 million (c.i.f., 1998) Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals Imports - partners: US 52%, Mexico 13%, UK 5% (1997) Debt - external: $380 million (1997) Economic aid - recipient: $23.4 million (1995) Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.0000 (fixed rate) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Belize:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 29,600 (1996) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,237 (1995) Telephone system: above-average system domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 133,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997) Televisions: 41,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Belize:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable Ports and harbors: Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda Merchant marine: total: 414 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,647,452 GRT/2,339,134 DWT ships by type: bulk 36, cargo 275, chemical tanker 7, container 9, liquified gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 51, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off 9, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 7 countries: Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Singapore 2, UAE 12, UK 1, and US 1 (1998 est.) Airports: 44 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 30 (1999 est.) @Belize:Military Military branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 60,482 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 35,874 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 2,735 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $15 million (FY97/98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY97/98) @Belize:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: territory in Belize claimed by Guatemala; precise alignment of boundary in dispute Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor money-laundering center ______________________________________________________________________ BENIN @Benin:Introduction Background: Dahomey gained its independence from France in 1960; the name was changed to Benin in 1975. From 1974 to 1989 the country was a socialist state; free elections were reestablished in 1991. @Benin:Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 112,620 sq km land: 110,620 sq km water: 2,000 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania Land boundaries: total: 1,989 km border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km Coastline: 121 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 31% other: 48% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter Environment - current issues: recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: no natural harbors @Benin:People Population: 6,395,919 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 1,531,636; female 1,503,552) 15-64 years: 50% (male 1,551,867; female 1,660,845) 65 years and over: 3% (male 63,717; female 84,302) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 3.03% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 44.81 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 90.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.18 years male: 49.24 years female: 51.16 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.32 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese Ethnic groups: 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37% male: 48.7% female: 25.8% (1995 est.) @Benin:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional short form: Benin local long form: Republique du Benin local short form: Benin former: Dahomey Data code: BN Government 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 is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou note: six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed; they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau; moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department" Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990) Constitution: December 1990 Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001) election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51% Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 28 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEPO 6, Alliance Etoile 4, Alliance IPD 4, CAR-DUNYA 3, MERCI 2, other 7 Judicial branch: Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, High Court of Justice Political parties and leaders: African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP ; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP ; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP ; Benin Renaissance Party or PRB ; Cameleon Alliance or AC ; Car-DUNYA ; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal FANTONDJI, first secretary]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD ; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD ; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten ; Movement for Citizens' Commitment and Awakening or MERCI ; New Generation for the Republic or NG ; Our Common Cause or NCC ; Rally for Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP ; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) ; Union for National Democracy and Solidarity or UDS International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 232-6656 FAX: (202) 265-1996 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. FELDER embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92 FAX: 30-14-39, 30-19-74 Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side @Benin:Economy Economy - overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a sound 4% in 1990-95 and 5% in 1996-99. Rapid population growth has offset much of this growth in output. Inflation has subsided over the past three years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a bloated civil service, has been gradually implementing a structural adjustment program since 1991. GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,300 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 14% services: 52% (1997) Population below poverty line: 33% (1995 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1999 est.) Labor force: NA Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $299 million expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.) Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 6 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 276 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 270 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock Exports: $396 million (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa Exports - partners: Brazil 32%, Libya, Indonesia, Spain (1998) Imports: $566 million (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products, capital goods Imports - partners: France 22%, China 16%, UK, Netherlands (1998) Debt - external: $1.6 billion (1997 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $281.2 million (1995) Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: from 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro Fiscal year: calendar year @Benin:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 28,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,050 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: fair system of open wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); submarine cable Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998) Radios: 620,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 2 (one privately-owned) (1997) Televisions: 60,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Benin:Transportation Railways: total: 578 km (single track) narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.) Highways: total: 6,787 km paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,430 km (1997 est.) Waterways: navigable along small sections, important only locally Ports and harbors: Cotonou, Porto-Novo Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 5 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.) @Benin:Military Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,402,566 females age 15-49: 1,445,082 note: both sexes are liable for military service (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 717,289 females age 15-49: 732,196 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 69,065 females: 67,961 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $27 million (FY96) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY96) @Benin:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US ______________________________________________________________________ BERMUDA @Bermuda:Introduction Background: Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Bermuda has developed into highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995. @Bermuda:Geography Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of North Carolina (US) Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W Map references: North America Area: total: 58.8 sq km land: 58.8 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 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 Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (55% developed, 39% rural/open space) (1997 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November) Environment - current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space Geography - note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995 @Bermuda:People Population: 62,997 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 6,107; female 6,212) 15-64 years: 70% (male 21,620; female 22,171) 65 years and over: 10% (male 2,972; female 3,915) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.75% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 12.24 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 9.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.94 years male: 74.89 years female: 78.86 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian Ethnic groups: black 58%, white 36%, other 6% Religions: non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 19% Languages: English (official), Portuguese Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (1970 est.) @Bermuda:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda Data code: BD Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK Government type: parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government Capital: Hamilton Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May Constitution: 8 June 1968, amended 1989 Legal system: English law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997) head of government: Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; governor invites leader of largest party in Parliament to form a government as premier Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%, independents 1%; seats by party - PLP 26, UBP 14 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: National Liberal Party or NLP [Charles JEFFERS]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP ; United Bermuda Party or UBP Political pressure groups and leaders: Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU ; Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA [Betty CHRISTOPHER] International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Lawrence OWEN consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-5300 telephone: (441) 295-1342 FAX: (441) 295-1592 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing financial services for international firms and luxury tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist industry, which accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84% 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. International business contributes over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; a failed independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to Bermudian fears of scaring away foreign firms. Government economic priorities are the further strengthening of the tourist and international financial sectors. GDP: purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $31,500 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (1995 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998 est.) Labor force: 35,296 (1997) Labor force - by occupation: clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers 17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996) Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1995) Budget: revenues: $504.6 million expenditures: $537 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY97/98) Industries: tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 420 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 391 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products Exports: $32 million (1998 est.) Exports - commodities: reexports of pharmaceuticals Exports - partners: UK 29.5%, US 9.8% (1997) Imports: $624 million (1998 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals Imports - partners: US 34%, UK 9%, Mexico 8% (1997) Debt - external: $NA Economic aid - recipient: $27.9 million (1995) Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed rate) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Bermuda:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 48,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 6,324 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 82,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997) Televisions: 66,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999) @Bermuda:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 225 km paved: 225 km unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.) note: in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that are privately owned Ports and harbors: Hamilton, Saint George Merchant marine: total: 115 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,536,975 GRT/11,337,483 DWT ships by type: bulk 27, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 17, liquified gas 7, petroleum tanker 33, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off 8, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11 countries among which are UK 24, Canada 12, Hong Kong 11, US 11, Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, Norway 3, and Switzerland 2 (1998 est.) Airports: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Bermuda:Military Military branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK @Bermuda:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ BHUTAN @Bhutan:Introduction Background: Under British influence a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later a treaty was signed whereby the country became a British protectorate. Independence was attained in 1949, with India subsequently guiding foreign relations and supplying aid. @Bhutan:Geography Location: Southern Asia, between China and India Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 47,000 sq km land: 47,000 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about half the size of Indiana Land boundaries: total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 66% other: 26% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season Environment - current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes @Bhutan:People Population: 2,005,222 note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 417,627; female 387,927) 15-64 years: 56% (male 576,533; female 544,076) 65 years and over: 4% (male 40,081; female 38,978) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.19% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 36.22 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 14.32 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 110.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.4 years male: 52.79 years female: 51.99 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.13 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15% Religions: Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25% Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.) People - note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 96,500 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps @Bhutan:Government Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan Data code: BT Government type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India Capital: Thimphu Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India) National holiday: National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king) Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly; on 7 July 1998, a Royal edict was ratified giving the National Assembly additional powers Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections Executive branch: chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) head of government: Foreign Minister Jigme Yoeser THINLEY (since NA June 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 give the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: NA Judicial branch: the Supreme Court of Appeal is the monarch; High Court, judges appointed by the monarch Political parties and leaders: no legal parties Political pressure groups and leaders: Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled) International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India) Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side @Bhutan:Economy Economy - overview: The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 40% of GDP. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare. Model education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.1 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,060 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 37% services: 25% (1998) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1998) Labor force: NA note: massive lack of skilled labor Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $146 million expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.) note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide Industrial production growth rate: 9.3% (1996 est.) Electricity - production: 1.788 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.39% hydro: 99.61% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 345 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 1.339 billion kWh note: exports electricity to India (1998) Electricity - imports: 21 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs Exports: $111 million (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices Exports - partners: India 94%, Bangladesh Imports: $136 million (c.i.f., 1998) Imports - commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice Imports - partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US Debt - external: $120 million (1998) Economic aid - recipient: $73.8 million (1995) Currency: 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is also legal tender Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 43.552 (January 2000), 43.055 (1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June @Bhutan:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 5,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with few telephones in use international: international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990) Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 37,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997) Televisions: 11,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Bhutan:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 3,285 km paved: 1,994 km unpaved: 1,291 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: none Airports: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Bhutan:Military Military branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia, Royal Police Force Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 491,427 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 262,316 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 20,374 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% @Bhutan:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: over approximately 96,500 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal ______________________________________________________________________ BOLIVIA @Bolivia:Introduction Background: Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and drug production. Current goals include attracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, continuing the privatization program, and waging an anti-corruption campaign. @Bolivia:Geography Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil Geographic coordinates: 17 00 S, 65 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 1,098,580 sq km land: 1,084,390 sq km water: 14,190 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Montana Land boundaries: total: 6,743 km border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m Natural resources: tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 53% other: 21% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 1,750 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to efficient fuel combustion, as well as to physical activity by those unaccustomed to it from birth; flooding in the northeast (March-April) Environment - current issues: the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection Geography - note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru @Bolivia:People Population: 8,152,620 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.11% (male 1,624,404; female 1,564,057) 15-64 years: 56.42% (male 2,247,013; female 2,352,824) 65 years and over: 4.47% (male 164,473; female 199,849) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.83% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 28.15 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 8.36 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 60.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.7 years male: 61.19 years female: 66.34 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.66 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Bolivian(s) adjective: Bolivian Ethnic groups: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, white 15% Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.1% male: 90.5% female: 76% (1995 est.) @Bolivia:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia conventional short form: Bolivia local long form: Republica de Bolivia local short form: Bolivia Data code: BL Government type: republic Capital: La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary) Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825) Constitution: 2 February 1967; revised in August 1994 Legal system: based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single) Executive branch: chief of state: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August 1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August 1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 1 June 1997 (next to be held June 2002) election results: Hugo BANZER Suarez elected president; percent of vote - Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN) 22%; Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR) 17%, Juan Carlos DURAN (MNR) 18%, Ivo KULJIS (UCS) 16%, Remedios LOZA (CONDEPA) 17%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote; Hugo BANZER Suarez won a congressional runoff election on 5 August 1997 after forming a "megacoalition" with MIR, UCS, CONDEPA, NFR and PDC Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held 1 June 1997 (next to be held June 2002) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADN 11, MIR 7, MNR 4, CONDEPA 3, UCS 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADN 32, MNR 26, MIR 23, UCS 21, CONDEPA 19, MBL 5, IU 4 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges appointed for 10-year terms by National Congress Political parties and leaders: Alternative of Democratic Socialism or ASD ; April 9 Revolutionary Vanguard or VR-9 ; Bolivian Communist Party or PCB ; Bolivian Renovating Alliance or ARBOL [Marcelo FERNANDEZ, Hugo VILLEGAS]; Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB ; Christian Democrat or PDC ; Civic Solidarity Union or UCS ; Conscience of the Fatherland or CONDEPA [Remedios LOZA Alvarado]; Free Bolivia Movement or MBL ; Front of Katarista Unity or FULKA ; Front of National Salvation or FSN ; Katarismo National Unity or KND ; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR ; Movement Towards Socialism-Popular Instrument for Solidarity with the People or MAS-IPSP ; Nationalist Democratic Action or ADN ; Nationalist Katarista Movement or MKN ; Nationalist Revolutionary Movement or MNR ; New Republican Force or NFR ; New Youth Force ; Patriotic Axis of Convergence or EJE-P ; Popular Patriotic Movement or MPP ; Revolutionary Front of the Left or FRI ; Socialist Party One or PS-1 ; Solidarity and Democracy or SYD ; Tupac Katari Revolutionary Liberation Movement or MRTK-L [Victor Hugo CARDENAS Conde]; United Left or IU ; Unity and Progress Movement or MUP note: political blocs include: left - MBL, EJE-P, VR-9, ASD, FRI, PCB, IU, FSN, PS-1, FSB, and MAS; center left - MIR, PDC, and New Youth Force; center - MNR; center right - ADN and NFR; populist - UCS, CONDEPA, SYD, MUP, and MPP; evangelical - ARBOL; indigenous - MRTK-L, MKN, and KND Political pressure groups and leaders: Cocalero Group International organization participation: CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene FERNANDEZ del Granado chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-4410 FAX: (202) 328-3712 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032 telephone: (2) 430251 FAX: (2) 433900 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries, has made considerable progress toward the development of a market-oriented economy. Successes under President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (1993-1997) included the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico and the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) as well as the privatization of the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power company, and oil company. His successor, Hugo BANZER Suarez has tried to further improve the country's investment climate with an anticorruption campaign. Growth slowed in 1999, in part due to tight government budget policies, which limited needed appropriations for anti-poverty programs, and the fallout from the Asian financial crisis. Growth should rebound to perhaps 4% in 2000 given reasonably favorable world commodity prices. GDP: purchasing power parity - $24.2 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,000 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.6% industry: 35.5% services: 47.9% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: 70% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.7% (1990) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1999 est.) Labor force: 2.5 million Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: 11.4% (1997) with widespread underemployment Budget: revenues: $2.7 billion expenditures: $2.7 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1998) Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1995 est.) Electricity - production: 2.576 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.43% hydro: 55.75% nuclear: 0% other: 1.82% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 2.412 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 4 million kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 20 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: soybeans, natural gas, zinc, gold, wood Exports - partners: UK 16%, US 12%, Peru 11%, Argentina 10%, Colombia 7% (1998) Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: capital goods, raw materials and semi-manufactures, chemicals, petroleum, food Imports - partners: US 32%, Japan 24%, Brazil 12%, Argentina 12%, Chile 7%, Peru 4%, Germany 3% (1998) Debt - external: $5.7 billion (1999) Economic aid - recipient: $588 million (1997) Currency: 1 boliviano ($B) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: bolivianos ($B) per US$1 - 6.0065 (January 2000), 5.8124 (1999), 5.5101 (1998), 5.2543 (1997), 5.0746 (1996), 4.8003 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Bolivia:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 368,874 (1996) Telephones - mobile cellular: 7,229 (1995) Telephone system: new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities domestic: primary trunk system, which is being expanded, employs digital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic cable; mobile cellular systems are being expanded international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999) Radios: 5.25 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 48 (1997) Televisions: 900,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999) @Bolivia:Transportation Railways: total: 3,691 km (single track) narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge; 39 km 0.760-m gauge (13 km electrified) (1995) Highways: total: 52,216 km paved: 2,872 km (including 27 km of expressways) unpaved: 49,344 km (1995 est.) Waterways: 10,000 km of commercially navigable waterways Pipelines: crude oil 1,800 km; petroleum products 580 km; natural gas 1,495 km Ports and harbors: none; however, Bolivia has free port privileges in the maritime ports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay Merchant marine: total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 116,373 GRT/182,283 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 17, chemical tanker 3, container 1, petroleum tanker 6, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.) Airports: 1,109 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,096 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 67 914 to 1,523 m: 219 under 914 m: 807 (1999 est.) @Bolivia:Military Military branches: Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana), National Police Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia) Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,949,267 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,269,228 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 86,863 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $147 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY99) @Bolivia:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: 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 Illicit drugs: world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Peru and Colombia) with an estimated 21,800 hectares under cultivation in 1999, a 45% decrease in overall cultivation of coca from 1998 levels; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the US and other international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation ______________________________________________________________________ BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA @Bosnia and Herzegovina:Introduction Background: Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October of 1991, was followed by a referendum for independence from the former Yugoslavia in February of 1992. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosnia's Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties signed a peace agreement that brought to a halt the three years of interethnic civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Agreement divides Bosnia and Herzegovina roughly equally between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission is to deter renewed hostilities. SFOR remains in place, with troop levels to be reduced to about 19,000 by spring 2000. @Bosnia and Herzegovina:Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 18 00 E Map references: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe Area: total: 51,129 sq km land: 51,129 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia Land boundaries: total: 1,459 km border countries: Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km (312 km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro) Coastline: 20 km Maritime claims: NA 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maglic 2,386 m Natural resources: coal, iron, bauxite, manganese, forests, copper, chromium, lead, zinc, hydropower Land use: arable land: 14% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 39% other: 22% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes Environment - current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; widespread casualties, water shortages, and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority @Bosnia and Herzegovina:People Population: 3,835,777 note: all data dealing with population are subject to considerable error because of the dislocations caused by military action and ethnic cleansing (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 401,554; female 379,303) 15-64 years: 71% (male 1,403,618; female 1,323,307) 65 years and over: 9% (male 138,173; female 189,822) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 3.1% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 12.92 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.87 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 25.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 25.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.49 years male: 68.78 years female: 74.38 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian Ethnic groups: Serb 31%, Bosniak 44%, Croat 17%, Yugoslav 5.5%, other 2.5% (1991) note: Bosniak has replaced muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam Religions: Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%, other 10% Languages: Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% @Bosnia and Herzegovina:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina local long form: none local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina Data code: BK Government type: emerging democracy Capital: Sarajevo Administrative divisions: there are two first-order administrative divisions - the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska; note - Brcko in northeastern Bosnia is a self-governing administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina; it is not part of either the Federation or Republika Srpska Independence: NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia) National holiday: Bosnia and Herzegovina - BiH National Day, 25 November Constitution: the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995, included a new constitution now in force Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal Executive branch: chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Alija IZETBEGOVIC (chairman since 14 February 2000, presidency member since 14 March 1996 - Bosniak); other members of the three-member rotating (every 8 months) presidency: Zivko RADISIC (since 13 October 1998 - Serb) and Ante JELAVIC (since NA September 1998 - Croat) head of government: vacant; note - in February 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that the structure of the Council of Ministers was unconstitutional; a new structure is being negotiated cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairmen note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ejup GANIC (since 28 December 1999; Vice President Ivo ANDRIC-LUZANIC (since 28 December 1999); note - president and vice president rotate every year; President of the Republika Srpska: vacant since Nikola POPLASEN was removed by the Office of the High Representative on 5 March 1999 (see Government note) elections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term; the member with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he or she was the incumbent chairman at the time of the election; election last held 12-13 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2002); the cochairmen of the Council of Ministers are appointed by the presidency election results: percent of vote - Zivko RADISIC with 52% of the Serb vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for the first 8 months; Ante JELAVIC with 52% of the Croat vote followed RADISIC in the rotation; Alija IZETBEGOVIC with 87% of the Bosniak vote won the highest number of votes in the election but was ineligible to serve a second term until RADISIC and JELAVIC had each served a first term as Chairman of the Presidency Legislative branch: bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the National House of Representatives or Vijece Opcina (42 seats - 14 Serb, 14 Croat, and 14 Bosniak; members elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) and the House of Peoples or Vijece Gradanstvo (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve two-year terms) elections: National House of Representatives - elections last held 12-13 September 1998 (next to be held in fall 2000); House of Peoples - last constituted 4 December 1998 (next to be constituted in fall 2000) election results: National House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - KCD 17, HDZ-BiH 6, SDP-BiH 6, Sloga 4, SDS 4, SRS-RS 2, DNZ 1, NHI 1, RSRS 1; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - NA note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that consists of a House of Representatives (140 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms); elections last held fall 1998 (next to be held fall 2000); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - KCD 68, HDZ-BiH 28, SDP-BiH 25, NHI 4, DNZ 3, DSP 2, BPS 2, HSP 2, SPRS 2, BSP 1, KC 1, BOSS 1, HSS 1; and a House of Peoples (72 seats - 30 Bosniak, 30 Croat, and 12 others); last constituted November 1998; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms); elections last held fall 1998 (next to be held fall 2000); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDS 19, KCD 15, SNS 12, SRS-RS 11, SPRS 10, SNSD 6, RSRS 3, SKRS 2, SDP 2, KKO 1, HDZ-BiH 1, NHI 1; as of January 1999, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a permanent election law; a draft law specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order administrative division entity legislatures Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, consists of nine members: four members are selected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives, two members by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of the European Court of Human Rights Political parties and leaders: Bosnian Party of Rights or BSP [leader NA]; Bosnian Party or BOSS ; Bosnian Patriotic Party or BPS ; Center Coalition or KC (includes LBO, RS) ; Civic Democratic Party or GDS ; Coalition for King and Fatherland or KKO (Dubravko Prstojevic]; Coalition for a United and Democratic BIH or KCD [Alija IZETBEGOVIC; includes SDA and SBH]; Croatian Democratic Union of BiH or HDZ-BiH ; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP ; Croatian Peasants Party of BiH or HSS-BiH ; Democratic Party for Banja Luka and Krajina ; Democratic Party of Pensioners or DSP ; Democratic Peoples Union or DNZ ; Liberal Bosniak Organization or LBO ; Liberal Party or LS ; Muslim-Bosnia Organization or MBO ; New Croatian Initiative or NHI ; Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBH ; Party for Democratic Action or SDA ; Party of Democratic Progress of the Republika Srpska ; Party of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD ; Radical Party Republika Srpska of RSRS ; Republican Party or RS [Stjepan KLJUIC]; Serb Coalition for Republika Srpska or SKRS [Predrag LAZAREVIC]; Serb Democratic Party or Serb Lands or SDS [Dragan KALINIC]; Serb National Alliance or SNS ; Serb Radical Party-Republika Srpska or SRS-RS (banned by the Office of the High Representative - see Government note - from participation in the April elections); Sloga or Unity (includes SNS, SPRS, SNSD); Social Democratic Party BIH or SDP-BiH ; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska or SPRS Political pressure groups and leaders: NA International organization participation: CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ; note - Igor DAVIDOVIC should become ambassador in early 2000 chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 337-1500 FAX: (202) 337-1502 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. MILLER embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo mailing address: use street address telephone: (71) 445-700 FAX: (71) 659-722 Flag description: a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle Government - note: The Dayton Agreement, signed in Paris on 14 December 1995, retained Bosnia's exterior border and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. This national government - based on proportional representation similar to that which existed in the former socialist regime - is charged with conducting foreign, economic, and fiscal policy. The Dayton Agreement also recognized a second tier of government, comprised of two entities - a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska (RS) - each presiding over roughly one-half the territory. The Federation and RS governments are charged with overseeing internal functions. The Dayton Agreement established the Office of the High Representative (OHR) to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. About 250 international and 450 local staff members are employed by the OHR. @Bosnia and Herzegovina:Economy Economy - overview: Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture has been almost all in private hands, farms have been small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally has been a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the socialist economic structure of Yugoslavia. 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. The bitter interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1990 to 1995, unemployment to soar, and human misery to multiply. With an uneasy peace in place, output recovered in 1996-98 at high percentage rates on a low base; but output growth slowed appreciably in 1999, and GDP remains far below the 1990 level. Economic data are of limited use because, although both entities issue figures, national-level statistics are not available. Moreover, official data do not capture the large share of activity that occurs on the black market. In 1999, the convertible mark - the national currency introduced in 1998 - gained wider acceptance, and the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina dramatically increased its reserve holdings. Implementation of privatization, however, faltered in both areas. Banking reform is also lagging. The country receives substantial amounts of reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community but will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance. GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,770 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 23% services: 58% (1996 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997 est.) Labor force: 1.026 million Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) Industries: steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining (much of capacity damaged or shut down) (1995) Industrial production growth rate: 5%-10% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 2.22 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 32.43% hydro: 67.57% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 2.065 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock Exports: $450 million (1997 est.) Exports - commodities: NA Exports - partners: NA Imports: $2.95 billion (1997 est.) Imports - commodities: NA Imports - partners: NA Debt - external: $4.1 billion (1997 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $1.2 billion (1997 pledged) Currency: 1 convertible marka (KM) = 100 convertible pfenniga Exchange rates: convertible marks per US$1 - 1.9 (1999) Fiscal year: calendar year @Bosnia and Herzegovina:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 238,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1999) Telephone system: telephone and telegraph network is in need of modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average when compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics domestic: NA international: no satellite earth stations Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 940,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 33 (plus 292 repeaters) (September 1995) Televisions: NA Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) @Bosnia and Herzegovina:Transportation Railways: total: 1,021 km (electrified 795 km; operating as diesel or steam until grids are repaired) standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1995); note - some segments still need repair and/or reconstruction Highways: total: 21,846 km paved: 11,425 km unpaved: 10,421 km (1996 est.) note: roads need maintenance and repair Waterways: NA km; large sections of the Sava blocked by downed bridges, silt, and debris Pipelines: crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992); note - pipelines now disrupted Ports and harbors: Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava none of which are fully operational), Orasje Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 27 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.) Heliports: 4 (1999 est.) @Bosnia and Herzegovina:Military Military branches: Federation Army or VF (composed of both Croatian and Bosniak elements), Army of the Serb Republic (composed of Bosnian Serb elements); note - within both of these forces air and air defense are subordinate commands Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,114,180 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 886,464 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 29,325 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% @Bosnia and Herzegovina:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: disputes with Serbia over Serbian populated areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina Illicit drugs: minor transit point for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes to Western Europe ______________________________________________________________________ BOTSWANA @Botswana:Introduction Background: Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. The economy, closely tied to South Africa's, is dominated by cattle raising and mining. @Botswana:Geography Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 24 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 600,370 sq km land: 585,370 sq km water: 15,000 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas Land boundaries: total: 4,013 km border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers Terrain: predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 47% other: 6% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility Environment - current issues: overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country @Botswana:People Population: 1,576,470 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 321,766; female 318,304) 15-64 years: 55% (male 417,734; female 453,947) 65 years and over: 4% (male 26,436; female 38,283) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.76% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 29.63 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 22.08 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 61.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.27 years male: 38.63 years female: 39.93 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.8 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) Ethnic groups: Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%, white 1% Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50% Languages: English (official), Setswana Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 69.8% male: 80.5% female: 59.9% (1995 est.) @Botswana:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Botswana conventional short form: Botswana former: Bechuanaland Data code: BC Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: Gaborone Administrative divisions: 10 districts and four town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Ngamiland, North-East, Selebi-Pikwe*, South-East, Southern Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 30 September (1966) Constitution: March 1965, effective 30 September 1966 Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since NA April 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; vice president KHAMA is on a one-year leave of absence, effective 1 January 2000, but retains the title of vice president head of government: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since NA April 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; vice president KHAMA is on a one-year leave of absence, effective 1 January 2000, but retains the title of vice president cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004); vice president appointed by the president election results: Festus MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 61.3% Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selected by the other 12) and the National Assembly (44 seats, 40 members are directly elected by popular vote and 4 appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly - elections last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 61.3%, other 38.7%; seats by party - BDP 33, other 7 Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal Political parties and leaders: Botswana Democratic Party or BDP ; Botswana National Front or BNF ; Botswana Congress Party or BCP ; Botswana People's Party or BPP note: main parties are: BDP, BNF, BCP; other minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Kenneth KOMA, chairman] but did not capture any parliamentary seats; the BAM parties are: the United Action Party , the Social Democratic Union, the Independence Freedom Party [Motsamai MPHO], and the Botswana Progressive Union International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kgosi SEEPAPITSO IV chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 244-4990 FAX: (202) 244-4164 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John E. LANGE embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: 353982 FAX: 356947 Flag description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center @Botswana:Economy Economy - overview: Agriculture still provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population but supplies only about 50% of food needs and accounts for only 3% of GDP. Subsistence farming and cattle raising predominate. The sector is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. Diamond mining and tourism also are important to the economy. Substantial mineral deposits were found in the 1970s and the mining sector grew from 25% of GDP in 1980 to 38% in 1998. Unemployment officially is 21% but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. The Orapa 2000 project, which will double the capacity of the country's main diamond mine, will be finished in early 2000. This will be the main force behind continued economic expansion. GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.7 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 6.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,900 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 46% (including 36% mining) services: 50% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: 47% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.7% (1999 est.) Labor force: 235,000 formal sector employees (1995) Labor force - by occupation: 100,000 public sector; 135,000 private sector, including 14,300 who are employed in various mines in South Africa; most others engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1995 est.) Unemployment rate: 20%-40% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.6 billion expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $560 million (FY96/97) Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing Industrial production growth rate: 4.6% (FY92/93) Electricity - production: 1 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 1.619 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 689 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: sorghum, corn, millet, pulses, groundnuts (peanuts), beans, cowpeas, sunflower seed; livestock Exports: $2.36 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: diamonds 72%, vehicles, copper, nickel, meat (1998) Exports - partners: EU 74%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 21%, Zimbabwe 3% (1996) Imports: $2.05 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, textiles, petroleum products Imports - partners: Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 78%, Europe 8%, Zimbabwe 6% (1996) Debt - external: $651 million (1998) Economic aid - recipient: $73 million (1995) Currency: 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe Exchange rates: pulas (P) per US$1 - 4.6168 (January 2000), 4.6244 (1999), 4.2259 (1998), 3.6508 (1997), 3.3242 (1996), 2.7722 (1995) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Botswana:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 78,000 (1998) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: sparse system domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations international: two international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 15, shortwave 5 (1998) Radios: 237,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997) Televisions: 31,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) @Botswana:Transportation Railways: total: 971 km narrow gauge: 971 km 1.067-m gauge (1995) Highways: total: 18,482 km paved: 4,343 km unpaved: 14,139 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: none Airports: 92 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 82 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 57 under 914 m: 21 (1999 est.) @Botswana:Military Military branches: Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and Air Wing), Botswana National Police Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 373,990 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 196,572 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 19,132 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $61 million (FY99/00) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY99/00) @Botswana:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: dispute with Namibia over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River resolved by the ICJ in favor of Botswana (13 December 1999); at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested ______________________________________________________________________ BOUVET ISLAND @Bouvet Island:Geography Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) Geographic coordinates: 54 26 S, 3 24 E Map references: Antarctic Region Area: total: 58.5 sq km land: 58.5 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 29.6 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 4 nm Climate: antarctic Terrain: volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 m; coast is mostly inaccessible Elevation extremes: lowest point: Southern Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 780 m Natural resources: none Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve @Bouvet Island:People Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.) @Bouvet Island:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bouvet Island Data code: BV Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo Flag description: the flag of Norway is used @Bouvet Island:Economy Economy - overview: no economic activity; declared a nature reserve @Bouvet Island:Communications Communications - note: automatic meteorological station @Bouvet Island:Transportation Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only @Bouvet Island:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway @Bouvet Island:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ BRAZIL @Brazil:Introduction Background: Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of the interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, Brazil became Latin America's leading economic power by the 1970s. