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"Afghanistan (Atlas)",2,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Asia, north and west of \JPakistan\j, east of Iran
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 33 00 N, 65 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 647,500 sq km
\Iland:\i 647,500 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,529 km
\Iborder countries:\i China 76 km, \JIran\j 936 km, \JPakistan\j 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
\BTerrain:\b mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Amu Darya 258 m
\Ihighest point:\i Nowshak 7,485 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jnatural gas\j, \Jpetroleum\j, \Jcoal\j, copper, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 12%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 46%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 3%
\Iother:\i 39% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 30,000 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu \JKush\j mountains; flooding
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban \Isigned, but not ratified:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 146.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 46.34 years
\Imale:\i 46.89 years
\Ifemale:\i 45.76 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.07 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Afghan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Afghan
\BEthnic groups:\b Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)
\BReligions:\b Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%
\BLanguages:\b Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 31.5%
\Imale:\i 47.2%
\Ifemale:\i 15% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Islamic State of Afghanistan
\Iconventional short form:\i Afghanistan
\Ilocal long form:\i Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan
\Inote:\i there may be two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and Khowst
\BIndependence:\b 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
\BNational holiday:\b Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April; Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day, 19 August
\BConstitution:\b none
\BLegal system:\b a new legal system has not been adopted but all factions tacitly agree they will follow Islamic law (Shari'a)
\BSuffrage:\b undetermined; previously males 15-50 years of age
\BExecutive branch:\b on 27 September 1996, the ruling members of the Afghan Government were displaced by members of the Islamic Taliban movement; the Islamic State of \JAfghanistan\j has no functioning government at this time, and the country remains divided among fighting factions \Inote:\i the Taliban have declared themselves the legitimate government of \JAfghanistan\j; the UN has deferred a decision on credentials and 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 \JAfghanistan\j; opposing factions have their stonghold in the ethnically diverse north - General DOSTAM's National Islamic Movement controls several northcentral provinces and Commander MASOOD controls the ethnic Tajik majority areas of the northeast
\BLegislative branch:\b non-functioning as of June 1993
\BJudicial branch:\b non-functioning as of March 1995, although there are local Shari'a (Islamic law) courts throughout the country
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Taliban (Religious Students Movement), Mohammad OMAR; Supreme Defense Council of \JAfghanistan\j [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), Abdul Karim KHALILI]; other smaller parties are Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party), Gulbuddin HIKMATYAR faction; Hizbi Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party), Yunis KHALIS faction; Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi \JAfghanistan\j (Islamic Union for the Liberation of \JAfghanistan\j), Abdul Rasul SAYYAF; Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement), Mohammad Nabi MOHAMMADI; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli \JAfghanistan\j (\JAfghanistan\j National Liberation Front), Sibghatullah MOJADDEDI; Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front), Sayed Ahamad GAILANI; Hizbi Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party), Mohammad Akbar AKBARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif MOHSENI
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b tribal elders represent traditional Pashtun leadership; Afghan refugees in \JPakistan\j, \JAustralia\j, US, and elsewhere have organized politically; \JPeshawar\j, \JPakistan\j-based groups such as the Coordination Council for National Unity and Understanding in \JAfghanistan\j (CUNUA), Ishaq GAILANI; Writers Union of Free \JAfghanistan\j (WUFA), A. Rasul AMIN; Mellat (Social Democratic Party), leader NA
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Yar Mohammed MOHABBAT
\Ichancery:\i 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 234-3770, 3771
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 328-3516
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\Iconsulate(s):\i Washington, DC
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US embassy in Kabul has been closed since January 1989 due to security concerns
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JAfghanistan\j 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 more than 17 years of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). During the war one-third of the population fled the country, with \JPakistan\j and \JIran\j sheltering a combined peak of more than 6 million refugees. Now, only 750,000 registered Afghan refugees remain in \JPakistan\j and about 1.2 million in \JIran\j. Another 1 million have probably moved into and around urban areas within \JAfghanistan\j. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the past 17 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport. Millions of people continue to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Inflation remains a serious problem throughout the country, with one estimate putting the rate at 240% in Kabul in 1996. Numerical data are likely to be either unavailable or unreliable.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $18.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $800 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
\Ipartners:\i FSU, \JPakistan\j, \JIran\j, \JGermany\j, India, UK, \JBelgium\j, Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $150 million (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i food and \Jpetroleum\j products; most consumer goods
\Ipartners:\i FSU, \JPakistan\j, \JIran\j, \JJapan\j, \JSingapore\j, India, South Korea, \JGermany\j \BDebt - external:\b $2.3 billion (March 1991 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA; about $56 million in UN aid plus additional bilateral aid and aid in kind (1996)
\Inote:\i US provided $450 million in bilateral assistance (1985-93); US continues to contribute to multilateral assistance through the UN programs of food aid, \Jimmunization\j, land mine removal, and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced persons
the free market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rate, which
is a fixed rate of 50.600 afghanis to the dollar \BFiscal year:\b 21 March - 20 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 31,200 (1983 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i very limited \Jtelephone\j and telegraph service
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to \JIran\j and 1 Intersputnik (\JAtlantic Ocean\j Region)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 6, FM 0, shortwave 2
\BRadios:\b 1.8 million (1996 est.); note - about 60% of families own a radio
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\Inote:\i one \Jtelevision\j station run by Jumbesh faction provides intermittent service
\BTelevisions:\b 100,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 24.6 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 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
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 21,000 km
\Ipaved:\i 2,793 km
\Iunpaved:\i 18,207 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to about 500 DWT \BPipelines:\b \Jpetroleum\j products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan to Shindand; \Jnatural gas\j 180 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
\BAirports:\b 33 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 16
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 3
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 4
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 7 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 17
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 12
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 3 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b 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
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 22 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 5,813,298 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 3,118,004 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 231,250 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b\BDisputes - international:\b some support from RABBANI and MASOOD to anti-government Islamic fighters in Tajikistan's \Jcivil war\j; support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions; question over which group should hold \JAfghanistan\j's seat at the UN
\BIllicit drugs:\b world's second-largest illicit opium producer after \JBurma\j (1,230 metric tons in 1996 - down 2% from 1995) and a major source of \Jhashish\j
#
"Albania (Atlas)",3,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between \JGreece\j and \JSerbia\j and Montenegro
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 41 00 N, 20 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 28,750 sq km
\Iland:\i 27,400 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,350 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maryland
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 720 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JGreece\j 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j 287 km (114 km with \JSerbia\j, 173 km with \JMontenegro\j)
\BCoastline:\b 362 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
\Inote:\i some new administrative units may have been created
\BIndependence:\b 28 November 1912 (from \JOttoman Empire\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
\BConstitution:\b an interim basic law was approved by the People's Assembly on 29 April 1991; a draft constitution was rejected by popular referendum in the fall of 1994 and a new draft is pending
\BLegal system:\b has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of the Republic Sali BERISHA (since 9 April 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister of the interim National Reconciliation Government Bashkim FINO (since 12 March 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held NA 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Sali BERISHA elected president; percent of People's Assembly vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some by proportional vote for four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 26 May 1996 (next tentatively scheduled for 29 June 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DP 122, PS 10, RP 3, UHP 3, Balli Kombetar 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is elected by the People's Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JAlbanian\j Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Democratic Party or PD [Tritan SHEHU]; \JAlbanian\j Republican Party or PR [Sabri GODO]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Skender GJINUSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Neritan CEKA, chairman]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO, chairman]; Movement for Democracy Party or LDP [ruled by committee of Genc RULI, Alfred SERREQI, Dashimir SHEHI, Maksim KONOMI]; Balli Kombetar [Hysen SELFO]
\Ichancery:\i Suite 1000, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 223-4942, 8187
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 628-7342
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Marisa R. LINO (15 July 1996)
\Iembassy:\i Rruga E. Labinoti 103, Tirane
\Imailing address:\i PSC 59, Box 100 (A), APO AE 09624
\Itelephone:\i [355] (42) 328-75, 335-20
\IFAX:\i [355] (42) 322-22
\BFlag description:\b red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b An extremely poor country by European standards, \JAlbania\j 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 \JAlbania\j's adult population - triggered unrest in much of the south in early 1997. The economy continues to be buoyed by remittances of some 20% of the labor force which works abroad, mostly in \JGreece\j and \JItaly\j. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. Overall economic performance is likely to be substantially worse in 1997; inflation will easily top 50% and GDP may drop by 5% or more.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,290 (1996 est.)
\Itotal:\i 1.692 million (1994 est.) (including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture (nearly all private) 49.5%, private sector 22.2%, state (nonfarm) sector 28.3% (including state-owned industry 7.8%); note - includes only those domestically employed
\BUnemployment rate:\b 13% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $624 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $996 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
\Idomestic:\i obsolete wire system; no longer provides a \Jtelephone\j 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
\Iinternational:\i inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirane exchange to \JItaly\j and Greece
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 17, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 577,000 (1991 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 9
\BTelevisions:\b 300,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 670 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 670 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 15,500 km
\Ipaved:\i 4,650 km
\Iunpaved:\i 10,850 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 43 km plus \JAlbanian\j sections of Lake Scutari, Lake \JOhrid\j, and Lake Prespa (1990)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 145 km; \Jpetroleum\j products 55 km; \Jnatural gas\j 64 km (1991)\BPorts and harbors:\b \JDurres\j, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 738,082 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 600,403 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 31,823 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $42 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.5% to 2.0% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b the \JAlbanian\j Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders; Albanian majority in \JKosovo\j seeks independence from Serbian Republic; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in governments outside of its borders; \JAlbanian\j majority in \JKosovo\j seeks independence from Serbian Republic; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in government
\BIllicit drugs:\b increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, \Jhashish\j, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and \Jcocaine\j from \JSouth America\j destined for Western Europe; limited opium and cannabis production; ethnic \JAlbanian\j narcotrafficking organizations active in Central and Eastern Europe
#
"Algeria (Atlas)",4,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Africa, bordering the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between Morocco and Tunisia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 28 00 N, 3 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,381,740 sq km
\Iland:\i 2,381,740 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 6,343 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JLibya\j 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, \JMauritania\j 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, \JNiger\j 956 km, \JTunisia\j 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km
\BCoastline:\b 998 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 32-52 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b 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
\BTerrain:\b mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
\BNatural hazards:\b mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slides
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; \Jdesertification\j; dumping of raw sewage, \Jpetroleum\j refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the \Jpollution\j of rivers and coastal waters; \JMediterranean Sea\j, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and \Jfertilizer\j runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands \Isigned, but not ratified:\i Nuclear Test Ban
\BGeography - note:\b second-largest country in Africa (after \JSudan\j)
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 61.6%
\Imale:\i 73.9%
\Ifemale:\i 49% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
\Iconventional short form:\i Algeria
\Ilocal long form:\i Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Shabiyah
\Ilocal short form:\i Al Jaza'ir
\BData code:\b AG
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Algiers
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 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
\BIndependence:\b 5 July 1962 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)
\BConstitution:\b 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
\BLegal system:\b 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
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since April 1999)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 31 December 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
\BLegislative branch:\b 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; suspended since 1992) 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)
\Ielections:\i National People's Assembly - first-round held 26 December 1991; second round canceled by the military after President BENDJEDID resigned 11 January 1992, effectively suspending the assembly (next election scheduled for 5 June 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - the fundamentalist FIS won 188 of the 231 seats contested in the first round of the 1991 elections\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Islamic Salvation Front (FIS, outlawed April 1992), Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in \JGermany\j); National Liberation Front (FLN), Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general; Socialist Forces Front (FFS), Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exile in \JSwitzerland\j); Movement of a Peaceful Society (Hamas), Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman; Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), Said SAADI, secretary general; Algerian Renewal Party (PRA), Noureddine BOUKROUH, chairman; Nahda Movement (Al Nahda), Abdallah DJABALLAH, president; Democratic National Rally (RND), Abdelkader BENSALAH, chairman; Movement for Democracy in Algeria (MDA), Ahmed Ben BELLA
\Inote:\i 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
\Imailing address:\i B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
\Itelephone:\i [213] (2) 69-11-86, 69-12-55
\IFAX:\i [213] (2) 69-39-79
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JIslam\j (the state religion)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The \Jhydrocarbons\j sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 57% of government revenues, 25% of GDP, and almost all export earnings; \JAlgeria\j has the fifth-largest reserves of \Jnatural gas\j in the world and is the second largest gas exporter; and it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves. \JAlgiers\j' efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world began after the 1986 collapse of world oil prices plunged the country into a severe recession. In 1989, the government launched a comprehensive, IMF-supported program to achieve economic stabilization and to introduce market mechanisms into the economy. Despite substantial progress toward economic adjustment, in 1992 the reform drive stalled as \JAlgiers\j became embroiled in political turmoil. In September 1993, a new government was formed, and one priority was the resumption and acceleration of the structural adjustment process. Buffeted by the slump in world oil prices and burdened with a heavy foreign debt, \JAlgiers\j concluded a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994. Following a Paris Club debt rescheduling in 1995, a robust harvest, and elevated oil prices, the economy experienced a strong recovery and key economic improvements. Recent and planned investments in developing hydrocarbon resources are likely to increase growth and export earnings.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $115.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $4,000 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i 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)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 28% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $14.3 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $17.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
\Idomestic:\i excellent service in north but sparse in south; domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 12 \Jearth\j stations (20 additional domestic \Jearth\j stations are planned) \Iinternational:\i 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to \JItaly\j, \JFrance\j, \JSpain\j, Morocco, and \JTunisia\j; coaxial cable to Morocco and \JTunisia\j; participant in Medarabtel; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 26, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 6 million (1991 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 18
\BTelevisions:\b 2 million (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,772 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 3,616 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 1,156 km 1.055-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 102,424 km
\Ipaved:\i 70,570 km (including 6,080 km of expressways)
\Iships by type:\i bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas tanker 11, oil tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 1
(1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 119 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 66
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 8
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 24
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 13
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 4
\Iunder 914 m:\i 17 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 53
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 19
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 31 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 7,666,961 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,700,502 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 337,630 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $1.3 billion (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.7% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b part of southeastern region claimed by \JLibya\j; land boundary dispute with \JTunisia\j settled in 1993
#
"American Samoa (Atlas)",5,0,0,0
\BAffiliation:\b (territory of the US)
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, group of islands in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 14 20 S, 170 00 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 199 sq km
\Iland:\i 199 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Rose Island and Swains Island
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 116 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two \Jcoral\j atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Lata 966 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpumice\j, pumicite
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 5%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 10%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 70%
\Iother:\i 15% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b typhoons common from December to March
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources; the \Jwater\j division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve \Jwater\j catchments and pipelines
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b 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
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 61,819 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 3.72% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 35.23 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 72.91 years
\Imale:\i 71.03 years
\Ifemale:\i 74.85 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 4.16 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BReligions:\b Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant denominations and other 30%
\BLanguages:\b Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English
\Inote:\i most people are bilingual
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 97%
\Imale:\i 98%
\Ifemale:\i 97% (1980 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of American Samoa
\Iconventional short form:\i American Samoa
\Iabbreviation:\i AS
\BData code:\b AQ
\BDependency status:\b unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Pago Pago
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (territory of the US)
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of the US)
\BNational holiday:\b Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
\BConstitution:\b ratified 1966, in effect 1967
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1997) and Lieutenant Governor Togiola Tulafono (since 3 January 1997)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i 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)
\Ielection results:\i Tauese P. SUNIA elected governor of \JAmerican Samoa\j; percent of vote - Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 51%, Peter REID (Independent) 49%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the \JHouse of Representatives\j (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 who serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); Senate - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
\Inote:\i \JAmerican Samoa\j elects one delegate to the US \JHouse of Representatives\j; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court, \Jchief justice\j and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territory of the US)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territory of the US)
\BFlag description:\b 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 \Jbald eagle\j flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which \JAmerican Samoa\j conducts the great bulk of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and \Jtuna\j processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned \Jtuna\j the primary export. The \Jtuna\j canneries and the government are by far the two largest employers. Other economic activities include a slowly developing tourist industry. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to \JAmerican Samoa\j's economic well-being. According to one observer, 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.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $128 million (1991 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,600 (1991 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA %
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 14,400 (1990)
\Iby occupation:\i government 33%, \Jtuna\j canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 12% (1991)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $97 million ($43 million in local revenue and $54 million in grant revenue)
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)
\BIndustries:\b \Jtuna\j canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 33,000 kW (1993)
\BElectricity - production:\b 100 million kWh (1994)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 1,743 kWh (1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, \Jpetroleum\j products 7%, machinery and parts 6%
\Ipartners:\i US 62%, \JJapan\j 9%, NZ 7%, \JAustralia\j 11%, \JFiji\j 4%, other 7%
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\Inote:\i important financial support from the US
\BCurrency:\b 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b US currency is used
\BFiscal year:\b 1 October - 30 September
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 9,000 (1994 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular phone services; domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 1 Comsat \Jearth\j station
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b 8,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 350 km
\Ipaved:\i 150 km
\Iunpaved:\i 200 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Andorra (Atlas)",6,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southwestern Europe, between \JFrance\j and Spain
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 42 30 N, 1 30 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 450 sq km
\Iland:\i 450 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 125 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JFrance\j 60 km, \JSpain\j 65 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
\BTerrain:\b rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Riu Valira 840 m
\Ihighest point:\i Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
\BNatural resources:\b hydropower, mineral \Jwater\j, timber, iron ore, lead
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 2%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 56%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 22%
\Iother:\i 20% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b snowslides, avalanches
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion \BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 64,000 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 14% (male 4,788; female 4,452)
\I15-64 years:\i 74% (male 25,291; female 21,807)
\I65 years and over:\i 12% (male 3,903; female 3,759) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.72% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 10.67 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 1.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\Iconventional long form:\i Principality of Andorra
\Iconventional short form:\i Andorra
\Ilocal long form:\i Principat d'Andorra
\Ilocal short form:\i Andorra
\BData code:\b AN
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of \JFrance\j and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by officials called veguers
\BNational capital:\b \JAndorra\j la Vella
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); \JAndorra\j, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
\BIndependence:\b 1278
\BNational holiday:\b Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
\BConstitution:\b \JAndorra\j's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993
\BLegal system:\b based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) and Spanish Episcopal Coprince Monseigneur Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971); note - each coprince is represented by a veguer (current names NA)
\Ihead of government:\i Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne (since 21 December 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Executive Council designated by the executive council president
\Ielections:\i executive council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces; election last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)
\Ielection results:\i Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b 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 \Jconstituency\j and 14 to represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held February 2001)
\Ielection results:\i 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
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of \JAndorra\j at Perpignan (\JFrance\j) two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by the coprinces alternately; Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (\JSpain\j); Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal des \JCortes\j presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals judge, the veguers, and two members of the General Council
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Democratic Group or AND [Oscar RIBAS Reig and Jordi FARRAS]; Liberal Union or UL [Francesc CERQUEDA]; New Democracy or ND [Jaume BARTOMEU]; Andorran National Coalition or CNA [Antoni CERQUEDA]; National Democratic Initiative or IDN [Vincenc MATEU]; Liberal Party of Andorra (Partit Liberal d'Andorra) or PLA [Marc FORNE]; Unio Parroquial d'Ordino or UDO
\Inote:\i there are two other small parties
\BInternational organization participation:\b CE, ECE, ICRM, IFRCS, \JInterpol\j, IOC, ITU, UN, \JUNESCO\j, WIPO, WToO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent Representative to the
UN)
\Ichancery:\i 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
\Itelephone:\i [1] (212) 750-8064
\IFAX:\i [1] (212) 750-6630
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in \JBarcelona\j (\JSpain\j); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 \JBarcelona\j, \JSpain\j; \Jtelephone\j: (343) 280-2227; FAX: (343) 205-7705; note - Consul General Maurice S. PARKER makes periodic visits to Andorra
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JRomania\j that do not have a national coat of arms in the center
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Tourism, the mainstay of \JAndorra\j's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 10 million tourists visit annually, attracted by \JAndorra\j's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. \JAndorra\j's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring \JFrance\j and \JSpain\j 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. \JAndorra\j 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.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $18,000 (1995 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b NA
\BUnemployment rate:\b 0%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $138 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $177 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993)
\Idomestic:\i modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges
\Iinternational:\i landline circuits to \JFrance\j and Spain
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 10,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b 7,000 (1991 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 269 km
\Ipaved:\i 198 km
\Iunpaved:\i 71 km (1991 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b none
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of \JFrance\j and Spain
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Angola (Atlas)",7,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b Civil war has been the norm since independence from \JPortugal\j on 11 November 1975. A cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of \JAngola\j (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994 and the cease-fire is generally holding, but military tensions persist and banditry is increasing. In order to bring armed insurgents under government control the peace accord of 20 November 1994 provided for the \Jintegration\j of former UNITA insurgents into the Angolan armed forces. Military \Jintegration\j began in June 1996 and a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation was installed in April 1997. Efforts which began in May 1997 to extend government into UNITA-occupied areas are proceeding slowly. The original 7,200-man UN peacekeeping force began a phased drawdown in late 1996. All UN peacekeepers are scheduled to depart by September 1997 but a small UN military observer force will probably remain in Angola through 1998.