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem. @Brazil:Geography Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 55 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 8,511,965 sq km land: 8,456,510 sq km water: 55,455 sq km note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US Land boundaries: total: 14,691 km border countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km Coastline: 7,491 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m Natural resources: bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 58% other: 14% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 28,000 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south Environment - current issues: deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers the existence of a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities note: President CARDOSO in September 1999 signed into force an environmental crime bill which for the first time defines pollution and deforestation as crimes punishable by stiff fines and jail sentences Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador @Brazil:People Population: 172,860,370 note: Brazil took an intercensal count in August 1996 which reported a population of 157,079,573; that figure was about 5% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, which is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 25,607,074; female 24,670,960) 15-64 years: 66% (male 55,793,005; female 57,598,489) 65 years and over: 5% (male 3,727,912; female 5,462,930) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.94% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 18.84 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 9.37 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 38.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.94 years male: 58.54 years female: 67.56 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Brazilian(s) adjective: Brazilian Ethnic groups: white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1% Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 80% Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.3% male: 83.3% female: 83.2% (1995 est.) @Brazil:Government Country name: conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil conventional short form: Brazil local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil local short form: Brasil Data code: BR Government type: federative republic Capital: Brasilia Administrative divisions: 26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal) National holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822) Constitution: 5 October 1988 Legal system: based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age Executive branch: chief of state: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 4 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002) election results: Fernando Henrique CARDOSO reelected president; percent of vote - 53% Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from each state or federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after a four year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-year period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Federal Senate - last held 4 October 1998 for one-third of Senate (next to be held NA October 2002 for two-thirds of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 4 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002) election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PMDB 27, PFL 20, PSDB 16, PT 7, PPB 5, PSB 3, PDT 2, PPS 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PFL 106, PSDB 99, PMDB 82, PPB 60, PT 58, PTB 31, PDT 25, PSB 19, PL 12, PCdoB 7, other 14 Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal, 11 judges are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate Political parties and leaders: Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB ; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Jose Carlos MARTINEZ, president]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB ; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB ; Brazilian Progressive Party or PPB [Paulo MALUF, president]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Joao AMAZONAS, chairman]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT ; Liberal Front Party or PFL ; Liberal Party or PL ; Popular Socialist Party or PPS ; Worker's Party or PT [Jose DIRCEU, president] Political pressure groups and leaders: left wing of the Catholic Church, Landless Worker's Movement, and labor unions allied to leftist Worker's Party are critical of government's social and economic policies International organization participation: AfDB, BIS, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rubens Antonio BARBOSA chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 238-2700 FAX: (202) 238-2827 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony S. HARRINGTON embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900 Brazil mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 telephone: (61) 321-7272 FAX: (61) 225-9136 consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo consulate(s): Recife Flag description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress) @Brazil:Economy Economy - overview: Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. In the late eighties and early nineties, high inflation hindered economic activity and investment. The Real Plan, instituted in the spring of 1994, sought to break inflationary expectations by pegging the real to the US dollar. Inflation was brought down to single digit annual figures, but not fast enough to avoid substantial real exchange rate appreciation during the transition phase of the Real Plan. This appreciation meant that Brazilian goods were now more expensive relative to goods from other countries, which contributed to large current account deficits. However, no shortage of foreign currency ensued because of the financial community's renewed interest in Brazilian markets as inflation rates stabilized and the debt crisis of the eighties faded from memory. The maintenance of large current account deficits via capital account surpluses became problematic as investors became more risk averse to emerging market exposure as a consequence of the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the Russian bond default in August 1998. After crafting a fiscal adjustment program and pledging progress on structural reform, Brazil received a $41.5 billion IMF-led international support program in November 1998. In January 1999, the Brazilian Central Bank announced that the real would no longer be pegged to the US dollar. This devaluation helped moderate the downturn in economic growth in 1999 that investors had expressed concerns about over the summer of 1998. Brazil's debt to GDP ratio of 48% for 1999 beat the IMF target and helped reassure investors that Brazil will maintain tight fiscal and monetary policy even with a floating currency. The economy is expected to push growth up to 3% in 2000. GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.057 trillion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 0.8% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,150 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 36% services: 50% (1997) Population below poverty line: 17.4% (1990 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 47.9% (1995) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1999) Labor force: 74 million (1997 est.) Labor force - by occupation: services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27% Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $151 billion expenditures: $149 billion, including capital expenditures of $36 billion (1998) Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment Industrial production growth rate: -2.6% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 316.927 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 4.92% hydro: 91.02% nuclear: 0.99% other: 3.07% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 336.242 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 41.5 billion kWh note: imports electricity from Paraguay (1998) Agriculture - products: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef Exports: $46.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: manufactures, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee Exports - partners: US 18%, Argentina 13%, Germany 5%, Netherlands 5%, Japan 4% (1999) Imports: $48.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemical products, oil, electricity Imports - partners: US 23%, Argentina 12%, Germany 10%, Japan 5%, Italy 5% (1999) Debt - external: $200 billion (1999) Economic aid - recipient: $1.012 billion (1995) Currency: 1 real (R$) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: reals (R$) per US$1 - 1.804 (January 2000), 1.815 (1999), 1.161 (1998), 1.078 (1997), 1.005 (1996), 0.918 (1995) note: from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the official rate was determined by a managed float; since 15 January 1999, the official rate floats independently with respect to the US$ Fiscal year: calendar year @Brazil:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 19 million (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 4 million (1997) Telephone system: good working system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations international: 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to MERCOSUR Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station Radio broadcast stations: AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM stations) (1999) Radios: 71 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 138 (1997) Televisions: 36.5 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 197 (1999) @Brazil:Transportation Railways: total: 27,882 km (1,122 km electrified); note - excludes urban rail broad gauge: 4,057 km 1.600-m gauge narrow gauge: 23,489 km 1.000-m gauge dual gauge: 336 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (1999 est.) Highways: total: 1.98 million km paved: 184,140 km unpaved: 1,795,860 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 50,000 km navigable Pipelines: crude oil 2,980 km; petroleum products 4,762 km; natural gas 4,246 km (1998) Ports and harbors: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos, Vitoria Merchant marine: total: 174 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,964,808 GRT/6,403,284 DWT ships by type: bulk 34, cargo 28, chemical tanker 5, combination ore/oil 9, container 10, liquified gas 10, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 59, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 11, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 3,277 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 541 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 138 914 to 1,523 m: 346 under 914 m: 32 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2,736 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 1,306 under 914 m: 1,357 (1999 est.) @Brazil:Military Military branches: Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes naval air and marines), Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 47,732,285 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 32,029,873 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 1,830,195 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $13.408 billion (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY99) @Brazil:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: two short sections of boundary with Uruguay are in dispute - Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada) area of the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay River Illicit drugs: limited illicit producer of cannabis, minor coca cultivation in the Amazon region, mostly used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for the US and Europe; increasingly used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling ______________________________________________________________________ BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY @British Indian Ocean Territory:Geography Location: Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 71 30 E Map references: World Area: total: 60 sq km land: 60 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 698 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds Terrain: flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation) Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m Natural resources: coconuts, fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility @British Indian Ocean Territory:People Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 3,000 native inhabitants, known as the Chagosians or Ilois, were evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities; in 1995, there were approximately 1,700 UK and US military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors living on the island (July 2000 est.) @British Indian Ocean Territory:Government Country name: conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none abbreviation: BIOT Data code: IO Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London Legal system: NA Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA 1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note - both reside in the UK cabinet: NA elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Flag description: white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag @British Indian Ocean Territory:Economy 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 - production: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by the US military Electricity - consumption: NA kWh @British Indian Ocean Territory:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: NA Telephone system: separate facilities for military and public needs are available domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet international: international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: NA Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @British Indian Ocean Territory:Transportation Highways: total: NA km paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego Garcia unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: Diego Garcia Airports: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.) @British Indian Ocean Territory:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 @British Indian Ocean Territory:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: the Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius and Seychelles ______________________________________________________________________ BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS @British Virgin Islands:Introduction Background: First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were soon after (1672) annexed by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency. @British Virgin Islands:Geography Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 150 sq km land: 150 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the island of Anegada Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 80 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 33% forests and woodland: 7% other: 33% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment) Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico @British Virgin Islands:People Population: 19,615 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 2,022; female 1,975) 15-64 years: 75% (male 7,517; female 7,102) 65 years and over: 5% (male 545; female 454) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.34% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 15.86 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 4.59 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 12.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 21.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.44 years male: 74.57 years female: 76.35 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander Ethnic groups: 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA% @British Virgin Islands:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI Data code: VI Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK Government type: NA Capital: Road Town Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK) Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July Constitution: 1 June 1977 Legal system: English law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Francis J. SAVAGE (since NA) head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3 Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal; (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction Political parties and leaders: Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [E. Walwyn BREWLEY]; Independent People's Movement or IPM [Omar HODGE and Allen O'NEAL]; United Party or UP ; Virgin Islands Party or VIP International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1997. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. An estimated 250,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1997. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959. GDP: purchasing power parity - $287 million (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 6.8% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1998) Labor force: 4,911 (1980) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: 3% (1995) Budget: revenues: $121.5 million expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1985) Electricity - production: 42 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 39 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish Exports: $6 million (1998) Exports - commodities: rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand Exports - partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US Imports: $175 million (1998) Imports - commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery Imports - partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US Debt - external: $36.1 million (1997) Economic aid - recipient: $2.6 million (1995) Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @British Virgin Islands:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 9,000 (1994) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: submarine cable to Bermuda Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 9,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus one cable company) (1997) Televisions: 4,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @British Virgin Islands:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 113 km (1995 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: Road Town Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 3 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) @British Virgin Islands:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK @British Virgin Islands:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ BRUNEI @Brunei:Introduction Background: Although greatly reduced in size since its heyday of the 16th century, the Sultanate of Brunei sits atop extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the less developed countries. @Brunei:Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 5,770 sq km land: 5,270 sq km water: 500 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km Coastline: 161 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 85% other: 12% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare Environment - current issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia Environment - international agreements: party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - 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: 336,376 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 53,812; female 51,628) 15-64 years: 66% (male 118,207; female 103,819) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,317; female 4,593) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.17% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 20.81 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 3.39 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 4.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 14.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.58 years male: 71.23 years female: 76.06 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian Ethnic groups: Malay 62%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 17% Religions: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10% Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.2% male: 92.6% female: 83.4% (1995 est.) @Brunei:Government Country name: conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei Data code: BX Government type: constitutional sultanate Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK) National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984) Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984) Legal system: based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas Suffrage: none Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters note: there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises elections: none; the monarch is hereditary Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch) elections: last held in March 1962 note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms Political parties and leaders: Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay ; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988, it was revived in 1995 and again in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988) International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH Ibni Mohammad Alam chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 342-0159 FAX: (202) 342-0158 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sylvia Gaye STANFIELD embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507 telephone: (2) 229670 FAX: (2) 225293 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: This small, wealthy 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 over half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing. The government has shown progress in its basic policy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion although it has taken steps to become a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Growth in 1999 is estimated at 2.5% due to higher oil prices in the second half. GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,400 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (1996 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1999 est.) Labor force: 144,000 (1995 est.); note - includes foreign workers and military personnel note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991) Labor force - by occupation: government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 4.9% (1995 est.) Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768 million (1995 est.) Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1997 est.) Electricity - production: 2.56 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 2.381 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo Exports: $2.04 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Exports - commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products Exports - partners: Japan 51%, UK 14%, US 10%, Singapore 8%, Thailand 3% (1998) Imports: $1.38 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals Imports - partners: Singapore 32%, UK 17%, Malaysia 12%, France 12%, US 5% (1998) Debt - external: $0 Economic aid - recipient: $4.3 million (1995) Currency: 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.6733 (January 2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar Fiscal year: calendar year @Brunei:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 68,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 57,000 (1998) Telephone system: service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 319,408 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997) Televisions: 196,009 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Brunei:Transportation Railways: total: 13 km (private line) narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge Highways: total: 1,150 km paved: 399 km unpaved: 751 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m Pipelines: crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km Ports and harbors: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT ships by type: liquified gas 7 (1999 est.) Airports: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) Heliports: 3 (1999 est.) @Brunei:Military Military branches: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 104,447 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 60,395 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 2,957 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $343 million (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.1% (FY98) @Brunei:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: possibly involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island ______________________________________________________________________ BULGARIA @Bulgaria:Introduction Background: Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, and Bulgaria began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into the EU and NATO. @Bulgaria:Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey Geographic coordinates: 43 00 N, 25 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 110,910 sq km land: 110,550 sq km water: 360 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee Land boundaries: total: 1,808 km border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km (all with Serbia), Turkey 240 km Coastline: 354 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land Land use: arable land: 43% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 14% forests and woodland: 38% other: 3% (1999 est.) Irrigated land: 12,370 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia @Bulgaria:People Population: 7,796,694 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 623,285; female 591,655) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,610,573; female 2,685,190) 65 years and over: 16% (male 546,029; female 739,962) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: -1.16% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 8.06 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 14.63 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -5.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 15.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.91 years male: 67.45 years female: 74.56 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.13 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 83%, Turk 8.5%, Roma 2.6%, Macedonia, Armenian, Tatar, Gagauz, Circassian, others (1998) Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 83.5%, Muslim 13%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Jewish 0.8%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 1% (1998) Languages: Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1999) @Bulgaria:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria Data code: BU Government type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Sofia Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sofiya, Varna Independence: 22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire) National holiday: Independence Day, 3 March (1878) Constitution: adopted 12 July 1991 Legal system: civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Petar STOYANOV (since 22 January 1997); Vice President Todor KAVALDZHIEV (since 22 January 1997) head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) Ivan KOSTOV (since 19 May 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Petur ZHOTEV (since 21 December 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 October and 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister election results: Petar STOYANOV elected president; percent of vote - Petar STOYANOV 59.73% Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 19 April 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - UtdDF 52%, BSP 22%, ANS 7%, Euro-left 5.5%, BBB 4.95%; seats by party - UtdDF 137, BSP 58, ANS 19, Euro-left 14, BBB 12; note - seating as of May 1997: UtdDF 126, DL 58, ANS 19, Euro-left 17, PU 11, independents 9 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman appointed for a seven-year term by the president; Constitutional Court, 12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year terms Political parties and leaders: Alliance for National Salvation or ANS (coalition led mainly by Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS) ; Bulgarian Business Bloc or BBB ; Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP ; Democratic Left of DL ; Euro-left ; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS (member of LDU) ; People's Union or PU ; Union of Democratic Forces or UtdDF (an alliance of pro-democratic parties) Political pressure groups and leaders: agrarian movement; Bulgarian Agrarian National Union - United or BZNS; Bulgarian Democratic Center; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Democratic Alliance for the Republic or DAR; Gergiov Den; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO; New Union for Democracy or NUD; "Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian Agrarian National Union; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Philip DIMITROV chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 387-0174, 387-0365, 483-1386 FAX: (202) 234-7973 consulate(s): New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILES embassy: 1 Saborna Street, Sofia mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5740 telephone: (2) 980-52-41 through 48 FAX: (2) 981-89-77 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: In April 1997, the current ruling Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) government won pre-term parliamentary elections and introduced an IMF currency board system which succeeded in stabilizing the economy. The triple digit inflation of 1996 and 1997 has given way to an official consumer price increase of 6.2% in 1999. Following declines in GDP in both 1996 and 1997, the economy grew an officially estimated 3.5% in 1998 and 2.5% in 1999. In September 1998, the IMF approved a three-year Extended Fund Facility, which provides credits worth approximately $900 million, designed to support Bulgaria's reform efforts. In 1999, an unfavorable international environment - primarily caused by the Kosovo conflict - and structural reforms slowed economic growth, but forecasters are predicting accelerated growth over the next several years. The government's structural reform program includes: (a) privatization and, where appropriate, liquidation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs); (b) liberalization of agricultural policies, including creating conditions for the development of a land market; (c) reform of the country's social insurance programs; and (d) reforms to strengthen contract enforcement and fight crime and corruption. GDP: purchasing power parity - $34.9 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 29% services: 50% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 24.7% (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.2% (1999 est.) Labor force: 3.82 million (1998 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services 43% (1998 est.) Unemployment rate: 15% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $4.69 billion expenditures: $5.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) Industries: machine building and metal working, food processing, chemicals, construction materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals, nuclear fuel Industrial production growth rate: -3% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 38.423 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 52.34% hydro: 7.35% nuclear: 40.31% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 35.493 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 2 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 1.76 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets Exports: $3.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment; metals, minerals, and fuels; chemicals and plastics; food, tobacco, clothing (1998) Exports - partners: Italy 13%, Germany 10%, Greece 9%, Turkey 8%, Russia (1998) Imports: $5.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: fuels, minerals, and raw materials; machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles (1998) Imports - partners: Russia 20%, Germany 14%, Italy 8%, Greece 6%, US 4% (1998) Debt - external: $10 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $NA Currency: 1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1 - 1.9295 (January 2000), 1.8364 (1999), 1,760.36 (1998), 1,681.88 (1997), 177.89 (1996), 67.17 (1995) note: on 5 July 1999 the lev was re-denominated; the post-5 July 1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 leva Fiscal year: calendar year @Bulgaria:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 3.186 million (1999) Telephones - mobile cellular: 300,000 (1999) Telephone system: more than two-thirds of the lines are residential domestic: extensive but antiquated transmission system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; telephone service is available in most villages; a more modern digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of the regions, the others being connected by digital microwave international: direct dialing to 58 countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2 Intelsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) Radio broadcast stations: AM 24, FM 93, shortwave 2 (1998) Radios: 4.51 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 33 (1999) Televisions: 3.31 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 20 (1999) @Bulgaria:Transportation Railways: total: 4,294 km standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified; 917 km double track) narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (1998) Highways: total: 36,759 km paved: 33,818 km (including 319 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,941 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 470 km (1987) Pipelines: petroleum products 525 km; natural gas 1,500 km (1999) Ports and harbors: Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin Merchant marine: total: 85 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 947,711 GRT/1,449,416 DWT ships by type: bulk 43, cargo 18, chemical tanker 4, container 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7, rail car carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 5, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 216 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 129 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 93 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 75 (1999 est.) @Bulgaria:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Troops, Internal Troops, Railway and Construction Troops Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,913,857 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,599,379 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 57,461 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $379 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY99) Military - note: the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense has begun a new downsizing, modernization, and reform program (PLAN 2004) that will result in the adoption of a smaller force structure of around 50,000 personnel, based upon a Rapid Reaction Force and two additional corps headquarters, all with subordinate brigades @Bulgaria:Transnational Issues Illicit drugs: major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals ______________________________________________________________________ BURKINA FASO @Burkina Faso:Introduction Background: Independence from France came to Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) in 1960. Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. @Burkina Faso:Geography Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Colorado Land boundaries: total: 3,192 km border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 548 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 50% other: 15% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 200 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: recurring droughts Environment - current issues: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban Geography - note: landlocked @Burkina Faso:People Population: 11,946,065 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,866,361; female 2,822,990) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,808,797; female 3,097,048) 65 years and over: 3% (male 149,474; female 201,395) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.71% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 45.26 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 17.04 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 108.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.73 years male: 46.29 years female: 47.18 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.44 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe Ethnic groups: Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10% Languages: French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 19.2% male: 29.5% female: 9.2% (1995 est.) @Burkina Faso:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta Data code: UV Government type: parliamentary Capital: Ouagadougou Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo note: a new electoral code was approved by the National Assembly in January 1997; the number of administrative provinces was increased from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala, Naumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondomo, Zoundweogo), however, this change has not yet been approved by the US Board on Geographic Names Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983) Constitution: 2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law Suffrage: universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Kadre Desire OUEDRAOGO (since 6 February 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the president may serve unlimited terms; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 88% percent of the vote, with 56% of voter turnout note: despite his reelection, President COMPAORE faces a growing political crisis due to his mishandling of an investigation into the assassination of a newspaper editor and pressure for political reform Legislative branch: bicameral; consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (ADP) (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the purely consultative Chamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants (178 seats; members are appointed to serve three-year terms) elections: National Assembly election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDP 101, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Appeals Court Political parties and leaders: African Democratic Rally or RDA [Gerard Kango OUEDRAOGO, Clement SANOU]; Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF ; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP ; Group for Progressive Democrats or GDP [Issa TIENDREBEOGO]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP ; Party for African Independence or PAI ; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Party for Progress and Social Development or PPDS [leader NA]; Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO] Political pressure groups and leaders: Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or HBDHP; Group of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bruno ZIDOUEMBA chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-5577 FAX: (202) 667-1882 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy J. KOLKER embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou telephone: 306723 through 306725 FAX: 303890 Flag description: 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 Faso:Economy Economy - overview: One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. About 90% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of its macroeconomic progress in 2000-2001 depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment. GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.4 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 36% industry: 20% services: 44% (1997) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1999 est.) Labor force: 4.679 million (persons 10 years old and over, according to a sample survey taken in 1991) note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $277 million expenditures: $492 million, including capital expenditures of $233 million (1995 est.) Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1995) Electricity - production: 225 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 64.44% hydro: 35.56% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 209 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock Exports: $311 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Exports - commodities: cotton, animal products, gold Exports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire, Taiwan, France, Colombia, Italy, Mali Imports: $572 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery, food products, petroleum Imports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire, France, Senegal, Togo, Nigeria, US Debt - external: $1.3 billion (1997) Economic aid - recipient: $484.1 million (1995) Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro Fiscal year: calendar year @Burkina Faso:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 30,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995) Telephone system: all services only fair domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 370,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: 100,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Burkina Faso:Transportation Railways: total: 622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire border and 105 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya) narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.) Highways: total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: none Airports: 33 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 16 (1999 est.) @Burkina Faso:Military Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's Militia Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,500,962 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,282,483 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $66 million (FY96) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY96) @Burkina Faso:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ BURMA @Burma:Introduction Background: Despite multiparty elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party winning a decisive victory, the military junta ruling the country refused to hand over power. Key opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG San Suu Kyi, under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, continues to have her activities restricted; her supporters are routinely harassed or jailed. @Burma:Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand Geographic coordinates: 22 00 N, 98 00 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 678,500 sq km land: 657,740 sq km water: 20,760 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas Land boundaries: total: 5,876 km border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km Coastline: 1,930 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m Natural resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 49% other: 34% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 10,680 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts Environment - current issues: deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes @Burma:People Population: 41,734,853 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 6,341,546; female 6,086,650) 15-64 years: 65% (male 13,565,379; female 13,764,242) 65 years and over: 5% (male 885,583; female 1,091,453) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.64% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 20.61 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 12.35 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -1.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 75.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.91 years male: 53.6 years female: 56.29 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Burmese (singular and plural) adjective: Burmese Ethnic groups: 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 1%, other 2% Languages: Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.1% male: 88.7% female: 77.7% (1995 est.) note: these are official statistics; estimates of functional literacy are likely closer to 30% (1999 est.) @Burma:Government Country name: 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 Data code: BM Government type: military regime Capital: Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon) Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular - yin) and 7 states (pyine-mya, singular - pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*, Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon* Independence: 4 January 1948 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948) Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); national convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new constitution; chapter headings and three of 15 sections have been approved Legal system: does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta, so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18 September 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council; the SPDC oversees the cabinet elections: none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation of the former prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NLD 396, NUP 10, other 79 Judicial branch: limited; remnants of the British-era legal system in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not independent of the executive Political parties and leaders: National League for Democracy or NLD ; National Unity Party or NUP (proregime) ; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (proregime, a social and political organization) ; and eight minor legal parties Political pressure groups and leaders: All Burma Student Democratic Front or ABSDF; Kachin Independence Army or KIA; Karen National Union or KNU; National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB consists of individuals legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but not recognized by the military regime; the group fled to a border area and joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government; several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador TIN WINN chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-9044 FAX: (202) 332-9046 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Permanent Charge d'Affaires Priscilla A. CLAPP embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521) mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546 telephone: (1) 282055, 282182 FAX: (1) 280409 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Burma has a mixed economy with private activity dominant in agriculture, light industry, and transport, and with substantial state-controlled activity, mainly in energy, heavy industry, and the rice trade. Government policy in the last 11 years, 1989-99, has aimed at revitalizing the economy after three decades of tight central planning. Thus, private activity has markedly increased; foreign investment has been encouraged, so far with moderate success. State enterprises remain highly inefficient and privatization efforts have stalled. Published estimates of Burma's foreign trade are greatly understated because of the volume of black-market trade. A major ongoing problem is the failure to achieve monetary and fiscal stability. Burma remains a poor Asian country and living standards for the majority have not improved over the past decade. The short-term outlook is for continued sluggish growth because of poor government planning, internal unrest, minimal foreign investment, and the large trade deficit. GDP: purchasing power parity - $59.4 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4.6% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 59% industry: 11% services: 30% (1997 est.) Population below poverty line: 23% (1997 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 38% (1999 est.) Labor force: 19.7 million (FY98/99 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 10%, services 25% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 7.1% (official FY97/98 est.) Budget: revenues: $7.9 billion expenditures: $12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7 billion (FY96/97) Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 4.31 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.72% hydro: 38.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 4.008 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: paddy rice, corn, oilseed, sugarcane, pulses; hardwood Exports: $1.2 billion (1998) Exports - commodities: pulses and beans, prawns, fish, rice; teak, opiates Exports - partners: India 13%, China 11%, Singapore 10%, Thailand 8% (1998) Imports: $2.5 billion (1998) Imports - commodities: machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, food products Imports - partners: Singapore 31%, Japan 12%, Thailand 12%, China 9%, Malaysia 8% (1998) Debt - external: $5.9 billion (FY98/99 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $99 million (FY98/99) Currency: 1 kyat (K) = 100 pyas Exchange rates: kyats (K) per US$1 - official rate - 6.2665 (January 2000), 6.2858 (1999), 6.3432 (1998), 6.2418 (1997), 5.9176 (1996), 5.6670 (1995); kyats (K) per US$1 - market exchange rate - 330 (yearend 1999) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Burma:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 158,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,007 (1995) Telephone system: meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government; international service is good domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998) Radios: 4.2 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 2 (1998) Televisions: 260,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 0 (1999) @Burma:Transportation Railways: total: 3,991 km narrow gauge: 3,991 km 1.000-m gauge Highways: total: 28,200 km paved: 3,440 km unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 12,800 km; 3,200 km navigable by large commercial vessels Pipelines: crude oil 1,343 km; natural gas 330 km Ports and harbors: Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina, Rangoon, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy Merchant marine: total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 472,284 GRT/716,533 DWT ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 20, container 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries: Japan owns 2 ships, US 3 (1998 est.) Airports: 80 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 70 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 32 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @Burma:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 11,865,696 females age 15-49: 11,894,661 note: both sexes liable for military service (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 6,334,750 females age 15-49: 6,334,937 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 483,964 females: 468,221 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $39 million (FY97/98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.1% (FY97/98) @Burma:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: sporadic conflict with Thailand over alignment of border Illicit drugs: world's second largest producer of illicit opium, after Afghanistan (potential production in 1999 - 1,090 metric tons, down 38% due to drought; cultivation in 1999 - 89,500 hectares, a 31% decline from 1998); surrender of drug warlord KHUN SA's Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was hailed by Rangoon as a major counternarcotics success, but lack of government will and ability to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; becoming a major source of methamphetamines for regional consumption ______________________________________________________________________ BURUNDI @Burundi:Introduction Background: Between 1993 and 1999, ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi created hundreds of thousands of refugees and left at least 250,000 dead. Although many refugees have returned from neighboring countries, continued ethnic strife has forced others to flee. Burundian troops, seeking to secure their borders, have intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. @Burundi:Geography Location: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S, 30 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 27,830 sq km land: 25,650 sq km water: 2,180 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland Land boundaries: total: 974 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower Land use: arable land: 44% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 36% forests and woodland: 3% other: 8% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: flooding, landslides Environment - current issues: soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban Geography - note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed @Burundi:People Population: 6,054,714 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 1,442,585; female 1,411,908) 15-64 years: 50% (male 1,485,177; female 1,541,754) 65 years and over: 3% (male 71,998; female 101,292) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 3.15% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 40.46 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 16.44 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 7.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 71.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.18 years male: 45.23 years female: 47.16 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.25 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundi Ethnic groups: Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000 Religions: Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10% Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.3% male: 49.3% female: 22.5% (1995 est.) @Burundi:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republika y'u Burundi local short form: Burundi Data code: BY Government type: republic Capital: Bujumbura Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi note: there may be a new province named Mwaro Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962) Constitution: 13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult Executive branch: chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA May 1998), Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA May 1998); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA May 1998), Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA May 1998); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 25 July 1996 in which former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (121 seats; note - new Transitional Constitution expanded the number of seats from 81 to 121 in 1998; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996) election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA 21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, various other parties 40 Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme Political parties and leaders: Unity for National Progress or UPRONA ; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president] note: opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA ; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Cyrille SIGEJEJE, chairman]; Party for National Redress or PARENA ; Socialist Party of Burundi or PSB ; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP Political pressure groups and leaders: Loosely organized Tutsi militias International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 342-2574 FAX: (202) 342-2578 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Catlin YATES embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone: (2) 223454 FAX: (2) 222926 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantely agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore rests largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 250,000 persons and the displacement of about 800,000 others. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply. GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.2 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -1% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $730 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 46% industry: 17% services: 37% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: 36.2% (1990 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 26% (1999 est.) Labor force: 1.9 million Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 93%, government 4%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5% (1983 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $125 million expenditures: $176 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 127 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.57% hydro: 98.43% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 153 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 35 million kWh note: imports some electricity from Democratic Republic of the Congo (1998) Agriculture - products: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides Exports: $56 million (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides Exports - partners: UK, Germany, Benelux, Switzerland (1998) Imports: $108 million (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs Imports - partners: Benelux, France, Zambia, Germany, Kenya, Japan (1998) Debt - external: $1.247 billion (1997 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $1.344 billion (1999 est.) Currency: 1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1 - 626.79 (January 2000), 563.56 (1999), 477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997), 302.75 (1996), 249.76 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Burundi:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 17,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 343 (1995) Telephone system: primitive system domestic: sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 440,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1999) Televisions: 25,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Burundi:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 14,480 km paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1996 est.) Waterways: Lake Tanganyika Ports and harbors: Bujumbura Airports: 4 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Burundi:Military Military branches: Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary Gendarmerie Military manpower - military age: 16 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,344,177 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 701,367 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 76,866 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $25 million (FY93) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.6% (FY93) @Burundi:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ CAMBODIA @Cambodia:Introduction Background: Following a five-year struggle, communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns; over 1 million displaced people died from execution or enforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and touched off 13 years of fighting. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy, as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after national elections in 1998, brought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces. @Cambodia:Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 105 00 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 181,040 sq km land: 176,520 sq km water: 4,520 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oklahoma Land boundaries: total: 2,572 km border countries: 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 Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north Elevation extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m Natural resources: timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 66% other: 10% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 920 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts Environment - current issues: illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998 Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping Geography - note: a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap @Cambodia:People Population: 12,212,306 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 2,610,009; female 2,505,932) 15-64 years: 55% (male 3,132,198; female 3,542,655) 65 years and over: 3% (male 173,179; female 248,333) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.27% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 33.48 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 10.79 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 66.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.53 years male: 54.44 years female: 58.74 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.82 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Cambodian(s) adjective: Cambodian Ethnic groups: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4% Religions: Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5% Languages: Khmer (official) 95%, French, English Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35% male: 48% female: 22% (1990 est.) @Cambodia:Government Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia conventional short form: Cambodia local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea local short form: Kampuchea Data code: CB Government type: multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993 Capital: Phnom Penh Administrative divisions: 20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 3 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu* (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev note: there may be a new municipality called Pailin Independence: 9 November 1953 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 9 November (1953) Constitution: promulgated 21 September 1993 Legal system: primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing influence of common law in recent years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993) head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council; prime minister appointed by the monarch after a vote of confidence by the National Assembly Legislative branch: bicameral consists of the National Assembly (122 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by "functional constituencies"; members serve five-year terms elections: National Assembly - last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%, SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party - CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7 Judicial branch: Supreme Council of the Magistracy, provided for in the constitution, was formed in December 1997; a Supreme Court and lower courts exercise judicial authority Political parties and leaders: Buddhist Liberal Party or BLP [IENG MOULY]; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party or CPP ; Khmer Citizen Party or KCP ; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC ; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP (formerly Khmer Nation Party or KNP) International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roland ENG chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: (202) 726-7742 FAX: (202) 726-8381 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kent M. WIEDEMANN embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: (23) 216-436, 216-438 FAX: (23) 216-811 Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red band @Cambodia:Economy Economy - overview: After four years of solid macroeconomic performance, Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting. Foreign investment and tourism fell off. Also, in 1998 the main harvest was hit by drought. But in 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms and growth resumed at 4%. The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Recurring political instability and corruption within government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. On the brighter side, the government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors. So long as political stability lasts, the Cambodian economy is likely to grow at a respectable pace. GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.2 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $710 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 43% industry: 20% services: 37% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: 36% (1997 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1999 est.) Labor force: 6 million (1998 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.8% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $327 million expenditures: $393 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) Industries: garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 210 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.52% hydro: 40.48% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 195 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables Exports: $821 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: timber, garments, rubber, rice, fish Exports - partners: US, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, US Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: cigarettes, gold, construction materials, petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles Imports - partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand Debt - external: $829 million (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $470 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2000 by international donors Currency: 1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen Exchange rates: new riels (CR) per US$1 - 3,786.0 (January 2000), 3,807.8 (1999), 3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624.1 (1996), 2,450.8 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Cambodia:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 21,800 (mid-1998) Telephones - mobile cellular: 34,880 (1998) Telephone system: adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; rural areas have little telephone service domestic: NA international: adequate but expensive landline and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1999) Radios: 1.34 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 5 (1999) Televisions: 94,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) @Cambodia:Transportation Railways: total: 603 km narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge Highways: total: 35,769 km paved: 4,165 km unpaved: 31,604 km (1997 est.) Waterways: 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m or less Ports and harbors: Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh Merchant marine: total: 211 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 953,105 GRT/1,345,766 DWT ships by type: bulk 20, cargo 166, combination bulk 1, container 5, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off 6 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 8 countries: Aruba 1, Cyprus 7, Egypt 1, South Korea 1, Malta 1, Panama 1, Russia 5, Singapore 1 (1998 est.) Airports: 19 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11 (1999 est.) Heliports: 3 (1999 est.) @Cambodia:Military Military branches: Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), including Army, Navy, and Air Force - created in 1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist resistance armies note: there are also resistance forces comprised of the Khmer Rouge (also known as the National United Army or NUA) and a separate royalist resistance movement Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,763,568 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,547,078 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 156,119 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $85 million (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.4% (FY98) @Cambodia:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: offshore islands and sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined; parts of border with Thailand are indefinite; maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly defined Illicit drugs: transshipment site for Golden Triangle heroin; possible money laundering; narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for the international market ______________________________________________________________________ CAMEROON @Cameroon:Introduction Background: The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy. @Cameroon:Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria Geographic coordinates: 6 00 N, 12 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 475,440 sq km land: 469,440 sq km water: 6,000 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than California Land boundaries: total: 4,591 km border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km Coastline: 402 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 50 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Fako 4,095 m Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 78% other: 3% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 210 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases Environment - current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Geography - note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa @Cameroon:People Population: 15,421,937 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 3,326,334; female 3,251,402) 15-64 years: 54% (male 4,181,038; female 4,153,680) 65 years and over: 3% (male 235,741; female 273,742) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.47% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 36.6 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 11.89 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 70.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.82 years male: 54.01 years female: 55.64 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.88 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Cameroonian(s) adjective: Cameroonian Ethnic groups: 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 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20% Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 63.4% male: 75% female: 52.1% (1995 est.) @Cameroon:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon former: French Cameroon Data code: CM Government type: unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990) note: preponderance of power remains with the president 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), 1 October 1961 (for areas ruled by Britain under UN trusteeship) National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972) Constitution: 20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law influence; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19 September 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 92.6%; note - supporters of the opposition candidates boycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote shares relatively meaningless Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature) elections: last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RDCP 109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC 1; note - results from 7 contested seats were cancelled by the Supreme Court and have yet to be filled note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC ; Cameroon Liberation and Development Movement or MLDC ; Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People or RDPC (the RDPC or its predecessor parties have ruled since independence) ; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR ; Movement for the Liberation of Cameroonian Youths or MLJC ; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP ; Social Democratic Front or SDF ; Union of Cameroonian Populations or UPC-K Political pressure groups and leaders: Alliance for Change or FAC ; Cameroon Anglophone Movement or CAM [Vishe FAI, secretary general]; Southern Cameroon National Council International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-8790 FAX: (202) 387-3826 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: 23-45-52 FAX: 23-07-53 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The government, however, has failed to press forward vigorously with these programs. The latest enhanced structural adjustment agreement was signed in October 1997; the parties hope this will prove more successful, yet government mismanagement and corruption remain problems. Inflation has been brought back under control. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry should support continued economic growth in 2000. GDP: purchasing power parity - $31.5 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 22% services: 36% (1997 est.) Population below poverty line: 40% (1984 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1999 est.) Labor force: NA Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17% Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.) Budget: revenues: $2.23 billion expenditures: $2.23 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.) Industries: petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 3.285 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.59% hydro: 97.41% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 3.055 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton Exports - partners: Italy 25%, Spain 20%, France 16%, Netherlands 7% (1997 est.) Imports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: machines and electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food Imports - partners: France 25%, Nigeria 8%, US 8%, Germany 6% (1997 est.) Debt - external: $11.5 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $606.1 million (1995); note - France signed two loan agreements totaling $55 million in September 1997, and the Paris Club agreed in October 1997 to reduce the official debt by 50% and to reschedule it on favorable terms with a consolidation of payments due through 2000 Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June @Cameroon:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 60,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,800 (1995) Telephone system: available only to business and government domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998) Radios: 2.27 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1998) Televisions: 450,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Cameroon:Transportation Railways: total: 1,104 km narrow gauge: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.) Highways: total: 34,300 km paved: 4,288 km unpaved: 30,012 km (1995 est.) Waterways: 2,090 km; of decreasing importance Ports and harbors: Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko Airports: 50 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 11 (1999 est.) @Cameroon:Military Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,653,548 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,847,871 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 169,661 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $155 million (FY98/99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY98/99) @Cameroon:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is complete and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula and Lake Chad is currently before the ICJ, as is a dispute with Equatorial Guinea over the exclusive maritime economic zone ______________________________________________________________________ CANADA @Canada:Introduction Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Its paramount political problem continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country. @Canada:Geography Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 95 00 W Map references: North America Area: total: 9,976,140 sq km land: 9,220,970 sq km water: 755,170 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than the US Land boundaries: total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska) Coastline: 243,791 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m Natural resources: iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 54% other: 38% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 7,100 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow Environment - current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation Geography - note: second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US/Canada border @Canada:People Population: 31,281,092 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 3,077,994; female 2,932,821) 15-64 years: 68% (male 10,714,305; female 10,591,494) 65 years and over: 13% (male 1,683,704; female 2,280,774) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.02% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 11.41 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.39 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.43 years male: 76.02 years female: 83 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26% Religions: Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 40%, other 18% Languages: English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5% Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% (1986 est.) male: NA% female: NA% @Canada:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada Data code: CA Government type: confederation with parliamentary democracy Capital: Ottawa Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory* Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK) National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867) Constitution: 17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the machinery of the government was set up in the British North America Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993) cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons is automatically designated by the governor general to become prime minister Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (a body whose members are appointed to serve until reaching 75 years of age by the governor general and selected on the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Commons - last held 2 June 1997 (next to be held by NA June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 38%, Reform Party 19%, Progressive Conservative Party 19%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 11%, other 2%; seats by party - Liberal Party 155, Reform Party 60, Bloc Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 21, Progressive Conservative Party 20, independents 1 note: seats by party as of December 1999 - Liberal Party 157, Reform Party 57, Bloc Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 20, Progressive Conservative Party 19, independents 4 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general Political parties and leaders: Bloc Quebecois ; Liberal Party ; New Democratic Party ; Progressive Conservative Party ; Reform Party [Preston MANNING] International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 telephone: (202) 682-1740 FAX: (202) 682-7726 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle consulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon D. GIFFIN embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430 telephone: (613) 238-5335, 4470 FAX: (613) 238-5720 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. 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. Real rates of growth have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment is falling and government budget surpluses are being partially devoted to reducing the large public sector debt. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) have touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Two shadows loom, the first being the continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas, which has been raising the possibility of a split in the federation. Another long-term concern is the flow south to the US of professional persons lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense high-tech infrastructure. GDP: purchasing power parity - $722.3 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 3.6% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,300 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 31% services: 66% (1998) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1999) Labor force: 15.9 million (1999) Labor force - by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 16%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 1% (1997) Unemployment rate: 7.6% (1999) Budget: revenues: $121.8 billion expenditures: $115.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1998) Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas Industrial production growth rate: 4.3% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 550.852 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 27.18% hydro: 59.77% nuclear: 12.25% other: 0.8% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 484.515 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 39.502 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 11.725 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish Exports: $277 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment, electricity Exports - partners: US 84%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China (1998) Imports: $259.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods, electricity Imports - partners: US 77%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea (1998) Debt - external: $253 billion (1996) Economic aid - donor: ODA, $2.1 billion (1997) Currency: 1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.4489 (January 2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Canada:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 18.5 million (1999) Telephones - mobile cellular: 3 million (1999) Telephone system: excellent service provided by modern technology domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) Radio broadcast stations: AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998) Radios: 32.3 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 80 (plus many repeaters) (1997) Televisions: 21.5 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 750 (1999 est.) @Canada:Transportation Railways: total: 36,114 km; note - there are two major transcontinental freight railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own standard gauge: 36,114 km 1.435-m gauge (156 km electrified) (1998) Highways: total: 901,902 km paved: 318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways) unpaved: 583,531 km (1999 est.) Waterways: 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway Pipelines: crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km Ports and harbors: Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney, Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor Merchant marine: total: 114 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,602,275 GRT/2,371,146 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 61, cargo 11, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 2, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 16, rail car carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off 8, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.) note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes (1998 est.) Airports: 1,411 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 515 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 152 914 to 1,523 m: 240 under 914 m: 90 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 896 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 362 under 914 m: 461 (1999 est.) Heliports: 15 (1999 est.) @Canada:Military Military branches: Canadian Forces (includes Land Forces Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 8,282,846 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 7,086,335 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 212,701 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $7.4 billion (FY97/98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY97/98) @Canada:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: maritime boundary disputes with the US (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island) 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 ______________________________________________________________________ CAPE VERDE @Cape Verde:Introduction Background: The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African slaves. Most Cape Verdeans descend from both groups. Independence was achieved in 1975. @Cape Verde:Geography Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W Map references: World Area: total: 4,033 sq km land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 965 km Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island) Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin, fish Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 83% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active Environment - current issues: overgrazing of livestock and improper land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; overfishing Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - 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: 401,343 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 88,202; female 86,630) 15-64 years: 50% (male 95,079; female 105,928) 65 years and over: 6% (male 10,043; female 15,461) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.98% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 29.67 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.38 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -12.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 54.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.91 years male: 65.63 years female: 72.29 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.19 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1% Religions: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene) Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.6% male: 81.4% female: 63.8% (1995 est.) @Cape Verde:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde conventional short form: Cape Verde local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde local short form: Cabo Verde Data code: CV Government 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 note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 districts (Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau, Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal) Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal) National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975) Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992 Legal system: derived from the legal system of Portugal Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2001); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president election results: Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro reelected president; percent of vote - Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1% Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - MPD 61.3%, PAICV 29.8%, PCD 6.7%, other 2.2%; seats by party - MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1 Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia Political parties and leaders: African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV ; Movement for Democracy or MPD ; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Dr. Oresimo SILVEIRA, president] International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPES chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 965-6820 FAX: (202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICT embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: 61 56 16 FAX: 61 13 55 Flag description: three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands @Cape Verde:Economy Economy - overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for almost 70% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 1998 was only 13%, of which fishing accounts for 1.5%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances constitute a supplement to GDP of more than 20%. Economic reforms, launched by the new democratic government in 1991, are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 2000 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program. GDP: purchasing power parity - $618 million (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,500 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (1998) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1999) Labor force: NA Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $188 million expenditures: $228 million, including capital expenditures of $116 million (1996) Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 40 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 37 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish Exports: $38 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: fuel, shoes, garments, fish, bananas, hides Exports - partners: Portugal, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Malaysia Imports: $225 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels Imports - partners: Portugal, Netherlands, France, UK, Spain, US Debt - external: $220 million (1998) Economic aid - recipient: $111.3 million (1995) Currency: 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 107.280 (December 1999), 102.700 (1999), 98.158 (1998), 93.177 (1997), 82.591 (1996), 76.853 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Cape Verde:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 22,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog and digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarine fiber-optic cable system which was scheduled for completion in 1998 international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 73,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: 2,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Cape Verde:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 1,100 km paved: 858 km unpaved: 242 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal Merchant marine: total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,523 GRT/11,795 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 6 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1999 est.) @Cape Verde:Military Military branches: single branch that includes both ground and naval elements Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 86,675 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 49,069 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $4 million (FY96) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY96) @Cape Verde:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe ______________________________________________________________________ CAYMAN ISLANDS @Cayman Islands:Introduction Background: The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica from 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent. @Cayman Islands:Geography Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 259 sq km land: 259 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 160 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff 43 m Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 23% other: 69% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November) Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment Geography - note: important location between Cuba and Central America @Cayman Islands:People Population: 34,763 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.36% (male 3,769; female 4,005) 15-64 years: 69.84% (male 11,864; female 12,416) 65 years and over: 7.79% (male 1,241; female 1,468) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.22% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 14.21 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 13.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US Sex ratio: at birth: 0.86 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 10.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.88 years male: 76.1 years female: 81.27 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian Ethnic groups: 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 Languages: English Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.) @Cayman Islands:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands Data code: CJ Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK Government type: British crown colony Capital: George Town Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July) Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992 Legal system: British common law and local statutes Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council Peter SMITH (since 5 May 1999) cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - National Team coalition 9, independents 6 Judicial branch: Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties note: the National Team, an organization formed in 1992 to oppose some proposals in the constitutional draft, continues to exert legislative power International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million visitors in 1997. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world. GDP: purchasing power parity - $930 million (1997 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1997 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $24,500 (1997 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1998) Labor force: 19,820 (1995) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995) Unemployment rate: 5.1% (1996) Budget: revenues: $265.2 million expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 290 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 270 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming Exports: $2.17 million (1997) Exports - commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods Exports - partners: mostly US Imports: $432 million (1997) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods Imports - partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan Debt - external: $70 million (1996) Economic aid - recipient: $NA Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Cayman Islands:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 19,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,534 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: NA international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 36,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: NA Televisions: 7,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Cayman Islands:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 406 km paved: 304 km unpaved: 102 km Ports and harbors: Cayman Brac, George Town Merchant marine: total: 85 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,139,740 GRT/1,693,212 DWT ships by type: bulk 18, cargo 10, chemical tanker 14, container 4, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 26, roll-on/roll-off 6, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11 countries among which are: Greece 15, US 5, UK 5, Cyprus 2, Denmark 2, Norway 3 (1998 est.) Airports: 3 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Cayman Islands:Military Military branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK @Cayman Islands:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: vulnerable to drug money laundering and drug transshipment ______________________________________________________________________ CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC @Central African Republic:Introduction Background: The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - a civilian government was installed in 1993. @Central African Republic:Geography Location: Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 622,984 sq km land: 622,984 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas Land boundaries: total: 5,203 km border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest Elevation extremes: lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 75% other: 17% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common Environment - current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Geography - note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa @Central African Republic:People Population: 3,512,751 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 768,550; female 757,710) 15-64 years: 53% (male 909,463; female 946,083) 65 years and over: 4% (male 58,224; female 72,721) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.77% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 37.52 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 18.44 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 106.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.02 years male: 42.26 years female: 45.84 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.95 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African Ethnic groups: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 1,500 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60% male: 68.5% female: 52.4% (1995 est.) @Central African Republic:Government Country name: 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 Data code: CT Government type: republic Capital: Bangui Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the republic) Constitution: passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995 Legal system: based on French law Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (since 4 January 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 19 September 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ange-Felix PATASSE reelected president; percent of vote - Ange-Felix PATASSE 51.63%, Andre KOLINGBA 19.38%, David DACKO 11.15% Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - there were 85 seats in the National Assembly before the 1998 election) elections: last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD 9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%, independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD 6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7; note - results of election are being contested note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together they are called the Congress or Congres Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP ; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC ; Democratic Forum or FODEM ; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD ; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD ; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC ; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP ; People's Union for the Republic or UPR ; National Unity Party or PUN ; Social Democratic Party or PSD International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-7800 FAX: (202) 332-9893 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. PERRY embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: 61 26 21 FAX: 61 44 94 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for nearly 54%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in 1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a drop in GDP of 2%. Ongoing violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and political representation has destroyed many businesses in the capital and reduced tax revenues for the government. The IMF approved an Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998. The government has set targets of annual 5% growth and 2.5% inflation for 2000-2001. GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 53% industry: 21% services: 26% (1997 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1999 est.) Labor force: NA Unemployment rate: 6% (1993) Budget: revenues: $638 million expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888 million (1994 est.) Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 105 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 19.05% hydro: 80.95% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 98 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber Exports: $195 million (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco Exports - partners: Benelux 36%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Spain 4%, Egypt 3%, France (1997) Imports: $170 million (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products Imports - partners: France 30%, Cote d'Ivoire 18%, Cameroon 11%, Germany 4%, Japan (1997) Debt - external: $790 million (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $172.2 million (1995); note - traditional budget subsidies from France Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro Fiscal year: calendar year @Central African Republic:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 8,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 79 (1995) Telephone system: fair system domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 283,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: NA Televisions: 18,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Central African Republic:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 23,810 km paved: 429 km unpaved: 23,381 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river Ports and harbors: Bangui, Nola Airports: 52 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 49 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 15 (1999 est.) @Central African Republic:Military Military branches: Central African Armed Forces (includes Republican Guard and Air Force), Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, Police Force Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 804,941 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 420,619 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $29 million (FY96) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.2% (FY96) @Central African Republic:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ CHAD @Chad:Introduction Background: Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. A transitional government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution, and held multiparty presidential and National Assembly elections in 1996 and 1997 respectively. In 1998 a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which continued to escalate throughout 1999. Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remains in the hands of a northern ethnic oligarchy. @Chad:Geography Location: Central Africa, south of Libya Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 19 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 1.284 million sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of California Land boundaries: total: 5,968 km border countries: 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) Climate: tropical in south, desert in north Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south Elevation extremes: lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad) Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 36% forests and woodland: 26% other: 35% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping Geography - note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel @Chad:People Population: 8,424,504 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,022,339; female 1,994,978) 15-64 years: 49% (male 1,964,216; female 2,204,902) 65 years and over: 3% (male 99,459; female 138,610) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 3.31% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 48.81 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 15.71 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 96.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.49 years male: 48.5 years female: 52.56 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.63 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian Ethnic groups: Muslims, commonly referred to as "northerners" or "gorane" (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba); non-Muslims, commonly referred to as "southerners" (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa) including nonindigenous 150,000 (of whom 1,000 are French) note: ethnicity and regional background more commonly used to identify Chadians than religious affiliation Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mostly animism) 25% Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic total population: 48.1% male: 62.1% female: 34.7% (1995 est.) @Chad:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form: Republique du Tchad local short form: Tchad Data code: CD Government type: republic Capital: N'Djamena Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 11 August (1960) Constitution: passed by referendum 31 March 1995 Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Nagdum YAMASSOUM (since 13 December 1999) cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second round of voting; last held 2 June and 11 July 1996 (next to be held June 2001); prime minister appointed by the president election results: in the first round of voting none of the 15 candidates received the required 50% of the total vote; percent of vote, first round - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 43.8%, Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE 12.4%; percent of vote, second round - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 69.1%, Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE 30.9% note: government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URD Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); replaces the Higher Transitional Council or the Conseil Superieur de Transition elections: National Assembly - last held in two rounds on 5 January and 23 February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001); in the first round of voting some candidates won clear victories by receiving 50% or more of the vote; where that did not happen, the two highest scoring candidates stood for a second round of voting election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPS 65, URD 29, UNDR 15, RDP 3, others 13 Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts Political parties and leaders: National Union for Development and Renewal or UNDR ; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS (originally in opposition but now the party in power and the party of the president); Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP ; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hassaballah Abdelhadi Ahmat SOUBIANE chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 462-4009 FAX: (202) 265-1937 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher GOLDTHWAIT embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: (51) 70-09, (51) 90-52, (51) 92-33 FAX: (51) 56-54 Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France @Chad:Economy Economy - overview: Landlocked Chad's economic development suffers from it's geographic remoteness, drought, lack of infrastructure, and political turmoil. About 85% of the population depends on agriculture, including the herding of livestock. Of Africa's Francophone countries, Chad benefited least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies in January 1994. Financial aid from the World Bank, the African Development Fund, and other sources is directed largely at the improvement of agriculture, especially livestock production. Due to lack of financing, the development of the Doba Basin oil fields, originally due to finish in 2000, has been substantially delayed. GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.6 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 0.6% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 14% services: 48% (1998) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1998 est.) Labor force: NA Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 85% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $198 million expenditures: $218 million, including capital expenditures of $146 million (1998 est.) Industries: cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995) Electricity - production: 100 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 93 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels Exports: $288 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: cotton, cattle, textiles Exports - partners: Portugal 30%, Germany 14%, Thailand, Costa Rica, South Africa, France (1997) Imports: $359 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles Imports - partners: France 41%, Nigeria 10%, Cameroon 7%, India 6% (1997) Debt - external: $1 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $238.3 million (1995); note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro Fiscal year: calendar year @Chad:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 5,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995) Telephone system: primitive system domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 5 (1998) Radios: 1.67 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: 10,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Chad:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 2,000 km navigable Ports and harbors: none Airports: 49 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.) @Chad:Military Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Rapid Intervention Force, Police, Rural and Nomadic Guard (GNNT) Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,749,033 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 915,664 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 79,596 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $39 million (FY96) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.5% (FY96) @Chad:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, has been completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria ______________________________________________________________________ CHILE @Chile:Introduction Background: A three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, which ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, first implemented by the PINOCHET dictatorship, led to unprecedented growth in 1991-97 and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Growth slowed in 1998-99, but will likely recover in 2000. @Chile:Geography Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 756,950 sq km land: 748,800 sq km water: 8,150 sq km note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez Area - comparative: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana Land boundaries: total: 6,171 km border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km Coastline: 6,435 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200/350 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 22% other: 55% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 12,650 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions @Chile:People Population: 15,153,797 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 2,137,826; female 2,044,546) 15-64 years: 65% (male 4,919,060; female 4,958,030) 65 years and over: 7% (male 453,234; female 641,101) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.17% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 17.19 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.52 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.74 years male: 72.43 years female: 79.22 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2% Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL Languages: Spanish Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.2% male: 95.4% female: 95% (1995 est.) @Chile:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Chile conventional short form: Chile local long form: Republica de Chile local short form: Chile Data code: CI Government 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 (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810) Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989 and in 1993 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; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1999, with runoff election held 16 January 2000 (next to be held NA December 2005) election results: Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68% Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by popular vote and 10 appointed (all former presidents are senators for life); members serve eight-year terms - one-half elected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2001); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2001) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPD (PDC 14, PS 4, PPD 2), UPP 17 (RN 7, UDI 10), Chile 2000 (UCCP) 1, independents 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CPD 50.55% (PDC 22.98%, PS 11.10%, PPD 12.55%, PRSD 3.13%), UPP 36.23% (RN 16.78%, UDI 14.43%); seats by party - CPD 70 (PDC 39, PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11), UPP 46 (RN 24, UDI 21, Party of the South 1), right-wing independents 4 Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, judges are appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself, the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 21-member court; Constitutional Tribunal Political parties and leaders: Chile 2000 - main party is UCCP ; Christian Democratic Party or PDC ; Coalition of Parties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD - including PDC, PS, PPD, PRSD; Independent Democratic Union or UDI ; National Renewal or RN ; Party for Democracy or PPD ; Party of the South or PS ; Progressive Center-Center Union or UCCP ; Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD ; Socialist Party or PS ; Union for the Progress of Chile ("Alliance for Chile") or UPP - including RN and UDI Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university student federations at all major universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations International organization participation: APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mario ARTAZA chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 785-1746 FAX: (202) 887-5579 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John O'LEARY embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago mailing address: APO AA 34033 telephone: (2) 232-2600 FAX: (2) 330-3710 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the military government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during the period 1991-1997, but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and lower export earnings - the latter a product of the global financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in 1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of 1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and a return to strong growth in 2000 is likely. The inauguration of Ricardo LAGOS in March 2000, succeeding Eduardo FREI, will keep the presidency in the hands of the center-left Concertacion coalition that has held office since the return of civilian rule in 1990. GDP: purchasing power parity - $185.1 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -1% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $12,400 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 33% services: 61% (1999) Population below poverty line: 22% (1998 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 41.3% (1998) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.4% (1999 est.) Labor force: 5.8 million (1999 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 14%, industry 27%, services 59% (1997 est.) Unemployment rate: 9% (1999) Budget: revenues: $17 billion expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles Industrial production growth rate: -1.3% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 37.49 billion kWh (1999) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 50% hydro: 50% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (December 1999) Electricity - consumption: 26.665 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber Exports: $15.