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, bordering the South \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between Namibia
and Democratic Republic of the Congo
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 12 30 S, 18 30 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,246,700 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,246,700 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,198 km
\Iborder countries:\i Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j 2,511 km of which 220 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda province, Republic of the \JCongo\j 201 km, \JNamibia\j 1,376 km, \JZambia\j 1,110 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,600 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 20 nm
\BClimate:\b semiarid in south and along coast to \JLuanda\j; north has cool, dry season
(May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
\BTerrain:\b narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
\BNatural hazards:\b locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b the overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; \Jdesertification\j; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of \Jbiodiversity\j; soil erosion contributing to water \Jpollution\j and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Law of the Sea
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b Cabinda is separated from rest of country by \JCongo\j (\JKinshasa\j)
\BIndependence:\b 11 November 1975 (from \JPortugal\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
\BConstitution:\b 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Jose Eduardo DOS \JSANTOS\j (since 21 September 1979)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Fernando Jose de Franca Vieira Dias VAN DUNEM (since 8 June 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i President DOS \JSANTOS\j originally elected without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in \JAngola\j's first multiparty elections in 28-29 September 1992, the last elections to be held, (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president and answerable to the Assembly
\Ielection results:\i DOS \JSANTOS\j received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of \JAngola\j (UNITA) disputed the results of the first election; the \Jcivil war\j was resumed
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (223 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Popular Movement for the Liberation of \JAngola\j or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS], is the ruling party and has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of \JAngola\j or UNITA [Jonas SAVIMBI], is the largest opposition party and engaged in years of armed resistance to the government \Inote:\i about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC
\Inote:\i FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
\Imailing address:\i C.P. 6484, \JLuanda\j; American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 (pouch)
\Itelephone:\i [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418
\IFAX:\i [244] (2) 346-924
\BFlag description:\b 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)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JAngola\j is an economy in disarray. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80%-90% of the population but accounts for about 12% of GDP. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 50% to GDP. Notwithstanding the signing of a peace accord in November 1994, sporadic 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 - notably gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, arable land, and large oil deposits - \JAngola\j will need to observe the cease-fire, implement the peace agreement, and reform government policies. Despite the high \Jinflation\j and political difficulties, total output grew an estimated 9% in 1996, largely due to increased oil production.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $8.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 9% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $800 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)
\BUnemployment rate:\b extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (1994 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $928 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.)\BIndustries:\b \Jpetroleum\j; diamonds, iron ore, \Jphosphates\j, feldspar, \Jbauxite\j, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing; brewing; \Jtobacco\j products; sugar; textiles;
\Icommodities:\i crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined \Jpetroleum\j products, gas, \Jcoffee\j, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
\Ipartners:\i US 70%, EU
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles and clothing; substantial military supplies
\BExchange rates:\b new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 201,994 (November 1996), 900,000 (25 April 1995), 600,000 (10 January 1995), 90,000 (1 June 1994), 7,000 (16 December 1993), 3.884 (July 1993), 550 (April 1992)
\Inote:\i black market rates - new Kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 1,900,000 (6 April 1995), 180,000 (1 June 1994), 50,000 (16 December 1993)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 78,000 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b \Jtelephone\j service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links
\Idomestic:\i limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 21.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 77.02 years
\Imale:\i 74.07 years
\Ifemale:\i 80.08 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.01 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Anguillan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Anguillan
\BEthnic groups:\b black
\BReligions:\b Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
\BLanguages:\b English (official)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 12 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 95%
\Imale:\i 95%
\Ifemale:\i 95% (1984 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Anguilla
\BData code:\b AV
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b The Valley
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b \JAnguilla\j Day, 30 May
\BConstitution:\b \JAnguilla\j Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990
\BLegal system:\b based on English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Alan HOOLE (since 1 November 1995)
\Ihead of government:\i Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 16 March 1994 (next to be held March 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court, judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JAnguilla\j National Alliance or ANA [Osbourne FLEMING]; \JAnguilla\j United Party or AUP [Hubert HUGHES]; \JAnguilla\j Democratic Party or ADP [Victor BANKS] \BInternational organization participation:\b Caricom (observer), CDB, \JInterpol\j (subbureau), OECS (associate), ECLAC (associate)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BFlag description:\b 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 \Jwater\j below
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JAnguilla\j has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on high-class tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Output growth had averaged about 7% in recent years, mainly as a result of a boom in tourism thanks to economic expansion in \JNorth America\j and the UK. The economy, and especially the tourism sector, suffered a setback in late 1995 due to the effects of Hurricane Luis in September. Agricultural output had only just begun to recover from a \Jdrought\j in 1994 when Luis hit. 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.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $52 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -4.3% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $7,400 (1995 est.)
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\Inote:\i see entry on International disputes
\BCoastline:\b 17,968 km
\BMaritime claims:\b none, but see entry on International disputes
\BClimate:\b severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East \JAntarctica\j is colder than West \JAntarctica\j 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
\BTerrain:\b about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to about 5,000 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
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Vinson Massif 5,140 m
\BNatural resources:\b none presently exploited; iron ore, \Jchromium\j, copper, gold, nickel, \Jplatinum\j and other minerals, and \Jcoal\j and \Jhydrocarbons\j have been found in small, uncommercial quantities
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b 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 \JAntarctica\j; other seismic activity rare and weak
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b in 1995 it was reported that the ozone shield, which protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation, had dwindled to the lowest level recorded over \JAntarctica\j since 1975 when measurements were first taken
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitable
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are seasonally staffed research stations; Summer (January) population - over 4,115 total; Argentina 207, \JAustralia\j 268, \JBelgium\j 13, \JBrazil\j 80, \JChile\j 256, China NA, \JEcuador\j NA, \JFinland\j 11, \JFrance\j 78, \JGermany\j 32, Greenpeace 12, India 60, \JItaly\j 210, \JJapan\j 59, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 264, \JNorway\j 23, \JPeru\j 39, \JPoland\j NA, South Africa 79, \JSpain\j 43, Sweden 10, UK 116, Uruguay NA, US 1,666, former USSR 565 (1989-90); Winter (July) population - over 1,046 total; Argentina 150, \JAustralia\j 71, \JBrazil\j 12, \JChile\j 73, China NA, \JFrance\j 33, \JGermany\j 19, Greenpeace 5, India 1, \JJapan\j 38, South Korea 14, NZ 11, \JPoland\j NA, South Africa 12, UK 69, Uruguay NA, US 225, former USSR 313 (1989-90); Year-round stations - 42 total; Argentina 6, \JAustralia\j 3, \JBrazil\j 1, \JChile\j 3, China 2, \JFinland\j 1, \JFrance\j 1, \JGermany\j 1, India 1, \JJapan\j 2, South Korea 1, NZ 1, \JPoland\j 1, South Africa 3, UK 5, Uruguay 1, US 3, former USSR 6 (1990-91); Summer-only stations - over 38 total; Argentina 7, \JAustralia\j 3, \JChile\j 5, \JGermany\j 3, India 1, \JItaly\j 1, \JJapan\j 4, NZ 2, \JNorway\j 1, \JPeru\j 1, South Africa 1, \JSpain\j 1, Sweden 2, UK 1, US numerous, former USSR 5 (1989-90); note - the disintegration of the former USSR has placed the status and future of its Antarctic facilities in doubt; stations may be subject to closings at any time because of ongoing economic difficulties
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Antarctica
\BData code:\b AY
\BGovernment type:\b 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 \JAntarctica\j. Administration is carried out through consultative member meetings - the 18th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was in \JJapan\j in April 1993. Currently, there are 42 treaty member nations: 26 consultative and 16 acceding. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim portions of \JAntarctica\j as national territory (some claims overlap) and 19 nonclaimant nations. The US and some other nations that have made no claims have reserved the right to do so. The US does not recognize the claims of others. The year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations are - Argentina, \JAustralia\j, \JChile\j, \JFrance\j, \JNew Zealand\j, \JNorway\j, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - \JBelgium\j, \JBrazil\j (1983), China (1985), \JEcuador\j (1990), \JFinland\j (1989), \JGermany\j (1981), India (1983), \JItaly\j (1987), \JJapan\j, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), \JPeru\j (1989), \JPoland\j (1977), South Africa, \JSpain\j (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), the US, and \JRussia\j. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - \JAustria\j (1987), \JBulgaria\j (1978), Canada (1988), \JColombia\j (1988), \JCuba\j (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), \JGreece\j (1987), \JGuatemala\j (1991), \JHungary\j (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), \JRomania\j (1971), \JSlovakia\j (1993), \JSwitzerland\j (1990), and \JUkraine\j (1992). Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel in cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for \Jjurisdiction\j 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 \JAntarctica\j that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; Other agreements - more than 170 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (1964); Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but was subsequently rejected; in 1991 the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed and awaits ratification; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes on marine \Jpollution\j, fauna, and flora, environmental impact assessments, waste management, and protected areas; it also prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; 21 parties have ratified Protocol as of April 1996
\BLegal system:\b US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under \Jjurisdiction\j of other countries. Some US laws directly apply to \JAntarctica\j. 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 \JAntarctica\j. Violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and 1 year in prison. The Departments of Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires expeditions from the US to \JAntarctica\j to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5801, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230 (703) 306-1031.
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b No economic activity at present except for fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore anchorage
\BAirports:\b 42 landing facilities at different locations operated by 16 national governments party to the Treaty; one additional air facility operated by commercial (non-governmental) tourist organization; \Jhelicopter\j pads at 32 of these locations; runways at 10 locations are gravel, \Jsea ice\j, \Jglacier\j ice, or compacted snow surface suitable for wheeled fixed-wing \Jaircraft\j; no paved runways; 17 locations have snow-surface skiways limited to use by ski-equipped planes - 1 skiway greater than 3,000 m, 19 runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 2 runways/skiways less than 1,000 m, and 5 of unspecified or variable length; airports generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; airports do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or non-governmental operating organization required for landing (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b 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
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary above); sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, \JAustralia\j, \JChile\j, \JFrance\j (Adelie Land), \JNew Zealand\j (Ross Dependency), \JNorway\j (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 (Atlas)",10,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, islands between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 17 03 N, 61 48 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 440 sq km
\Iland:\i 440 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Redonda
\BArea - comparative:\b 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 153 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine; little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b mostly low-lying \Jlimestone\j and \Jcoral\j islands with some higher volcanic areas
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Boggy Peak 402 m
\BNatural resources:\b negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 18%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 9%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 11%
\Iother:\i 62% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 63,739 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 26% (male 8,514; female 8,221)
\I15-64 years:\i 68% (male 21,499; female 21,891)
\I65 years and over:\i 6% (male 1,571; female 2,043) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.44% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 17.27 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.98 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -6.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BReligions:\b Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman Catholic \BLanguages:\b English (official), local dialects
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
\Itotal population:\i 89%
\Imale:\i 90%
\Ifemale:\i 88% (1960 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Antigua and Barbuda
\BData code:\b AC
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Saint John's
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
\BIndependence:\b 1 November 1981 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
\BConstitution:\b 1 November 1981
\BLegal system:\b based on English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general chosen by the queen on the advice of the prime minister; prime minister appointed by the governor general
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17-member body appointed by the governor general) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve 5-year terms)
\Ielections:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 8 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ALP 11, UPP 5, independent 1
\BJudicial branch:\b 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
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER], a coalition of three opposition political parties - the United National Democratic Party or UNDP; the Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM; and the Progressive Labor Movement or PLM
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William ROBINSON]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST
\Ichancery:\i 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 362-5211, 5166, 5122
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 362-5225
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Miami
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US Ambassador to \JBarbados\j is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda
\BFlag description:\b 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 \Jsun\j in the black band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Tourism continues to be by far the dominant activity in the economy but the combined share in GDP of transport and communications, trade, and public utilities has increased markedly in recent years. Tourism's direct contribution to output in 1994 was about 20%. In addition, increased tourist arrivals helped spur growth in the construction and transport sectors. The dual island nation's agricultural production is mainly directed to the domestic market; the sector is constrained by the limited \Jwater\j 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 half of all tourist arrivals.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $446 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,800 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i \Jpetroleum\j products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and live animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17%
\Ipartners:\i OECS 26%, \JBarbados\j 15%, \JGuyana\j 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%, US 0.3%
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $350.8 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil
\Ipartners:\i US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%
\BDebt - external:\b $435 million (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 6,700
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i good automatic \Jtelephone\j system
\Iinternational:\i 1 coaxial submarine cable; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j); tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands \JAntilles\j) and Guadeloupe\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 2
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2
\BTelevisions:\b 28,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 77 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost exclusively for handling sugarcane)
\BIllicit drugs:\b considered a long-time but relatively minor transshipment point for \Jnarcotics\j bound for the US and Europe and recent transshipment point for heroin from Europe to the US; potentially more significant as a drug money-laundering
#
"Arctic Ocean (Atlas)",11,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b body of \Jwater\j mostly north of the \JArctic\j Circle
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 90 00 N, 0 00 E
\BMap references:\b \JArctic\j Region
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 14.056 million sq km
\Inote:\i includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, \JGreenland\j Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary \Jwater\j bodies
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US; smallest of the world's four oceans (after \JPacific Ocean\j, \JAtlantic Ocean\j, and Indian Ocean)
\BCoastline:\b 45,389 km
\BClimate:\b polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual \Jtemperature\j ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable \Jweather\j conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy \Jweather\j, and weak cyclones with rain or snow
\BTerrain:\b 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 \Jstraight line\j movement from the New Siberian Islands (\JRussia\j) to Denmark Strait (between \JGreenland\j and \JIceland\j); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling land masses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonsov Ridge)
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Fram Basin -4,665 m
\Ihighest point:\i sea level 0 m
\BNatural resources:\b sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)
\BNatural hazards:\b ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western \JGreenland\j and extreme northeastern Canada; \Jpermafrost\j in islands; virtually icelocked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile \Jecosystem\j slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the \JPacific Ocean\j via the Bering Strait); strategic location between \JNorth America\j and \JRussia\j; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western \JRussia\j, floating research stations operated by the US and \JRussia\j; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months
\BGovernment\b
\BData code:\b none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including \Jpetroleum\j, \Jnatural gas\j, fish, and seals.