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: copper, fish, fruits, paper and pulp, chemicals Exports - partners: EU 27%, US 16%, Japan 14%, Brazil 6%, Argentina 5% (1998) Imports: $13.9 billion (c.i.f., 1999) Imports - commodities: consumer goods, chemicals, motor vehicles, fuels, electrical machinery, heavy industrial machinery, food Imports - partners: US 24%, EU 23%, Argentina 11%, Brazil 6%, Japan 6%, Mexico 5% (1998) Debt - external: $39 billion (1999) Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $50.3 million (1996 est.) Currency: 1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 520.45 (January 2000), 508.78 (1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996), 396.77 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Chile:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 2.603 million (1998) Telephones - mobile cellular: 197,300 (1995) Telephone system: modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998) Radios: 5.18 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997) Televisions: 3.15 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 26 (1999) @Chile:Transportation Railways: total: 6,782 km broad gauge: 3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified) narrow gauge: 116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 km electrified) (1995) Highways: total: 79,800 km paved: 11,012 km unpaved: 68,788 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 725 km Pipelines: crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural gas 320 km Ports and harbors: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso Merchant marine: total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 580,749 GRT/860,034 DWT ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 9, chemical tanker 8, container 2, liquified gas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll-on/roll-off 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.) Airports: 370 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 62 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 308 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 68 under 914 m: 223 (1999 est.) @Chile:Military Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force, Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigations Police note: normally administered by Ministry of Interior; in times of national emergency, Carabineros and Investigations Police are considered part of the military Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,012,900 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,973,246 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 136,912 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.5 billion (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.1% (FY99) @Chile:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: 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 Illicit drugs: a growing transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US and Europe; economic prosperity has made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising ______________________________________________________________________ CHINA @China:Introduction Background: For centuries China has stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. But in the first half of the 20th century, China was beset by major famines, civil unrest, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established a dictatorship that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping decentralized economic decision making. Output quadrupled in the next 20 years and China now has the world's second largest GDP. Political controls remain tight even while economic controls continue to weaken. @China:Geography Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 9,596,960 sq km land: 9,326,410 sq km water: 270,550 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US Land boundaries: total: 22,143.34 km border countries: 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: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east Elevation extremes: lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.) Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest) Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 43% forests and woodland: 14% other: 33% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 498,720 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts Environment - current issues: air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal, produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban Geography - note: world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US) @China:People Population: 1,261,832,482 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 25% (male 168,040,006; female 152,826,953) 15-64 years: 68% (male 439,736,737; female 413,454,673) 65 years and over: 7% (male 41,200,297; female 46,573,816) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.9% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 16.12 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 28.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.38 years male: 69.6 years female: 73.33 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1% Religions: Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1% (est.) note: officially atheist Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.5% male: 89.9% female: 72.7% (1995 est.) @China:Government Country name: 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 Data code: CH Government type: Communist state Capital: Beijing Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**, Chongqing**, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949) National holiday: National Day, 1 October (1949) Constitution: most recent promulgation 4 December 1982 Legal system: a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) and Vice President HU Jintao (since 16 March 1998) head of government: Premier ZHU Rongji (since 18 March 1998); Vice Premiers QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March 1993), WU Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and WEN Jiabao (since 18 March 1998) cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress (NPC) elections: president and vice president elected by the National People's Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 16-18 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); premier nominated by the president, confirmed by the National People's Congress election results: JIANG Zemin reelected president by the Ninth National People's Congress with a total of 2,882 votes (36 delegates voted against him, 29 abstained, and 32 did not vote); HU Jintao elected vice president by the Ninth National People's Congress with a total of 2,841 votes (67 delegates voted against him, 39 abstained, and 32 did not vote) Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,979 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA December 1997-NA February 1998 (next to be held late 2002-NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the National People's Congress Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party or CCP [JIANG Zemin, General Secretary of the Central Committee]; eight registered small parties controlled by CCP Political pressure groups and leaders: no substantial political opposition groups exist, although the government has identified the Falungong sect and the China Democracy Party as potential rivals International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant), ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador LI Zhaoxing chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 328-2500 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph W. PRUEHER embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: (10) 6532-3831 FAX: (10) 6532-6422 consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been moving the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented economy but still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party 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 economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. In 1999, with its 1.25 billion people but a GDP of just $3,800 per capita, China became the second largest economy in the world after the US. Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. On the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. In late 1993 China's leadership approved additional long-term reforms aimed at giving still more play to market-oriented institutions and at strengthening the center's control over the financial system; state enterprises would continue to dominate many key industries in what was now termed "a socialist market economy". In 1995-99 inflation dropped sharply, reflecting tighter monetary policies and stronger measures to control food prices. At the same time, the government struggled to (a) collect revenues due from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises, most of which had not participated in the vigorous expansion of the economy and many of which had been losing the ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 50 to 100 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time low-paying jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is essential to maintaining growth in living standards. Another long-term threat to continued rapid economic growth is the deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. The next few years will witness increasing tensions between a highly centralized political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system. GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.8 trillion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 35% services: 50% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: 10% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 30.9% (1995) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.3% (1999 est.) Labor force: 700 million (1998 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 50%, industry 24%, services 26% (1998) Unemployment rate: urban unemployment roughly 10%; substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, footwear, toys, food processing, automobiles, consumer electronics, telecommunications Industrial production growth rate: 8.8% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 1.16 trillion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 80.31% hydro: 18.46% nuclear: 1.23% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 1.014 trillion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 7.935 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 89 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, oilseed; pork; fish Exports: $194.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment; textiles and clothing, footwear, toys and sporting goods; mineral fuels, chemicals Exports - partners: US 22%, Hong Kong 19%, Japan 17%, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, UK, Singapore, Taiwan (1999) Imports: $165.8 billion (c.i.f., 1999) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, plastics, chemicals, iron and steel, mineral fuels Imports - partners: Japan 20%, US 12%, Taiwan 12%, South Korea 10%, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore (1999) Debt - external: $159 billion (1998 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $NA Currency: 1 yuan = 10 jiao Exchange rates: yuan per US$1 - 8.2793 (January 2000), 8.2783 (1999), 8.2790 (1998), 8.2898 (1997), 8.3142 (1996), 8.3514 (1995) note: beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market Fiscal year: calendar year @China:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 110 million (1999 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: 23.4 million (1998) Telephone system: domestic and international services are increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and many towns domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have been installed; a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations is in place international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); several international fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, and Germany Radio broadcast stations: AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998) Radios: 417 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television, 31 are provincial TV stations and nearly 3,000 are local city stations) (1997) Televisions: 400 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999) @China:Transportation Railways: total: 65,650 km (including 5,400 km of provincial "local" rails) standard gauge: 62,050 km 1.435-m gauge (12,150 km electrified; 20,250 km double track) narrow gauge: 3,600 km 0.750-m gauge local industrial lines (1998 est.) note: a new total of 68,000 km has been estimated for early 1999 Highways: total: 1.21 million km paved: 271,300 km (with at least 24,474 km of expressways) unpaved: 938,700 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 110,000 km navigable (1999) Pipelines: crude oil 9,070 km; petroleum products 560 km; natural gas 9,383 km (1998) Ports and harbors: Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Huangpu, Lianyungang, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shantou, Tianjin, Xiamen, Xingang, Yantai, Zhanjiang Merchant marine: total: 1,746 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,637,023 GRT/24,552,567 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 325, cargo 840, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 1, container 125, liquified gas 20, multi-functional large load carrier 5, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 46, petroleum tanker 251, refrigerated cargo 24, roll-on/roll-off 21, short-sea passenger 43, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 206 (1996 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 192 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 65 1,524 to 2,437 m: 90 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 6 (1996 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.) @China:Military Military branches: People's Liberation Army (PLA), which includes the Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force), People's Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in wartime) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 363,050,980 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 199,178,361 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 10,839,039 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $12.608 billion (FY99); note - Western analysts believe that China's real defense spending is several times higher than the official figure because a number of significant items are funded elsewhere Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY99) @China:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: boundary with India in dispute; dispute over at least two small sections of the boundary with Russia remain to be settled, despite 1997 boundary agreement; portions of the boundary with Tajikistan are indefinite; 33-km section of boundary with North Korea in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary dispute with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does Taiwan; agreement on land border with Vietnam was signed in December 1999, but details of alignment have not yet been made public Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem ______________________________________________________________________ CHRISTMAS ISLAND @Christmas Island:Introduction Background: This island was annexed by the UK in 1888, following the discovery of phosphate rock. @Christmas Island:Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.7 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 Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m Natural resources: phosphate Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% note: mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a national park Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean @Christmas Island:People Population: 2,564 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Population growth rate: 7.77% (2000 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 groups: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population Religions: Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991) Languages: English, Chinese, Malay @Christmas Island:Government Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island Data code: KT Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories Government type: NA Capital: The Settlement Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Independence: none (territory of Australia) National holiday: NA Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958 Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator (acting) Graham NICHOLLS (since NA) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia Legislative branch: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms) elections: last held NA December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: none International organization participation: none Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia) Flag description: the flag of Australia is used @Christmas Island:Economy Economy - overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened by union workers. With the support of the government, Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas Island, which opened in 1993. As of yearend 1999, gaming facilities at the casino were temporarily closed but were expected to reopen in early 2000. Another economic prospect is the possible location of a space-launching site on the island. GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Labor force: NA Labor force - by occupation: tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: NA kWh Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% Electricity - consumption: NA kWh Electricity - exports: NA kWh Electricity - imports: NA kWh Agriculture - products: NA Exports: $NA Exports - commodities: phosphate Exports - partners: Australia, NZ Imports: $NA Imports - commodities: consumer goods Imports - partners: principally Australia Debt - external: $NA Economic aid - recipient: $NA Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.5207 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June @Christmas Island:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: NA Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1999) Telephone system: domestic: NA international: external telephone and telex services are provided by Intelsat satellite Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 1,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: NA Televisions: 600 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Christmas Island:Transportation Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: Flying Fish Cove Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Christmas Island:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia @Christmas Island:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ CLIPPERTON ISLAND @Clipperton Island:Geography Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W Map references: World Area: total: 7 sq km land: 7 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 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 Climate: tropical, humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October Terrain: coral atoll Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m Natural resources: none Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all coral) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993) Natural hazards: subject to tornadoes Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: reef about 8 km in circumference @Clipperton Island:People Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.) @Clipperton Island:Government Country name: 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 Data code: IP Dependency status: possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic Flag description: the flag of France is used @Clipperton Island:Economy Economy - overview: Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing. @Clipperton Island:Transportation Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only @Clipperton Island:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France @Clipperton Island:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ COCOS ______________________________________________________________________ COLOMBIA @Colombia:Introduction Background: Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. While Bogota continues to try to negotiate a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders. @Colombia:Geography Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 72 00 W Map references: South America, Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 1,138,910 sq km land: 1,038,700 sq km water: 100,210 sq km note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Montana Land boundaries: total: 6,004 km border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado del Huila 5,750 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 39% forests and woodland: 48% other: 8% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 5,300 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping Geography - note: only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea @Colombia:People Population: 39,685,655 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 6,463,195; female 6,310,723) 15-64 years: 63% (male 12,206,095; female 12,854,682) 65 years and over: 5% (male 832,986; female 1,017,974) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.68% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 22.85 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.28 years male: 66.43 years female: 74.27 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian Ethnic groups: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 90% Languages: Spanish Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.3% male: 91.2% female: 91.4% (1995 est.) @Colombia:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form: Colombia Data code: CO Government type: republic; executive branch dominates government structure Capital: Bogota Administrative divisions: 32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, 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, Distrito Capital de Santa fe de Bogota*, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810) Constitution: 5 July 1991 Legal system: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a new procedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents by newly elected presidents; election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002) election results: no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote, therefore, a run-off election to select a president from the two leading candidates was held 21 June 1998; Andres PASTRANA elected president; percent of vote - 50.3%; Gustavo BELL elected vice president; percent of vote - 50.3% Legislative branch: Bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (163 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002); House of Representatives - last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PL 50%, PSC 24%, smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%; seats by party - PL 58, PSC 28, smaller parties 16; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PL 52%, PSC 17%, other 31%; seats by party - PL 98, PSC 52, indigenous parties 2, others 11 Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justical, highest court of criminal law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms; Council of State, highest court of administrative law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms; Constitutional Court, guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution, rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties Political parties and leaders: Democratic Alliance-April 19 Movement or AD/M-19 is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives [Carlos Franco ECHAVARRIA, Antonio NAVARRO Wolff, Otty PATINO, Carlos Alonso LUCIO]; Liberal Party or PL [Jose Fernando BAUTISTA]; New Democratic Force or NDF ; Patriotic Union or UP is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Aida ABELLA]; Social Conservative Party or PSC [Dr. Eugenio MERLANO de la Ossa] Political pressure groups and leaders: two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - National Liberation Army or ELN; and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC International organization participation: BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 387-8338 FAX: (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DC consulate(s): Atlanta Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: APO AA 34038 telephone: (1) 315-0811 FAX: (1) 315-2197 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Colombia is poised for moderate growth in the next several years, marking an end to the severe 1999 recession when GDP fell by about 5%. President PASTRANA's well-respected economic team is taking steps to keep the recovery on track, such as lowering interest rates and shoring up the financial system. In its loan agreement with the IMF, the administration has pledged to take additional steps to restore growth, reduce inflation, and improve the public sector's fiscal health. Many challenges to sustainable growth remain, however. Unemployment reached a record 20% in 1999 and may remain high, contributing to the extreme inequality in income distribution. Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain future: new exploration is needed to offset a pending decline in oil production, and the coffee harvest has dropped off because of aging plantations and natural disasters. The lack of public security is a key concern for investors, making progress in the government's peace negotiations with insurgent groups an important driver of economic performance. Colombia is looking for international financial assistance to boost economic recovery and peace prospects. GDP: purchasing power parity - $245.1 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,200 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 26% services: 55% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: 17.7% (1992 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 46.9% (1995) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.2% (1999) Labor force: 16.8 million (1997 est.) Labor force - by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990) Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $22 billion expenditures: $24 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds Industrial production growth rate: -7% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 45.02 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 30.11% hydro: 69.25% nuclear: 0% other: 0.64% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 41.963 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 94 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp Exports: $11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, gold, bananas, cut flowers Exports - partners: US 39%, EU 24%, Andean Community 15%, Japan 2% (1998) Imports: $10 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity Imports - partners: US 35%, EU 20%, Andean Community 15%, Japan 7% (1998) Debt - external: $35 billion (1998 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $40.7 million (1995) Currency: 1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 1,925.63 (January 2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996), 912.83 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Colombia:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 5,433,565 (December 1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,800,229 (December 1998) Telephone system: modern system in many respects domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking 50 cities international: satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switching centers; 8 submarine cables Radio broadcast stations: AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999) Radios: 21 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997) Televisions: 4.59 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 13 (1999) @Colombia:Transportation Railways: total: 3,380 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines to maritime port at Bahia de Portete) narrow gauge: 3,230 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995) Highways: total: 115,564 km paved: 13,868 km unpaved: 101,696 km (1997 est.) Waterways: 18,140 km, navigable by river boats (April 1996) Pipelines: crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km Ports and harbors: Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo Merchant marine: total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,343 GRT/67,168 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, container 1, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2 (1999 est.) Airports: 1,101 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 90 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 37 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,011 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 62 914 to 1,523 m: 330 under 914 m: 618 (1999 est.) @Colombia:Military Military branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 10,599,704 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 7,093,676 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 370,356 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3.4 billion (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.7% (FY99) @Colombia:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial disputes with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 1998 - 101,500 hectares, a 28% increase over 1997); cultivation of opium in 1998 remained steady at 6,600 hectares; potential production of opium in 1997 - 66 metric tons, a 5% increase over 1996; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets, and an important supplier of heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program ______________________________________________________________________ COMOROS @Comoros:Introduction Background: Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. A subsequent attempt by the government to reestablish control over the rebellious islands by force failed, and presently the Organization of African Unity is brokering negotiations to effect a reconciliation. @Comoros:Geography Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 44 15 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 2,170 sq km land: 2,170 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 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 Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: arable land: 35% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 18% other: 30% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano Environment - current issues: soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel @Comoros:People Population: 578,400 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 123,891; female 123,241) 15-64 years: 54% (male 155,062; female 159,287) 65 years and over: 3% (male 8,072; female 8,847) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 3.05% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 40.05 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 9.59 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 86.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.03 years male: 57.85 years female: 62.28 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.38 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava Religions: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.3% male: 64.2% female: 50.4% (1995 est.) @Comoros:Government Country name: 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 Data code: CN Government type: independent republic Capital: Moroni Administrative divisions: three islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali) note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975) Constitution: 20 October 1996 Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 6 May 1999); note - the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said MASSOUNDE, which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the death of President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodless coup on 30 April 1999 head of government: Prime Minister Bianrifi TARMIDI (since 2 December 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 and 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president note: President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the coup; elections, in theory, should be held in the spring of 2000 but are likely to be dependent on the island of Anjouan remaining part of the federation election results: results of the last presidential election before the coup were: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote - 64.3% Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15 seats: five from each island); members selected by regional councils for six-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Federal Assembly was dissolved following the coup of 30 April 1999 elections: Federal Assembly - last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA) election results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3, independent 1 note: the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in opposition, but if no party accomplishes that, the second most successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December 1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supremes, two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and former presidents of the republic Political parties and leaders: Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed Abdallah MOHAMED, Ahmed ABOUBACAR, Soidiki M'BAPANOZA]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government) International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN) chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: (212) 983-4712 Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros Flag description: green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992 @Comoros:Economy Economy - overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be met. GDP: purchasing power parity - $410 million (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1998 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $725 (1998 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 5% services: 55% (1997 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1998) Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3% Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.) Budget: revenues: $48 million expenditures: $53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) Industries: tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 15 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 86.67% hydro: 13.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 14 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) Exports: $9.3 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Exports - commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra Exports - partners: France 43%, US 43%, Germany 7% (1997) Imports: $49.5 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Imports - commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment Imports - partners: France 59%, South Africa 15%, Kenya 6% (1997) Debt - external: $197 million (1997 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $28.1 million (1997) Currency: 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 485.44 (January 2000), 461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36 (1995) note: prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the French franc at 75 CFs per French franc; since 1 January 1999, the CF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro Fiscal year: calendar year @Comoros:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 5,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995) Telephone system: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 90,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 0 (1998) Televisions: 1,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Comoros:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 4 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.) @Comoros:Military Military branches: Comoran Security Force Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 136,914 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 81,477 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% @Comoros:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: claims French-administered Mayotte; the islands of Anjouan (Nzwani) and Moheli (Mwali) have moved to secede from Comoros ______________________________________________________________________ CONGO ______________________________________________________________________ CONGO ______________________________________________________________________ COOK ISLANDS @Cook Islands:Introduction Background: Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems. @Cook Islands:Geography Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Geographic coordinates: 21 14 S, 159 46 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 240 sq km land: 240 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 120 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 78% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: typhoons (November to March) Environment - current issues: NA Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol @Cook Islands:People Population: 20,407 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Population growth rate: 1.6% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 22.18 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.14 years male: 69.2 years female: 73.1 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.14 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander Ethnic groups: Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9% Religions: Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church) Languages: English (official), Maori Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% @Cook Islands:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands Data code: CW Dependency status: self-governing 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 Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy Capital: Avarua Administrative divisions: none Independence: none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action) National holiday: Constitution Day, 4 August (1965) Constitution: 4 August 1965 Legal system: based on New Zealand law and English common law Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of New Zealand head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since 18 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since NA) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister note: ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS; WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on 18 November 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1 note: the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers Judicial branch: High Court Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party or CIP [Joe WILLIAMS]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP ; New Alliance Party or NAP International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit-processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. Efforts to exploit tourism potential, encourage offshore banking, and expand the mining and fishing industries have been partially successful in stimulating investment and growth. GDP: purchasing power parity - $112 million (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,600 (1998 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 9% services: 73% (1995) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1994 est.) Labor force: 6,601 (1993) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% (1995) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: fruit processing, tourism Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 15 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 14 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee Exports: $4.2 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) Exports - commodities: copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing Exports - partners: NZ 80%, Japan, Hong Kong (1993) Imports: $85 million (c.i.f., 1994) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods Imports - partners: NZ 49%, Italy, Australia (1993) Debt - external: $141 million (1996 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand furnishes the greater part Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Cook Islands:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 4,180 (1994) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994) Telephone system: domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 14,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997) Televisions: 4,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Cook Islands:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 187 km paved: 35 km unpaved: 152 km (1980 est.) Ports and harbors: Avarua, Avatiu Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 7 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.) @Cook Islands:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request @Cook Islands:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ CORAL SEA ISLANDS @Coral Sea Islands:Geography Location: Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 152 00 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: less than 3 sq km land: less than 3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 1 million sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important Area - comparative: NA Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 3,095 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: tropical Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays) Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993) Natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones Environment - current issues: no permanent fresh water resources Geography - note: important nesting area for birds and turtles @Coral Sea Islands:People Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2000 est.) @Coral Sea Islands:Government Country name: conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands Data code: CR Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories Legal system: the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply Executive branch: administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia) Flag description: the flag of Australia is used @Coral Sea Islands:Economy Economy - overview: no economic activity @Coral Sea Islands:Communications Communications - note: there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland @Coral Sea Islands:Transportation Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only @Coral Sea Islands:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors @Coral Sea Islands:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ COSTA RICA @Costa Rica:Introduction Background: Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has achieved a relatively high standard of living. Land ownership is widespread. Tourism is a rapidly expanding industry. @Costa Rica:Geography Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 84 00 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia Land boundaries: total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km Coastline: 1,290 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m Natural resources: hydropower Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 31% other: 12% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes Environment - current issues: deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion; water pollution (rivers); fisheries protection; solid waste management Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation @Costa Rica:People Population: 3,710,558 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 609,051; female 581,302) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,177,262; female 1,150,673) 65 years and over: 5% (male 89,541; female 102,729) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.69% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 20.69 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 11.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.82 years male: 73.3 years female: 78.47 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.52 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Evangelical Protestant, approximately 14%, other less than 1% Languages: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.8% male: 94.7% female: 95% (1995 est.) @Costa Rica:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica Data code: CS Government type: democratic republic Capital: San Jose Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Constitution: 7 November 1949 Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998); note - president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998); note - president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held 2 February 2002) election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES (PLN) 44.6% Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held 2 February 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - PUSC 41%, PLN 35%, minority parties 24%; seats by party - PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority parties 7 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly Political parties and leaders: Agriculture Labor Action or PALA ; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC ; Democratic Force Party or PFD ; Libertarian Movement Party or PML ; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC ; National Independent Party or PNI ; National Integration Party or PIN ; National Liberation Party or PLN ; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis Manuel CHACON] note: mainly a two-party system - PUSC and PLN; numerous small parties share less than 25% of population's support Political pressure groups and leaders: Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; Free Costa Rica Movement or MCRL (rightwing militants); National Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of Educators or ANDE International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-2945 FAX: (202) 265-4795 consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tampa consulate(s): Austin Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020 telephone: 220-3939 FAX: 220-2305 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Economic growth has rebounded from -0.9% in 1996 to 4% in 1997, 6% in 1998, and 7% in 1999. Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995, dropped to 11.1% in 1997, 12% in 1998, and 11% in 1999. Large government deficits - fueled by interest payments on the massive internal debt - have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of social services. Curbing inflation, reducing the deficit, and improving public sector efficiency remain key challenges to the government. Political resistance to privatization has stalled liberalization efforts. GDP: purchasing power parity - $26 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,100 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 22% services: 64% (1998) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 34.7% (1996) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.8% (1999 est.) Labor force: 1.377 million (1998) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.6% (1998 est.); 7.5% underemployment Budget: revenues: $1.93 billion expenditures: $2.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) Industries: microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products Industrial production growth rate: 24.5% (1999) Electricity - production: 5.742 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 9.28% hydro: 80.62% nuclear: 0% other: 10.1% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 5.267 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 77 million kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 4 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber Exports: $6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: coffee, bananas, sugar; textiles, electronic components, electricity Exports - partners: US 49%, EU 22%, Central America 10% (1999) Imports: $6.5 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum, electricity Imports - partners: US 41%, Japan 8.1%, Mexico 7.3%, Venezuela 4% (1998) Debt - external: $3.9 billion (1998 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $107.1 million (1995) Currency: 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1 - 299.63 (February 2000), 285.68 (1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Costa Rica:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 451,000 (525,700 main lines installed) (yearend 1996) Telephones - mobile cellular: 46,500 (December 1996) Telephone system: very good domestic telephone service domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available international: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two submarine cables (1999) Radio broadcast stations: AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998) Radios: 980,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997) Televisions: 525,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) @Costa Rica:Transportation Railways: total: 950 km narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) Highways: total: 37,273 km paved: 7,827 km unpaved: 29,446 km (1998 est.) Waterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable Pipelines: petroleum products 176 km Ports and harbors: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 155 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 127 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 98 (1999 est.) @Costa Rica:Military Military branches: Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public Security Force (Fuerza Publica); Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,010,087 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 676,691 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 38,043 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $55 million (FY95) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY95) @Costa Rica:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic cocaine consumption has risen ______________________________________________________________________ COTE D ______________________________________________________________________ CROATIA @Croatia:Introduction Background: In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became an independent communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. @Croatia:Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia Geographic coordinates: 45 10 N, 15 30 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 56,538 sq km land: 56,410 sq km water: 128 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia Land boundaries: total: 2,197 km border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25 km with Montenegro), Slovenia 670 km Coastline: 5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km) Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm 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 coastline and islands Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Dinara 1,830 m Natural resources: oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 38% other: 19% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes Environment - current issues: air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; widespread casualties and destruction of infrastructure in border areas affected by civil strife Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification Geography - note: controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits @Croatia:People Population: 4,282,216 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 396,484; female 376,267) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,445,101; female 1,420,159) 65 years and over: 15% (male 238,853; female 405,352) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.93% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 12.82 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 11.51 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 7.