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephone system:\b
\Iinternational:\i no submarine cables
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b Churchill (Canada), \JMurmansk\j (\JRussia\j), Prudhoe Bay (US)
\BTransportation - note:\b sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (\JNorth America\j) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways
\BMilitary\b
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b some maritime disputes; Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute between \JNorway\j and \JRussia\j
#
"Argentina (Atlas)",12,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern \JSouth America\j, bordering the South \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between \JChile\j and Uruguay
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 34 00 S, 64 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,766,890 sq km
\Iland:\i 2,736,690 sq km
\Iwater:\i 30,200 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 9,665 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBolivia\j 832 km, \JBrazil\j 1,224 km, \JChile\j 5,150 km, \JParaguay\j 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km
\BCoastline:\b 4,989 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
\BTerrain:\b rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of \JPatagonia\j in south, rugged \JAndes\j along western border
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Salinas Chicas -40 m
\Ihighest point:\i Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
\BNatural resources:\b fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, \Jmanganese\j, \Jpetroleum\j, uranium
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 9%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 52%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 19%
\Iother:\i 19% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 17,000 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b San Miguel de \JTucuman\j and \JMendoza\j areas in the \JAndes\j subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b erosion results from inadequate flood controls and improper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation; \Jdesertification\j; air \Jpollution\j in Buenos Aires and other major cities; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted due to increased \Jpesticide\j and \Jfertilizer\j use
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
\BGeography - note:\b second-largest country in \JSouth America\j (after \JBrazil\j); strategic location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, \JBeagle\j Channel, Drake Passage)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 74.31 years
\Imale:\i 70.67 years
\Ifemale:\i 78.12 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.69 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Argentine(s)
\Iadjective:\i Argentine
\BEthnic groups:\b white 85%, mestizo, Amerindian, or other nonwhite groups 15%
\BReligions:\b nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%
\BLanguages:\b Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 96.2%
\Imale:\i 96.2%
\Ifemale:\i 96.2% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Argentine Republic
\Iconventional short form:\i Argentina
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica Argentina
\Ilocal short form:\i Argentina
\BData code:\b AR
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Buenos Aires
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 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 \JRioja\j; \JMendoza\j; Misiones; Neuquen; Rio Negro; \JSalta\j; San Juan; San Luis; Santa Cruz; Santa Fe; Santiago del Estero; Tierra del Fuego, Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur; Tucuman
\Inote:\i the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
\BIndependence:\b 9 July 1816 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
\BConstitution:\b 1 May 1853; revised August 1994
\BLegal system:\b mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989); Vice President Carlos RUCKAUF (since 8 July 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989); Vice President Carlos RUCKAUF (since 8 July 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 14 May 1995 (next to be held May 1999)\Ielection results:\i Carlos Saul MENEM reelected president; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; three members appointed by each of the provincial legislatures, one-third of the members appointed every three years to a 9-year term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; one-half of the members elected every two years to four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA 1998); Chamber of Deputies - last held 14 May 1995; (next to be held NA October 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PJ 38, others 34; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PJ 132, UCR 68, Frepaso 26, other 31
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of the Senate
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Justicialist Party or PJ [Carlos Saul MENEM] (Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Rodolfo TERRAGNO] (moderately left-of-center party); Union of the Democratic Center or UCD (conservative party); Dignity and Independence Political Party or MODIN [Aldo RICO] (right-wing party); Front for a Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four party coalition) [leader Carlos ALVAREZ]; several provincial parties
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Peronist-dominated labor movement; General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); business organizations; students; the Roman \JCatholic Church\j; the Armed Forces
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Raul Enrique GRANILLO OCAMPO
\Ichancery:\i 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 939-6400 through 6403
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 332-3171
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JAtlanta\j, \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, \JSan Francisco\j, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador James R. CHEEK has returned to Washington; replacement not yet appointed
\Iembassy:\i 4300 \JColombia\j, 1425 Buenos Aires
\Imailing address:\i Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
\Itelephone:\i [54] (1) 777-4533, 4534
\IFAX:\i [54] (1) 777-0197
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow \Jsun\j with a human face known as the Sun of May
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was plagued with huge external debts and recurring bouts of hyperinflation. Elected in 1989, in the depths of recession, President MENEM has implemented a comprehensive economic restructuring program that shows signs of putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable growth. Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar since April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 50 years. Argentines have responded to price stability by repatriating capital and investing in domestic industry. Growth averaged more than 8% between 1991 and 1994, then fell to 4.6% in 1995, largely in reaction to the Mexican peso crisis. The economy grew at 4.4% in 1996, with the strongest growth occurring in the second half of the year. Unemployment increased slightly - to over 17% - and Buenos Aires was forced to renegotiate fiscal targets with the IMF. Although the economy is expected to grow by at least 5% in 1997, unemployment and fiscal concerns will continue to challenge the MENEM administration.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $296.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.4% (1996)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $8,600 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b 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 grounds out during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay and a domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 40 \Jearth\j stations serve the trunk network
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JBahia\j Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia
\BMilitary branches:\b Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 8,932,491 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 7,244,682 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 321,345 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $4.6 billion (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.6% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b short section of the boundary with \JChile\j is indefinite; claims British-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims British-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica
\BIllicit drugs:\b increasing use as a transshipment country for \Jcocaine\j headed for Europe and the US
#
"Armenia (Atlas)",13,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b Armenia's leaders remain preoccupied by Armenia's nine-year old conflict with \JAzerbaijan\j over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Although a cease-fire has been in effect since May 1994, the sides have not made substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. President TER-PETROSSIAN's latitude on the issue may be further constrained by his controversial reelection in September 1996. When supporters of the main opposition candidate stormed the parliament following the announcement of TER-PETROSSIAN's victory, MVD forces were called in to restore order. The subsequent political standoff between government and opposition supporters diminished in late 1996 as the government has gradually attempted reconciliation. Despite these political problems, the Armenian government has been pursuing its aggressive economic reform program, although implementation of its privatization program stalled in late 1996.
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 40 00 N, 45 00 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 29,800 sq km
\Iland:\i 28,400 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,400 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maryland
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,254 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAzerbaijan\j-proper 566 km, \JAzerbaijan\j-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, \JIran\j 35 km, Turkey 268 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
\BTerrain:\b high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Debed River 400 m
\Ihighest point:\i Aragats Lerr 4,095 m
\BNatural resources:\b small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 17%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 3%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 24%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 15%
\Iother:\i 41% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 2,870 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil \Jpollution\j from toxic chemicals such as DDT; \Jenergy\j blockade, the result of conflict with \JAzerbaijan\j, has led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; \Jpollution\j of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich, a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking \Jwater\j supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 40.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 66.9 years
\Imale:\i 62.69 years
\Ifemale:\i 71.32 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.71 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Armenian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Armenian
\BEthnic groups:\b Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi \JKurds\j) 2% (1989) \Inote:\i as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia\BReligions:\b Armenian Orthodox 94%
\BLanguages:\b Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 99%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 98% (1989 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Armenia
\Iconventional short form:\i Armenia
\Ilocal long form:\i Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
\Ilocal short form:\i Hayastan
\Iformer:\i Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
\BIndependence:\b 28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Referendum Day, 21 September
\BConstitution:\b adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Robert KOCHARIAN (31 March 1998)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Robert KOCHARIAN (since 20 March 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA September 2001); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Robert KOCHARIAN won a landslide victory in the presidential run-off against Karen Demirchyan, polling more than 60 per cent of the vote. Mr. Kocharyan, a hardliner in Armenia's conflict with \JAzerbaijan\j over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, was instrumental in forcing last month's resignation of former president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who favored compromise in regional peace negotiations.
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Azgayin Zhoghov (190 seats; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 5 July 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Bloc 159 (ANM 63, DLP-Hanrapetutyun Bloc 6, Republic Party 4, CDU 3, Intellectual Armenia 3, Social Democratic Party 2, independents 78), SWM 8, ACP 7, NDU 5, NSDU 3, DLP 1, ARF 1, other 4, vacant 2
\IRepublic Bloc (Hanrapetoutioun):\i Armenian National Movement or ANM [Husik LAZARIAN, chairman]; Democratic Liberal Party [Orthosis GYONJIAN, chairman]; Republican Party [Ashot NAVARSARDIAN, chairman]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Azat ARSHAKIAN, chairman]; Intellectual Armenia [H. TOKMAJIAN]; Social Democratic (Hnchakian) Party [Yeghia NAJARIAN] \Iopposition parties:\i Shamiram Women's Movement or SWM [Shoger MATEVOSIAN]; Armenian Communist Party or ACP [Sergey BADALYAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Davit VARDANIAN and Vasgen MANUKIAN]; Union of National Self-Determination or NSDU [Paruir HAIRIKIAN, chairman]; Democratic Liberal Party or DLP [Rouben MIRZAKHANIAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation or ARF [Rouben HAKOBIAN, chairman] \BInternational organization participation:\b BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), \JCIS\j, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Ruben SHUGARIAN
\Ichancery:\i 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 319-1976
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 319-2982
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Peter TOMSEN
\Iembassy:\i 18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [374] (2) 151-144, 524-661
\IFAX:\i [374] (2) 151-550
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine building tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and \Jenergy\j. 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 area. The privatization of industry has been at a much slower pace. Armenia is a food importer and its mineral deposits (gold, \Jbauxite\j) are small. The ongoing conflict with \JAzerbaijan\j over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the embargoes imposed by \JAzerbaijan\j and Turkey 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 and 1996. Armenia also managed to slash \Jinflation\j and to privatize most small and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic \Jenergy\j shortages Armenia suffered in recent years has been partially offset by the \Jenergy\j supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor, which in 1996 supplied about 40% of the country's \Jenergy\j needs, according to the Armenian Government. Moreover, Armenia is expanding its \Jenergy\j imports from \JIran\j.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $9.7 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated
from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,800 (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 1,462 kWh (1995 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other liqueurs; minor livestock sector
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $273 million (f.o.b., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment, electrical equipment, scrap metal
\Icommodities:\i grain, other foods, fuel, other energy
\Ipartners:\i \JIran\j, \JRussia\j, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU
\BDebt - external:\b $850 million (of which $75 million to \JRussia\j) (1995 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\Inote:\i commitments (excluding \JRussia\j), $1,385 million ($675 million in disbursements) (1992-95)
\BCurrency:\b 1 dram = 100 luma (introduced new currency in November 1993)
\BExchange rates:\b dram per US$1 - 443 (December 1996), 401.8 (end December 1995), 406 (end December 1994)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 650,000
\BTelephone system:\b joint venture agreement to install fiber-optic cable and construct facilities for cellular \Jtelephone\j service is in the implementation phase
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i international connections to other former Soviet republics are by landline or microwave radio relay and to other countries by \Jsatellite\j and by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 10, FM 3, shortwave NA (1991)
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\Inote:\i 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 825 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines\Ibroad gauge:\i 825 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 7,720 km
\Ipaved:\i 7,496 km
\Iunpaved:\i 224 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b NA km
\BPipelines:\b \Jnatural gas\j 900 km (1991)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 11 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 5
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 907,579 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 722,715 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 30,942 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $75 million (1992)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of \JAzerbaijan\j in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and the US
#
"Aruba (Atlas)",14,0,0,0
\I(part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island in the \JCaribbean Sea\j, north of Venezuela
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 12 30 N, 69 58 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 193 sq km
\Iland:\i 193 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 68.5 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine; little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Jamanota 188 m
\BNatural resources:\b negligible; white sandy beaches
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 11%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 89% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 68,031 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 22% (male 7,814; female 7,127)
\I15-64 years:\i 69% (male 22,544; female 24,656)
\I65 years and over:\i 9% (male 2,433; female 3,457) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.39% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 14.2 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 6.32 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -3.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
\BLanguages:\b Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English \Jdialect\j), English (widely spoken), Spanish
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Aruba
\BData code:\b AA
\BDependency status:\b part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Oranjestad
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
\BIndependence:\b none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; in 1990, \JAruba\j requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996)
\BNational holiday:\b Flag Day, 18 March
\BConstitution:\b 1 January 1986
\BLegal system:\b based on Dutch civil law system, with some English \Jcommon law\j influence\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen \JBEATRIX\j Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
\Ielections:\i the queen is a constitutional monarch; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the queen; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for a four-year term; election last held 29 July 1994 (next to be held by July 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Jan (Henny) H. EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA; Glenbert F. CROES elected deputy prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct popular vote and serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 29 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2\BJudicial branch:\b Joint High Court of Justice
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson ODUBER]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Jan (Henny) H. EMAN]; National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]; New Patriotic Party or PPN [Eddy WERLEMEN]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo BERLINSKI]; Democratic Action '86 or AD '86 [Arturo ODUBER]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA [Glenbert CROES]
\Inote:\i governing coalition includes the AVP and OLA
\BInternational organization participation:\b ECLAC (associate), \JInterpol\j, IOC, \JUNESCO\j (associate), WCL, WToO (associate) \BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b 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.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.4 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $21,000 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b drug money-laundering center and transit point for \Jnarcotics\j bound for the US and Europe; added to the US list of major drug producing or drug transit countries in December 1996
#
"Ashmore and Cartier Islands (Atlas)",15,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of \JAustralia\j \BGeographic coordinates:\b 12 14 S, 123 05 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 5 sq km
\Iland:\i 5 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
\BArea - comparative:\b about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 74.1 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 12 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical
\BTerrain:\b low with sand and coral
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 3 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (all grass and sand)
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants
\Inote:\i there are only seasonal caretakers
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
\Iconventional short form:\i Ashmore and Cartier Islands
\BData code:\b AT
\BDependency status:\b territory of \JAustralia\j; administered by the Australian Ministry for Sport, Territories, and Local Government
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from \JCanberra\j, Australia
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BLegal system:\b relevant laws of the \JNorthern Territory\j of Australia
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JAustralia\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BMilitary\b\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of \JAustralia\j; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Atlantic Ocean (Atlas)",16,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b body of \Jwater\j between Africa, Europe, \JAntarctica\j, and the Western Hemisphere
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 0 00 N, 25 00 W
\BMap references:\b World
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 82.217 million sq km
\Inote:\i includes Baltic Sea, \JBlack Sea\j, \JCaribbean Sea\j, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, \JMediterranean Sea\j, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary \Jwater\j bodies
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than nine times the size of the US; second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the \JPacific Ocean\j, but larger than Indian Ocean or \JArctic\j Ocean)
\BCoastline:\b 111,866 km
\BClimate:\b tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the \JCaribbean Sea\j; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November \BTerrain:\b surface usually covered with \Jsea ice\j in \JLabrador\j Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm \Jwater\j gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm \Jwater\j 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
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m
\Ihighest point:\i sea level 0 m
\BNatural resources:\b oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones \BNatural hazards:\b icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern \JAtlantic Ocean\j from February to August and have been spotted as far south as \JBermuda\j and the Madeira Islands; icebergs from \JAntarctica\j occur in the extreme southern \JAtlantic Ocean\j; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to May and extreme southern Atlantic from May to October; persistent \Jfog\j can be a maritime hazard from May to September
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b endangered marine species include the \Jmanatee\j, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge \Jpollution\j off eastern US, southern \JBrazil\j, and eastern Argentina; oil \Jpollution\j in \JCaribbean Sea\j, Gulf of Mexico, Lake \JMaracaibo\j, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage \Jpollution\j in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b major choke points include the Dardanelles, Strait of \JGibraltar\j, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of \JFlorida\j, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
\BGovernment\b
\BData code:\b none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The \JAtlantic Ocean\j 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 \Jaragonite\j sands (The \JBahamas\j), and production of crude oil and \Jnatural gas\j (\JCaribbean Sea\j, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephone system:\b
\Iinternational:\i numerous submarine cables with most between continental Europe and the UK, between \JNorth America\j and the UK, and in the Mediterranean; numerous direct links across Atlantic via \Jsatellite\j networks
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b Alexandria (\JEgypt\j), \JAlgiers\j (\JAlgeria\j), Antwerp (\JBelgium\j), \JBarcelona\j (\JSpain\j), Buenos Aires (Argentina), \JCasablanca\j (Morocco), Colon (Panama), \JCopenhagen\j (Denmark), \JDakar\j (\JSenegal\j), Gdansk (\JPoland\j), \JHamburg\j (\JGermany\j), \JHelsinki\j (\JFinland\j), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, \JSpain\j), Le Havre (\JFrance\j), \JLisbon\j (\JPortugal\j), London (UK), \JMarseille\j (\JFrance\j), \JMontevideo\j (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (\JItaly\j), \JNew Orleans\j (US), New York (US), Oran (\JAlgeria\j), Oslo (\JNorway\j), \JPiraeus\j (\JGreece\j), \JRio de Janeiro\j (\JBrazil\j), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (\JRussia\j), Stockholm (Sweden)
\BTransportation - note:\b Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b some maritime disputes
#
"Australia (Atlas)",17,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 27 00 S, 133 00 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 7,686,850 sq km
\Iland:\i 7,617,930 sq km
\Iwater:\i 68,920 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than the US
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 25,760 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
\BTerrain:\b mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Lake Eyre -15 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Kosciusko 2,229 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jbauxite\j, \Jcoal\j, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, \Jtungsten\j, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, \Jnatural gas\j, petroleum
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 6%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 54%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 19%
\Iother:\i 21% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 21,070 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil \Jsalinity\j rising due to the use of poor quality \Jwater\j; \Jdesertification\j; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the \JGreat Barrier Reef\j off the northeast coast, the largest \Jcoral\j reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b 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
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 5.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 79.89 years
\Imale:\i 76.95 years
\Ifemale:\i 82.98 years (1998 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.82 children born/woman (1998 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Australian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Australian
\BEthnic groups:\b Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, Aboriginal and other 1%
\BReligions:\b Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%
\BLanguages:\b English, native languages
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 100%
\Imale:\i 100%
\Ifemale:\i 100% (1980 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Commonwealth of Australia
\Iconventional short form:\i Australia
\BData code:\b AS
\BGovernment type:\b democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British Monarch as sovereign
\BNational capital:\b Canberra
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 6 states and 2 territories*; \JAustralian Capital Territory\j*, \JNew South Wales\j, \JNorthern Territory\j*, \JQueensland\j, South Australia, \JTasmania\j, Victoria, Western Australia
\BDependent areas:\b Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
\BIndependence:\b 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
\BNational holiday:\b \JAustralia\j Day, 26 January (1788)
\BConstitution:\b 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir William DEANE (since 16 February 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John Duncan ANDERSON (since July 1999)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet selected from among the members of Federal Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen; 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
\BLegislative branch:\b 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 \JHouse of Representatives\j (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)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held March 1999 (next to be held 2002); \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held March 1999 (next to be held 2002)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal-National 37, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 8, Greens 1, independent 1; note - subsequent to the election, there has been a change in the distribution of seats; the new distribution is as follows - Liberal-National 37, Labor 28, Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2, independents 2; \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal-National 94, Labor 49, independent 5
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court, the \JChief Justice\j and six other justices are appointed by the governor general
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Igovernment:\i coalition of Liberal Party, John Winston HOWARD, and National Party, John Duncan ANDERSON
\Iopposition:\i Australian Labor Party, Kim BEAZLEY; Australian Democratic Party, Meg LEES; Green Party, Bob BROWN
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group) \BInternational organization participation:\b AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G- 8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINUGUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Andrew Sharp PEACOCK
\Ichancery:\i 1601 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 797-3000
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 797-3168
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JAtlanta\j, \JHonolulu\j, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMES
\Iembassy:\i Moonah Place, Yarralumla, \JCanberra\j, \JAustralian Capital Territory\j 2600
\Imailing address:\i APO AP 96549
\Itelephone:\i [61] (6) 270-5000
\IFAX:\i [61] (6) 270-5970
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
\BFlag description:\b 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 \Jconstellation\j in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JAustralia\j has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP above the levels in highly industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, \JAustralia\j is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and \Jfossil\j fuels. Commodities account for about 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. \JAustralia\j has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s, but the economy has expanded at reasonably steady rates in recent years. In addition to high unemployment, short-term economic problems include a balancing of output growth and inflationary pressures and the stimulation of exports to offset rising imports, especially given the economic crisis in Asia.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $394 billion (1997 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.3% (1997 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $21,400 (1997 est.)
\Icommodities:\i \Jcoal\j, gold, meat, wool, \Jalumina\j, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport
equipment
\Ipartners:\i \JJapan\j 20%, ASEAB 16%, South Korea 9%, US 9%, NZ 8%, UK, \JTaiwan\j, Hong Kong, China (1997)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $67 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and \Jpetroleum\j products
\Ipartners:\i US 22%, \JJapan\j 17%, December 1996)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Idonor:\i ODA, $1.43 billion (FY97/98)
\BCurrency:\b 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
\Iships by type:\i bulk 31, cargo 3, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, passenger 1 (1997 est.)
\BAirports:\b 419 (1997 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 259
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 8
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 13
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 111
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 119
\Iunder 914 m:\i 8 (1997 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 160
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 22
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 123
\Iunder 914m:\i 15 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 4,873,392 (1998 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,206,104 (1998 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 128,524 (1998 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $8.2 billion (FY97/98)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.9% (FY97/98)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b territorial claim in \JAntarctica\j (Australian Antarctic Territory)
\BIllicit drugs:\b \JTasmania\j 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 (Atlas)",18,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Central Europe, north of \JItaly\j and Slovenia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 47 20 N, 13 20 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 83,850 sq km
\Iland:\i 82,730 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,120 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maine
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,564 km
\Iborder countries:\i Czech Republic 362 km, \JGermany\j 784 km, \JHungary\j 366 km, \JItaly\j 430 km, \JLiechtenstein\j 37 km, \JSlovakia\j 91 km, \JSlovenia\j 330 km, \JSwitzerland\j 164 km \BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands
and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
\BTerrain:\b in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b some forest degradation caused by air and soil \Jpollution\j; soil \Jpollution\j results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air \Jpollution\j results from emissions by \Jcoal\j- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting \JAustria\j between northern and southern Europe
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Tropical Timber 94
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable \JAlpine\j passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 77.15 years
\Imale:\i 73.96 years
\Ifemale:\i 80.51 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.37 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Austrian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Austrian
\BEthnic groups:\b German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%
\BLanguages:\b German
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 99% (1974 est.)
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Austria
\Iconventional short form:\i Austria
\Ilocal long form:\i Republik Oesterreich
\Ilocal short form:\i Oesterreich
\BData code:\b AU
\BGovernment type:\b federal republic
\BNational capital:\b Vienna
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, \JSalzburg\j, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
\BIndependence:\b 1156 (from \JBavaria\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 26 October (1955)
\BConstitution:\b 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
\BLegal system:\b civil law system with \JRoman law\j origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Chancellor Viktor KLIMA (since 28 January 1997); Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held NA 1998); chancellor chosen by the president from the majority party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
\Ielection results:\i Thomas KLESTIL elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Thomas KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (63 members; members represent each of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each province having at least three representatives) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i National Council - last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held Fall 1999)
\Ielection results:\i National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 38.3%, OeVP 28.3%, FPOe 22.1%, Greens 4.6%, LF 5.3%, other 1.4%; seats by party - SPOe 71, OeVP 53, FPOe 40, Greens 9, LF 10
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Social Democratic Party of \JAustria\j or SPOe [Viktor KLIMA, chairman]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL, chairman]; Freedom Movement or FPOe (formerly the Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Joerg HAIDER, chairman]; Communist Party or KPOe [Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman]; The Greens [Madeleine PETROVIC]; Liberal Forum or LF [Heide SCHMIDT]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Federal Chamber of Trade and Commerce; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist) or OeGB; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman \JCatholic Church\j, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action
\Ichancery:\i 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 895-6700
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 895-6750
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Los Angeles, and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT
\Iembassy:\i Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [43] (1) 313-39
\IFAX:\i [43] (1) 310-0682
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JAustria\j has a well-developed market economy with a sizable - but falling - proportion of nationalized industry, an extensive social safety net, and a high standard of living. \JAustria\j's economy is closely integrated with \JGermany\j and other EU members - \JAustria\j joined the EU on 1 January 1995. Since the early 1980s, the Austrian economy has experienced stable growth. EU membership has had a positive impact on foreign investment and has helped to lower \Jinflation\j. In April 1996, the government passed a two-year austerity budget - including cuts in social allowances, a freeze on civil servants' wages, and new \Jenergy\j and capital gains taxes - designed to bring the economy in line with the Maastricht criteria for membership in the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). EMU convergence has become a top priority for Austria. Despite Austria's generally favorable prospects, the economy faces a number of medium-term challenges; for example, fiscal tightening is constraining expected growth, and unemployment is expected to increase.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $157.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.1% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $19,700 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture and \Jforestry\j 8.1%
\Inote:\i an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 5% of labor force (1988)\BUnemployment rate:\b 6.2% (December 1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $61.2 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $71 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b food, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 0.6% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 17.43 million kW (1994)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army (includes Flying Division)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,107,905 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,754,823 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 46,298 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $2.1 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American \Jcocaine\j destined for Western Europe
#
"Azerbaijan (Atlas)",19,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b \JAzerbaijan\j continues to be plagued by an unresolved nine-year-old conflict with Armenian separatists over its Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh Armenians have declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory, creating almost 1 million Azerbaijani refugees in the process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994, and support the OSCE-mediated peace process, now entering its fifth year. Nevertheless, \JBaku\j and Xankandi (Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh region) remain far apart on most substantive issues from the placement and composition of a peacekeeping force to the enclave's ultimate political status, and prospects for a negotiated settlement remain dim.
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southwestern Asia, bordering the \JCaspian Sea\j, between \JIran\j and Russia\BGeographic coordinates:\b 40 30 N, 47 30 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 86,600 sq km
\Iland:\i 86,100 sq km
\Iwater:\i 500 sq km
\Inote:\i 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
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maine
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,013 km
\Iborder countries:\i Armenia (with \JAzerbaijan\j-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with \JAzerbaijan\j-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, \JIran\j (with \JAzerbaijan\j-proper) 432 km, \JIran\j (with \JAzerbaijan\j-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, \JRussia\j 284 km, Turkey 9 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\Inote:\i \JAzerbaijan\j borders the \JCaspian Sea\j (800 km, est.)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b dry, semiarid steppe
\BTerrain:\b large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh) Upland in west; \JBaku\j lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaspian Sea\j -28 m
\Ihighest point:\i Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, \Jnatural gas\j, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 18%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 5%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 25%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 11%
\Iother:\i 41% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 10,000 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising levels of the Caspian Sea
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula (including \JBaku\j and Sumqayit) and the \JCaspian Sea\j to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, \Jwater\j, and soil \Jpollution\j; soil \Jpollution\j results from the use of DDT as a \Jpesticide\j and also from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 80.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 63.52 years
\Imale:\i 59.27 years
\Ifemale:\i 67.99 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.77 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Azerbaijani(s)
\Iadjective:\i Azerbaijani
\BEthnic groups:\b Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2.3%, other 2% (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region\BReligions:\b Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i religious affiliation is still nominal in \JAzerbaijan\j; actual practicing adherents are much lower
\BLanguages:\b Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 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, AliBayramli Sahari*, Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, \JSaki\j Rayonu, \JSaki\j Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, \JSusa\j Rayonu, \JSusa\j Sahari*, \JTartar\j 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
\BIndependence:\b 30 August 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 28 May
\BConstitution:\b adopted 12 November 1995
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since NA November 1996); First Deputy Prime Ministers \JAbbas\j ABBASOV (since NA), Samed SADYKOV (since NA), Vahid AKHMEDOV (since NA), Elchin EFENDIYEV (since NA)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; election last held 3 October 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly\Ielection results:\i Heydar ALIYEV elected president; percent of vote - Heydar ALIYEV 97% \BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 12 and 26 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JAzerbaijan\j Popular Front or APF [Ebulfez ELCIBEY, chairman]; Musavat Party [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; National Independence Party [Etibar MAMEDOV, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Araz ALIZADE, chairman]; Communist Party [Ramiz AKHMEDOV, chairman]; People's Freedom Party [Yunus OGUZ, chairman]; Independent Social Democratic Party [Arif YUNUSOV and Leila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen]; New \JAzerbaijan\j Party [Heydar ALIYEV, chairman]; Boz Gurd Party [Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman]; \JAzerbaijan\j Democratic Independence Party [Qabil HUSEYNLI, chairman]; Islamic Party of \JAzerbaijan\j [Ali Akram, chairman]; Ana Veten Party [Fazail AGAMALIYEV]; \JAzerbaijan\j Democratic Party [Sardar Jalaloglu MAMEDOV]; \JAzerbaijan\j Democratic Party of Proprietors or DPOP [Makhmud MAMEDOV]; \JAzerbaijan\j Patriotic Solidarity Party [Sabir RUSTAMHANLI]; \JAzerbaijan\j Republic Reform Party [Fuad ASADOV]; Communist Party of \JAzerbaijan\j (unregistered) [Sayad SAYADOV]; Equality of the Peoples Party [Faukhraddin AYDAYEV]; Independent \JAzerbaijan\j Party [Nizami SULEYMANOV]; Labor Party of \JAzerbaijan\j [Sabutai HAJIYEV]; Liberal-Democratic Party of \JAzerbaijan\j [Lyudmila NIKOLAYEVNA]; National Enlightenment Party [Hajy Osman EFENDIYEV]; National Liberation Party [Panak SHAKHSEVEV]; Peasant Party [Firuz MUSTAFAYEV]; Radical Party of \JAzerbaijan\j [Malik SHARIFOV]; United \JAzerbaijan\j Party [Kerrar ABILOV]; Vetan Adzhagy Party [Zakir TAGIYEV]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement; Sadval, Lezgin movement
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV
\Ichancery:\i (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 or P.O. Box 28790, Washington, DC 20038-8790
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 842-0001
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 842-0004
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH
\Iembassy:\i Azadliq Prospekti 83, Baku
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [9] (9412) 96-03-35
\IFAX:\i [9] (9412) 96-04-69
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JAzerbaijan\j is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in its majority nominally Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in declin for several years, but the November 1994 ratification of the $7.5 billion oil deal with a consortium of Western companies should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. \JAzerbaijan\j shares all the formidable problems of the ex-Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable \Jenergy\j resources brighten its long-term prospects. \JBaku\j has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. A major short-term obstacle to economic progress, including stepped up foreign investment, is the continuing conflict with Armenia over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Trade with \JRussia\j and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building up with the nations of Europe, Turkey, \JIran\j and the UAE.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $11.9 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated
from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.2% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,550 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture and \Jforestry\j 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42% (1990)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 1.1% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployed workers (December 1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $565 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $682 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
\BIndustries:\b \Jpetroleum\j and \Jnatural gas\j, \Jpetroleum\j products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and \Jpetrochemicals\j; textiles
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b -8% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 5.24 million kW (1994)
\BTelephone system:\b 202,000 persons waiting for \Jtelephone\j installations (January 1991 est.)\Idomestic:\i \Jtelephone\j service is of poor quality and inadequate; a joint venture to establish a cellular \Jtelephone\j system in the \JBaku\j area is operational \Iinternational:\i cable and microwave radio relay connections to former Soviet republics; connection through Moscow international gateway switch to other countries; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Intelsat provides service to Turkey and through Turkey to 200 more countries; Intersputnik provides direct service to New York)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b 1 state-owned radio broadcast station
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2
\Inote:\i domestic and Russian TV programs are received locally and Turkish and
Iranian TV is received from an Intelsat \Jsatellite\j through a receive-only earth
station
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,125 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines\Ibroad gauge:\i 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 57,770 km
\Ipaved:\i 54,188 km
\Iunpaved:\i 3,582 km (1995 est.)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 1,130 km; \Jpetroleum\j products 630 km; \Jnatural gas\j 1,240 km \BPorts and harbors:\b \JBaku\j (Baki)
\BAirports:\b 69 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 29
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 6
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 17
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 40
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 7
\Iunder 914 m:\i 33 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guards
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,982,747 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,596,087 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 69,524 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 33.5 billion manats (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of \JAzerbaijan\j in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; \JCaspian Sea\j boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, \JIran\j, Kazakstan, \JRussia\j, and Turkmenistan
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for \JCIS\j consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment point for opiates to Western Europe
#
"Bahrain (Atlas)",20,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 26 00 N, 50 33 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 620 sq km
\Iland:\i 620 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 161 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i extending to boundaries to be determined
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
\BTerrain:\b mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Persian Gulf 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
\BNatural resources:\b oil, associated and nonassociated \Jnatural gas\j, fish
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jdesertification\j resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of \Jdrought\j, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, \Jcoral\j reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh \Jwater\j resources so that \Jgroundwater\j and sea water are the only sources for all water needs
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b close to primary Middle Eastern \Jpetroleum\j sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world's \Jpetroleum\j must transit to reach open ocean
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 603,318 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i includes 221,182 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 16.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 74.63 years
\Imale:\i 72.1 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.24 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.04 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Bahraini(s)
\Iadjective:\i Bahraini
\BEthnic groups:\b Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6%
\BReligions:\b Shi'a Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 25%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic, English, \JFarsi\j, Urdu
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 85.2%
\Imale:\i 89.1%
\Ifemale:\i 79.4% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i State of Bahrain
\Iconventional short form:\i Bahrain
\Ilocal long form:\i Dawlat al Bahrayn
\Ilocal short form:\i Al Bahrayn
\BData code:\b BA
\BGovernment type:\b traditional monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Manama
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 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
\Inote:\i all municipalities administered from Manama
\BIndependence:\b 15 August 1971 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 16 December (1971)
\BConstitution:\b 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
\BLegal system:\b based on Islamic law and English common law
\BSuffrage:\b none
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i HAMAD bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (since March 1998) \Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the amir
\Ielections:\i none; the amir is a traditional Arab monarch; prime minister appointed by the amir
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992
\BJudicial branch:\b High Civil Appeals Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b political parties prohibited
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active; following the arrest of a popular Shi'a cleric, Shi'a activists have fomented unrest sporadically since late 1994, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah
\Ichancery:\i 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 342-0741, 342-0742
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 362-2192
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador David M. RANSOM (scheduled to depart in June 1997)
\Iembassy:\i Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama
\Imailing address:\i FPO AE 09834-5100; International Mail Box 26431, \JManama\j (International Mail)
\Itelephone:\i [973] 273-300
\IFAX:\i [973] 275-418
\BFlag description:\b red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b In \JBahrain\j, \Jpetroleum\j 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, \JBahrain\j is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of \Jpetroleum\j 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 \Jwater\j resources are major long-term economic problems.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $13,000 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b modern system; good domestic services and excellent international connections\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i tropospheric scatter to \JQatar\j and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi \JArabia\j; submarine cable to \JQatar\j, UAE, and Saudi \JArabia\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 15 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 216,444 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 119,781 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $256 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 6.4% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b territorial dispute with \JQatar\j over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with \JQatar\j
#
"Baker Island (Atlas)",21,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, \Jatoll\j in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 0 13 N, 176 31 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1.4 sq km
\Iland:\i 1.4 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 4.8 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
\BTerrain:\b low, nearly level \Jcoral\j island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 8 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jguano\j (deposits worked until 1891)
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b no natural fresh \Jwater\j resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b 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
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\Inote:\i American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruins are located near the middle of the west coast
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Baker Island
\BData code:\b FQ
\BDependency status:\b unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from Washington, DC
\BFlag description:\b the flag of the US is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
\BAirports:\b 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m
\BTransportation - note:\b there is a \Jday\j beacon near the middle of the west coast
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Bangladesh (Atlas)",22,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between \JBurma\j and India
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 24 00 N, 90 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 144,000 sq km
\Iland:\i 133,910 sq km
\Iwater:\i 10,090 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Wisconsin
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,246 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBurma\j 193 km, India 4,053 km
\BCoastline:\b 580 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 18 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i up to the outer limits of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
\BNatural hazards:\b droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable \Jwater\j; \Jwater\j-borne diseases prevalent; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j especially of fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent \Jwater\j shortages because of falling \Jwater\j tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe overpopulation
\Inote:\i there may be two new divisions named Barisal and Sylhet
\BIndependence:\b 16 December 1971 (from \JPakistan\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
\BConstitution:\b 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times
\BLegal system:\b based on English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i 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
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina WAJED (since 23 June 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president\Ielections:\i 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
\Ielection results:\i Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without opposition; percent of National Parliament vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b 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)
\Ielections:\i last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
\Ielection results:\i 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 1; 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
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other judges are appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JBangladesh\j Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD; Jamaat-E-Islami (JI), Motiur Rahman NIZAMI; \JBangladesh\j Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK
\BFlag description:\b green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; green is the traditional color of Islam
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, \JBangladesh\j remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed nations. Annual GDP growth has averaged over 4% in recent years from a low base. Its 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 \Jenergy\j resources (\Jnatural gas\j), inadequate power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Frequent strikes that crippled the economy in 1995 and early 1996 subsided after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina WAJED's Awami League government assumed power in mid-1996, allowing a return to normal economic activity. The current 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 \Jnatural gas\j 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.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $155.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.7% (1996)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,260 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes \JBangladesh\j Rifles, \JBangladesh\j Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 32,797,816 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 19,406,790 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $481 million (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.7% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b a portion of the boundary with India in dispute; \JBangladesh\j and India signed a treaty 12 December 1996 to share \Jwater\j from the Ganges
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
#
"Barbados (Atlas)",23,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, northeast of Venezuela
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 10 N, 59 32 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 430 sq km
\Iland:\i 430 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 97 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; rainy season (June to October)
\BTerrain:\b relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Hillaby 336 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, fish, natural gas
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jpollution\j of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Biodiversity
\BGeography - note:\b easternmost Caribbean island
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 258,756 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 24% (male 31,025; female 30,197)
\I15-64 years:\i 66% (male 83,977; female 87,208)
\I65 years and over:\i 10% (male 10,002; female 16,347) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.12% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 15.35 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 8.25 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -5.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 74.6 years
\Imale:\i 71.84 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.43 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.88 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Barbadian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Barbadian
\BEthnic groups:\b black 80%, white 4%, other 16%
\BReligions:\b Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980)
\BLanguages:\b English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 97.4%
\Imale:\i 98%
\Ifemale:\i 96.8% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Barbados
\BData code:\b BB
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Bridgetown
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
\Inote:\i the city of \JBridgetown\j may be given parish status
\BIndependence:\b 30 November 1966 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
\BConstitution:\b 30 November 1966
\BLegal system:\b English \Jcommon law\j; no judicial review of legislative acts
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6 September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen; prime minister appointed by the governor general
\BLegislative branch:\b 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)
\Ielections:\i House of Assembly - last held 6 September 1994 (next to be held by January 1999)
\Ielection results:\i House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BLP 19, DLP 8, NDP 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Judicature, judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Democratic Labor Party or DLP [David THOMPSON]; \JBarbados\j Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Richard HAYNES]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b \JBarbados\j Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY]; Workers' Party of \JBarbados\j [Dr. George BELLE]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMMISSIONG]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
\Ichancery:\i 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 939-9218, 9219
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 332-7467
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Miami and New York
\Iconsulate(s):\i Los Angeles
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDE
\Iembassy:\i Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 302, \JBridgetown\j; FPO AA 34055
\Itelephone:\i [1] (246) 436-4950
\IFAX:\i [1] (246) 429-5246
\BFlag description:\b 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)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but in recent years the production 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. The industry generated $331.8 million by the end of June and was expected to double by the end of the year. Prime Minister Owen ARTHUR called for "prudent" financial management to ensure that economic growth would continue. As part of his plan, the Prime Minister introduced a controversial Value Added Tax (VAT) in an effort to reform the tax administration process. The VAT will be administered at 15% for most industries and 7% for the tourism industry. The government has also continued its efforts to promote regional \Jintegration\j initiatives, to reduce the unacceptably high unemployment rate, and to encourage direct foreign investment.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $2.65 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $10,300 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i services and government 41%, commerce 15%, manufacturing and construction 18%, transportation, storage, communications, and financial institutions 8%, agriculture 6%, utilities 2% (1992 est.)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 16.2% (1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $550 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $710 million, including capital expenditures of $86 million (FY95/96 est.)