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 7.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.67 years male: 70.04 years female: 77.51 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Croat(s) adjective: Croatian Ethnic groups: Croat 78.1%, Serb 12.2%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%, Slovenian 0.5%, Czech 0.4%, Albanian 0.3%, Montenegrin 0.3%, Roma 0.2%, others 6.6% (1991) Religions: Roman Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%, Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8% (1991) Languages: Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 95% (1991 est.) @Croatia:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Croatia conventional short form: Croatia local long form: Republika Hrvatska local short form: Hrvatska Data code: HR Government type: presidential/parliamentary democracy Capital: Zagreb Administrative divisions: 20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular), 1 city (grad -singular)*: Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija, Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija, Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija, Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija, Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija, Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka Zupanija Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) National holiday: Statehood Day, 30 May (1990) Constitution: adopted on 22 December 1990 Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed) Executive branch: chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Ivica RACAN (since 27 January 2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Goran GRANIC (since NA February 2000), Zeljka ANTUNOVIC (since NA February 2000), Slavko LINIC (since NA February 2000) cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the president and the House of Representatives elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 7 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Stjepan MESIC elected president; percent of vote - Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 56%, Drazen BUDISA (HSLS) 44% note: government coalition - SDP, HSLS, HSS, LP, HNS, IDS Legislative branch: bicameral Assembly or Sabor consists of the House of Counties or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats - 63 directly elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives or the Zastupnicki Dom (151 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Counties - last held 13 April 1997 (next to be held NA 2001); House of Representatives - last held 2-3 January 2000 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: House of Counties - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HDZ 42, HDZ/HSS 11, HSS 2, IDS 2, SDP/PGS/HNS 2, SDP/HNS 2, HSLS/HSS/HNS 1, HSLS 1; note - in some districts certain parties ran as coalitions, while in others they ran alone; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HDZ 46, SDP 44, HSLS 24, HSS 17, HSP/HKDU 5, IDS 4, HNS 2, independents 4, others 5 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives; Constitutional Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives Political parties and leaders: Action of the Social Democrats of Croatia or ASH ; Alliance of Croatian Coast and Mountains Department or PGS ; Croatian Christian Democratic Union or HKDU ; Croatian Democratic Independents or HND ; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ ; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP ; Croatian Party of Rights 1861 or HSP 1861 ; Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Zlatko TOMCIC]; Croatian People's Party or HNS ; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS ; Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS ; Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS ; Liberal Party or LP ; Party of Democratic Action or SDA ; Primorje Gorski Kotar Alliance ; Serbian National Party or SNS ; Slanvonsko-Baranja Croatian Party or SBHS ; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP note: the Social Democratic Party or SDP and the Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS formed a coalition as did the HSS, HNS, LP, and IDS, which together defeated the Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ in the 2000 lower house parliamentary election Political pressure groups and leaders: NA International organization participation: BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Miomir ZUZUL chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 588-5899 FAX: (202) 588-8936 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY embassy: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb mailing address: use street address telephone: (1) 455-55-00 FAX: (1) 455-85-85 Flag description: red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered) @Croatia:Economy Economy - overview: Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav average. Croatia faces considerable economic problems stemming from: the legacy of longtime communist mismanagement of the economy; damage during the internecine fighting to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large refugee and displaced population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the disruption of economic ties. Western aid and investment, especially in the tourist and oil industries, would help restore the economy. The government has been successful in some reform efforts - partially macroeconomic stabilization policies - and it has normalized relations with its creditors. Yet it still is struggling with privatization of large state enterprises and with bank reform. The recession that began at the end of 1998 continued through most of 1999, and GDP growth for the year was flat. Inflation remained in check and the kuna was stable. The death of President TUDJMAN in December 1999, and the defeat of his ruling Coatian Democratic Union or HDZ party in parliamentary and presidential elections in January 2000 has ushered in a new government committed to economic reform but faced with the challenge of halting the economic decline. GDP: purchasing power parity - $23.9 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,100 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 24% services: 66% (1996 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (1999) Labor force: 1.65 million (1999) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $6 billion expenditures: $4.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998) Industries: chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism Industrial production growth rate: -2% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 9.515 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.72% hydro: 57.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 12.949 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 900 million kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 5 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, vegetables; livestock, dairy products Exports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels Exports - partners: Italy 21%, Germany 18%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 15%, Slovenia 12% (1997) Imports: $8.4 billion (c.i.f., 1998) Imports - commodities: machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, foodstuffs Imports - partners: Germany 20%, Italy 19%, Slovenia 8%, Austria 8% (1997) Debt - external: $8.1 billion (October 1999) Economic aid - recipient: $NA Currency: 1 Croatian kuna (HRK) = 100 lipas Exchange rates: Croatian kuna per US$1 - 7.591 (January 2000), 7.112 (1999), 6.362 (1998), 6.157 (1997), 5.434 (1996), 5.230 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Croatia:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 1.477 million (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 187,000 (yearend 1998) Telephone system: domestic: reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analog circuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will be included in the plan for the main trunk international: digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the TEL project which consists of two fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is also investing in ADRIA 1, a joint fiber-optic project with Germany, Albania, and Greece (2000) Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999) Radios: 1.51 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995) Televisions: 1.22 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999) @Croatia:Transportation Railways: total: 2,296 km standard gauge: 2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (983 km electrified) note: some lines remain inoperative or not in use; disrupted by territorial dispute (1997) Highways: total: 27,840 km paved: 23,497 km (including 330 km of expressways) unpaved: 4,343 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 785 km perennially navigable; large sections of Sava blocked by downed bridges, silt, and debris Pipelines: crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural gas 310 km (1992); note - under repair following territorial dispute Ports and harbors: Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube), Zadar Merchant marine: total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 818,887 GRT/1,232,803 DWT ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 25, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 5, container 5, liquified gas 1, multi-functional large load carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 4, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.) Airports: 67 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 8 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 36 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @Croatia:Military Military branches: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Frontier Guard, Home Guard Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,086,805 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 860,023 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 30,022 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $950 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5% (FY99) @Croatia:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Eastern Slavonia, which was held by ethnic Serbs during the ethnic conflict between the Croats and the Serbs, was returned to Croatian control by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia on 15 January 1998; Croatia and Italy made progress toward resolving a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property and ethnic minority rights; significant progress has been made with Slovenia toward resolving a maritime border dispute over direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; Serbia and Montenegro is disputing Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia because it controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN Military Observer Mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP) Illicit drugs: transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; a minor transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe ______________________________________________________________________ CUBA @Cuba:Introduction Background: Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron will has held the country together since. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually, in 1990. Havana blames its difficulties on the US embargo in place since 1962. @Cuba:Geography Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 110,860 sq km land: 110,860 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania Land boundaries: total: 29 km border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba Coastline: 3,735 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 27% forests and woodland: 24% other: 18% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 9,100 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common Environment - current issues: pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation Geography - note: largest country in Caribbean @Cuba:People Population: 11,141,997 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 1,221,602; female 1,157,846) 15-64 years: 69% (male 3,849,135; female 3,829,599) 65 years and over: 10% (male 503,711; female 580,104) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.39% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 12.68 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.31 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -1.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 7.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.21 years male: 73.84 years female: 78.73 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban Ethnic groups: mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1% Religions: nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented Languages: Spanish Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 96.2% female: 95.3% (1995 est.) People - note: illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas; some 3,800 Cubans took to the Florida Straits in 1999; the US Coast Guard interdicted about 40% of these migrants @Cuba:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cuba conventional short form: Cuba local long form: Republica de Cuba local short form: Cuba Data code: CU Government type: Communist state Capital: Havana Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902) National holiday: Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day, 1 January (1959) Constitution: 24 February 1976, amended July 1992 Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: 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); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government 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); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly note: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election unscheduled) election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100% Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003) election results: percent of vote - PCC 94.39%; seats - PCC 601 Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular; president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly Political parties and leaders: only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: (202) 797-8518 Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Vicki HUDDLESTON; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through 3559 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX: 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: The state under the durable dictatorship of Fidel CASTRO plays the primary role in the domestic economy and controls practically all foreign trade. The government has undertaken several reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase labor incentives, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The liberalized agricultural markets introduced in October 1994, at which state and private farmers sell above-quota production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal consumption alternatives and reduced black market prices. Government efforts to lower subsidies to unprofitable enterprises and to shrink the money supply caused the semi-official exchange rate for the Cuban peso to move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to 21 to the dollar by yearend 1999. New taxes introduced in 1996 have helped drive down the number of self-employed workers from 208,000 in January 1996. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93, the result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently halted in 1994, when Cuba reported 0.7% growth, followed by increases of 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Growth slowed again in 1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Growth recovered again in 1999 with a 6.2% increase in GDP, due to the continued growth of tourism. Central control is complicated by the existence of the informal economy, much of which is denominated in dollars. Living standards for the average (dollarless) Cuban remain at a depressed level compared with 1990. The continuation of gradual economic reforms and increase in tourism suggest growth of 4% to 5% in 2000. GDP: purchasing power parity - $18.6 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 6.2% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.4% industry: 36.5% services: 56.1% (1997 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (1999 est.) Labor force: 4.5 million economically active population note: state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 23%, industry 24%, services 53% Unemployment rate: 6% (December 1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $13.5 billion expenditures: $14.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) Industries: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.) Electricity - production: 15.274 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.52% hydro: 0.65% nuclear: 0% other: 9.83% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 14.205 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical products, citrus, coffee Exports - partners: Russia 25%, Netherlands 23%, Canada 16% (1999 est.) Imports: $3.2 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals Imports - partners: Spain 16%, Venezuela 15%, Mexico 7% (1999 est.) Debt - external: $11.2 billion (convertible currency, 1998); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1998) Economic aid - recipient: $68.2 million (1997 est.) Currency: 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (nonconvertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar) Fiscal year: calendar year @Cuba:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 353,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,939 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: principal trunk system, end to end of country, is coaxial cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la Juventud; 2 microwave radio relay installations (one is old, US-built; the other newer, Soviet-built); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) Radio broadcast stations: AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 3.9 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 58 (1997) Televisions: 2.64 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Cuba:Transportation Railways: total: 4,807 km standard gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified) note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations Highways: total: 60,858 km paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway) unpaved: 31,038 km (1997 est.) Waterways: 240 km Ports and harbors: Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba Merchant marine: total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,269 GRT/90,228 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 7, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 5 (1999 est.) Airports: 170 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 77 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 35 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 93 914 to 1,523 m: 32 under 914 m: 61 (1999 est.) @Cuba:Military Military branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); the Border Guard (TGF) is controlled by the Interior Ministry Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,079,352 females age 15-49: 3,022,063 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,906,172 females age 15-49: 1,865,369 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 80,771 females: 76,819 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: roughly 4% (FY95 est.) Military - note: Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993 @Cuba:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease Illicit drugs: territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for cocaine bound for the US and Europe; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999 ______________________________________________________________________ CYPRUS @Cyprus:Introduction Background: Independence from the UK was approved in 1960 with constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974 a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled almost 40% of the island. In 1983 the Turkish-held area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but it is recognized only by Turkey. Cyprus talks resumed in December 1999 to prepare the ground for a comprehensive settlement. @Cyprus:Geography Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area) land: 9,240 sq km water: 10 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 648 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, winters Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Olympus 1,951 m Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 13% other: 70% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity Environment - current issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants @Cyprus:People Population: 758,363 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 91,075; female 86,832) 15-64 years: 66% (male 252,252; female 247,464) 65 years and over: 11% (male 35,149; female 45,591) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.6% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 13.27 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.68 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 8.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.71 years male: 74.43 years female: 79.1 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot Ethnic groups: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area) Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4% Languages: Greek, Turkish, English Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94% male: 98% female: 91% (1987 est.) @Cyprus:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus conventional short form: Cyprus note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) Data code: CY Government 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 intervention in July 1974 following a Greek junta-based coup attempt, 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 (Greek Cypriot position) or confederate system (Turkish Cypriot position) of government Capital: Nicosia note: the Turkish Cypriot area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia) Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK) note: Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 from Republic of Cyprus National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October; note - Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985 Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2003) election results: Glafcos CLERIDES reelected president; percent of vote - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2% note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a five-year term); elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president; pecent of vote - Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU 37.5%; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area Legislative branch: unicameral - Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Greek Cypriot area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held May 2001); Turkish Cypriot area: last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held December 2003) election results: Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK 8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.3%; seats by party - DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP 15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party - UBP 24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area Political parties and leaders: Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party or DIKO ; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Ecologists ; New Horizons ; Restorative Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) ; United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK ; United Democrats Movement or EDI (formerly Free Democrats Movement or KED) ; Turkish Cypriot area: Communal Liberation Party or TKP ; Democratic Party or DP ; National Birth Party or UDP ; National Unity Party or UBP ; Our Party or BP ; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH ; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT] Political pressure groups and leaders: Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled) International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Erato KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 462-5772 FAX: (202) 483-6710 consulate(s) general: New York note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet ERDENGIZ; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone (202) 887-6198 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. BANDLER embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836 telephone: (2) 776400 FAX: (2) 780944 Flag description: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field @Cyprus:Economy Economy - overview: Economic affairs are dominated by the division of the country into the southern (Greek) area controlled by the Cyprus Government and the northern Turkish Cypriot-administered area. The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by political instability on the island and fluctuations in economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy in the south is focused on meeting the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector, water shortage is a growing problem, and several desalination plants are planned. The Turkish Cypriot economy has about one-fifth the population and one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to tourism, education, industry, etc. GDP: Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $9 billion; Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $820 million (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3.0%; Turkish Cypriot area: 5.3% (1998 est.) GDP - per capita: Greek Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $15,400; Turkish Cypriot area: purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1998 est.) GDP - composition by sector: Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 6.3%, industry 22.4%, services 71.3%; Turkish Cypriot area: agriculture 11.8%, industry 20.5%, services 67.7% (1998) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): Greek Cypriot area: 2.3% (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 66% (1998 est.) Labor force: Greek Cypriot area: 289,400; Turkish Cypriot area: 80,200 (1998) Labor force - by occupation: Greek Cypriot area: services 66.6%, industry 23.2%, agriculture 10.2% (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: services 55.4%, industry 21.6%, agriculture 23% (1997) Unemployment rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3.3% (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 6.4% (1997) Budget: revenues: Greek Cypriot area - $2.9 billion (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $171 million (1997 est.) expenditures: Greek Cypriot area - $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $345 million (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $306 million, including capital expenditures of $56.8 million (1997 est.) Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products Industrial production growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: 2.4% (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: 5.1% (1997) Electricity - production: Greek Cypriot area: 2.675 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: Greek Cypriot area: 2.488 billion kWh; Turkish Cypriot area: NA kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables Exports: Greek Cypriot area: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: $63.9 million (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes; Turkish Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes, textiles (1998) Exports - partners: Greek Cypriot area: UK 14.5%, Russia 14.5%, Greece 9.8%, Lebanon 5.5%, UAE 4.9%; Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey 47%, UK 26%, other EU 15% (1998) Imports: Greek Cypriot area: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: $374 million (f.o.b., 1997) Imports - commodities: Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery (1997) Imports - partners: Greek Cypriot area: US 12.5%, UK 11.3%, Italy 9.4%, Germany 8.5%, Greece 8.2% (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey 56.4%, UK 13.5%, other EU 12.2% (1997) Debt - external: Greek Cypriot area: $1.27 billion; Turkish Cypriot area: $NA (1998) Economic aid - recipient: Greek Cypriot area - $17 million (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97) that are usually forgiven Currency: Greek Cypriot area: 1 Cypriot pound = 100 cents; Turkish Cypriot area: 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US$1 - 0.5688 (January 2000), 0.5423 (1999), 0.5170 (1998), 0.5135 (1997), 0.4663 (1996), 0.4522 (1995); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 545,584 (January 2000), 418,783 (1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Cyprus:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: Greek Cypriot area: 405,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: 70,845 (1996) Telephones - mobile cellular: Greek Cypriot area: 68,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: 70,000 (1999) Telephone system: excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot areas domestic: open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay international: tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat Radio broadcast stations: Greek Cypriot area: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450 (1994) Television broadcast stations: Greek Cypriot area: 4 plus 225 low-power repeaters; Turkish Cypriot area: 4 plus 5 repeaters (September 1995) Televisions: Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300 (1994) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999) @Cyprus:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: Greek Cypriot area: 10,663 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km (1996 est.) paved: Greek Cypriot area: 6,249 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km (1996 est.) unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,414 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos Merchant marine: total: 1,414 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,497,776 GRT/37,331,506 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 442, cargo 495, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 40, combination ore/oil 8, container 144, liquified gas 6, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 142, refrigerated cargo 41, roll-on/roll-off 45, short-sea passenger 13, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 37 countries among which are Greece 611, Germany 129, Russia 49, Latvia 278, Netherlands 20, Japan 28, Cuba 16, China 15, Hong Kong 13, and Poland 15 (1998 est.) Airports: 15 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.) Heliports: 6 (1999 est.) @Cyprus:Military Military branches: Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements), Hellenic Forces Regiment on Cyprus (ELDYK), Greek Cypriot Police; Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (TCSF), Turkish mainland army units Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 196,317 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 134,865 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 6,541 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $320 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5% (FY99) @Cyprus:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally recognized Cypriot Government (59% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island); there are two UK sovereign base areas mostly within the Greek Cypriot portion of the island Illicit drugs: minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well ______________________________________________________________________ CZECH REPUBLIC @Czech Republic:Introduction Background: After World War II, Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize party rule and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Now a member of NATO, the Czech Republic has moved toward integration in world markets, a development that poses both opportunities and risks. @Czech Republic:Geography Location: Central Europe, southeast of Germany Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 15 30 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 78,866 sq km land: 77,276 sq km water: 1,590 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina Land boundaries: total: 1,881 km border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km, Slovakia 215 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Terrain: Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country Elevation extremes: lowest point: Elbe River 115 m highest point: Snezka 1,602 m Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber Land use: arable land: 41% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 34% other: 12% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 240 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: flooding Environment - current issues: air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - 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: 10,272,179 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 866,754; female 823,795) 15-64 years: 70% (male 3,579,454; female 3,577,919) 65 years and over: 14% (male 547,462; female 876,795) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: -0.08% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 9.1 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 10.87 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.51 years male: 71.01 years female: 78.22 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech Ethnic groups: Czech 81.2%, Moravian 13.2%, Slovak 3.1%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Silesian 0.4%, Roma 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 0.5% (March 1991) Religions: atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4% Languages: Czech Literacy: definition: NA total population: 99.9% (1999 est.) male: NA% female: NA% @Czech Republic:Government Country name: conventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: Czech Republic local long form: Ceska Republika local short form: Ceska Republika Data code: EZ Government type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Prague Administrative divisions: 73 districts (okresi, singular - okres) and 4 municipalities* (mesta, singular - mesto); Benesov, Beroun, Blansko, Breclav, Brno*, Brno-Venkov, Bruntal, Ceske Budejovice, Ceska Lipa, Cesky Krumlov, Cheb, Chomutov, Chrudim, Decin, Domazlice, Frydek-Mistek, Havlickuv Brod, Hodonin, Hradec Kralove, Jablonec nad Nisou, Jesenik, Jicin, Jihlava, Jindrichuv Hradec, Karlovy Vary, Karvina, Kladno, Klatovy, Kolin, Kromeriz, Kutna Hora, Liberec, Litomerice, Louny, Melnik, Mlada Boleslav, Most, Nachod, Novy Jicin, Nymburk, Olomouc, Opava, Ostrava*, Pardubice, Pelhrimov, Pisek, Plzen*, Plzen-Jih, Plzen-Sever, Prachatice, Praha*, Praha-Vychod, Praha Zapad, Prerov, Pribram, Prostejov, Rakovnik, Rokycany, Rychnov nad Kneznou, Semily, Sokolov, Strakonice, Sumperk, Svitavy, Tabor, Tachov, Teplice, Trebic, Trutnov, Uherske Hradiste, Usti nad Labem, Usti nad Orlici, Vsetin, Vyskov, Zdar nad Sazavou, Zlin, Znojmo Independence: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and Slovak Republics) National holiday: National Liberation Day, 8 May; Founding of the Republic, 28 October Constitution: ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993 Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 2 February 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Milos ZEMAN (since 17 July 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir SPIDLA (since 17 July 1998), Pavel RYCHETSKY (since 17 July 1998), Pavel MERTLIK (since 17 July 1998), Jan KAZAN (since 8 December 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 20 January 1998 (next to be held NA January 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vaclav HAVEL reelected president; Vaclav HAVEL received 47 of 81 votes in the Senate and 99 out of 200 votes in the Chamber of Deputies (second round of voting) Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve staggered two-, four-, and six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 13-14 and 20-21 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2000 - to replace/reelect 20 senators serving two-year terms); Chamber of Deputies - last held 19-20 June 1998 (next to be held by NA June 2002) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSSD 23, ODS 25, KDU-CSL 16, KCSM 4, ODA 7, US 4, DEU 1, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSSD 74, ODS 63, KDU-CSL 20, US 19, KCSM 24 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for life; Constitutional Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for life Political parties and leaders: Assembly for the Republic or SPR-RSC ; Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL ; Civic Democratic Alliance or ODA ; Civic Democratic Party or ODS ; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM ; Czech Social Democrats or CSSD ; Democratic Union or DEU [Ratibor MAJZLIK, chairman]; Freedom Union or US [Karel KUEHUL, acting chairman]; Quad Coalition (includes KDU-CSL, US, ODA, DEU) Political pressure groups and leaders: "Thanks, Now Go"; Impulse 99; Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexsandr VONDRA chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 363-6315 FAX: (202) 966-8540 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John SHATTUCK embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (2) 5753-0663 FAX: (2) 5753-0583 Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia) @Czech Republic:Economy Economy - overview: Political and financial crises in 1997 shattered the Czech Republic's image as one of the most stable and prosperous of post-Communist states. Delays in enterprise restructuring and failure to develop a well-functioning capital market played major roles in Czech economic troubles, which culminated in a currency crisis in May. The currency was forced out of its fluctuation band as investors worried that the current account deficit, which reached nearly 8% of GDP in 1996, would become unsustainable. After expending $3 billion in vain to support the currency, the central bank let it float. The growing current account imbalance reflected a surge in domestic demand and poor export performance, as wage increases outpaced productivity. The government was forced to introduce two austerity packages later in the spring which cut government spending by 2.5% of GDP. Growth dropped to 0.3% in 1997, -2.3% in 1998, and -0.5% in 1999. The basic transition problem continues to be too much direct and indirect government influence on the privatized economy. The government established a restructuring agency in 1999 and launched a revitalization program - to spur the sale of firms to foreign companies. Key priorities include accelerating legislative convergence with EU norms, restructuring enterprises, and privatizing banks and utilities. The economy, fueled by increased export growth and investment, is expected to recover in 2000. GDP: purchasing power parity - $120.8 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -0.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,700 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 42% services: 53% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.6% highest 10%: 23.5% (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1999 est.) Labor force: 5.203 million (1999 est.) Labor force - by occupation: industry 32%, agriculture 5.6%, construction 8.7%, transport and communications 6.9%, services 46.8% (1997 est.) Unemployment rate: 9% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $16.4 billion expenditures: $17.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999) Industries: fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment, coal, motor vehicles, glass, armaments Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 61.466 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 75.54% hydro: 2.55% nuclear: 20.37% other: 1.54% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 54.733 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 10.8 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 8.37 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products Exports: $26.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 41%, other manufactured goods 40%, chemicals 8%, raw materials and fuel 7% (1998) Exports - partners: Germany 42%, Slovakia 8%, Austria 6%, Poland 6%, France 4% (1999) Imports: $29 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 39%, other manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 12%, raw materials and fuels 10%, food 5% (1998) Imports - partners: Germany 34%, Slovakia 6%, Russia 6%, Austria 6%, France 5% (1999) Debt - external: $24.3 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $351.6 million (1995) Currency: 1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 35.630 (December 1999), 34.569 (1999), 32.281 (1998), 31.698 (1997), 27.145 (1996), 26.541 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Czech Republic:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 3,741,492 (1998) Telephones - mobile cellular: 965,476 (1998) Telephone system: domestic: 70% of exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber systems now being enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals; trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat Radio broadcast stations: AM 21, FM 199, shortwave 1 (1999) Radios: 3,173,856 (December 1999) Television broadcast stations: 102 (of which 35 are low power stations), plus about 500 repeaters (1988) Televisions: 3,428,817 (December 1999) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 35 (1999) @Czech Republic:Transportation Railways: total: 9,435 km standard gauge: 9,341 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2,946 km electrified at three voltages; 1,868 km double track) narrow gauge: 94 km 0.760-m narrow gauge (1998) Highways: total: 127,693 km paved: 127,693 km (including 498 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 677 km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river Pipelines: natural gas 53,000 km (1998) Ports and harbors: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem Airports: 114 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 43 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 16 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 71 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 42 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @Czech Republic:Military Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,669,505 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,035,194 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 70,674 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.2 billion (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY99) @Czech Republic:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Liechtenstein claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic 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; individual Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II; agreement with Slovakia signed 24 November 1998 resolves issues of redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal land - approval by both parliaments is expected in 2000 Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; domestic consumption - especially of locally produced synthetic drugs - on the rise ______________________________________________________________________ DENMARK @Denmark:Introduction Background: Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the political and economic integration of Europe. So far, however, the country has opted out of some aspects of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the new joint monetary system. @Denmark:Geography Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 10 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 43,094 sq km land: 42,394 sq km water: 700 sq km note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts Land boundaries: total: 68 km border countries: Germany 68 km Coastline: 7,314 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m highest point: Ejer Bavnehoj 173 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and sand Land use: arable land: 60% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 10% other: 25% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes Environment - current issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea Geography - note: controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen @Denmark:People Population: 5,336,394 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 505,820; female 479,815) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,802,665; female 1,755,633) 65 years and over: 15% (male 330,055; female 462,406) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.31% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 12.16 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.54 years male: 73.95 years female: 79.27 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish Ethnic groups: Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 97%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic, other Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) note: English is the predominant second language Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA% @Denmark:Government Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark Data code: DA Government type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Copenhagen Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2 kommunes*; Arhus, Bornholm, Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg note: in addition there are 275 local kommunes not considered first-order administrative units; see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing administrative divisions Independence: first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940) Constitution: 1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26 May 1968) head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since 25 January 1993) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - progovernment parties: Social Democratic Party 65, Socialist People's Party 13, Radical Liberal Party 7, Unity Party 5; opposition: Liberal Party 43, Conservative Party 17, Danish People's Party 13, Center Democratic Party 8, Christian People's Party 4, Progress Party 4 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the monarch for life Political parties and leaders: Center Democratic Party [Mimi JAKOBSEN]; Christian People's Party ; Conservative Party ; Conservative People's Party ; Danish People's Party ; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Progress Party ; Radical Liberal Party ; Social Democratic Party ; Social Liberal Party ; Socialist People's Party ; Unity Party International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-4300 FAX: (202) 328-1470 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSON embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716 telephone: 35 55 31 44 FAX: 35 43 02 23 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food. The center-left coalition government is concentrating on reducing the unemployment rate and the budget deficit as well as following the previous government's policies of maintaining low inflation and a current account surplus. The coalition also vows to maintain a stable currency. The coalition has lowered marginal income tax rates while maintaining overall tax revenues; boosted industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms; increased research and development funds; and improved welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays. Denmark chose not to join the 11 other EU members who launched the euro on 1 January 1999. GDP: purchasing power parity - $127.7 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 1.3% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,800 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 27% services: 69% (1997) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 20.5% (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1999 est.) Labor force: 2.896 million Labor force - by occupation: services 71%, industry 25%, agriculture 4% (1997 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $59.7 billion expenditures: $57.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.) Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 40.277 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.8% hydro: 0.07% nuclear: 0% other: 9.13% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 33.037 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 7.1 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 2.68 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets; beef, dairy products; fish Exports: $49.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, fuels, dairy products, ships, fish, chemicals Exports - partners: EU 66.6% (Germany 21.4%, Sweden 11.2%, UK 9.2%, France 5.3%, Netherlands 4.5%), Norway 6.0%, US 4.7% (1998) Imports: $43.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, textiles, paper Imports - partners: EU 72.5% (Germany 22.5%, Sweden 12.9%, UK 7.9%, France 5.9%), Norway 4.6%, US 4.1% (1998) Debt - external: $44 billion (1996 est.) Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.6 billion (1997) Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.336 (January 2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Denmark:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 3.203 million (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.347 million (1999) Telephone system: excellent telephone and telegraph services domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, 4 cellular radio communications systems international: 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for world-wide Inmarsat access Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 6.02 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 42 (plus 44 repeaters) (September 1995) Televisions: 3.121 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 12 (1999) @Denmark:Transportation Railways: total: 2,859 km (508 km privately owned and operated) standard gauge: 2,859 km 1.435-m gauge (600 km electrified; 760 km double track) (1998) Highways: total: 71,437 km paved: 71,437 km (including 843 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 417 km Pipelines: crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas 700 km Ports and harbors: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Grena, Koge, Odense, Struer Merchant marine: total: 336 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,190,227 GRT/6,815,128 DWT ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 132, chemical tanker 22, container 70, liquified gas 26, livestock carrier 6, petroleum tanker 24, rail car carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off 19, short-sea passenger 8, specialized tanker 3 (1999 est.) 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 (1998 est.) Airports: 118 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 90 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 82 (1999 est.) @Denmark:Military Military branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home Guard Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,299,250 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,113,378 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 30,471 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.822 billion (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.7% (FY98) @Denmark:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area) ______________________________________________________________________ DJIBOUTI @Djibouti:Introduction Background: The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. A peace accord in 1994 ended a three-year uprising by Afars rebels. @Djibouti:Geography Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia Geographic coordinates: 11 30 N, 43 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 22,000 sq km land: 21,980 sq km water: 20 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts Land boundaries: total: 508 km border countries: Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km Coastline: 314 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: desert; torrid, dry Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m Natural resources: geothermal areas Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 0% other: 91% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland @Djibouti:People Population: 451,442 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 96,482; female 96,025) 15-64 years: 55% (male 130,264; female 116,270) 65 years and over: 2% (male 6,426; female 5,975) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.45% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 40.98 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 14.87 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -11.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 103.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.82 years male: 49.01 years female: 52.68 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian Ethnic groups: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5% Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6% Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 46.2% male: 60.3% female: 32.7% (1995 est.) @Djibouti:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland Data code: DJ Government type: republic Capital: Djibouti Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977) Constitution: multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992 Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult Executive branch: chief of state: President GUELLEH Ismail Omar (since NA 1999); head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978) cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 9 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: GUELLEH Ismail Omar elected president; percent of vote - GUELLEH Ismail Omar 74.4%, IDRIS Moussa Ahmed 25.6% Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: last held 19 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - RPP 65; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme Political parties and leaders: Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD ; People's Progress Assembly or RPP - the governing party Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy or FRUD and affiliates; Movement for Unity and Democracy or MUD International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Olhaye Oudine ROBLE chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 331-0270 FAX: (202) 331-0302 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lange SCHERMERHORN embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: 35 39 95 FAX: 35 39 40 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of 40% to 50% continues to be a major problem. Inflation is not a concern, however, because of the fixed tie of the franc to the US dollar. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Also, renewed fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea has disturbed normal external channels of commerce. Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors. GDP: purchasing power parity - $550 million (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 20% services: 77% (1996 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (1999 est.) Labor force: 282,000 Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 40%-50% (1996 est.) Budget: revenues: $156 million expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.) Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and mineral-water bottling Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.) Electricity - production: 177 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 165 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels Exports: $260 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit) Exports - partners: Somalia 53%, Yemen 23%, Ethiopia 5%, (1998) Imports: $440 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products Imports - partners: France 13%, Ethiopia 12%, Italy 9%, Saudi Arabia 6%, UK 6% (1998) Debt - external: $350 million (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $106.3 million (1995) Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973) Fiscal year: calendar year @Djibouti:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 8,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country domestic: microwave radio relay network international: submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 52,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 5 low-power repeaters) (1998) Televisions: 28,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Djibouti:Transportation Railways: total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge note: Djibouti and Ethiopia plan to revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals by 2003 Highways: total: 2,890 km paved: 364 km unpaved: 2,526 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Djibouti Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 12 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.) @Djibouti:Military Military branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force) Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 106,287 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 62,496 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $23 million (FY97) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 4.5% (FY97) @Djibouti:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ DOMINICA @Dominica:Introduction Background: Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans, due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years. @Dominica:Geography Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago Geographic coordinates: 15 25 N, 61 20 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 754 sq km land: 754 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 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 Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m Natural resources: timber, hydropower, arable land Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 67% other: 8% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months Environment - current issues: NA Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements @Dominica:People Population: 71,540 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 10,556; female 10,254) 15-64 years: 63% (male 23,151; female 21,984) 65 years and over: 8% (male 2,294; female 3,301) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: -1.14% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 18.27 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -22.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 17.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.35 years male: 70.5 years female: 76.36 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican Ethnic groups: black, Carib Amerindian Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% Languages: English (official), French patois Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 94% male: 94% female: 94% (1970 est.) @Dominica:Government Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica Data code: DO Government type: parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth Capital: Roseau Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978) Constitution: 3 November 1978 Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Vernon Lorden SHAW (since 7 October 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt DOUGLAS (since 2 February 2000) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 7 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vernon Lorden SHAW elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote representatives; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 31 January 2000 (next to be held by NA 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPD 10, UWP 9, DFP 2 Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Labor Party of Dominica or LPD ; United Workers Party or UWP Political pressure groups and leaders: Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party) International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (resident in Dominica) chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: (202) 364-6781 FAX: (202) 364-6791 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; US interests are served by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados Flag description: green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and 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 Economy - overview: The economy depends on agriculture and is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms. Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 21% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the lack of an international airport. Hurricane Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995; tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as well. The economy's recovery continued in 1998, fueled by increases in construction, soap production, and tourist arrivals. The government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base. GDP: purchasing power parity - $225 million (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,400 (1998 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 16% services: 63% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1998) Labor force: 25,000 Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $72 million expenditures: $79.9 million, including capital expenditures of $11.5 million (FY97/98) Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1997 est.) Electricity - production: 40 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 50% hydro: 50% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 37 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited Exports: $60.8 million (1998) Exports - commodities: bananas 50%, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges Exports - partners: Caricom countries 47%, UK 36%, US 7% (1996 est.) Imports: $120.4 million (1998) Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals Imports - partners: US 41%, Caricom countries 25%, UK 13%, Netherlands, Canada (1996 est.) Debt - external: $90 million (1998 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $24.4 million (1995) Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June @Dominica:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 18,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: domestic: fully automatic network international: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 46,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 0 (however, there is one cable television company) (1997) Televisions: 6,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Dominica:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Portsmouth, Roseau Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.) @Dominica:Military Military branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% @Dominica:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer; banking industry is vulnerable to money laundering ______________________________________________________________________ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC @Dominican Republic:Introduction Background: A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of the 20th century was brought to an end in 1996 when free and open elections ushered in a new government. @Dominican Republic:Geography Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 70 40 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 48,730 sq km land: 48,380 sq km water: 350 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire Land boundaries: total: 275 km border countries: Haiti 275 km Coastline: 1,288 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 6 nm Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 43% forests and woodland: 12% other: 15% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 2,300 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts Environment - current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Geography - note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti) @Dominican Republic:People Population: 8,442,533 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 1,486,902; female 1,422,977) 15-64 years: 61% (male 2,609,934; female 2,518,330) 65 years and over: 5% (male 192,254; female 212,136) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.64% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 25.15 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -4.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 35.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.2 years male: 71.12 years female: 75.38 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican Ethnic groups: white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73% Religions: Roman Catholic 95% Languages: Spanish Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.1% male: 82% female: 82.2% (1995 est.) @Dominican Republic:Government Country name: conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: none Data code: DR Government type: representative democracy Capital: Santo Domingo Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844) Constitution: 28 November 1966 Legal system: based on French civil codes Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote Executive branch: chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 1996, runoff election held 30 June 1996 (next to be held 16 May 2000) election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna elected president; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 48.75% Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (149 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 24, PLD 3, PRSC 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17 Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy Party or APD ; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union or UPA ; Democratic Quisqueyan Party or PQD ; Democratic Union or UD ; Dominican Communist Party or PCD ; Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Jose Tomas PEREZ]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD ; Dominican Worker's Party or PTD ; Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI ; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD ; National Progressive Force or FNP ; National Veterans and Civilian Party or PNVC ; Popular Christian Party or PPC [Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo] note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual party structures Political pressure groups and leaders: Collective of Popular Organizations or COP International organization participation: ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto Bienvenido SALADIN Selin chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-6280 FAX: (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles MANATT embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 telephone: (809) 221-2171 FAX: (809) 686-7437 Flag description: a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross @Dominican Republic:Economy Economy - overview: In December 1996, incoming President FERNANDEZ presented a bold reform package for this Caribbean economy - including the devaluation of the peso, income tax cuts, a 50% increase in sales taxes, reduced import tariffs, and increased gasoline prices - in an attempt to create a market-oriented economy that can compete internationally. Even though most reforms are stalled in the legislature - including the intellectual property rights bill, social security reform, and a new electricity law first submitted in 1993 - the economy has grown vigorously under FERNANDEZ's administration. Construction, tourism and telecommunications are leading the advance. The government is working to increase electric generating capacity, a key to continued economic growth; the state electricity company was finally privatized following numerous delays. The continuation of this vigorous growth in 2000 will depend on the policies adopted by the new administration. GDP: purchasing power parity - $43.7 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 8.3% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,400 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.6% industry: 30.8% services: 55.6% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: 25% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.6% (1989) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.1% (1999) Labor force: 2.3 million to 2.6 million Labor force - by occupation: services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%, agriculture 17% (1998 est.) Unemployment rate: 13.8% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $2.3 billion expenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $867 million (1999 est.) Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1995 est.) Electricity - production: 8.476 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 72.04% hydro: 27.62% nuclear: 0% other: 0.34% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 7.883 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs Exports: $5.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats Exports - partners: US 61.6%, Belgium 11.1%, Asia 5.9%, Canada 2.9% (1998 est.) Imports: $8.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals Imports - partners: US 56%, Venezuela 23%, Mexico 9%, Japan 4% (1999 est.) Debt - external: $3.7 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $239.6 million (1995) Currency: 1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 16.161 (January 2000), 16.033 (1999), 15.267 (1998), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996), 13.597 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Dominican Republic:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 569,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 33,000 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998) Radios: 1.44 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 25 (1997) Televisions: 770,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Dominican Republic:Transportation Railways: total: 757 km standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad) narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominican Republic Government Railway); 240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995) Highways: total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1996 est.) Pipelines: crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km Ports and harbors: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 28 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 9 (1999 est.) @Dominican Republic:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,239,309 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,405,845 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 86,569 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $180 million (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY98) @Dominican Republic:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe ______________________________________________________________________ ECUADOR @Ecuador:Introduction Background: The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. @Ecuador:Geography Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 77 30 W Map references: South America Area: total: 283,560 sq km land: 276,840 sq km water: 6,720 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada Land boundaries: total: 2,010 km border countries: 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 Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente) Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 56% other: 15% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 5,560 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world @Ecuador:People Population: 12,920,092 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 36.23% (male 2,379,541; female 2,301,543) 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 3,794,515; female 3,880,367) 65 years and over: 4.37% (male 262,701; female 301,425) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.04% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 26.51 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.52 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 35.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.06 years male: 68.26 years female: 73.99 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.18 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3% Religions: Roman Catholic 95% Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.1% male: 92% female: 88.2% (1995 est.) @Ecuador:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Ecuador local long form: Republica del Ecuador local short form: Ecuador Data code: EC Government type: republic Capital: Quito Administrative divisions: 22 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence of Quito) Constitution: 10 August 1998 Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters Executive branch: chief of state: President Gustavo NOBOA (since 22 January 2000) following coup which deposed President MAHUAD; Vice President Pedro PINTO (since 28 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Gustavo NOBOA (since 22 January 2000) following coup which deposed President MAHUAD; Vice President Pedro PINTO (since 28 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (no reelection); election last held 31 May 1998; runoff election held 12 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: results of the last election prior to the coup were: Jamil MAHUAD elected president; percent of vote - 51% note: a military-indigenous coup toppled democratically elected President Jamil MAHAUD on 21 January 2000; the military quickly handed power over to Vice President Gustavo NOBOA on 22 January; Congress then elected a new vice president from a slate of candidates submitted by NOBOA; the new administration is scheduled to complete the remainder of MAHAUD's term, due to expire in January 2003 Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (121 seats; 79 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to serve four-year terms; 42 members are popularly elected by province - two per province - for four-year terms) elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DP 32, PSC 27, PRE 24, ID 18, P-NP 9, FRA 5, PCE 3, MPD 2, CFP 1; note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP ; Democratic Left or ID ; Ecuadorian Conservative Party or PCE ; Pachakutik-New Country or P-NP ; Popular Democracy or DP ; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Jaime HURTADO Gonzalez]; Radical Alfarista Front or FRA ; Roldosist Party or PRE ; Social Christian Party or PSC note: political blocs include: far left - MPD; populist - CFP and P-NP; populist left - PRE; center left - ID, DP, and FRA; center right - PSC and PCE Political pressure groups and leaders: Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE International organization participation: CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKI chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 234-7200 FAX: (202) 667-3482 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gwen CLARE embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039 telephone: (2) 562-890 FAX: (2) 502-052 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil Flag description: 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 which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms @Ecuador:Economy Economy - overview: Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Because the country exports primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the World Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. In recent years, growth has been uneven due to ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The aftermath of El Nino and depressed oil market of 1997-98 drove Ecuador's economy into a free-fall in 1999. The beginning of 1999 saw the banking sector collapse, which helped precipitate an unprecedented default on external loans later that year. Continued economic instability drove a 70% depreciation of the currency throughout 1999, which eventually forced a desperate government to dollarize the currency regime in 2000. The move stabilized the currency, but did not stave off the ouster of the government. The new president, Gustavo NOBOA has yet to complete negotiations for a long sought IMF accord. He will find it difficult to push through the reforms necessary to make dollarization work in the long-run. GDP: purchasing power parity - $54.5 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -8% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 36% services: 50% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: 50% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 37.6% (1994) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 59.9% (1999 est.) Labor force: 4.2 million Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 12% with widespread underemployment (November 1998 est.) Budget: revenues: planned $5.1 billion (not including revenue from potential privatizations) expenditures: $5.1 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1999) Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1997 est.) Electricity - production: 9.657 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 27.96% hydro: 72.04% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 8.981 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp Exports: $4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish Exports - partners: US 39%, Colombia 7%, Italy 6%, Peru 5%, Chile 3% (1998) Imports: $2.8 billion (c.i.f., 1999) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, raw materials, fuels; consumer goods Imports - partners: US 39%, Colombia 11%, Japan 9%, Venezuela 5%, Mexico 3% (1998) Debt - external: $15.3 billion (1999) Economic aid - recipient: $695.7 million (1995) Currency: 1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1 - 24,860.7 (January 2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Ecuador:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 748,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 49,776 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 392, FM 27, shortwave 29 (1998) Radios: 4.15 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 15 (including one station on the Galapagos Islands) (1997) Televisions: 1.55 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 8 (1999) @Ecuador:Transportation Railways: total: 812 km (single track) narrow gauge: 812 km 1.067-m gauge Highways: total: 43,197 km paved: 8,165 km unpaved: 35,032 km (1999 est.) Waterways: 1,500 km Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km Ports and harbors: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo Merchant marine: total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,151 GRT/388,750 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 2, liquified gas 1, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 22 (1999 est.) Airports: 182 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 57 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 20 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 125 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 89 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @Ecuador:Military Military branches: Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police (Policia Nacional) Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,296,678 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,224,033 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 130,869 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $720 million (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.4% (FY98) @Ecuador:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: demarcation of the agreed-upon border with Peru was completed in May 1999 Illicit drugs: significant transit country for cocaine and derivatives of coca originating in Colombia and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub; increased activity on frontiers by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents ______________________________________________________________________ EGYPT @Egypt:Introduction Background: Nominally independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world) will continue to stress Egyptian society and overtax resources as the country enters the new millennium. @Egypt:Geography Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip Geographic coordinates: 27 00 N, 30 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 1,001,450 sq km land: 995,450 sq km water: 6,000 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico Land boundaries: total: 2,689 km border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km Coastline: 2,450 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta Elevation extremes: lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 98% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 32,460 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms Environment - current issues: agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining natural resources Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics @Egypt:People Population: 68,359,979 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 12,260,343; female 11,701,253) 15-64 years: 61% (male 21,111,615; female 20,714,511) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,131,760; female 1,440,497) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.72% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 25.38 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.83 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 62.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.33 years male: 61.29 years female: 65.47 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.15 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian Ethnic groups: Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1% Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6% Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.4% male: 63.6% female: 38.8% (1995 est.) @Egypt:Government Country name: conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt conventional short form: Egypt local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah local short form: Misr former: United Arab Republic (with Syria) Data code: EG Government 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, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK) National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952) Constitution: 11 September 1971 Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Atef OBEID (since 5 October 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for a six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national, popular referendum; national referendum last held 26 September 1999 (next to be held NA October 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth term Legislative branch: bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve NA-year terms) elections: People's Assembly - last held 29 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA) election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NDP 72%, independents 25%, opposition 3%; seats by party - NDP 317, independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab Democratic Party 1, LSP 1; Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party - NA Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court Political parties and leaders: Democratic Unionist Party [Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK]; Green Party ; Misr al-Fatah Party (Young Egypt Party) ; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader] - governing party; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or NPUG ; New Wafd Party or NWP ; Social Justice Party ; Socialist Labor Party or SLP ; Socialist Liberal Party or LSP ; Umma Party note: formation of political parties must be approved by government Political pressure groups and leaders: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but has moved more aggressively in the past six years to block its influence; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nabil FAHMY chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 895-5400 FAX: (202) 244-4319, 5131 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900 telephone: (2) 3557371 FAX: (2) 3573200 Flag description: 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, which 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 Economy - overview: A series of IMF arrangements - coupled with massive external debt relief resulting from Egypt's participation in the Gulf war coalition - helped Egypt improve its macroeconomic performance during the 1990s. Through sound fiscal and monetary policies, Cairo tamed inflation, slashed budget deficits, and built up foreign reserves. Although the pace of structural reforms - such as privatization and new business legislation - has been slower than the IMF envisioned, Egypt's steps toward a more market-oriented economy have prompted increased foreign investment. Lower combined hard currency inflows - from tourism, worker remittances, oil revenues, and Suez Canal tolls - in 1998 and the first half of 1999 resulted in pressure on the Egyptian pound and sporadic dollar shortages, but external payments were not in crisis. Despite ample reserves, the Central Bank did not provide sufficient hard currency to commercial banks and Cairo restricted imports for a short period; these developments confirmed to some investors and currency traders that government financial operations lack sufficient coordination and openness. Monetary pressures have since eased, however, with the continued oil price recovery starting in mid-1999 and a moderate rebound in tourism. Increased gas exports are a major plus factor in future growth. GDP: purchasing power parity - $200 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,000 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 32% services: 51% (1999) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 26.7% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1999) Labor force: 19 million (1999 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 40%, services 38%, industry 22% (1990 est.) Unemployment rate: 11.8% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $20.7 billion expenditures: $22.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99) Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum, construction, cement, metals Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 57.8 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 78.72% hydro: 21.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 53.754 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; fish Exports: $4.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals Exports - partners: EU 47%, US 14%, Turkey 8% (1998) Imports: $15.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels Imports - partners: EU 42%, US 16%, Japan 5% (1998) Debt - external: $30 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $2.25 billion (1999) Currency: 1 Egyptian pound = 100 piasters Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds per US$1 - market rate - 3.4050 (January 2000), 3.4050 (1999), 3.3880 (1998), 3.3880 (1997), 3.3880 (1996), 3.3900 (1995) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June @Egypt:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 3.168 million (1996) Telephones - mobile cellular: 380,000 (1999) Telephone system: large system by Third World standards but inadequate for present requirements and undergoing extensive upgrading; Internet access available domestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel and a signatory to Project Oxygen (a global submarine fiber-optic cable system) Radio broadcast stations: AM 42 (plus 15 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999) Radios: 20.5 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 51 (September 1995) Televisions: 7.7 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 31 (1999) @Egypt:Transportation Railways: total: 4,955 km standard gauge: 4,955 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 1,560 km double track) Highways: total: 64,000 km paved: 49,984 km unpaved: 14,016 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km (including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water Pipelines: crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km Ports and harbors: Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez Merchant marine: total: 180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,348,148 GRT/2,014,483 DWT ships by type: bulk 25, cargo 63, container 1, liquified gas 1, passenger 57, petroleum tanker 14, roll-on/roll-off 16, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.) Airports: 90 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 71 over 3,047 m: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 9 (1999 est.) Heliports: 2 (1999 est.) @Egypt:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 18,164,353 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 11,766,949 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 704,373 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3.28 billion (FY95/96) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 8.2% (FY95/96) @Egypt:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Egypt asserts its claim to the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km under partial Sudanese administration that is defined by an administrative boundary which supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899 Illicit drugs: a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers ______________________________________________________________________ EL SALVADOR @El Salvador:Introduction Background: El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost the lives of some 75,000 people, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms. @El Salvador:Geography Location: Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras Geographic coordinates: 13 50 N, 88 55 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 21,040 sq km land: 20,720 sq km water: 320 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km Coastline: 307 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 29% forests and woodland: 5% other: 31% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes; Hurricane Mitch damage Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Geography - note: smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea @El Salvador:People Population: 6,122,515 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 38% (male 1,186,328; female 1,141,245) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,652,083; female 1,833,998) 65 years and over: 5% (male 139,919; female 168,942) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.87% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 29.02 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 6.27 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -4.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 29.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.74 years male: 66.14 years female: 73.52 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.38 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran Ethnic groups: mestizo 90%, Amerindian 1%, white 9% Religions: Roman Catholic 86% note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians) Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 71.5% male: 73.5% female: 69.8% (1995 est.) @El Salvador:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador Data code: ES Government type: republic Capital: San Salvador Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Constitution: 23 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 note: Legislative Assembly passed landmark judicial reforms in 1996 Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June 1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June 1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2004) election results: Francisco FLORES Perez elected president; percent of vote - Francisco FLORES (ARENA) 52%, Facundo GUARDADO (FMLN) 29%, Ruben ZAMORA (CDU) 7.5%, other (no individual above 3%) 11.5% Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held 12 March 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - ARENA 35.4%, FMLN 34.3%, PCN 8.1%, PDC 7.9%, CD 3.8%, PRSC 3.4%, PLD 3.2%, MU 2.1%, PD 1.0%, other 0.8%; seats by party - ARENA 28, FMLN 27, PCN 9, PDC 8, PRSC 3, CD 2, PLD 2, MU 1, PD 1, independent 3 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rene AGUILUZ, secretary general]; Democratic Convergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN ; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, secretary general]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA ; Popular Labor Party or PPL [Ernesto VILANOVA, secretary general]; Social Christian Union or USC [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]; Social Democratic Party or PD [Jorge MELENDEZ and Juan MEDRANO]; United Democratic Center or CDU , bloc includes CD and PD formed by merger of Christian Social Renewal Party or PRSC, National Solidarity Movement or MSN, and the Unity Movement or MU Political pressure groups and leaders: labor organizations: Association of Agricultural Producers or APROAS; Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL business organizations: National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-9671 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Boston Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023 telephone: 278-4444 FAX: 278-6011 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: El Salvador is a poor Central American economy which has been suffering from a weak tax collection system, factory closings, the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, and weak world coffee prices. On the bright side, in recent years inflation has fallen to single digit levels, and total exports have grown substantially. The substantial trade deficit has been offset by remittances from the large number of Salvadorans living abroad and from external aid. GDP: purchasing power parity - $18.1 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2.2% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,100 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 22% services: 66% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: 48% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 38.3% (1995) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1999 est.) Labor force: 2.35 million (1999) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 15%, services 55% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 7.7% (1997 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.73 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999) Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 4.1 billion kWh (1999 est.) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 49.32% hydro: 36.46% nuclear: 0% other: 14.22% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 4.17 billion kWh (1999) Electricity - exports: 30 million kWh (1999) Electricity - imports: 65 million kWh (1999) Agriculture - products: coffee, sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp Exports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, electricity Exports - partners: US 59%, Guatemala 12%, Germany 6%, Costa Rica 4%, Honduras (1998) Imports: $4.15 billion (c.i.f., 1999) Imports - commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity Imports - partners: US 51%, Guatemala 9%, Mexico 6%, Japan 3%, Costa Rica (1999) Debt - external: $3.3 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: total $252 million; $57 million from US (1999 est.) Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 (end of period) - 8.755 fixed rate since 1993 Fiscal year: calendar year @El Salvador:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 380,000 (1998) Telephones - mobile cellular: 13,475 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System Radio broadcast stations: AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 2.75 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997) Televisions: 600,000 (1990) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) @El Salvador:Transportation Railways: total: 602 km (single track; note - some sections abandoned, unusable, or operating at reduced capacity) narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge Highways: total: 10,029 km paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,043 km (1997 est.) Waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable Ports and harbors: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto El Triunfo Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 85 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 81 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 64 (1999 est.) Heliports: 1 (1999 est.) @El Salvador:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,428,974 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 906,656 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 67,181 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $105 million (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY98) @El Salvador:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: the Honduras-El Salvador Border Protocol ratified by Honduras in May 1999 established a framework for a long-delayed border demarcation, which is currently underway; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, the ICJ referred to the line determined by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed Boundary Commission and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana produced for local consumption; domestic drug abuse on the rise ______________________________________________________________________ EQUATORIAL GUINEA @Equatorial Guinea:Introduction Background: Composed of a mainland portion and five inhabited islands, Equatorial Guinea has been ruled by ruthless leaders who have badly mismanaged the economy since independence from 190 years of Spanish rule in 1968. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 presidential and 1999 legislative elections were widely seen as being flawed. @Equatorial Guinea:Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N, 10 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 28,051 sq km land: 28,051 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland Land boundaries: total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km Coastline: 296 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical; always hot, humid Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m Natural resources: oil, petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 46% other: 41% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: violent windstorms, flash floods Environment - current issues: tap water is not potable; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: insular and continental regions rather widely separated @Equatorial Guinea:People Population: 474,214 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 101,724; female 100,787) 15-64 years: 54% (male 121,290; female 132,581) 65 years and over: 3% (male 7,960; female 9,872) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.47% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 38.13 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 13.4 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 94.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.56 years male: 51.53 years female: 55.65 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.94 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean Ethnic groups: 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), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.5% male: 89.6% female: 68.1% (1995 est.) @Equatorial Guinea:Government Country name: 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 Data code: EK Government type: republic Capital: Malabo Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968) Constitution: approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995 Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal adult Executive branch: chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup) head of government: Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA April 1996); First Vice Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NZE FUMU (since NA January 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term; election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2003); prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the president election results: President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98% of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud Legislative branch: unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - PDGE 80%, UP 6%, CPDS 5%; seats by party - PDGE 75, UP 4 and CPDS 1 note: opposition parties have refused to take up their seats in the House to protest widespread irregularities in the 1999 legislative elections Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal Political parties and leaders: Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS ; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party) ; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE ; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE ; Popular Union or UP [Fabian MUSA, general secretary]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY, mayor of Malabo] International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE chancery: 1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: (202) 296-4174 FAX: (202) 296-4195 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES note: the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon; the US State Department is considering opening a Consulate Agency in Malabo Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth. A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of the government's gross corruption and mismanagement. Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and their family members. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. The country responded favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994. Boosts in production, along with high world oil prices, should further stimulate growth in 2000-2001. GDP: purchasing power parity - $960 million (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 15% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 60% services: 20% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1999 est.) Labor force: NA Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.) Budget: revenues: $47 million expenditures: $43 million, including capital expenditures of $7 million (1996 est.) Industries: petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1994 est.) Electricity - production: 21 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 85.71% hydro: 14.29% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 20 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber Exports: $555 million (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: petroleum, timber, cocoa Exports - partners: US 62%, Spain 17%, China 9%, France 3%, Japan 3%, (1997) Imports: $300 million (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: petroleum, manufactured goods and equipment Imports - partners: US 35%, France 15%, Spain 10%, Cameroon 10%, UK 6% (1997) Debt - external: $290 million (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $33.8 million (1995) Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Equatorial Guinea:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 3,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995) Telephone system: poor system with adequate government services domestic: NA international: international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 4 (1998) Radios: 180,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: 4,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Equatorial Guinea:Transportation Railways: total: 0 km Highways: total: 2,880 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 2,880 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Bata, Luba, Malabo Merchant marine: total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,907 GRT/26,812 DWT ships by type: cargo 8, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 3 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Equatorial Guinea:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force, National Police Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 105,420 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 53,564 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3 million (FY97/98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.6% (FY97/98) @Equatorial Guinea:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: exclusive maritime economic zone boundary dispute with Cameroon is presently before the ICJ; maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay; maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria and Cameroon because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea ______________________________________________________________________ ERITREA @Eritrea:Introduction Background: Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 remains unresolved. @Eritrea:Geography Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 121,320 sq km land: 121,320 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania Land boundaries: total: 1,630 km border countries: Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km Coastline: 2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km Maritime claims: NA 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 in coastal desert Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains Elevation extremes: lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m highest point: Soira 3,018 m Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 49% forests and woodland: 6% other: 32% (1998 est.) Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: frequent droughts and locust storms Environment - current issues: deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993 @Eritrea:People Population: 4,135,933 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 888,573; female 883,939) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,104,082; female 1,122,683) 65 years and over: 3% (male 69,518; female 67,138) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 3.86% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 42.71 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 12.3 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 8.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: according to the UNHCR, about 150,000 Eritrean refugees in Sudan have registered for voluntary repatriation, following the restoration of diplomatic relations between Eritrea and Sudan in January 2000 Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 76.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.79 years male: 53.36 years female: 58.29 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.93 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean Ethnic groups: ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3% Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant Languages: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages Literacy: definition: NA total population: 25% male: NA% female: NA% @Eritrea:Government Country name: conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: Hagere Ertra local short form: Ertra former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia Data code: ER Government type: transitional government note: following a successful referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the transitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in August 1997, did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidential elections; those elections have been postponed indefinitely following the start of the border conflict with Ethiopia Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera) Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular - awraja); Akale Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye note: in May 1995 the National Assembly adopted a resolution stating that the administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been established by former colonial powers, would consist of only six provinces when the new constitution, then being drafted, became effective in 1997; the new provinces, the names of which had not been recommended by the US Board on Geographic Names for recognition by the US Government, pending acceptable definition of the boundaries, were: Anseba, Debub, Debubawi Keyih Bahri, Gash-Barka, Maakel, and Semanawi Keyih Bahri; more recently, it has been reported that these provinces have been redesignated regions and renamed Southern Red Sea, Northern Red Sea, Anseba, Gash-Barka, Southern, and Central Independence: 23-25 April 1993 referendum was held with vote for independence as the outcome; 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea Autonomous Region) National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May (1993) Constitution: the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented Legal system: operates on the basis of transitional laws that incorporate pre-independence statutes of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, revised Ethiopian laws, customary laws, and post independence enacted laws Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority note: the president is head of the State Council and National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 8 June 1993 (next to be held NA) election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95% Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits not established) elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member Constituent Assembly which had been established in 1997 to discuss and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections to a National Assembly are held; only 75 members will be elected to the National Assembly - the other 75 will be members of the Central Committee of the PFDJ Judicial branch: Supreme Court; 10 provincial courts; 29 district courts Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [ISAIAS Afworki, PETROS Solomon] Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ; Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF ; Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC ; Eritrean Liberation Front-United Organization or ELF-UO [Mohammed Said NAWD] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador SEMERE Russom chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 319-1991 FAX: (202) 319-1304 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William D. CLARKE embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: (1) 120004 FAX: (1) 127584 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country. The economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved in farming and herding. The small industrial sector consists mainly of light industries with outmoded technologies. Domestic output (GDP) is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and taxes on income and sales. Road construction is a top domestic priority. In the long term, Eritrea may benefit from the development of offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. Eritrea's economic future depends on its ability to master fundamental social and economic problems, e.g., by reducing illiteracy, promoting job creation, expanding technical training, attracting foreign investment, and streamlining the bureaucracy. The most immediate threat to the economy, however, is the possible expansion of the border conflict with Ethiopia, which broke out in May 1998. The hostilities have drained away substantial resources vital to Eritrea's economic development. GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.9 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $750 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 20% services: 62% (1995 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1998 est.) Labor force: NA Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 20% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $283.9 million expenditures: $351.