\BIndustries:\b tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 7.7% (1995)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 153,000 kW (1995)
\BElectricity - production:\b 644 million kWh (1995)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 2,208 kWh (1995 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal \JBarbados\j Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and Coast Guard), Royal \JBarbados\j Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 71,547 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 49,446 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes -international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b one of many Caribbean transshipment points for \Jnarcotics\j bound for the US and Europe
#
"Bassas da India (Atlas)",24,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 21 30 S, 39 50 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 0.2 sq km
\Iland:\i 0.2 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 35.2 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical
\BTerrain:\b a volcanic rock 2.4 meters high
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 3 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (all rock)
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b maritime hazard since it is usually under \Jwater\j during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Bassas da India
\BData code:\b BS
\BDependency status:\b possession of \JFrance\j; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
\BNational capital:\b none; administered by \JFrance\j from Reunion
\BIndependence:\b none (possession of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JFrance\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claimed by Madagascar
#
"Belarus (Atlas)",25,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Europe, east of Poland
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 53 00 N, 28 00 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 207,600 sq km
\Iland:\i 207,600 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Kansas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,098 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JLatvia\j 141 km, \JLithuania\j 502 km, \JPoland\j 605 km, \JRussia\j 959 km, \JUkraine\j 891 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
\BTerrain:\b generally flat and contains much marshland
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Nyoman River 90 m
\Ihighest point:\i Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
\BNatural resources:\b forests, \Jpeat\j deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 29%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 15%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 34%
\Iother:\i 21% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 1,000 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil \Jpollution\j from \Jpesticide\j use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, \JBiodiversity\j, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Climate Change, Law of the Sea
\Inote:\i administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) \BIndependence:\b 25 August 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j); the Belarusian Supreme Soviet issued a proclamation of independence; on 17 July 1990 Belarus issued a declaration of sovereignty
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 3 July (1990); note - date set by referendum of November 1996
\BConstitution:\b referendum of 27 November 1996 (declared illegitimate by the international community) adopted a new constitution massing power in the hands of the president; signed into law on 28 November 1996
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Sergey LING (acting since NA November 1996, confirmed NA February 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Pyotr PROKOPOVICH (since NA); Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir GARKUN (since NA), Valeriy KOKAREV (since NA), Vladimir RUSAKEVICH (since NA), Vasyl DALGALYOV (since NA)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 24 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA 2001 because of the additional two years provided by the November 1996 referendum); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Aleksandr LUKASHENKO elected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr
LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15%
\Inote:\i first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament established by the 28 November Constitution consists of the Council of the Republic (64 seats; the president appoints 8 and each oblast plus the Minsk city government elect 8) and the Chamber of Representatives (110 seats; note - present members came from the defunct Supreme Soviet)
\Ielections:\i last held May and November-December 1995 (two rounds, each with a run-off; next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KPB 42, Agrarian 33, CAB 9, Party of People's Concord 8, UPNAZ 2, SDPB 2, BPR 1, Green Party 1, Republican Party of Labor and Justice 1, BSP 1, NFB 1, Social and Sports Party 1, Ecological Party 1, independents 95, vacant 62; note - 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 60; 58 of the 64 seats in the Council of the Republic have been appointed/elected\BJudicial branch:\b 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
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Belarusian Communist Party or KPB [Yefrem SOKOLOV and Viktor CHIKIN, chairmen]; Agrarian Party [Aleksandr PAVLOV, chairman]; Civic Accord Bloc (United Civic Party) or CAB [Stanislav BOGDANKEVICH, chairman]; Party of People's Concord [Leonid SECHKO, chairman]; Party of All-Belarusian Unity and Concord or UPNAZ [Dmitriy BULAKOV, chairman]; Belarusian Social-Democrat Hramada or SDBP [Nikolai STATKEVICH, chairman]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Anatol BARANKEVICH]; Green Party of Belarus [Nikolai KARTASH, chairman]; Republican Party of Labor and Justice [Anatol NETYLKIN, chairman]; Belarus Peasants or BSP [Yevgeniy LUGIN, chairman]; Belarusian Popular Front or NFB [Levon BARSHEVSKIY, acting chairman]; Belarusian Social Sports Party [Aleksandr ALEKSANDROVICH, chairman]; Ecological Party [Liudmila YELIZAROVA, chairman]; National Democratic Party of Belarus or NDPB [Viktor NAUMENKO, chairman]; United Democratic Party of Belarus or ADPB [Aleksandr DOBROVOLSKIY]; Belarusian Socialist Party or SPB [Vyacheslav KUZNETSOV]; Slavic Assembly or SAB [Nikolai SYARECHEV]; Liberal-Democratic Party or LDPB [Sergei GAIDUKEVICH, chairman]; Belarusian Christian-Democratic Unity or BKDZ [Petr SILKO]; Polish Democratic Union or PDZ [Konstantin TARASEVICH]; Party of Beer Lovers [Yuriy GONCHAR]; Party of Communists Belarusian or PKB [Sergei KALYAKIN and Vasiliy NOVIKOV, chairmen]; Belarusian Labor Party or BPP [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV] \BInternational organization participation:\b BIS, CCC, CEI, \JCIS\j, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador-designate Valeriy TSEPKALO
\Ichancery:\i 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 986-1604
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 986-1805
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Kenneth Spencer YALOWITZ
\Iembassy:\i Starovilenskaya
46-220002, Minsk
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [375] (172) 31-50-00
\IFAX:\i [375] (172) 34-78-53
\BFlag description:\b red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width
of the red band; a white vertical stripe of white on the hoist side bears
in red the Belarusian national ornament
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b At the time of independence in late 1991, \JBelarus\j was one of the most
developed of the former Soviet states, inheriting a modern - by Soviet standards - machine building sector and robust agricultural sector. However, the breakup of the \JSoviet Union\j and its traditional trade ties in December 1991, as well as the government's failure to embrace market reforms, has resulted in a sharp economic decline. Privatization is virtually nonexistent and the system of state orders and distribution persists. Although President LUKASHENKO pronounces his 1995 macro stabilization policies a success - annual \Jinflation\j dropped from 2,220% in 1994 to 244% in 1995 - the IMF has criticized his exchange rate policies and suspended Minsk's $300 million standby program in November 1995. The overvalued ruble has especially hurt Belarusian exporters, most of which now operate at a loss. In addition, the January 1995 Customs Union agreement with \JRussia\j - which required Minsk to adjust its foreign trade practices to mirror Moscow's - has resulted in higher import tariffs for Belarusian consumers; tariffs rose from 5%-20% to 20%-40%. In general, as of the beginning of 1997, Belarus has badly lagged in moving away from the old centrally planned policies of the former USSR.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $51.9 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i industry and construction 36%, agriculture and \Jforestry\j 19%, services 45% (1995)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 3.1% officially registered unemployed (December 1996); large numbers of underemployed workers
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b tractors, metal-cutting machine tools, off-highway dump trucks up to 110-metric-ton load capacity, wheel-type \Jearth\j movers for construction and mining, eight-wheel-drive, high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for use in \Jtundra\j and roadless areas, equipment for animal husbandry and livestock feeding, motorcycles, \Jtelevision\j sets, chemical fibers, \Jfertilizer\j, linen fabric, wool fabric, radios, refrigerators, other consumer goods
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 3.2% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 7.21 million kW (1994)
\BTelephone system:\b \Jtelephone\j service inadequate for the purposes of either business or the population; about 70% of the telephones are in homes; over 750,000 applications from households for telephones remain unsatisfied (1992 est.); new investment centers on international connections and business needs
\Idomestic:\i the new NMT-450 analog cellular system is now operating in Minsk
\Iinternational:\i international traffic is carried by the Moscow international gateway switch and also by \Jsatellite\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intelsat (through Canada) and 1 Eutelsat (through the UK)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 35, FM 18, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 3.17 million (1991 est.) (5,615,000 with multiple speaker systems for program diffusion)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2 (one national and one private; the license of the private station was suspended during the parliamentary elections of 1994)
\BTelevisions:\b 3.5 million (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,488 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 5,488 km 1.520-m gauge (873 km electrified) (1993)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 51,547 km
\Ipaved:\i 50,825 km
\Iunpaved:\i 722 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b NA km; note - \JBelarus\j has extensive and widely used canal and river systems
\Inote:\i claims 5% of former Soviet fleet (1995 est.)
\BAirports:\b 118 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 36
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 18
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 5
\Iunder 914 m:\i 11 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 82
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 6
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 4
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 9
\Iunder 914 m:\i 62 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,659,236 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,083,696 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 77,496 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 2.4 trillion rubles (1997); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b treaty with \JLithuania\j defining the border awaits demarcation
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to \JRussia\j and Western Europe
#
"Belgium (Atlas)",26,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between \JFrance\j and the Netherlands \BGeographic coordinates:\b 50 50 N, 4 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 30,510 sq km
\Iland:\i 30,230 sq km
\Iwater:\i 280 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about the size of Maryland
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,385 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JFrance\j 620 km, \JGermany\j 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km \BCoastline:\b 64 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i median line with neighbors
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)
\BTerrain:\b flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i North Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Signal de Botrange 694 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jcoal\j, natural gas
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 24%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 20%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 21%
\Iother:\i 34%
\BIrrigated land:\b 10 sq km including Luxembourg (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b Meuse River, a major source of drinking \Jwater\j, polluted from steel production wastes; other rivers polluted by animal wastes and fertilizers; industrial air \Jpollution\j contributes to \Jacid rain\j in neighboring countries
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b 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
\Inote:\i constitutional reforms passed by Parliament in 1993 theoretically increased the number of provinces to 10 by splitting the province of Brabant into two new provinces, Flemish Brabant and \JWalloon\j Brabant, but this has not been confirmed by the US Government
\BIndependence:\b 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 21 July (\Jascension\j of King LEOPOLD to the throne in 1831) \BConstitution:\b 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state
\BLegal system:\b civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the king and approved by Parliament \Ielections:\i none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister appointed by the king and then approved by Parliament
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Flemish, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected, 31 will be indirectly elected at a later date; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Flemish, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CVP 7, SP 6, VLD 6, VU 2, AGALEV 1, VB 3, PS 5, PRL 5, PSC 3, ECOLO 2; note - before the 1995 elections, there were 184 seats; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CVP 17.2%, PS 11.9%, SP 12.6%, VLD 13.1%, PRL 10.3%, PSC 7.7%, VB 7.8%, VU 4.7%, ECOLO 4.0%, AGALEV 4.4%, FN 2.3%; seats by party - CVP 29, PS 21, SP 20, VLD 21, PRL 18, PSC 12, VB 11, VU 5, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, FN 2;
note - before the 1995 elections, there were 212 seats \Inote:\i as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered \Jdevolution\j 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
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Flemish, Cour de Cassation in French, judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP (Christian People's Party) [Marc VAN PEEL, president]; Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party) [Gerard DEPREZ, president]; Flemish Socialist Party or SP [Louis TOBBACK, president]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Philippe BUSQUIN, president]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Herman DE CROO, president]; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL [Louis MICHEL, president]; Francophone Democratic Front or FDF [Olivier MAINGAIN, president]; Volksunie or VU [Bert ANCIAUX, president]; Vlaams Blok or VB; National Front or FN [Frank VANHECKE, president]; AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [no president]; ECOLO (Francophone Greens) [no president]; other minor parties
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b 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
\Ichancery:\i 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 333-6900
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 333-3079
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JAtlanta\j, \JChicago\j, Los Angeles, and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Alan J. BLINKEN
\Iembassy:\i 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
\Imailing address:\i APO AE 09724, PSC 82, Box 002, Brussels
\Itelephone:\i [32] (2) 508-2111
\IFAX:\i [32] (2) 511-2725
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b This highly developed private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north, although the government is encouraging reinvestment in the southern region of \JWalloon\j. With few natural resources, \JBelgium\j 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. Two-thirds of its trade is with other EU countries. The economy grew at a strong 4% annual pace during the period 1988-90, slowed to 1% in 1991-92, dropped by 1.5% in 1993, recovered with moderate 2.3% growth in 1994 and 1995, and fell off again to 1.4% in 1996, with continued substantial unemployment. \JBelgium\j's public debt has risen to 140% of GDP, and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $204.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $20,300 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international \Jtelephone\j and telegraph facilities
\Iships by type:\i bulk 1, cargo 7, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 10 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 42 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 39
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 6
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 9
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 21 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,559,951 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,122,673 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 63,005 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $4.6 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.7% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b source of precursor chemicals for South American \Jcocaine\j processors; transshipment point for \Jcocaine\j, heroin, \Jhashish\j, and marijuana entering Western Europe
#
"Belize (Atlas)",27,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Middle America, bordering the \JCaribbean Sea\j, between \JGuatemala\j and Mexico \BGeographic coordinates:\b 17 15 N, 88 45 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 22,960 sq km
\Iland:\i 22,800 sq km
\Iwater:\i 160 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Massachusetts
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 516 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JGuatemala\j 266 km, Mexico 250 km
\BCoastline:\b 386 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, \JBelize\j's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to \JBelize\j'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
\BClimate:\b tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February)
\BTerrain:\b flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Victoria Peak 1,160 m
\BNatural resources:\b arable land potential, timber, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 2%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 2%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 92%
\Iother:\i 3% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 20 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b national capital moved 80 km inland from \JBelize\j City to Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in \JCentral America\j without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 224,663 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 43% (male 48,921; female 47,057)
\I15-64 years:\i 54% (male 61,133; female 59,466)
\I65 years and over:\i 3% (male 3,965; female 4,121) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 2.42% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 31.91 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.61 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, \JJehovah\j's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (\JCarib\j)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 14 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 70.3%
\Imale:\i 70.3%
\Ifemale:\i 70.3% (1991 est.)
\Inote:\i other sources list the \Jliteracy\j rate as high as 75%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Belize
\Iformer:\i British Honduras
\BData code:\b BH
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Belmopan
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 6 districts; \JBelize\j, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo\BIndependence:\b 21 September 1981 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
\BConstitution:\b 21 September 1981
\BLegal system:\b English law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17 November 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA July 1993)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen; prime minister appointed by the governor general
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (8 members; members are appointed for five-year terms, five on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one after consultation with the \JBelize\j Advisory Council - this council serves as an independent body to advise the governor general with respect to difficult decisions such as granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the removal of justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.) and the National Assembly (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)\Ielections:\i National Assembly - last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held no later than September 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 13, UDP 15, NABR 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, the \Jchief justice\j is appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean BARROW]; National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR [Philip GOLDSON]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Assad SHOMAN]; United Workers Front
\Ichancery:\i 2535 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 332-9636
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 332-6888
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles
\Iconsulate(s):\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador George Charles BRUNO
\Iembassy:\i Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, \JBelize\j City
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
\Itelephone:\i [501] (2) 77161 through 77163
\IFAX:\i [501] (2) 30802
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance. Agriculture accounts for about 20% of GDP and provides 75% of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard currency earnings. The US, \JBelize\j's main trading partner, is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification program.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $649 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,960 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b \JBelize\j Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Volunteer
Guard), \JBelize\j National Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 54,163 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 32,176 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 2,471 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $8.1 million (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b border with \JGuatemala\j in dispute; talks to resolve the dispute are ongoing \BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for \Jcocaine\j; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor money-laundering
#
"Benin (Atlas)",28,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between \JNigeria\j and Togo
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 9 30 N, 2 15 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 112,620 sq km
\Iland:\i 110,620 sq km
\Iwater:\i 2,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,989 km
\Iborder countries:\i Burkina Faso 306 km, \JNiger\j 266 km, \JNigeria\j 773 km, \JTogo\j 644 km
\BCoastline:\b 121 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 200 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Tanekas 641 m
\BNatural resources:\b small offshore oil deposits, \Jlimestone\j, marble, timber
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 13%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 4%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 4%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 31%
\Iother:\i 48% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 100 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b hot, dry, dusty \Jharmattan\j wind may affect north in winter
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable \Jwater\j; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 102.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 53.15 years
\Imale:\i 51.15 years
\Ifemale:\i 55.21 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.56 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Beninese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Beninese
\BEthnic groups:\b African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, \JYoruba\j, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
\BReligions:\b indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
\BLanguages:\b French (official), Fon and \JYoruba\j (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 37%
\Imale:\i 48.7%
\Ifemale:\i 25.8% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Benin
\Iconventional short form:\i Benin
\Ilocal long form:\i Republique du Benin
\Ilocal short form:\i Benin
\Iformer:\i Dahomey
\BData code:\b BN
\BGovernment type:\b republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped \JMarxism\j-\JLeninism\j December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
\BNational capital:\b Porto-Novo
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
\BIndependence:\b 1 August 1960 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 1 August (1990)
\BConstitution:\b 2 December 1990
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (since 9 April 1996) acts as assistant to the president; a prime minister is not provided for in the constitution but was appointed by President KEREKOU with the permission of the constitutional court
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers headed by the prime minister; all are appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held March 2001)
\Ielection results:\i Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 28 March 1995 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RB 20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, Communist Party 2, Alliance Chameleon 1, RDP 1, other 17
\BJudicial branch:\b Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, High Court of Justice
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Alliance of the National Party for Democracy and Development or PNDD and the Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Pascal Chabi KAO]; Action for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Mathieu KEREKOU]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Alliance Chameleon; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Adekpedjon AKINDES]; Alliance for Social Democracy or ASD [Robert DOSSOU]; Assembly of Liberal Democrats for National Reconstruction or RDL [Severin ADJOVI]; Communist Party of Benin, [Pascal FATONDJI, First Secretary]; Our Common Cause or NCC [Albert TEVOEDJRE]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP; The Renaissance Party of Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]
\Inote:\i as of February 1996, more than 80 political parties were officially recognized
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
\Ichancery:\i 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 232-6656, 6657, 6658
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 265-1996
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador John M. YATES
\Iembassy:\i Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 2012, Cotonou
\Itelephone:\i [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
\IFAX:\i [229] 30-14-39, 30-19-74
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output, which had averaged a sound 4% in 1990-95, rose to 5.5% in 1996. Rapid population growth offset much of this growth in output. Inflation jumped to 55% in 1994 (compared to 3% in 1993) following the 50% currency \Jdevaluation\j in January 1994, but has subsided gradually over the past two years, with 14.5% \Jinflation\j in 1995 and a target of 4.5% \Jinflation\j in 1996. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are extremely vulnerable to developments in \JNigeria\j as evidenced by decreased reexport trade in 1994 due to a severe contraction in Nigerian demand. Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a bloated civil service, has been gradually implementing a World Bank supported structural adjustment program since 1991.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $8.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,440 (1996 est.)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2
\BTelevisions:\b 20,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 578 km (single track)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 8,460 km
\Ipaved:\i 2,656 km
\Iunpaved:\i 5,804 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b navigable along small sections, important only locally
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JCotonou\j, Porto-Novo
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 5 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,261,059
\Ifemales age 15-49:\i 1,333,966 (1997 est.)
\Inote:\i both sexes are liable for military service
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 645,660 (1997 est.)
\Ifemales:\i 675,243 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 64,028
\Ifemales:\i 63,056 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $33 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.2% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for \Jnarcotics\j associated with Nigerian trafficking
organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US
#
"Bermuda (Atlas)",29,0,0,0
\I(dependent territory of the UK)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JNorth America\j, group of islands in the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, east of \JNorth Carolina\j (US)
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 32 20 N, 64 45 W
\BMap references:\b North America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 50 sq km
\Iland:\i 50 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 103 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
\BTerrain:\b low hills separated by fertile depressions
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Town Hill 76 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jlimestone\j, pleasant climate fostering tourism
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 20%
\Iother:\i 80% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b hurricanes (June to November)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jasbestos\j disposal; \Jwater\j pollution
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b consists of about 360 small \Jcoral\j islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some reclaimed land was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 62,569 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.75% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 14.92 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 7.3 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 13.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 75.03 years
\Imale:\i 73.36 years
\Ifemale:\i 76.97 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.79 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Bermudian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Bermudian
\BEthnic groups:\b black 61%, white and other 39%
\BReligions:\b Anglican 28%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 12%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Methodist 5%, other 34% (1991)
\BLanguages:\b English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 98%
\Ifemale:\i 99% (1970 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Bermuda
\BData code:\b BD
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Hamilton
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, \JSouthampton\j, Warwick\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b \JBermuda\j Day, 24 May
\BConstitution:\b 8 June 1968
\BLegal system:\b English law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor John MASEFIELD (since June 1997)
\Ihead of government:\i Premier Pamela GORDON (since 25 March 1997); Deputy Premier Jerome DILL (since 1 September 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; premier appointed by the governor
\BLegislative branch:\b 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)
\Ielections:\i last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - UBP 50%, PLP 46%, independents 4%; seats by party - UBP 22, PLP 18
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b United \JBermuda\j Party or UBP [Pamela GORDON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; National Liberal Party or NLP [Charles JEFFERS]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b \JBermuda\j Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]
\BInternational organization participation:\b Caricom (observer), CCC, ICFTU, \JInterpol\j (subbureau), IOC
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Consul General Robert A. FARMER
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5300
\Itelephone:\i [1] (441) 295-1342
\IFAX:\i [1] (441) 295-1592
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JBermuda\j in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JBermuda\j 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 200,000 visitors annually. The tourist industry attracts 91% of its business from \JNorth America\j. 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 \JBermuda\j's economic output; a failed independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to Bermudian's fear of scaring away foreign firms.\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $29,000 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11 countries among which are UK 26, Canada 12, US 9, \JNorway\j 7, Hong Kong 4, \JNigeria\j 4, Sweden 4, \JSwitzerland\j 2, Mexico 1, and \JRomania\j 1; \JBermuda\j owns 48 additional ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,911,678 DWT that operate under Australian, Bahamian, Hong Kong, Liberian, Panamanian and Singaporean registry (1996 est.)\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b violent storms coming down from the \JHimalayas\j are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil erosion; limited access to potable water
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
\BReligions:\b Lamaistic \JBuddhism\j 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced \JHinduism\j 25%
\BLanguages:\b Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 42.2%
\Imale:\i 56.2%
\Ifemale:\i 28.1% (1995 est.)
\BPeople - note:\b refugee issue over the presence in \JNepal\j of approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Kingdom of Bhutan
\Iconventional short form:\i Bhutan
\BData code:\b BT
\BGovernment type:\b monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king)
\BConstitution:\b no written constitution or bill of rights
\Inote:\i \JBhutan\j uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly
\BLegal system:\b based on Indian law and English \Jcommon law\j; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b each family has one vote in village-level elections
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) appointed by the king
\Inote:\i there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the king
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a hereditary monarch
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 12 represent religious bodies, and 33 are designated by the king to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held NA (next to be held NA)
\Ielection results:\i NA
\BJudicial branch:\b the Supreme Court of Appeal is the king; High Court, judges appointed by the king
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b no legal parties
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Buddhist \Jclergy\j; Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none; note - \JBhutan\j has a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Ugyen TSERING; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; \Jtelephone\j [1] (212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular \Jjurisdiction\j in the US
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\Ihonorary consulate(s):\i \JSan Francisco\j; Washington, DC
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US and \JBhutan\j have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India) \BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and \Jforestry\j, 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 \Jinfrastructure\j difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links. The industrial sector is small and technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. \JBhutan\j's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources; however, the government limits the number of tourists to 4,000 per year to minimize foreign influence. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare, but growth continues to be constrained by the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Growth picked up in 1995 and the country's balance of payments remained strong with comfortable reserves. The cautious fiscal stance planned for FY95/96 suggests continued economic stability in 1996. However, excessive controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6.9% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $730 (1995 est.)
\Itotal value:\i $113.6 million (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.)
\Icommodities:\i fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
\Ipartners:\i India 77%, \JJapan\j, UK, \JGermany\j, US
\BDebt - external:\b $141 million (October 1994)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is also legal tender
\BExchange rates:\b ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 35.872 (January 1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
\BFiscal year:\b 1 July - 30 June
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 4,620 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i domestic \Jtelephone\j service is very poor with very few telephones in use
\Iinternational:\i international \Jtelephone\j and telegraph service is by landline through India; a \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station was planned (1990)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1990)
\BRadios:\b 23,000 (1989 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0 (1990 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 200 (1985 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,210 km
\Ipaved:\i 0 km
\Iunpaved:\i 2,210 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal \JBhutan\j Army, Palace Guard, Militia
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 455,556 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 243,156 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 18,290 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Bolivia (Atlas)",31,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Central \JSouth America\j, southwest of Brazil
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 17 00 S, 65 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,098,580 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,084,390 sq km
\Iwater:\i 14,190 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than three times the size of Montana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 6,743 km
\Iborder countries:\i Argentina 832 km, \JBrazil\j 3,400 km, \JChile\j 861 km, \JParaguay\j 750 km, \JPeru\j 900 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
\BTerrain:\b rugged \JAndes\j Mountains with a highland plateau (\JAltiplano\j), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 65.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 60.34 years
\Imale:\i 57.46 years
\Ifemale:\i 63.38 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 4.18 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Bolivian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Bolivian
\BEthnic groups:\b \JQuechua\j 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry)
25%-30%, white 5%-15%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
\BLanguages:\b Spanish (official), \JQuechua\j (official), Aymara (official)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 83.1%
\Imale:\i 90.5%
\Ifemale:\i 76% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Bolivia
\Iconventional short form:\i Bolivia
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Bolivia
\Ilocal short form:\i Bolivia
\BData code:\b BL
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, \JPotosi\j, Santa Cruz, Tarija
\BIndependence:\b 6 August 1825 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
\BConstitution:\b 2 February 1967; revised in August 1994
\BLegal system:\b based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age,
universal and compulsory (single)
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA Bustamente (since 6 August 1993);
Vice President Victor Hugo CARDENAS Conde (since 6 August 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA Bustamente (since 6 August 1993);
Vice President Victor Hugo CARDENAS Conde (since 6 August 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president from a panel of candidates proposed by the Senate
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held June 1997); Constitutional reforms extend presidential and vice presidential terms to 5 years beginning in 1997
\Ielection results:\i Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA elected president; percent of vote - Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (MNR) 34%, Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN/MIR alliance) 20%, Carlos PALENQUE Aviles (CONDEPA) 14%, Max FERNANDEZ Rojas (UCS) 13%, Antonio ARANIBAR Quiroga (MBL) 5%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote; Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA won a congressional runoff election on 4 August 1993 after forming a coalition with Max FERNANDEZ and Antonio ARANIBAR; FERNANDEZ died in a plane crash 26 November 1995
\BLegislative branch:\b 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 four-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held June 1997); Constitutional reforms extend congressional terms to 5 years beginning in 1997
\Ielection results:\i Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MNR 17, ADN 4, MIR 4, CONDEPA 1, UCS 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MNR 52, UCS 20, ADN 17, MIR 17, CONDEPA 13, MBL 7, ARBOL 1, ASD 1, EJE 1, PDC 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges appointed for a 10-year term by National Congress
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \ILeft Parties:\i Free \JBolivia\j Movement or MBL [Antonio ARANIBAR]; Patriotic Axis of Convergence or EJE-P [Ramiro BARRANECHEA]; April 9 Revolutionary Vanguard or VR-9 [Carlos SERRATE]; Alternative of Democratic Socialism or ASD [Jerjes JUSTINIANO]; Revolutionary Front of the Left or FRI [Oscar ZAMORA]; Bolivian Communist Party or PCB [Marcos DOMIC]; United Left or IU [Marcos DOMIC]; Assembly for the Sovereignty of the People or ASP [Evo MORALES]; Front of National Salvation or FSN [Manual MORALES Davila]; Socialist Party One or PS-1; Bolivian Socialist \JFalange\j or FSB; Socialist Unzaguista Movement or MAS
\ICenter-Left Parties:\i Movement of the Revolutionary or MIR [Jaime PAZ ZAMORA]; Christian Democrat or PDC [Benjamin MIGUEL]; New Youth Force [Alfonso SAAVEDRA Bruno]
\ICenter Party:\i Nationalist Revolutionary Movement or MNR [Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA]\ICenter-Right Parties:\i Nationalist Democratic Action or ADN [Hugo BANZER]; New Republican Force or NFR [Manfred REYES VILLA]
\IPopulist Parties:\i Civic Solidarity Union or UCS [Johnny FERNANDEZ]; Conscience of the Fatherland or CONDEPA [Remedios LOZA Alvarado]; Solidarity and Democracy or SYD; Unity and Progress Movement or MUP [Ivo KULJIS]; Popular Patriotic Movement or MPP [Julio MANTILLA]
\IEvangelical Party:\i Bolivian Renovating Alliance or ARBOL [Marcelo FERNANDEZ, Hugo VILLEGAS]\IIndigenous Parties:\i Tupac Katari Revolutionary Liberation Movement or MRTK-L [Victor Hugo CARDENAS Conde]; Nationalist Katarista Movement or MKN [Fernando UNTOJA]; Front of Katarista Unity or FULKA [Genaro FLORES]; Katarismo National Unity or KND [Filepe KITTELSON]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Fernando Alvaro COSSIO
\Ichancery:\i 3014 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 483-4410 through 4412
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 328-3712
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN
\Iembassy:\i Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
\Itelephone:\i [591] (2) 430251
\IFAX:\i [591] (2) 433900
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JGhana\j, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b With its long history of semifeudal social controls, dependence on volatile prices for its mineral exports, and bouts of hyperinflation, \JBolivia\j has remained one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries. However, \JBolivia\j has experienced generally improving economic conditions since the PAZ Estenssoro administration (1985-89) introduced market-oriented policies which reduced inflation from 11,700% in 1985 to about 20% in 1988. PAZ Estenssoro was followed as president by Jaime PAZ Zamora (1989-93) who continued the free-market policies of his predecessor, despite opposition from his own party and from \JBolivia\j's once powerful labor movement. By maintaining fiscal discipline, PAZ Zamora helped reduce inflation to 9.3% in 1993, while GDP grew by an annual average of 3.25% during his tenure. Inaugurated in August 1993, President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA has vowed to advance the market-oriented economic reforms he helped launch as PAZ Estenssoro's planning minister. His successes include the signing of a \Jfree trade\j agreement with Mexico and the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) as well as the privatization of the state airline, phone company, railroad, electric power company, and oil company. Furthermore, SANCHEZ DE LOZADA sponsored legislation creating private social security accounts for all adult Bolivians and capitalized these new accounts with the state's remaining 50% share in the privatized companies.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $21.5 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.9% (1996)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,000 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana), National Police Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,811,952 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,178,259 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 80,606 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $145 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.9% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South \JPacific Ocean\j since the Atacama area was lost to \JChile\j in 1884; dispute with \JChile\j over Rio Lauca \Jwater\j rights
\BIllicit drugs:\b world's third-largest cultivator of \Jcoca\j (after \JPeru\j and \JColombia\j) with an estimated 48,100 hectares under cultivation in 1996, a one percent decrease in overall cultivation of \Jcoca\j over 1995 levels; \JBolivia\j, however, is the second-largest producer of \Jcoca\j leaf; even so, voluntary and forced eradication programs resulted in leaf production dropping from 85,000 metric tons in 1995 to 75,100 tons in 1996; government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit; intermediate \Jcoca\j products and \Jcocaine\j exported to or through \JColombia\j and \JBrazil\j to the US and other international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation.
#
"Bosnia and Herzegovina (Atlas)",32,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the former Yugoslavia's three warring parties signed a peace agreement that brought to a halt over three years of interethnic civil strife in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Agreement, signed by Bosnian President IZETBEGOVIC, Croatian President TUDJMAN, and Serbian President MILOSEVIC, divides Bosnia and Herzegovina roughly equally between the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serbs while maintaining Bosnia's currently recognized borders. In 1995-96, a \JNATO\j-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, \JNATO\j-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission is to deter renewed hostilities. SFOR will remain in place until June 1998. A High Representative appointed by the UN Security Council is responsible for civilian implementation of the accord, including monitoring implementation, facilitating any difficulties arising in connection with civilian implementation, and coordinating activities of the civilian organizations and agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bosnian conflict began in the spring of 1992 when the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence and 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 Muslims and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement in Washington creating their joint Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation, formed by the Muslims and Croats in March 1994, is one of two entities (the other being the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska) that comprise Bosnia and Herzegovina.
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 44 00 N, 18 00 E
\BMap references:\b Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 51,233 sq km
\Iland:\i 51,233 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than West Virginia
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,459 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JCroatia\j 932 km, \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j 527 km (312 km with \JSerbia\j, 215 km with \JMontenegro\j)
\BCoastline:\b 20 km
\BMaritime claims:\b NA
\BClimate:\b hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent and destructive earthquakes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; widespread casualties, \Jwater\j shortages, and destruction of \Jinfrastructure\j because of the 1992-95 civil strife
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Muslim-Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and a Serb Republic, The Republika Srpska [RS] (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to \JCroatia\j and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 3,222,584 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i all data dealing with population is subject to considerable error because of the dislocations caused by military action and ethnic cleansing
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 37 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 59.42 years
\Imale:\i 54.58 years
\Ifemale:\i 64.59 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.09 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Bosnian, Herzegovinian
\BEthnic groups:\b Serb 40%, Muslim 38%, Croat 22% (est.)