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.) Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 177.6 million kWh (1997 est.) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1997 est.) Electricity - consumption: 177.6 million kWh (1997 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1997) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1997) Agriculture - products: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish Exports: $52.9 million (f.o.b., 1997) Exports - commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures Exports - partners: Ethiopia 64%, Sudan 17%, Italy 5%, Saudi Arabia 2%, US, Yemen (1997) Imports: $489.4 million (c.i.f., 1997) Imports - commodities: processed goods, machinery, petroleum products Imports - partners: Saudi Arabia 16%, Italy 14%, UAE 13%, Ethiopia 9%, Germany 6% (1997) Debt - external: $76 million (1997 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $123.1 million (1997) Currency: 1 nafka = 100 cents Exchange rates: nakfa per US$1 = 9.5 (January 2000), 7.6 (January 1999), 7.2 (March 1998 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year @Eritrea:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 23,578 (2000) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: very inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system international: NA Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2000) Radios: 345,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (2000) Televisions: 1,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Eritrea:Transportation Railways: total: 317 km narrow gauge: 317 km 0.950-m gauge (1999) note: links Ak'ordat and Asmara with the port of Massawa; nonoperational since 1978 except for about a 5 km stretch that was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of the remainder and of the rolling stock is under way Highways: total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa) Merchant marine: total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,069 GRT/19,549 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 21 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.) @Eritrea:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force Military expenditures - dollar figure: $196 million (FY97) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 28.6% (FY97) @Eritrea:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: dispute over alignment of boundary with Ethiopia led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still unresolved despite arbitration efforts ______________________________________________________________________ ESTONIA @Estonia:Introduction Background: After centuries of Swedish and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. @Estonia:Geography Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 45,226 sq km land: 43,211 sq km water: 2,015 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined Land boundaries: total: 633 km border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km Coastline: 3,794 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers Terrain: marshy, lowlands Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m Natural resources: shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite, amber, cambrian blue clay, limestone, dolomite, arable land Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 44% other: 20% (1996 est.) Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1996 est.) Natural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the spring Environment - current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal sea water is polluted in many locations Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol @Estonia:People Population: 1,431,471 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 129,204; female 124,269) 15-64 years: 68% (male 466,960; female 503,233) 65 years and over: 14% (male 67,781; female 140,024) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: -0.59% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 8.45 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 13.55 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 12.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.45 years male: 63.4 years female: 75.79 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.19 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian Ethnic groups: Estonian 65.1%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.8% (1998) Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Jewish Languages: Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, English, Finnish, other Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1998 est.) @Estonia:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Estonia conventional short form: Estonia local long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic Data code: EN Government type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Tallinn Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918) Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992 Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens Executive branch: chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since 29 March 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held August-September 1996 (next to be held fall 2001); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Lennart MERI reelected president by an electoral assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote - Lennart MERI 61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39% Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Center Party 28, Union of Pro Patria (Fatherland League) 18, Reform Party 18, Moderates 17, Country People's Party (Agrarians) 7, Coalition Party 7, UPPE 6, Judicial branch: National Court, chairman appointed by Parliament for life Political parties and leaders: Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Andrus OOVEL, chairman]; Country People's Party ; Moderates or M ; Reform Party or RE ; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit) ; United People's Party or UPPE International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sven JURGENSON chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 588-0101 FAX: (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Melissa WELLS embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (6) 312-021 FAX: (6) 312-025 Flag description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white @Estonia:Economy Economy - overview: In 1999, Estonia experienced its worst year economically since it regained independence in 1991 largely because of the impact of the August 1998 Russian financial crisis. Estonia joined the WTO in November 1999 - the second Baltic state to join - and continued its EU accession talks. GDP is forecast to grow 4% in 2000. Privatization of energy, telecommunications, railways, and other state-owned companies will continue in 2000. Estonia expects to complete its preparations for EU membership by the end of 2002. GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.9 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -0.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,600 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 30.7% services: 65.7% (1999) Population below poverty line: 6.3% (1994 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 28.5% (1996) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1999 est.) Labor force: 785,500 (1999 est.) Labor force - by occupation: industry 20%, agriculture and forestry 11%, services 69% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 11.7% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.37 billion expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.) Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.) Electricity - production: 8.742 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.98% hydro: 0.02% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 7.58 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 700 million kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 150 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish Exports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: machinery and appliances 19%, wood products 15%, textiles 13%, food products 12%, metals 10%, chemical products 8% (1999) Exports - partners: Sweden 19.3%, Finland 18.8%, Russia 8.8%, Latvia 8.8%, Germany 7.3%, US 2.5% (1999) Imports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: machinery and appliances 26%, foodstuffs 15%, chemical products 10%, metal products 9%, textiles 8% (1999) Imports - partners: Finland 23%, Russia 13.2%, Sweden 10%, Germany 9.1%, US 4.7 (1999) Debt - external: $270 million (January 1996) Economic aid - recipient: $137.3 million (1995) Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 sents Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1 - 15.417 (January 2000), 4.678 (1999), 14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995); note - krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1 Fiscal year: calendar year @Estonia:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 476,078 (yearend 1998) Telephones - mobile cellular: 246,000 (yearend 1998) Telephone system: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service; Internet services available throughout most of the country; about 150,000 unfilled subscriber requests domestic: local - the Ministry of Transport and Communications is expanding cellular telephone services to form rural networks; intercity - highly developed fiber-optic backbone (double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities (1998) international: fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet switched service; two international switches are located in Tallinn Radio broadcast stations: AM 3 (all AM stations inactive since July 1998), FM 82, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 1.01 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 31 (plus five repeaters) (September 1995) Televisions: 605,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (1999) @Estonia:Transportation Railways: total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated industrial lines broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995) Highways: total: 49,480 km paved: 10,935 km (including 75 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,545 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 320 km perennially navigable Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992) Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn Merchant marine: total: 50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 306,264 GRT/293,083 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 20, combination bulk 1, container 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 13, short-sea passenger 6 (1999 est.) Airports: 5 (1997 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.) @Estonia:Military Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air Defense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard, Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and border troops) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 359,764 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 282,456 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 10,965 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $70 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY99) @Estonia:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been signed or ratified as of 1 January 2000 Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe to Scandinavia; possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking ______________________________________________________________________ ETHIOPIA @Ethiopia:Introduction Background: Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the Italian occupation of 1936-41. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SALASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea that erupted in May 1998 has strengthened the ruling coalition, but has hurt the nation's economy. @Ethiopia:Geography Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 1,127,127 sq km land: 1,119,683 sq km water: 7,444 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 5,311 km border countries: Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km, Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley Elevation extremes: lowest point: Denakil -125 m highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 25% other: 22% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban Geography - note: landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993 @Ethiopia:People Population: 64,117,452 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 15,167,395; female 14,977,346) 15-64 years: 50% (male 16,195,637; female 15,987,089) 65 years and over: 3% (male 816,011; female 973,974) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.76% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 45.13 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 17.63 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan for refuge from war and famine in earlier years is expected to continue for several years; small numbers of Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to their homes Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 101.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.17 years male: 44.41 years female: 45.94 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 7.07 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1% Religions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8% Languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.5% male: 45.5% female: 25.3% (1995 est.) @Ethiopia:Government Country name: conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: Ityop'iya abbreviation: FDRE Data code: ET Government type: federal republic Capital: Addis Ababa Administrative divisions: 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi) and 2 chartered cities*: Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara, Benishangul/Gumaz; Dire Dawa*; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region; Tigray Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years National holiday: National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of MENGISTU regime) Constitution: ratified December 1994; effective 22 August 1995 Legal system: currently transitional mix of national and regional courts Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995) head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives elections: president elected by the House of People's Representatives for a six-year term; election last held NA June 1995 (next to be held NA May 2001); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote by the House of People's Representatives - NA Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms) elections: regional and national popular elections were held in May and June 1995 (next to be held NA May 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - EPRDF 483, regional political groupings 46, independents 8; note - 11 seats unconfirmed note: many opposition groups, including the Oromo Liberation Front, boycotted the election Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court; the president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister submits candidates selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council to the House of People's Representatives for appointment Political parties and leaders: All-Amhara People's Organization or AAPO ; Coalition of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy or CAFPD ; Ethiopian Democratic Union or EDU ; Ethiopian Movement for Democracy, Peace, and Unity or EMDPU ; Ethiopian National Democratic Party or ENDP ; Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF ; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF ; dozens of small parties Political pressure groups and leaders: Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnically based groups have formed since the defeat of the former MENGISTU regime in 1991, including several Islamic militant groups International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-2281 FAX: (202) 328-7950 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tibor P. NAGY embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa telephone: (1) 550666 FAX: (1) 551328 Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; 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 Economy - overview: Ethiopia's economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought and poor cultivation practices, and as many as 4.6 million people need food assistance annually. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy, and Ethiopia earned $267 million in 1999 by exporting 105,000 metric tons. According to current estimates, coffee contributes 10% of Ethiopia's GDP. More than 15 million people (25% of the population) derive their livelihood from the coffee sector. Other exports include live animals, hides, gold, and qat. In December 1999, Ethiopia signed a $1.4 billion joint venture deal to develop a huge natural gas field in the Somali Regional State. The war with Eritrea has forced the government to spend scarce resources on the military and forced the government to scale back ambitious development plans. Foreign investment has declined significantly. Government taxes imposed in late 1999 to raise money for the war will depress an already weak economy. The war has forced the government to improve roads and other parts of the previously neglected infrastructure, but only certain regions of the nation have benefited. GDP: purchasing power parity - $33.3 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $560 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 46% industry: 12% services: 42% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1999 est.) Labor force: NA Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $1 billion expenditures: $1.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $415 million (FY96/97) Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 1.36 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 7.35% hydro: 89.34% nuclear: 0% other: 3.31% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 1.265 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes; hides, cattle, sheep, goats Exports: $420 million (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: coffee, gold, leather products, oilseeds Exports - partners: Germany 22%, Japan 12%, Italy 9%, UK 5% (1997 est.) Imports: $1.25 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Imports - commodities: food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles Imports - partners: Italy 10%, US 9%, Japan 8%, Jordan 5% (1997 est.) Debt - external: $10 billion (1997) Economic aid - recipient: $367 million (FY95/96) Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period) - 8.2 (January 2000), 7.5030 (1998), 6.8640 (1997), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995) note: since May 1993, the birr market rate has been determined in an interbank market supported by weekly wholesale auction; prior to that date, the official rate was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr Fiscal year: 8 July - 7 July @Ethiopia:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 365,000 (1999) Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1999) Telephone system: open wire and microwave radio relay system adequate for government use domestic: open wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; two domestic satellites provide the national trunk service international: open wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 0, shortwave 2 (1999) Radios: 11.75 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 25 (1999) Televisions: 320,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Ethiopia:Transportation Railways: total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals; since May 1998 Ethiopia has expended considerable effort to repair and maintain the lines Highways: total: 28,500 km paved: 4,275 km unpaved: 24,225 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by agreement with Eritrea using the ports of Assab and Massawa; since the border dispute with Eritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the port of Djibouti for nearly all of its imports Merchant marine: total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,915 GRT/112,634 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.) Airports: 85 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 74 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 19 (1999 est.) @Ethiopia:Military Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Police, Militia note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the independence of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in Eritrean possession and ships which belonged to the former Ethiopian Navy and based at Djibouti have been sold Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 14,184,072 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 7,392,677 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 686,801 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $138 million (FY98/99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY98/99) @Ethiopia:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: most of the southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden; dispute over alignment of boundary with Eritrea led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still unresolved despite arbitration efforts Illicit drugs: transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (chat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia ______________________________________________________________________ EUROPA ISLAND @Europa Island:Geography Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique Geographic coordinates: 22 20 S, 40 22 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 28 sq km land: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.16 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 Climate: tropical Terrain: low and flat Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 24 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: wildlife sanctuary @Europa Island:People Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small French military garrison (July 2000 est.) @Europa Island:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa Data code: EU Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion Flag description: the flag of France is used @Europa Island:Economy Economy - overview: no economic activity @Europa Island:Communications Communications - note: 1 meteorological station @Europa Island:Transportation Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only Airports: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Europa Island:Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France @Europa Island:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar ______________________________________________________________________ FALKLAND ISLANDS ______________________________________________________________________ FAROE ISLANDS @Faroe Islands:Introduction Background: The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self-government was attained in 1948. @Faroe Islands:Geography Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 7 00 W Map references: Europe Area: total: 1,399 sq km land: 1,399 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams) Area - comparative: eight times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,117 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m Natural resources: fish, whales, hydropower Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1996) Irrigated land: 0 sq km Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands @Faroe Islands:People Population: 45,296 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 5,233; female 5,163) 15-64 years: 63% (male 15,270; female 13,382) 65 years and over: 14% (male 2,788; female 3,460) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.83% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 13.58 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.43 years male: 74.96 years female: 81.92 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese Ethnic groups: Scandinavian Religions: Evangelical Lutheran Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to Denmark proper @Faroe Islands:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar Data code: FO Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948 Government type: NA Capital: Torshavn Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940) Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) Legal system: Danish Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief administrative officer (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 9 May 1998) cabinet: Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA Legislative branch: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held by NA July 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 18%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 7, Coalition Party 6, other parties 3 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, People's Party 1 Judicial branch: none Political parties and leaders: Center Party ; Christian People's Party ; Home Rule Party ; Labor Front ; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party ; Social Democratic Party ; The Faroese Party ; Union Party International organization participation: NC, NIB Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: After the severe economic troubles of the early 1990s, brought on by a drop in the vital fish catch, the Faroe Islands have come back in the last few years, with unemployment down to 5% in mid-1998. Nevertheless, the almost total dependence on fishing means the economy remains extremely vulnerable. The Faroese hope to broaden their economic base by building new fish-processing plants. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate area, which may lay the basis to sustained economic prosperity. The Faroese are supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark. GDP: purchasing power parity - $700 million (1996 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 6% (1996 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $16,000 (1996 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 16% services: 64% (1996 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1996 est.) Labor force: 20,500 (1996 est.) Labor force - by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, commerce Unemployment rate: 5% (1998 est.) Budget: revenues: $467 million expenditures: $468 million, including capital expenditures of $11 million (1996 est.) Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 186 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 53.76% hydro: 45.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0.54% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 173 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish Exports: $362 million (f.o.b., 1995) Exports - commodities: fish and fish products 92%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships) Exports - partners: Denmark 31%, UK 25%, Germany 9%, France 7%, Spain 6%, US 2% (1996) Imports: $315.6 million (c.i.f., 1995) Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 17.0%, consumer goods 33%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 26.9%, fuels 11.4%, fish and salt 6.7% Imports - partners: Denmark 33%, Norway 18%, UK 8% Germany 9%, Sweden 5%, US 2% (1996) Debt - external: $767 million (1995 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $150 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1995) Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.336 (January 2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966), 5.602 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Faroe Islands:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 22,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,558 (1995) Telephone system: good international communications; good domestic facilities domestic: digitalization was to have been completed in 1998 international: satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 26,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 7 (plus 51 low-power repeaters) (September 1995) Televisions: 15,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @Faroe Islands:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 458 km paved: 450 km unpaved: 8 km (1995 est.) Ports and harbors: Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjorour Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,853 GRT/13,481 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Faroe Islands:Military Military branches: no organized native military forces; only a small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark @Faroe Islands:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ FIJI @Fiji:Introduction Background: Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian. Fiji has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. @Fiji:Geography Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 175 00 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 18,270 sq km land: 18,270 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,129 km Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 65% other: 11% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited @Fiji:People Population: 832,494 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 141,779; female 136,212) 15-64 years: 63% (male 263,127; female 262,686) 65 years and over: 4% (male 13,405; female 15,285) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.41% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 23.48 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.78 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -3.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 14.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.94 years male: 65.54 years female: 70.45 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.89 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Fijian(s) adjective: Fijian Ethnic groups: Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.) 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.6% male: 93.8% female: 89.3% (1995 est.) @Fiji:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands conventional short form: Fiji Data code: FJ Government type: republic note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987 Capital: Suva Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970) Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25 July 1990; amended 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - the May 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution and introduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for the first time at the national level Legal system: based on British system Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (acting president since 15 December 1993, president since 12 January 1994); Vice President Ratu Josefa Iloilo ULUIVUDA (since 18 January 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Mahendra CHAUDHRY (since 18 May 1999); Deputy Prime Ministers Tupeni BABA (since NA 1999) and Adi Kuini Vuikaba SPEED (since NA 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament note: there is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs which consists of the highest ranking members of the traditional chiefly system elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA elected president; percent of Great Council of Chiefs vote - NA Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the prime minister, eight appointed by the leader of the opposition, and one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups, one reserved for the Rotuman constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open; members serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 11 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fiji Labor Party 37, others 34 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Christian Fellowship Party (Veitokani ni Lewenivanua Vakarisito Party) or VLV (primarily Methodist Fijian) ; Conservative Party of Fiji or CPF ; Fiji Conservative Party or FCP ; Fiji Independent Labor (Muslim) ; Fiji Indian Congress Party ; Fiji Indian Liberal Party ; Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; Fijian Association Party or FAP ; Fijian Nationalist Party or FNP ; Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) ; Four Corners Party ; General Electors' Association ; General Voters Party or GVP ; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) ; National Unity Party [Apisai TORA] note: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National Congress or ANC merged with the Fijian Association or FA; the remaining members of the ANC have renamed their party the General Electors' Association International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador "Ratu" Napolioni MASIREWA chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 337-8320 FAX: (202) 337-1996 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Osman SIDDIQUE embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva telephone: 314466 FAX: 300081 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Roughly 300,000 tourists visit each year, including thousands of Americans following the start of regularly scheduled non-stop air service from Los Angeles. Fiji's growth slowed in 1997 because the sugar industry suffered from low world prices and rent disputes between farmers and landowners. Drought in 1998 further damaged the sugar industry, but its recovery in 1999 contributed to robust GDP growth. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights. GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 7.8% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,300 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.5% industry: 25.5% services: 58% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (1999 est.) Labor force: 235,000 Labor force - by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987) Unemployment rate: 6% (1997 est.) Budget: revenues: $540.65 million expenditures: $742.65 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.) Industries: tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (1995) Electricity - production: 550 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 20% hydro: 80% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 512 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish Exports: $393 million (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: sugar 32%, clothing, gold, processed fish, lumber Exports - partners: Australia 34%, UK 18%, other Pacific island countries 11%, US 11%, NZ 5%, Japan 5% (1997) Imports: $612 million (f.o.b., 1998) Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals Imports - partners: Australia 45%, NZ 15%, Japan 7%, US 5%, Singapore 4% (1997) Debt - external: $213 million (1997) Economic aid - recipient: $40.3 million (1995) Currency: 1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.9654 (January 2000), 1.9696 (1999), 1.9868 (1998), 1.4437 (1997), 1.4033 (1996), 1.4063 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Fiji:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 65,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,300 (1998) Telephone system: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center domestic: NA international: access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 500,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: NA Televisions: 21,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) @Fiji:Transportation Railways: total: 597 km; note - belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation narrow gauge: 597 km 0.610-m gauge (1995) Highways: total: 3,440 km paved: 1,692 km unpaved: 1,748 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges Ports and harbors: Labasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Suva Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 1, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 25 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 17 (1999 est.) @Fiji:Military Military branches: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF; includes ground and naval forces) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 223,496 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 123,051 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 9,426 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $24 million (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY98) @Fiji:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ FINLAND @Finland:Introduction Background: Ruled by Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and by Russia from 1809, Finland finally won its independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and fend off invasions by the Soviet Union and Germany. In the subsequent half century, the Finns have made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999. @Finland:Geography Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia Geographic coordinates: 64 00 N, 26 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 337,030 sq km land: 305,470 sq km water: 31,560 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Montana Land boundaries: total: 2,628 km border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km Coastline: 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations) Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 6 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm) Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 76% other: 16% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain @Finland:People Population: 5,167,486 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 478,497; female 459,646) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,747,738; female 1,712,058) 65 years and over: 15% (male 295,177; female 474,370) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.17% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 10.8 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 9.73 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 3.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.41 years male: 73.74 years female: 81.2 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish Ethnic groups: Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Lapp 0.11%, Roma 0.12%, Tatar 0.02% Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1% Languages: Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% (1980 est.) male: NA% female: NA% @Finland:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Finland conventional short form: Finland local long form: Suomen Tasavalta local short form: Suomi Data code: FI Government type: republic Capital: Helsinki Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Russia) National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917) Constitution: 17 July 1919 Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995) cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 6 February 2000 (next to be held NA February 2006); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed from the majority party by the president after parliamentary elections election results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esco AHO (Kesk) 48.4% note: government coalition - SFP, Kok, Leftist Alliance (People's Democratic Union and Democratic Alternative), SFP, and Green Union Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 21 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - SDP 22.9%, Kesk 22.5%, Kok 21.0%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.9%, SFP 5.1%, Green Union 7.2%, SKL 4.2%; seats by party - SDP 51, Kesk 48, Kok 46, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 20, SFP 11, Green Union 11, SKL 10, other 3 Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Center Party or Kesk ; Ecological Party or EPV ; Finnish Christian Union or SKL ; Green Union ; Leftist Alliance (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative ; Liberal People's Party or LKP [Pekka RYTILA]; National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Sauli NIINISTO]; Rural Party or SMP ; Social Democratic Party or SDP ; Swedish People's Party or SFP [(Johan) Ole NORRBACK]; Young Finns Political pressure groups and leaders: Communist Workers Party [Timo LAHDENMAKI]; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Communist Party-Unity ; Finnish Pensioners Party International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 298-5800 FAX: (202) 298-6030 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Eric EDELMAN embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki mailing address: APO AE 09723 telephone: (9) 171931 FAX: (9) 174681 Flag description: 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 Economy - overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important, with exports equaling more than one-third of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. The economy has come back from the recession of 1990-92, which had been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 11 countries joining the euro monetary system (EMU) on 1 January 1999 - will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 2000 will probably be at the same level as in 1999, enough to continue the decline in unemployment from its current high level. GDP: purchasing power parity - $108.6 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $21,000 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 32% services: 63% (1997) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 21.6% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1999 est.) Labor force: 2.533 million Labor force - by occupation: public services 32%, industry 22%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, agriculture and forestry 8%, transport and communications 8%, construction 6% Unemployment rate: 10% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $41 billion expenditures: $41 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.) Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing Industrial production growth rate: 4.8% (1999) Electricity - production: 75.299 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.62% hydro: 19.59% nuclear: 27.59% other: 11.2% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 79.278 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 300 million kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 9.55 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish Exports: $43 billion (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, and pulp Exports - partners: EU 56% (Germany 12%, UK 9%, Sweden 9%, France 5%), US 7%, Russia 6%, Japan (1998) Imports: $30.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains Imports - partners: EU 60% (Germany 15%, Sweden 12%, UK 7%), US 8%, Russia 7%, Japan 6% (1998) Debt - external: $30 billion (December 1993) Economic aid - donor: ODA, $379 million (1997) Currency: 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); markkaa (FMk) per US$1 - 5.3441 (1998), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996), 4.3667 (1995) note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 5.94573 markkaa per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002 Fiscal year: calendar year @Finland:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 2.861 million (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,162,574 (1997) Telephone system: modern system with excellent service domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular net take provide of domestic needs international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 7.7 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 130 (plus 385 repeaters) (1995) Televisions: 3.2 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 36 (1999) @Finland:Transportation Railways: total: 5,865 km broad gauge: 5,865 km 1.524-m gauge (2,192 km electrified; 480 km double- or multiple-track) (1998) Highways: total: 77,895 km paved: 49,853 km (including 473 km of expressways) unpaved: 28,042 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers Pipelines: natural gas 580 km Ports and harbors: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus Merchant marine: total: 101 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,185,966 GRT/1,153,089 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 11, rail car carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off 38, short-sea passenger 12 (1999 est.) Airports: 157 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 69 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 88 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 82 (1999 est.) @Finland:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes Sea Guard) Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,262,526 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,041,795 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 34,651 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.8 billion (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY98) @Finland:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ FRANCE @France:Introduction Background: Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the advent of the euro in January 1999. Today, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a more unified and capable European defense and security apparatus. @France:Geography Location: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 2 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 547,030 sq km land: 545,630 sq km water: 1,400 sq km note: includes only metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Colorado Land boundaries: total: 2,889 km border countries: Andorra 56.6 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 Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean) territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 27% other: 18% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 16,300 sq km (1995 est.) Natural hazards: flooding; avalanches Environment - current issues: some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage occurred as a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: largest West European nation; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral @France:People Population: 59,329,691 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 5,719,502; female 5,448,608) 15-64 years: 65% (male 19,345,269; female 19,322,902) 65 years and over: 16% (male 3,849,783; female 5,643,627) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.38% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 12.27 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.76 years male: 74.85 years female: 82.89 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.75 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French Ethnic groups: 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1980 est.) @France:Government Country name: conventional long form: French Republic conventional short form: France local long form: Republique Francaise local short form: France Data code: FR Government 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: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon) Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis) National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993 Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Lionel JOSPIN (since 3 June 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 23 April and 7 May 1995 (next to be held by May 2002); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president election results: Jacques CHIRAC elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN (PS) 47.36% Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majoritarian system to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held September 2001); National Assembly - last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA May 2002) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 99, UDC 52, DL 47, PS 78, PCF 16, other 29; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 245, RPR 140, UDF 109, PCF 37, PRS 13, MEI 8, MDC 7, LDI-MPF 1, FN 1, various left 9, various right 7 Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation, judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary; Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel, three members appointed by the president, three members appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate; Council of State or Conseil d'Etat Political parties and leaders: Citizens Movement or MdC [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT]; Democratic Force or FD ; Ecology Gereration or GE ; French Communist Party or PCF ; Independent Ecological Movement or MEI ; Left Radical Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) ; Liberal Democracy or DL (originally Republican Party or PR) ; Movement for France or LDI-MPF ; National Center of Independents and Peasants or CNIP ; National Front or FN ; National Front-National Movement [Bruno MEGRET]; Popular Party for French Democracy or PPDF [Herve de CHARETTE]; Radical Party or RRRS ; Rally for the Republic or RPR ; Reformers' Movement or MR ; Socialist Party or PS ; The Greens (Les Verts) ; The Right (La Droite) ; Union for French Democracy or UDF (coalition of UDC, FD, RRRS, PPDF) ; Union of the Center or UDC [leader NA] Political pressure groups and leaders: Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); independent labor union or Force Ouvriere, 1 million members (est.); independent white-collar union or Confederation Generale des Cadres, 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais) or CNPF or Patronat; Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, about 800,000 members (est.) International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francois V. BUJON DE L'ESTANG chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 944-6000 FAX: (202) 944-6166 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Felix G. ROHATYN embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777 telephone: (1) 43-12-22-22 FAX: (1) 42 66 97 83 consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas @France:Economy Economy - overview: France's economy combines modern capitalistic methods with extensive, but declining, government intervention. The government retains considerable influence over key segments of each sector, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It has been gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early 1990s. The government is slowly selling off holdings in France Telecom, in Air France, and in the insurance, banking, and defense industries. Meanwhile, large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. Persistently high unemployment will continue to pose a major problem for the government; a 35-hour work week is being introduced. France has shied away from cutting exceptionally generous social welfare benefits or the enormous state bureaucracy, preferring to pare defense spending and raise taxes to keep the deficit down. France joined 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999. GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.373 trillion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2.7% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,300 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 26.1% services: 70.6% (1998) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24.9% (1989) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1999 est.) Labor force: 25.4 million (1994) Labor force - by occupation: services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1995) Unemployment rate: 11% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $325 billion expenditures: $360 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, mining; textiles, food processing; tourism Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 480.972 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 10.77% hydro: 12.45% nuclear: 76.24% other: 0.54% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 389.254 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 62 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 3.95 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish Exports: $304.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, iron and steel products; agricultural products, textiles and clothing Exports - partners: EU 63% (Germany 16%, UK 10%, Italy 9%, Spain 9%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8%), US 7% (1998) Imports: $280.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, chemicals; agricultural products Imports - partners: EU 62% (Germany 17%, Italy 10%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, UK 8%, Spain 7%), US 9% (1998) Debt - external: $117.6 billion (1996 est.) Economic aid - donor: ODA, $6.3 billion (1997) Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995) note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 6.55957 French francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002 Fiscal year: calendar year @France:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 34.86 million (yearend 1998) Telephones - mobile cellular: 11.078 million (yearend 1998) Telephone system: highly developed domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998) Radios: 55.3 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 574 (plus 9,634 repeaters) (1995) Televisions: 34.8 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 128 (1999) @France:Transportation Railways: total: 31,939 km (31,940 km are operated by French National Railways (SNCF); 14,176 km of SNCF routes are electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-tracked) standard gauge: 31,840 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 99 km 1.000-m gauge (1998) Highways: total: 893,300 km paved: 893,300 km (including 10,300 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.) 