\BReligions:\b Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%, other 10%
\BLanguages:\b Serbo-Croatian (often called Bosnian) 99%
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Bosnia and Herzegovina
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Bosna i Hercegovina
\BData code:\b BK
\BGovernment type:\b emerging democracy
\BNational capital:\b Sarajevo
\BAdministrative divisions:\b there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by the US Government, but it has been reported that the Muslim/Croat Federation is comprised of 10 cantons called by either number or name - Goradzde (5), Livno (10), Middle Bosnia (6), Neretva (7), Posavina (2), \JSarajevo\j (9), Tuzla Podrinje (3), Una Sana (1), West Herzegovina (8), Zenica Doboj (4)
\BIndependence:\b NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
\BNational holiday:\b Republika Srpska - "Republic Day", 9 January; Independence Day, 1 March; Bosnia - "Republic Day", 25 November
\BConstitution:\b the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995, included a new constitution now in force
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Chairman of the Presidency Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since 14 September 1996); other members of the three-member rotating presidency: Kresimir ZUBAK (since 14 September 1996 - Croat) and Momcilo KRAJISNIK (since 14 September 1996 - Serb)
\Ihead of government:\i Cochairman of the Council of Ministers Haris SILAJDZIC (since NA January 1997); Cochairman of the Council of Ministers Boro BOSIC (since NA January 1997) NA
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairmen
\Inote:\i president of the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vladimir SOLJIC (since March 1997); president of the Republika Srpska: Biljana PLAVSIC (since September 1996)
\Ielections:\i the three presidency members (one each Muslim, Croat, Serb) are elected by direct election (first election for a two-year term, thereafter for a four-year term); the president with the most votes becomes the chairman; election last held 14 September 1996 (next to be held September 1998); the cochairmen are nominated by the presidency
\Ielection results:\i Alija IZETBEGOVIC elected chairman of the collective presidency with the highest number of votes; percent of vote - Alija IZETBEGOVIC received 80% of the Muslim vote to Haris SILAJDZIC's 14%; Kresimir ZUBAK received 88% of the Croat vote to Ivo KOMSIC's 11%; Momcilo KRAJISNIK received 68% of the Serb vote to Mladen IVANIC's 30%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the National \JHouse of Representatives\j or Vijece Opcina (42 seats - 14 Serb, 14 Croat, and 14 Muslim; members serve NA-year terms) and the House of Peoples or Vijece Gradanstvo (15 seats - 5 Muslim, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members serve NA-year terms) \Ielections:\i National \JHouse of Representatives\j - elections last held 14 September 1996 (next to be held NA); note - the House of Peoples are elected by the Muslim-Croat Federation's 140-seat \JHouse of Representatives\j (two-thirds) and the Bosnian Serb Republic's 83-seat National Assembly (one-third)
\Ielection results:\i National \JHouse of Representatives\j: two-thirds chosen from the Muslim-Croat Federation: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SDA 16, HDZ-BiH 7, Joint List of Social Democrats 3, Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2; one-third chosen from the Bosnian Serb Republic: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SDS 9, SDA 3, Democratic Patriotic Front/Union for Peace and Progress 2
\Inote:\i the Muslim-Croat Federation has a \JHouse of Representatives\j with 140 seats: seats by party - SDA 80, HDZ-BiH 33, Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina 11, Joint List of Social Democrats 10, other 6; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly with 83 seats: seats by party - SDS 50, Democratic Patriotic Front/Union for Peace and Progress 10, Serb Radical Party 7, SDA 6, other 10
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Party of Democratic Action or SDA [Alija IZETBEGOVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union of BiH or HDZ-BiH [Bozo RAJIC]; Serb Democratic Party or SDS [Alexander BUHA, acting president]; Party for Bosnia [Haris SILAJDZIC]; Joint List of Social Democrats; Democratic Patriotic Front/Union for Peace and Progress; Civic Democratic Party or GDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croatian Peasants' Party of BiH or HSS [Stanko STISKOVIC]; Independent Serbian Democratic Party or NSDS [Milorad DODIK]; Liberal Bosniak Organization or LBO [Muhamed FILIPOVIC]; Liberal Party or LS [Rasim KADIC, president]; Muslim-Bosniac Organization or MBO [Adil ZULFIKARPASIC]; Republican Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina [Stjepan KLJUIC]; Serb Civic Council or SGV [Mirko PEJANOVIC]; Serb Consultative Council [Ljubomir BERBEROVIC]; Social Democratic Party or SDP (formerly the Democratic Party of Socialists or DSS) [Zlatko LAGUMOZIJA, president]; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska [Zivko RADISIC]; Union of Social Democrats or SSDB [Selim BESLAGIC]; United Left of the Bosnian Serb Republic or ULRS [Mile IVOSEVIC]; Yugoslav United Left or JUL [CAREVIC]; Social Liberal Party [Miodrag ZIVANOVIC]; Serb Radical Party [Miodrag RAKIC]; Serb Patriotic Party [Slavko ZUPLJANIN]; Serb Homeland Party; Party of Serbian Unity; Republik Srpska Independent Social Democrats [Branko DOKIC, president]; Serb Party of Posavina and \JKrajina\j [Predrag LAZAREVIC]; National Democratic Union [Fikret ABDIC]
\Inote:\i 82 parties are registered for the September 1997 municipal elections
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b NA
\BInternational organization participation:\b CE (guest), CEI, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OIC (observer), OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ
\Ichancery:\i Suite 760, 1707 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 833-3612, 3613, 3615
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 833-2061
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert BEECROFT
\Iembassy:\i 43 Ul. Djure Djakovica, Sarajevo
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy \JSarajevo\j, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7130 \Itelephone:\i [387] (71) 445-700
\IFAX:\i [387] (71) 659-722
\BFlag description:\b white with a large blue shield; the shield contains white fleurs-de-lis with a white diagonal band running from the upper hoist corner to the lower outer side
\BGovernment - note:\b Until declaring independence in spring 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina existed as a republic in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Bosnia was partitioned by fighting during 1992-95 and governed by competing ethnic factions. Bosnia's current governing structures were created by the Dayton Accords, the 1995 peace agreement which was officially signed in Paris on 14 December 1995 by Bosnian President IZETBEGOVIC, Croatian President TUDJMAN, and Serbian President MILOSEVIC. This agreement 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 Accords also recognized a second tier of government, comprised of two entities - a joint Muslim-Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska (RS) - each presiding over roughly one-half the territory. These Federation and RS governments are charged with overseeing internal functions. As mandated by the Dayton Accords, the Bosnians on 14 September 1996 participated in the first post-war elections of national, entity, and cantonal leaders. The Bosnians have been slow to form and install new joint institutions. A new Federation cabinet was sworn in 18 December 1996 and the new Bosnian central government cabinet was confirmed on 3 January 1997.
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture has been almost all in private hands, farms have been small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally has been a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the rigidities of communist central planning and management. TITO had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a large share of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The bitter interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by perhaps 90% since 1990, unemployment to soar, and human misery to multiply. No reliable economic statistics for 1992-96 are available, although output almost certainly is well below $1,000 per head. In the Federation, unemployment remains in the 40%-50% range and \Jinflation\j is low. By contrast, growth in the Republika Srpska in 1996 was flat and \Jinflation\j surpassed 30%. The country receives substantial amounts of humanitarian aid from the international community. Wide regional differences
in war damage and access to the outside world have resulted in substantial
variations in living conditions among local areas.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.9 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $600 (1995 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,026,254
\Iby occupation:\i NA%
\BUnemployment rate:\b officially about 70% but probably much lower, perhaps 40%-50% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b steel, \Jcoal\j, iron ore, lead, zinc, \Jmanganese\j, \Jbauxite\j, vehicle assembly, textiles, \Jtobacco\j products, wooden furniture, tank and \Jaircraft\j assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining; much of capacity damaged or shut down (1995)
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 3.991 million kW (1991)
\BCurrency:\b 1 dinar = 100 para; Croatian kuna used in Croat-held area; old and new Serbian dinars used in Serb-held area; the deutsche mark (DM) has supplanted local currencies throughout Bosnia
\BExchange rates:\b NA
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 727,000
\BTelephone system:\b \Jtelephone\j 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
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i no \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 9, FM 2, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 840,000
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 6
\BTelevisions:\b 1,012,094
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,021 km (electrified 795 km; operating as diesel or steam until grids are repaired)
\Istandard gauge:\i 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1995); note - some segments need repair and/or reconstruction
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 21,168 km
\Ipaved:\i 11,436 km
\Iunpaved:\i 9,732 km (1991 est.)
\Inote:\i roads need maintenance and repair
\BWaterways:\b NA km; Sava blocked by downed bridges
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 174 km; \Jnatural gas\j 90 km (1992); note - pipelines now disrupted
\BPorts and harbors:\b Bosanski Brod (access to Ploce, \JCroatia\j)
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 24 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 7 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 10
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 9 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 865,763 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 696,202 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 23,771 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b disputes with \JSerbia\j over Serbian populated areas
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit point for minor regional marijuana trafficking routes
#
"Botswana (Atlas)",33,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, north of South Africa
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 22 00 S, 24 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 600,370 sq km
\Iland:\i 585,370 sq km
\Iwater:\i 15,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,013 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JNamibia\j 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
\BTerrain:\b predominately flat to gently rolling tableland; \JKalahari\j Desert in southwest
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
\Ihighest point:\i Tsodilo Hill 1,489 m
\BNatural resources:\b diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, \Jpotash\j, \Jcoal\j, iron ore, silver
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 1%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 46%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 47%
\Iother:\i 6% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 20 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b overgrazing; \Jdesertification\j; limited fresh \Jwater\j resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country
\BEthnic groups:\b Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%, white 1%
\BReligions:\b indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Setswana
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 69.8%
\Imale:\i 80.5%
\Ifemale:\i 59.9% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Botswana
\Iconventional short form:\i Botswana
\Iformer:\i Bechuanaland
\BData code:\b BC
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary republic
\BNational capital:\b Gaborone
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 10 districts and four town councils*; Central, Chobe, \JFrancistown\j*, \JGaborone\j*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Ngamiland, North-East, Selebi-Phikwe*, South-East, Southern
\BIndependence:\b 30 September 1966 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
\BConstitution:\b March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
\BLegal system:\b based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Sir Ketumile MASIRE (since 13 July 1980); Vice President Festus MOGAE (since 9 March 1992); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Sir Ketumile MASIRE (since 13 July 1980); Vice President Festus MOGAE (since 9 March 1992); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999); vice president appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Sir Ketumile MASIRE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b 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)
\Ielections:\i National Assembly - elections last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held October 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BDP 27, BNF 13
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court; Court of Appeal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JBotswana\j Democratic Party or BDP [Sir Ketumile MASIRE]; \JBotswana\j Freedom Party or BFP [leader NA]; \JBotswana\j National Front or BNF [Kenneth KOMA]; \JBotswana\j People's Party or BPP [Knight MARIPE]; Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Archibald Mooketsa MOGWE
\Ichancery:\i Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 244-4990, 4991
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 244-4164
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Robert C. KRUEGER (14 June 1996)
\Iembassy:\i address NA, Gaborone
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
\Itelephone:\i [267] 353982
\IFAX:\i [267] 356947
\BFlag description:\b light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Agriculture still provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population but supplies only about 50% of food needs and accounts for only 4% of GDP. Subsistence farming and \Jcattle\j raising predominate. The sector is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. Substantial mineral deposits were found in the 1970s and the mining sector grew from 25% of GDP in 1980 to 33% in 1995. The unemployment rate remains a problem at 21%. On the plus side is the substantial positive trade balance.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $4.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,100 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i 220,000 formal sector employees, including 14,300 who are employed in various mines in South Africa; most others are engaged in \Jcattle\j raising and subsistence agriculture (1992 est.)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 21% (1995 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $1.8 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $613 million (FY95/96)
\BIndustries:\b diamonds, copper, nickel, \Jcoal\j, salt, soda ash, \Jpotash\j; livestock processing\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 4.6% (FY92/93)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 197,000 kW (1993)
\BElectricity - production:\b 950 million kWh (1994)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 747 kWh (1993 est.)
\Icommodities:\i diamonds 71%, copper and nickel 5%, meat 3%
\Ipartners:\i Europe 81%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 14%, Zimbabwe 3%
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles, \Jpetroleum\j products\Ipartners:\i Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 78%, Europe 8%, Zimbabwe 6%
\BDebt - external:\b $691 million (1994)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $189 million (1993)
\BCurrency:\b 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
\BExchange rates:\b pula (P) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1997), 3.3014 (1996), 2.7716 (1995), 2.6831 (1994), 2.4190 (1993), 2.1327 (1992)
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 19,109 (1985 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b sparse system
\Idomestic:\i small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations
\Iinternational:\i microwave radio relay links to \JZambia\j, Zimbabwe and South Africa; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0 (1988 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 13,800 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 971 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 971 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 11,800 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,676 km
\Iunpaved:\i 10,124 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 80 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 34
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 9
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 22 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 46
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 43 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b \JBotswana\j Defense Force (includes Army and Air Wing), \JBotswana\j National Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 343,929 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 180,692 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 17,632 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $199 million (FY93/94)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 5.2% (FY93/94)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b quadripoint with \JNamibia\j, Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with \JNamibia\j over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in January 1996 and the parties have agreed to refer the matter to the ICJ
#
"Bouvet Island (Atlas)",34,0,0,0
\I(territory of \JNorway\j) \i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, island in the South \JAtlantic Ocean\j, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 54 26 S, 3 24 E
\BMap references:\b Antarctic Region
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 58 sq km
\Iland:\i 58 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 29.6 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 4 nm
\BClimate:\b antarctic
\BTerrain:\b volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 meters; coast is mostly inaccessible
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 780 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (all ice)
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b covered by glacial ice
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Bouvet Island
\BData code:\b BV
\BDependency status:\b territory of Norway
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JNorway\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
\BCommunications\b
\BCommunications - note:\b automatic meteorological station
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of Norway
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Brazil (Atlas)",35,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern \JSouth America\j, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 10 00 S, 55 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 8,511,965 sq km
\Iland:\i 8,456,510 sq km
\Iwater:\i 55,455 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than the US
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 14,691 km
\Iborder countries:\i Argentina 1,224 km, \JBolivia\j 3,400 km, \JColombia\j 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, \JGuyana\j 1,119 km, \JParaguay\j 1,290 km, \JPeru\j 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
\BCoastline:\b 7,491 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b mostly tropical, but temperate in south
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
\BNatural hazards:\b recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south\BEnvironment - current issues:\b 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 \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j in \JRio de Janeiro\j, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j caused by improper mining activities
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Tropical Timber 94
\BGeography - note:\b largest country in \JSouth America\j; shares common boundaries with every South American country except \JChile\j and Ecuador
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 53.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 61.42 years
\Imale:\i 56.78 years
\Ifemale:\i 66.3 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.29 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Brazilian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Brazilian
\BEthnic groups:\b white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic (nominal) 70%
\BLanguages:\b Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 83.3%
\Imale:\i 83.3%
\Ifemale:\i 83.2% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Federative Republic of Brazil
\Iconventional short form:\i Brazil
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica Federativa do Brasil
\Ilocal short form:\i Brasil
\BData code:\b BR
\BGovernment type:\b federal republic
\BNational capital:\b Brasilia
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, \JBahia\j, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, \JRio de Janeiro\j, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins \BIndependence:\b 7 September 1822 (from \JPortugal\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
\BConstitution:\b 5 October 1988
\BLegal system:\b based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i 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
\Ihead of government:\i 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
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Fernando Henrique CARDOSO elected president; percent of vote - Fernando Henrique CARDOSO 53%, Luis Inacio LULA da Silva 26%, Eneas CARNEIRO 7%, Orestes QUERCIA 4%, Leonel BRIZOLA 3%, Espiridiao AMIN 3%; note - second direct presidential election since 1960
\BLegislative branch:\b 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)
\Ielections:\i Federal Senate - last held 3 October 1994 for two-thirds of Senate (next to be held October 1998 for one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 3 October 1994 (next to be held October 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - PMBD 28%, PFL 22%, PSDB 12%, PPR 7%, PDT 7%, PT 6%, PTB 6%, other 12%; seats by party - NA; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PMDB 21%, PFL 18%, PDT 7%, PSDB 12%, PPR 10%, PTB 6%, PT 10%, other 16%; seats by party - NA
\Inote:\i party totals since the fall of 1994 have changed considerably due to extensive party-switching
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Federal Tribunal, judges are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Paes DE ANDRADE, president]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [Jose JORGE, president]; Workers' Party or PT [Jose DIRCEU, president]; Brazilian Workers' Party or PTB [Rodrigues PALMA, president]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Leonel BRIZOLA, president]; Brazilian Progressive Party or PPB [Espiridiao AMIN, president]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Artur DA TAVOLA, president]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Roberto FREIRE, president]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Joao AMAZONAS, chairman]; Liberal Party or PL [Alvaro VALLE, president]; Progressive Reform Party or PPR [Esperido AMIN, president]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b left wing of the \JCatholic Church\j and labor unions allied to leftist Workers' Party are critical of government's social and economic policies
\BInternational organization participation:\b AfDB, AG (observer), BIS (pending member), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, \JG-7\j7, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MTCR, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Paulo Tarso FLECHA de LIMA
\Ichancery:\i 3006 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 238-2700
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 238-2827
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Melvyn LEVITSKY
\Iembassy:\i Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 3, \JBrasilia\j, Distrito Federal
\Imailing address:\i Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
\Itelephone:\i [55] (61) 321-7272
\IFAX:\i [55] (61) 225-9136
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JRio de Janeiro\j, Sao Paulo
\Iconsulate(s):\i Recife
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JBrazil\j; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, \JBrazil\j's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. Prior to the institution of a stabilization plan - the Plano Real (Real Plan) - in mid-1994, stratospheric \Jinflation\j rates had disrupted economic activity and discouraged foreign investment. Since then, tight monetary policy has brought \Jinflation\j under control - consumer prices increased by only 10% in 1996 compared to more than 1,000% in 1994. At the same time, GDP growth slowed from 5.7% in 1994 to 2.9% in 1996 due to tighter credit. The steadily appreciating currency has also encouraged imports, contributing to a growing trade deficit, and depressed export growth. \JBrazil\j's more stable economy allowed it to \Jweather\j the fallout in 1995 from the Mexican peso crisis relatively well, and record levels of foreign investment have since flowed in, helping to swell official foreign exchange reserves to $60 billion in 1996; stock markets reflected this increased investor confidence, gaining 53% in dollar terms. President CARDOSO remains committed to further reducing \Jinflation\j in 1997 and putting \JBrazil\j on track for expanded economic growth, but he faces several key challenges. Fiscal reforms requiring constitutional amendments are stalled in the Brazilian legislature; in their absence, the government is continuing to run deficits and has limited room to relax its interest and exchange rate policies much if it wants to keep \Jinflation\j under control. High interest rates have made servicing domestic debt dramatically more burdensome for both public and private sector entities, contributing to federal and state budget problems and a surge in bankruptcies.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.022 trillion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.9% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,300 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%
\BUnemployment rate:\b 5.2% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $86 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $90 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
\BIndustries:\b textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, \Jaircraft\j, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 3.5% (1995 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 59.036 million kW (1995)
(1994); CR$ per US$1 - 390.845 (January 1994), 88.449 (1993), 4.513 (1992) \Inote:\i on 1 August 1993 the cruzeiro real (CR$), equal to 1,000 cruzeiros, was introduced; another new currency, the real (R$) was introduced on 1 July 1994, equal to 2,750 cruzeiro reais
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 14,426,673 (1992 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b good working system
\Idomestic:\i extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 64 \Jearth\j stations
\Inote:\i \JBrazil\j owns 16 additional ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,270,275 DWT that operate under Bahamian, Liberian, Panamanian, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines registry (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 2,871 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,658
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 5
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 19
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 125
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 304
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1,205 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,213
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 67
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1,146 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes Marines), Brazilian Air Force,
Federal Police (paramilitary)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 45,876,084 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 30,843,947 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 1,756,732 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $6.736 billion (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.1% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b short section of the boundary with \JParaguay\j, just west of Salto das Sete Quedas (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been precisely delimited; 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
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited illicit producer of cannabis, minor \Jcoca\j 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 and Colombian \Jcocaine\j headed for the US and Europe
#
"British Indian Ocean Territory (Atlas)",36,0,0,0
British Indian Ocean Territory
\I(dependent territory of the UK)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 6 00 S, 71 30 E
\BMap references:\b World
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 60 sq km
\Iland:\i 60 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 698 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
\BTerrain:\b flat and low (up to four meters in elevation)
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
\BNatural resources:\b coconuts, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 100% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b 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
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants
\Inote:\i there are UK-US military personnel and civilian contractors; civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois, evacuated to \JMauritius\j before construction of UK-US military facilities
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i British Indian Ocean Territory
\Iconventional short form:\i none
\Iabbreviation:\i BIOT
\BData code:\b IO
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident
in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
\BNational capital:\b none
\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
\Ihead of government:\i Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA 1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note - both reside in the UK
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; commissioner and administrator appointed by the queen
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BFlag description:\b white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and six blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b 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, \JMauritius\j, the \JPhilippines\j, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
\BElectricity - capacity:\b NA kW
\Inote:\i electricity supplied by the US military
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\Inote:\i electricity supplied by the US military
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\BTelephone system:\b facilities for military needs only
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego
Garcia
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Diego Garcia
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b the island of Diego Garcia is claimed by Mauritius
#
"British Virgin Islands (Atlas)",37,0,0,0
\I(dependent territory of the UK) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, east of Puerto Rico
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 18 30 N, 64 30 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 150 sq km
\Iland:\i 150 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes the island of Anegada
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 80 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
\BNatural hazards:\b hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' \Jwater\j supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 13,368 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.32% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 20.13 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 6.03 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 18.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 72.83 years
\Imale:\i 70.99 years
\Ifemale:\i 74.8 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.25 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i British Virgin Islander(s)
\Iadjective:\i British Virgin Islander
\BEthnic groups:\b black 90%, white, Asian
\BReligions:\b Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, \JJehovah\j's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
\BLanguages:\b English (official)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 97.8% (1991 est.)