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 and harbors: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg Merchant marine: total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,155,286 GRT/1,693,030 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk 1, container 5, liquified gas 4, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 16, roll-on/roll-off 6, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.) note: France also maintains a captive register for French-owned ships in Iles Kerguelen (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) (1998 est.) Airports: 474 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 267 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 92 914 to 1,523 m: 74 under 914 m: 57 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 207 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 76 under 914 m: 127 (1999 est.) Heliports: 3 (1999 est.) @France:Military Military branches: Army (includes Marines), Navy (includes Naval Air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 14,619,317 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 12,167,421 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 402,987 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $39.831 billion (FY97) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY97) @France:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and French Guiana; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin ______________________________________________________________________ FRENCH GUIANA @French Guiana:Introduction Background: First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou. @French Guiana:Geography Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 53 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 91,000 sq km land: 89,150 sq km water: 1,850 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana Land boundaries: total: 1,183 km border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km Coastline: 378 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 90% other: 10% (1996 est.) Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: mostly an unsettled wilderness @French Guiana:People Population: 172,605 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 27,116; female 25,902) 15-64 years: 64% (male 59,690; female 50,621) 65 years and over: 5% (male 4,694; female 4,582) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 2.93% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 22.44 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 4.76 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 11.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 13.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.1 years male: 72.77 years female: 79.6 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: French Guianese (singular and plural) adjective: French Guianese Ethnic groups: black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10% Religions: Roman Catholic Languages: French Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83% male: 84% female: 82% (1982 est.) @French Guiana:Government Country name: conventional long form: Department of Guiana conventional short form: French Guiana local long form: none local short form: Guyane Data code: FG Dependency status: overseas department of France Government type: NA Capital: Cayenne Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France) Independence: none (overseas department of France) National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: French legal system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since NA January 1997) head of government: President of the General Council Andre LECANTE (since NA March 1998); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: General Council - last held 20-27 March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSG 8, FDG 4, RPR 1, other left 2, other right 2, other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%, various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari Committee 2 note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, PSG 1 Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana) Political parties and leaders: Action Democrate Guiana or ADG [Andre LECANTE]; Democratic and European Rally of the Senate or RDSE [leader NA]; Guianese Socialist Party or PSG ; Guyana Democratic Forces or FDG ; Nationalist Popular Party of Guyana (Parti Nationaliste Populaire Guiana) or PNPG ; Rally for the Republic or RPR ; Socialist Party or PS (may be a subset of PSG); Union for French Democracy or UDF ; Union of Social Democrats (Union des Socialistes Democates) or USD (umbrella group of RPR and UDF); Walwari Committee International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department of France) Flag description: the flag of France is used @French Guiana:Economy 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. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry which provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers. GDP: purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1998 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1992) Labor force: 58,800 (1997) Labor force - by occupation: services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980) Unemployment rate: 21.4% (1998 est.) Budget: revenues: $225 million expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996) Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 430 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 400 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry Exports: $155 million (f.o.b., 1997) Exports - commodities: shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing Exports - partners: France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (1997) Imports: $625 million (c.i.f., 1997) Imports - commodities: food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals Imports - partners: France 52%, US 14%, Trinidad and Tobago 6% (1997) Debt - external: $1.2 billion (1988) Economic aid - recipient: $NA Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @French Guiana:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 47,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: domestic: fair open wire and microwave radio relay system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998) Radios: 104,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997) Televisions: 30,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @French Guiana:Transportation Railways: 0 km (1995) Highways: total: 1,817 km paved: 727 km unpaved: 1,090 km (1995 est.) Waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft Ports and harbors: Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 11 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.) @French Guiana:Military Military branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 48,445 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 31,367 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France @French Guiana:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa) Illicit drugs: small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe ______________________________________________________________________ FRENCH POLYNESIA @French Polynesia:Introduction Background: The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. @French Polynesia:Geography Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 140 00 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) land: 3,660 sq km water: 507 sq km Area - comparative: 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 Climate: tropical, but moderate Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 31% other: 57% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January Environment - current issues: NA Geography - note: includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru @French Polynesia:People Population: 249,110 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 38,736; female 37,197) 15-64 years: 65% (male 83,986; female 76,973) 65 years and over: 5% (male 6,127; female 6,091) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.78% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 19.01 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 4.41 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 3.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.79 years male: 72.47 years female: 77.22 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian Ethnic groups: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% Religions: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16% Languages: French (official), Tahitian (official) Literacy: definition: age 14 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1977 est.) @French Polynesia:Government Country name: 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 Data code: FP Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1946 Government type: NA Capital: Papeete Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia Independence: none (overseas territory of France) National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: based on French system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul RONCIERE (since NA 1994) head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Justin ARAPARI (since 13 May 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 22, Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia 10, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4 note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC 1; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2 Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif Political parties and leaders: Centrist Union or UC ; Entente Polynesian ; Haere i Mua ; Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) ; Independent Party (Ia Mana Te Nunaa) [Jacques DROLLET]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) ; People's Rally for the Republic (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) ; Polynesian Union Party (includes Te Tiarama and Pupu Here Ai'a Party) ; Pupu Taina ; Te Aratia Ote Nunaa (Tinomana Ebb); Te e'a No Maohi Nui International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of France) Flag description: two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions @French Polynesia:Economy 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 one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefited from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France aimed principally at creating new jobs. GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.6 billion (1997 est.) GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,800 (1997 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 18% services: 78% (1997) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994) Labor force: 118,744 (of which 70,044 are employed) (1988) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997) Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues: $1 billion expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996) Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 360 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.72% hydro: 40.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 335 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products Exports: $212 million (f.o.b., 1996) Exports - commodities: cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997) Exports - partners: US 11%, France 6% (1997) Imports: $860 million (c.i.f., 1996) Imports - commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment Imports - partners: France 44.7%, US 13.9% (1994) Debt - external: $NA Economic aid - recipient: $450.4 million (1995) Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 117.67 (January 2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 CFPFs to the French franc Fiscal year: calendar year @French Polynesia:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 32,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998) Radios: 128,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997) Televisions: 40,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA @French Polynesia:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 792 km paved: 792 km unpaved: 0 km (1995 est.) Ports and harbors: Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa Merchant marine: total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,240 GRT/7,765 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 45 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 30 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.) @French Polynesia:Military Military branches: French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France @French Polynesia:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ______________________________________________________________________ GABON @Gabon:Introduction Background: Ruled by autocratic presidents since independence from France in 1960, Gabon introduced a multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and for reforms of governmental institutions. A small population, abundant natural resources, and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous black African countries. @Gabon:Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 11 45 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 267,667 sq km land: 257,667 sq km water: 10,000 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Colorado Land boundaries: total: 2,551 km border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the 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 Climate: tropical; always hot, humid Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 77% other: 3% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: deforestation; poaching Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements @Gabon:People Population: 1,208,436 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 201,737; female 200,764) 15-64 years: 61% (male 371,359; female 364,982) 65 years and over: 6% (male 34,478; female 35,116) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.08% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 27.6 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 16.83 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 96.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.08 years male: 48.94 years female: 51.26 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.73 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Gabonese (singular and plural) adjective: Gabonese Ethnic groups: Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including 6,000 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality Religions: Christian 55%-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 63.2% male: 73.7% female: 53.3% (1995 est.) @Gabon:Government Country name: conventional long form: Gabonese Republic conventional short form: Gabon local long form: Republique Gabonaise local short form: Gabon Data code: GB Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990) Capital: Libreville Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1960) (Gabon granted full independence from France) Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991 Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE (since 23 January 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO 66.6%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 16.5%, Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE 13.4% Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms elections: National Assembly - last held 15 and 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2001); Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 1997 (next to be held in January 2002) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 89, PGP 9, RNB 6, CLR 3, UPG 2, USG 2, independents 4, others 5; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9 Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts Political parties and leaders: African Forum for Reconstruction or FAR ; Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE ; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, former sole party ; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP ; Gabonese People's Union or UPG ; Gabonese Socialist Union or USG ; National Rally of Woodcutters (Bucherons) or RNB ; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP ; Social Democratic Party or PSD International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 797-1000 FAX: (202) 332-0668 consulate(s): New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James V. LEDESMA embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville telephone: 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92 FAX: 74 55 07 Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue @Gabon:Economy Economy - overview: Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet because of high income inequality a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12 January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95 and a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995. Those agreements mandate progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices in 1999 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. With support from higher oil prices, growth will move up in 2000-01. GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.9 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 1.7% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,500 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 60% services: 30% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1999 est.) Labor force: 600,000 Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 60%, services and government 25%, industry and commerce 15% Unemployment rate: 21% (1997 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $302 million (1996 est.) Industries: food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair Industrial production growth rate: 2.3% (1995) Electricity - production: 1.025 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 27.8% hydro: 72.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 953 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: crude oil 75%, timber, manganese, uranium (1998) Exports - partners: US 68%, China 9%, France 8%, Japan 3% (1998) Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, petroleum products, construction materials Imports - partners: France 39%, US 6%, Cameroon 5%, Netherlands 5%, Cote d'Ivoire, Japan (1998) Debt - external: $4.6 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $331 million (1995) Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro Fiscal year: calendar year @Gabon:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 32,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 7, shortwave 6 (1998) Radios: 208,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 4 (plus five low-power repeaters) (1997) Televisions: 63,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999) @Gabon:Transportation Railways: total: 649 km (Gabon State Railways or OCTRA) standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994) Highways: total: 7,670 km paved: 629 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,041 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km Ports and harbors: Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo, Port-Gentil Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,419 GRT/3,205 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.) Airports: 61 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.) @Gabon:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard (charged with protecting the president and other senior officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 278,251 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 143,278 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 11,291 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $91 million (FY96) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.6% (FY96) @Gabon:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay ______________________________________________________________________ GAMBIA ______________________________________________________________________ GAZA STRIP @Gaza Strip:Introduction Background: The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations, which resumed in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus. @Gaza Strip:Geography Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel Geographic coordinates: 31 25 N, 34 20 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 360 sq km land: 360 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 62 km border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km Coastline: 40 km Maritime claims: Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m Natural resources: arable land Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 39% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 11% other: 26% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment Geography - note: there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1999 est.) @Gaza Strip:People Population: 1,132,063 note: in addition, there are some 6,500 Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 50% (male 289,954; female 275,628) 15-64 years: 47% (male 271,365; female 263,197) 65 years and over: 3% (male 13,792; female 18,127) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 3.97% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 43.14 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 25.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.82 years male: 69.58 years female: 72.11 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.55 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6% Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6% Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood) Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% @Gaza Strip:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah Data code: GZ @Gaza Strip:Economy Economy - overview: Economic conditions in the Gaza Strip - under the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority since the Cairo Agreement of May 1994 - have deteriorated since the early 1990s. Real per capita GDP for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) declined 36% between 1992 and 1996 owing to the combined effect of falling aggregate incomes and robust population growth. The downturn in economic activity was largely the result of Israeli closure policies - the imposition of generalized border closures in response to security incidents in Israel - which disrupted previously established labor and commodity market relationships between Israel and the WBGS. The most serious negative social effect of this downturn has been the emergence of chronic unemployment; average unemployment rates in the WBGS during the 1980s were generally under 5%; by the mid-1990s this level had risen to over 20%. Since 1997 Israel's use of comprehensive closures has decreased and, in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce the impact of closures and other security procedures on the movement of Palestinian goods and labor. In October 1999, Israel permitted the opening of a safe passage between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in accordance with the 1995 Interim Agreement. These changes to the conduct of economic activity have fueled a moderate economic recovery in 1998-99. GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.17 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4.6% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,060 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 25% services: 42% (1995 est., includes West Bank) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (includes West Bank) (1999 est.) Labor force: NA Labor force - by occupation: services 66%, industry 21%, agriculture 13% (1996) Unemployment rate: 14.5% (includes West Bank) (1998 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.6 billion expenditures: $1.73 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA note: includes West Bank (1999 est.) 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 Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - consumption: NA kWh Electricity - imports: NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel Agriculture - products: olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products Exports: $682 million (includes West Bank) (f.o.b., 1998 est.) Exports - commodities: citrus, flowers Exports - partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank Imports: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.) (includes West Bank) Imports - commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials Imports - partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank Debt - external: $108 million (includes West Bank) (1997 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $800 million pledged (includes West Bank) (1999) Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 4.2260 (November 1999), 3.8001 (1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Gaza Strip:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 95,729 (total for Gaza Strip and West Bank) (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: domestic: rudimentary telephone services provided by an open wire system international: NA Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999) Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation) (1997) Televisions: NA; note - most Palestinian households have televisions (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999) @Gaza Strip:Transportation Railways: total: NA km; note - one line, abandoned and in disrepair, little trackage remains Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: small, poorly developed road network Ports and harbors: Gaza Airports: 2 (1999 est.) note: includes Gaza International Airport that opened on 24 November 1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the September 1995 Oslo II Accord and the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.) @Gaza Strip:Military Military branches: NA Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% @Gaza Strip:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation ______________________________________________________________________ GEORGIA @Georgia:Introduction Background: Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Russian troops remain garrisoned at four military bases and as peacekeepers in the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The country continues to move toward a market economy and greater integration with Western institutions. @Georgia:Geography Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia Geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 43 30 E Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States Area: total: 69,700 sq km land: 69,700 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina Land boundaries: total: 1,461 km border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km Coastline: 310 km Maritime claims: NA 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; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 m Natural resources: forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 34% other: 28% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 4,000 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: earthquakes Environment - current issues: air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements @Georgia:People Population: 5,019,538 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 517,829; female 497,155) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,630,814; female 1,755,323) 65 years and over: 13% (male 238,090; female 380,327) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: -0.62% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 10.87 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 14.52 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -2.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 52.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.48 years male: 60.9 years female: 68.23 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.41 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Georgian(s) adjective: Georgian Ethnic groups: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5% Religions: Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6% Languages: Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz (official in Abkhazia) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 100% female: 98% (1989 est.) @Georgia:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local long form: none local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic Data code: GG Government type: republic Capital: T'bilisi Administrative divisions: 53 rayons (raionebi, singular - raioni), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abashis, Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi), Akhalgoris, Akhalk'alak'is, Akhalts'ikhis, Akhmetis, Ambrolauris, Aspindzis, Baghdat'is, Bolnisis, Borjomis, Chiat'ura*, Ch'khorotsqus, Ch'okhatauris, Dedop'listsqaros, Dmanisis, Dushet'is, Gardabanis, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaanis, Javis, K'arelis, Kaspis, Kharagaulis, Khashuris, Khobis, Khonis, K'ut'aisi*, Lagodekhis, Lanch'khut'is, Lentekhis, Marneulis, Martvilis, Mestiis, Mts'khet'is, Ninotsmindis, Onis, Ozurget'is, P'ot'i*, Qazbegis, Qvarlis, Rust'avi*, Sach'kheris, Sagarejos, Samtrediis, Senakis, Sighnaghis, T'bilisi*, T'elavis, T'erjolis, T'et'ritsqaros, T'ianet'is, Tqibuli*, Ts'ageris, Tsalenjikhis, Tsalkis, Tsqaltubo*, Vanis, Zestap'onis, Zugdidi*, Zugdidis note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) Independence: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 26 May (1991) Constitution: adopted 17 October 1995 Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held 9 April 2000) election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74% Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 31 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - CUG 41.85%, AGUR 25.65%, IWSG 7.8%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR 59, IWSG 15, Abkhaz deputies 12, independents 14, other 5 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court Political parties and leaders: Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG ; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG ; Greens Party [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG ; Labor Party ; National Democratic Party or NDP ; National Independent Party or NIP ; People's Party ; Socialist Party or SPG ; Union for "Revival" Party or AGUR ; Union of Traditionalists or UGT ; United Republican Party or URP [Nodar NATADZE, chairman] Political pressure groups and leaders: Georgian refugees from Abkhazia (Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament); separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia; supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA remain a source of opposition International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CE (guest), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 387-2390 FAX: (202) 393-4537 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth S. YALOWITZ embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (32) 989-967 FAX: (32) 933-759 Flag description: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below @Georgia:Economy Economy - overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, made substantial economic gains since 1995, increasing GDP growth and slashing inflation. The Georgian economy continues to experience large budget deficits due to a failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia also still suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the distribution network in 1998, and deliveries are steadily improving. Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery on the development of an international transportation corridor through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. The growing trade deficit, continuing problems with tax evasion and corruption, and political uncertainties cloud the short-term economic picture. However, revived investment could spur higher economic growth in 2000, perhaps up to 6%. GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,300 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 23% services: 45% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: 60% (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19% (1999 est.) Labor force: 3.08 million (1997) Labor force - by occupation: industry and construction 20%, agriculture and forestry 40%, services 40% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 14.5% (1998 est.) Budget: revenues: $364 million expenditures: $568 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998) Industries: steel, aircraft, machine tools, electric locomotives, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (1998 est.) Electricity - production: 6.96 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 14.66% hydro: 85.34% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 6.123 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 700 million kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 350 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: citrus, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes; livestock Exports: $330 million (1999 est.) Exports - commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products; diverse types of machinery and metals; chemicals; fuel reexports; textiles Exports - partners: Russia 27%, Turkey 20%, Azerbaijan 10%, Armenia 8% (1997) Imports: $840 million (1999 est.) Imports - commodities: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts, transport equipment Imports - partners: EU 22%, Russia 15%, Turkey 12%, Azerbaijan 12%, US 7% (1997) Debt - external: $1.8 billion (1998) Economic aid - recipient: $212.7 million (1995) Currency: 1 lari (GEL) = 100 tetri Exchange rates: lari per US$1 (end of period) - 1.9503 (December 1999), 2.0245 (1999), 1.3898 (1998), 1.2975 (1997), 1.2628 (1996), 1.24 (December 1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Georgia:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 554,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 150 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone networks with about 10,000 customers total; urban areas 20 telephones/100 people; rural areas 4 telephones/100 people; intercity - a fiber-optic line connects T'bilisi to K'ut'aisi (Georgia's second largest city); nationwide pager service international: Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic line between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); present international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service available Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998) Radios: 3.02 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 12 (plus repeaters) (1998) Televisions: 2.57 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999) @Georgia:Transportation Railways: total: 1,583 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993) Highways: total: 20,700 km paved: 19,354 km unpaved: 1,346 km (1996 est.) Pipelines: crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas 440 km (1992) Ports and harbors: Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi Merchant marine: total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 103,080 GRT/158,803 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 6 (1999 est.) Airports: 28 (1994 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.) Transportation - note: transportation network is in poor condition and disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair @Georgia:Military Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Naval Forces, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,291,190 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,021,072 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 40,694 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $27 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1% (FY99) Military - note: a CIS peacekeeping force consisting of Russian troops is deployed in the Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observer group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia @Georgia:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via Central Asia to Western Europe and Russia ______________________________________________________________________ GERMANY @Germany:Introduction Background: As Western Europe's richest and most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed the country in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC and NATO, while the communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then Germany has expended considerable funds to bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries formed a common European currency, the euro. @Germany:Geography Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark Geographic coordinates: 51 00 N, 9 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 357,021 sq km land: 349,223 sq km water: 7,798 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Montana Land boundaries: total: 3,621 km border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km Coastline: 2,389 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm foehn wind Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south Elevation extremes: lowest point: Freepsum Lake -2 m highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel, arable land Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 31% other: 20% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 4,750 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: flooding Environment - current issues: emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government currently attempting to define mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea @Germany:People Population: 82,797,408 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 6,679,930; female 6,333,110) 15-64 years: 68% (male 28,638,814; female 27,693,630) 65 years and over: 16% (male 5,133,121; female 8,318,803) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.29% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 9.35 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 10.49 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 4.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 4.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.44 years male: 74.3 years female: 80.75 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.38 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: German(s) adjective: German Ethnic groups: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Serbo-Croatian, Italian, Russian, Greek, Polish, Spanish) Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 1.7%, unaffiliated or other 26.3% Languages: German Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1977 est.) male: NA% female: NA% @Germany:Government Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany conventional short form: Germany local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland local short form: Deutschland Data code: GM Government type: federal republic Capital: Berlin Administrative divisions: 16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991 National holiday: German Unity Day (Day of Unity), 3 October (1990) Constitution: 23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united German people 3 October 1990 Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Johannes RAU (since 1 July 1999) head of government: Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (since 27 October 1998) cabinet: Cabinet or Bundeskanzler appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor elections: president elected for a five-year term by a Federal Convention including all members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the Land Parliaments; election last held 23 May 1999 (next to be held 23 May 2004); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held in the fall of 2002) election results: Johannes RAU elected president; percent of Federal Convention vote - 57.6%; Gerhard SCHROEDER elected chancellor; percent of Federal Assembly - 52.7% Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (656 seats usually, but 669 for the 1998 term; elected by popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain representation; members serve four-year terms) and the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments are directly represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on population and are required to vote as a block) elections: Federal Assembly - last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by the fall of 2002); note - there are no elections for the Bundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of the state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election election results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - SPD 40.9%, Alliance '90/Greens 6.7%, CDU/CSU 35.1%, FDP 6.2%, PDS 5.1%; seats by party - SPD 298, Alliance '90/Greens 47, CDU/CSU 245, FDP 43, PDS 36; Federal Council - current composition - votes by party - SPD-led states 26, CDU-led states 28, grand coalitions 15 Judicial branch: Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht, half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat Political parties and leaders: Alliance '90/Greens [Gunda ROESTEL and Antje RADCKE]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU ; Christian Social Union or CSU ; Free Democratic Party or FDP ; Party of Democratic Socialism or PDS ; Social Democratic Party or SPD Political pressure groups and leaders: employers' organizations; expellee, refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juergen CHROBOG chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 298-8141 FAX: (202) 298-4249 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Wellington (America Samoa) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John C. KORNBLUM embassy: Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5, 10117 Berlin mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265 telephone: (30) 238-5174 FAX: (30) 238-6290 consulate(s) general: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold @Germany:Economy Economy - overview: Germany possesses the world's third most technologically powerful economy after the US and Japan, but its basic capitalistic economy has started to struggle under the burden of generous social benefits. Structural rigidities - like a high rate of social contributions on wages - have made unemployment a long-term, not just cyclical, problem, while Germany's aging population has pushed social security outlays to exceed contributions from workers. The integration and upgrading of the eastern German economy remains a costly long-term problem, with annual transfers from the west amounting to roughly $100 billion. Growth slowed to 1.5% in 1999, largely due to lower export demand and still-low business confidence. Recovering Asian demand, a push for fiscal consolidation, and newly proposed business and income tax cuts - if passed - are expected to boost growth back to trend rates around 2.5% in 2000 and beyond. The adoption of a common European currency and the general political and economic integration of Europe will bring major changes to the German economy in the early 21st century. GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.864 trillion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $22,700 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.2% industry: 30.4% services: 68.4% (1999) Population below poverty line: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.8% (1999 est.) Labor force: 40.5 million (1999 est.) Labor force - by occupation: industry 33.7%, agriculture 2.7%, services 63.6% (1998) Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1999 est.) Budget: revenues: $996 billion expenditures: $1.036 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) Industries: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages; shipbuilding; textiles Industrial production growth rate: 0.9% (1999) Electricity - production: 525.356 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 65.77% hydro: 3.2% nuclear: 29.06% other: 1.97% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 488.041 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 39.1 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 38.56 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry Exports: $610 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures, foodstuffs, textiles (1999) Exports - partners: EU 56.4% (France 11.1%, UK 8.6%, Italy 7.4%, Netherlands 6.8%, Benelux 5.7%), US 9.4%, Japan 1.9% (1998) Imports: $587 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals (1999) Imports - partners: EU 53.7% (France 11.1%, Netherlands 7.7%, Italy 7.8%, UK 6.8%, Benelux 5.6%), US 8.3%, Japan 5.0% (1998) Debt - external: $NA Economic aid - donor: ODA, $5.6 billion (1998) Currency: 1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige Exchange rates: euros per US$1 -0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); deutsche marks (DM) per US$1 - 1.69 (January 1999), 1.7597 (1998), 1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995) note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 1.95583 deutsche marks per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002 Fiscal year: calendar year @Germany:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: NA; 46.5 million main lines are installed (July 1999) Telephones - mobile cellular: 15.318 million (April 1999) Telephone system: Germany has one of the world's most technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly backward system of the eastern part of the country has been modernized and integrated with that of the western part domestic: Germany is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available and includes roaming service to many foreign countries international: satellite earth stations - 14 Intelsat (12 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), 2 Intersputnik (1 Atlantic Ocean region and 1 Indian Ocean region); 7 submarine cable connections; 2 HF radiotelephone communication centers; tropospheric scatter links Radio broadcast stations: AM 51, FM 767, shortwave 4 (1998) Radios: 77.8 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 9,513 (including repeaters) (1998) Televisions: 51.4 million (1998) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 625 (1999) @Germany:Transportation Railways: total: 40,826 km including at least 14,253 km electrified and 14,768 km double- or multiple-tracked (1998) note: since privatization in 1994, Deutsche Bahn AG (DBAG) no longer publishes details of the tracks it owns; in addition to the DBAG system there are 102 privately owned railway companies which own an approximate 3,000 km to 4,000 km of the total tracks Highways: total: 656,140 km paved: 650,891 km (including 11,400 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,249 km (all-weather) (1998 est.) Waterways: 7,500 km (1999); major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km (1998) Ports and harbors: Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cologne, Dresden, Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Lubeck, Magdeburg, Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart Merchant marine: total: 475 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,395,990 GRT/8,014,132 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 181, chemical tanker 12, container 239, liquified gas 2, multi-functional large load carrier 5, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 8, rail car carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off 13, short-sea passenger 7 (1999 est.) Airports: 615 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 320 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 61 1,524 to 2,437 m: 67 914 to 1,523 m: 56 under 914 m: 122 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 295 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 55 under 914 m: 226 (1999 est.) Heliports: 59 (1999 est.) @Germany:Military Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm), Air Force, Medical Corps, Border Police, Coast Guard Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 20,863,020 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 17,800,862 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 485,422 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $32.8 billion (FY98) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY98) @Germany:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: remaining legal issues (restitution) arising from World War II and its aftermath Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs ______________________________________________________________________ GHANA @Ghana:Introduction Background: Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the banning of political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. @Ghana:Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 238,540 sq km land: 230,020 sq km water: 8,520 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon Land boundaries: total: 2,093 km border countries: Burkina Faso 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 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 35% other: 24% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts Environment - current issues: recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Geography - note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March) @Ghana:People Population: 19,533,560 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 4,120,240; female 4,063,960) 15-64 years: 55% (male 5,290,675; female 5,391,175) 65 years and over: 3% (male 318,890; female 348,620) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 1.87% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 29.81 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 10.22 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 57.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.42 years male: 56.07 years female: 58.82 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.95 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian Ethnic groups: 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.5% male: 75.9% female: 53.5% (1995 est.) @Ghana:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast Data code: GH Government type: constitutional democracy Capital: Accra Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957) Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992 Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: Jerry John RAWLINGS reelected president; percent of vote - RAWLINGS 57.2%, John KUFUOR 39.8% Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE ; National Convention Party or NCP ; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter Ala ADJETY]; People's Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman]; People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander ERSKINE]; People's National Convention or PNC International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 686-4520 FAX: (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Dee ROBINSON embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: (21) 775348 FAX: (21) 776008 Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow 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 Economy - overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 40% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In 1995-97, Ghana made mixed progress under a three-year structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side, public sector wage increases and regional peacekeeping commitments have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures. A rebound in gold prices is likely to push growth over 5% in 2000-01. GDP: purchasing power parity - $35.5 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 4.3% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,900 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 30% services: 30% (1999 est.) Population below poverty line: 31.4% (1992 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 27.3% (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12.8% (1999 est.) Labor force: 4 million Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 20% (1997 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.39 billion expenditures: $1.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $370 million (1996 est.) Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1996 est.) Electricity - production: 6.206 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 5.437 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 400 million kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 65 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds Exports - partners: Togo, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, US, France (1998) Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Imports - commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs Imports - partners: UK, Nigeria, US, Germany, Italy, Spain (1998) Debt - external: $6 billion (1998 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $477.3 million (1995) Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1 - 3,466.60 (December 1999), 2,647.32 (1999), 2,314.15 (1998), 2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996), 1,200.43 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year @Ghana:Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 200,000 (1998 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: 30,000 (yearend 1998) Telephone system: poor to fair system; Internet accessible; many rural communities not yet connected; expansion of services is underway domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 18, shortwave 3 (1999) Radios: 4.4 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 11 (1999) Televisions: 1.73 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) @Ghana:Transportation Railways: total: 953 km (undergoing major rehabilitation) narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1997 est.) Highways: total: 39,409 km paved: 11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,756 km (1997 est.) 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: 0 km Ports and harbors: Takoradi, Tema Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,484 GRT/18,583 DWT ships by type: petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 4 (1999 est.) Airports: 12 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.) @Ghana:Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, Palace Guard, Civil Defense Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,739,526 (2000 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,629,954 (2000 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 196,549 (2000 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $53 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.7% (FY99) @Ghana:Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US ______________________________________________________________________ GIBRALTAR @Gibraltar:Introduction Background: Strategically important Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in 1713. In a 1967 referendum, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. @Gibraltar:Geography Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain Geographic coordinates: 36 11 N, 5 22 W Map references: Europe Area: total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km Coastline: 12 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water Geography - note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea @Gibraltar:People Population: 29,481 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 3,167; female 3,013) 15-64 years: 65% (male 10,141; female 8,925) 65 years and over: 14% (male 1,769; female 2,466) (2000 est.) Population g