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i British Virgin Islands
\Iabbreviation:\i BVI
\BData code:\b VI
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Road Town
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Territory Day, 1 July
\BConstitution:\b 1 June 1977
\BLegal system:\b English law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995)
\Ihead of government:\i Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT)
\Icabinet:\i Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of 9 electoral districts, 4 at large members; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3
\BJudicial branch:\b Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b United Party or UP [Conrad MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]; Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [E. Walwyln BREWLEY]; Independent People's Movement or IPM [Omar HODGE and Allen O'NEAL]
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BFlag description:\b 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)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. In 1985, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. 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 traditional close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands have used the dollar as their currency since 1959.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $135 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $10,200 (1995 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b 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
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 23 February (1984)
\BConstitution:\b 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
\BLegal system:\b based on Islamic law
\BSuffrage:\b none
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note - the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note - the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the sultan; deals with executive matters
\Inote:\i there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the sultan) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the sultan) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the sultan) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises
\Ielections:\i none; the sultan is a traditional Islamic monarch
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the sultan)
\Ielections:\i last held in March 1962
\Inote:\i in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, \Jchief justice\j and judges are sworn in by the sultan for three-year terms
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JBrunei\j United National Party (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; \JBrunei\j National Solidarity Party (the first legal political party and now banned), Mohamad HATTA bin Maji Zainal Abidin, secretary general; \JBrunei\j Peoples Party (banned), Sheik A. M. AZAHARI, leader; \JBrunei\j National Democratic Party or BNDP (deregistered), Haji Abdul LATIF bin Abdul Hamad, president
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador-designate Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH
\Ichancery:\i \JWatergate\j, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 342-0159
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 342-0158
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Glen Robert RASE
\Iembassy:\i Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy Box B, Bandar Seri Begawan, APO AP 96440
\Itelephone:\i [673] (2) 229670
\IFAX:\i [673] (2) 225293
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b 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 \Jnatural gas\j, with revenues from the \Jpetroleum\j sector accounting for perhaps half of GDP. Per capita GDP is among the highest in the Third World, 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 is beginning to show progress on its basic policy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. \JBrunei\j's leaders are concerned that steadily increased \Jintegration\j in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $4.6 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $15,800 (1995 est.)
\Itotal:\i 119,000 (1993 est.); note - includes members of the Army
\Iby occupation:\i government 48%, production of oil, \Jnatural gas\j, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, \Jforestry\j, and fishing 4%, other 6% (1986 est.)
\Inote:\i 33% of labor force is foreign (1988)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 4.8% (1994 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $2.5 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768 million (1995 est.)
\BIndustries:\b \Jpetroleum\j, \Jpetroleum\j refining, liquefied \Jnatural gas\j, construction
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 2% (1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
\Ipartners:\i \JSingapore\j 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, \JMalaysia\j 9%, \JJapan\j 5% (1994 est.)
\BDebt - external:\b $0
\BEconomic aid:\b $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.4061 (January 1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the \JSingapore\j dollar
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 76,900 (1993)
\BTelephone system:\b service throughout country is adequate for present needs; international service good to adjacent Malaysia
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 \JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 115,000 (1993)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1 (1984 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 78,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 13 km (private line)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 13 km 0.610-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,120 km
\Ipaved:\i 388 km
\Iunpaved:\i 732 km (1995)
\BWaterways:\b 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m
\BPorts and harbors:\b Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong
\BMerchant marine:\b
\Itotal:\i 7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 3 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal \JBrunei\j Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 85,327 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 49,466 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 3,014 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $312 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 6.2% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country; all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, \JTaiwan\j, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the \JPhilippines\j; in 1984, \JBrunei\j established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island
#
"Bulgaria (Atlas)",39,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Europe, bordering the \JBlack Sea\j, between \JRomania\j and Turkey
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 43 00 N, 25 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 110,910 sq km
\Iland:\i 110,550 sq km
\Iwater:\i 360 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Tennessee
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,808 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JGreece\j 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, \JRomania\j 608 km, \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j 318 km (all with \JSerbia\j), Turkey 240 km
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JBlack Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Musala 2,925 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jbauxite\j, copper, lead, zinc, \Jcoal\j, timber, arable land
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 37%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 2%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 16%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 35%
\Iother:\i 10% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 12,370 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b earthquakes, landslides
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air \Jpollution\j and resulting \Jacid rain\j; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to \JMiddle East\j and Asia
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 71.65 years
\Imale:\i 68.06 years
\Ifemale:\i 75.44 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.14 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Bulgarian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Bulgarian
\BEthnic groups:\b Bulgarian 85.3%, Turk 8.5%, Gypsy 2.6%, Macedonian 2.5%, Armenian 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, other 0.6%
\BReligions:\b Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman Catholic 0.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 0.5%
\BLanguages:\b Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 97% (1992 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Bulgaria
\Iconventional short form:\i Bulgaria
\BData code:\b BU
\BGovernment type:\b emerging democracy
\BNational capital:\b Sofia
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, \JPlovdiv\j, Ruse, Sofiya, Varna
\BIndependence:\b 22 September 1908 (from \JOttoman Empire\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 3 March (1878)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 12 July 1991
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system with Soviet law influence; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Petar STOYANOV (since 22 January 1997); Vice President Todor KAVALDZHIEV (since 22 January 1997)
\Ihead of government:\i Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) Ivan Kostov (since 19 May 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Aleksandur BOZHKOV (since 12 February 1997 Evgeniy BAKURDZHIEV (since 21 May 1997), Veselin METODIEV (since 21 May 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly
\Ielections:\i 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) appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Petar STOYANOV elected president; percent of vote - Petar STOYANOV 59.73%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats; members are popularly elected to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 19 April 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - UDF 52%, BSP 22%, ANS 7%, Euro-left 5.5%,
BBB 4.95%; seats by party - UDF 137, BSP 58, ANS 19, Euro-left 14, BBB 12
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, chairman appointed for a seven-year term by the president; Constitutional Court, 12 justices appointed or elected for a nine-year term
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Georgi PURVANOV, chairman]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF (an alliance of pro-Democratic parties) [Ivan KOSTOV]; Euro-left [Alexander TOMOV]; Alliance for National Salvation or ANS (coalition led mainly by Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]); Bulgarian Business Bloc or BBB [George GANCHEV]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Democratic Alliance for the Republic or DAR; New Union for Democracy or NUD; Ecoglasnost; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; Fatherland Union; Bulgarian Communist Party or BCP; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or KNSB; Bulgarian Agrarian National Union - United or BZNS; Bulgarian Democratic Center; "Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian Agrarian National Union; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Union of Macedonian Societies or IMRO-UMS; numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Snezhana Damianova BOTUSHAROVA
\Ichancery:\i 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 387-7969
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 234-7973
\Iconsulate(s):\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Avis T. BOHLEN (22 July 1996)
\Iembassy:\i 1 Saborna Street, Sofia
\Imailing address:\i Embassy Sofia, Department of State, Washington, DC 50521-5740
\Itelephone:\i [359] (2) 980-52-41 through 48
\IFAX:\i [359] (2) 981-89-77
\BFlag description:\b 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)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b One of the poorest countries of central Europe, \JBulgaria\j has slowly continued the process of moving from its old command economy towards a market-oriented economy. Slow advancement on economic reforms pitched the economy into crisis in 1996, marked by a banking system in turmoil, a depreciating currency, \Jinflation\j of 311% and contracting production and foreign trade. Foreign exchange reserves dwindled to extremely low levels ($518 million), while dramatically hiked interest rates added to the domestic debt burden and stifled growth. GDP fell by 10% in 1996, after experiencing 2.6% growth in 1995. Privatization of state-owned industries stagnated, although the first auction of a mass privatization program was undertaken in late 1996. Lagging progress on structural reforms led to postponement of IMF disbursements under a $580 million standby loan agreed to in July. In November 1996, the IMF proposed a currency board as \JBulgaria\j's best chance to restore confidence in the lev, eliminate discretionary spending, and avoid hyperinflation. The government has pledged to sell some of the country's most attractive state assets to the highest foreign bidders in 1997. The Bulgarian economy is projected to have another year of negative growth (minus 5%), and inflation near 700% in 1997, assuming introduction of a currency board in July of 1997.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $39.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -10% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $4,630 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and equipment 12.8%; agriculture and food 21.9%; textiles
and apparel 14%; metals and ores 19.7%; chemicals 16.9%; minerals and fuels 9.3% (1995)
\Ipartners:\i OECD 50.0% (EU 37.2%); \JCIS\j and Central and Eastern Europe 32.4%; Arab countries 5.8%; other 11.8% (1995)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $4.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i fuels, minerals, and raw materials 30.1%; machinery and equipment 23.6%; textiles and apparel 11.6%; agricultural products 10.8%; metals and ores 6.8%; chemicals 12.3%; other 4.8% (1995)
\Ipartners:\i OECD 45.5% (EU 38.1%); \JCIS\j and Central and Eastern European countries 41.1%; Arab countries 1.8%; other 11.6% (1995)
\BTelephone system:\b almost two-thirds of the lines are residential; 67% of Sofia households
have telephones (November 1988 est.)
\Idomestic:\i extensive but antiquated transmission system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; \Jtelephone\j service is available in most villages
\Iinternational:\i direct dialing to 36 countries; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intersputnik
(\JAtlantic Ocean\j Region); Intelsat available through a Greek \Jearth\j station
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 20, FM 15, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 29 (Russian repeater in Sofia 1)
\BTelevisions:\b 2.1 million (May 1990 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,292 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 4,047 km 1.435-m gauge (2,650 km electrified; 917 double track)
\Iother gauge:\i 245 km 0.760-m gauge (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 36,777 km
\Ipaved:\i 33,798 km (including 314 km of expressways)
\Inote:\i \JBulgaria\j owns an additional 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 151,855
DWT operating under the registries of \JLiberia\j and Malta (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 355 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 116
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 17
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 10
\Iunder 914 m:\i 88 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 239
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 10
\Iunder 914 m:\i 226 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Troops, Internal Troops
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,052,731 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,711,729 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 62,908 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $418.6 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.0% to 2.5% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American \Jcocaine\j for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; significant producer of amphetamines, much of which are consumed in the \JMiddle East\j
#
"Burkina Faso (Atlas)",40,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, north of Ghana
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 00 N, 2 00 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 274,200 sq km
\Iland:\i 273,800 sq km
\Iwater:\i 400 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Colorado
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,192 km
\Iborder countries:\i Benin 306 km, \JGhana\j 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Mali 1,000 km, \JNiger\j 628 km, \JTogo\j 126 km
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Black Volta River 200 m
\Ihighest point:\i Tena \JKourou\j 749 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jmanganese\j, \Jlimestone\j, marble; small deposits of gold, \Jantimony\j, copper, nickel, \Jbauxite\j, lead, \Jphosphates\j, zinc, silver
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 13%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 22%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 50%
\Iother:\i 15% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 200 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b recurring droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b recent droughts and \Jdesertification\j severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)
\BConstitution:\b 2 June 1991
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system and customary law
\BSuffrage:\b none
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Kadre' De'sire' OUE'DRAOGO (since 6 February 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature
\Ielection results:\i Blaise COMPAORE elected president with 90.4% percent of the votes of those who voted (the abstention rate was 74.7%)
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Assembly of People's Deputies or Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (111 seats; members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDP 97, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2; note - 4 contested seats are to be filled in special election on 19 June 1997 by order of the Supreme Court
\Inote:\i the current law also provides for a second consultative chamber, which has not been formally constituted
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court; Appeals Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Organization for People's Democracy - Labor Movement or ODP-MT (ruling party at time of 1992 elections but was subsumed, with about a dozen smaller parties, into the powerful CDP in February 1996); African Democratic Assembly or RDA [Gerard Kango OUEDRAOGO]; Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Burkinabe Socialist Bloc or BSB [Earnest Nongma OUEDRAOGO, president]; Burkinabe Environmentalist Party or UVDB; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Din Salif SAWADAGO] (the strongest party in the 1997 legislative elections); Front for Social Forces or FFS [Fide'le KIENTEGA]; National Convention of Progressive Patriots-Social Democratic Party or CNPP-PSD [Moussa BOLY] (not prominent in 1997); Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Party for Progress and Social Development or PPDS; Party for African Independence or PAI
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b committees for the defense of the revolution; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Gaetan R. OUEDRAOGO
\Ichancery:\i 2340 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 332-5577, 6895
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON (16 July 1996)
\Iembassy:\i Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou
\Imailing address:\i 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou
\Itelephone:\i [226] 306723 through 306725
\IFAX:\i [226] 303890
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density and a high population growth rate, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. Over 80% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency \Jdevaluation\j in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $740 (1996 est.)
\BLabor force:\b NA (most adults are employed in subsistence agriculture)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture 80%, industry 15%, commerce, services, and government 5% \Inote:\i 20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (1984)
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $483 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $548 million, including capital expenditures of $189 million (1992)
\Inote:\i beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 21,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b all services only fair
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 49,000 (1991 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire border and 105
km from Ouagadougou to Kaya)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 622 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,506 km
\Ipaved:\i 2,001 km
\Iunpaved:\i 10,505 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 22 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 10
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 8 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 9 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's Militia
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,219,544 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,137,882 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $104 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 6.4% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Burundi (Atlas)",41,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b in a number of waves since October 1993, hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the ethnic violence between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in \JBurundi\j and crossed into \JRwanda\j, \JTanzania\j, and Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j, formerly Zaire; since October 1996, an estimated 92,000 \JBurundi\j Hutus who fled to Zaire have been forced to return to \JBurundi\j by Tutsi rebel forces in Zaire, leaving an estimated 35,000 still dispersed there; in \JBurundi\j, the ethnic violence between the Hutus and the Tutsis continued in 1996, causing an estimated additional 150,000 \JBurundi\j Hutus to flee to \JTanzania\j, thus raising their numbers in that country to about 250,000
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 3 30 S, 30 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 27,830 sq km
\Iland:\i 25,650 sq km
\Iwater:\i 2,180 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maryland
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 974 km
\Iborder countries:\i Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j 233 km, \JRwanda\j 290 km, \JTanzania\j 451 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,760 m); average annual \Jtemperature\j varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees \Jcentigrade\j 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
\BTerrain:\b hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b 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
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Endangered Species
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-\JCongo\j watershed
\BIndependence:\b 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
\BConstitution:\b 13 March 1992; provides for establishment of a plural political system
\BLegal system:\b based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b NA years of age; universal adult
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996)
note - former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown in a coup on 25 July 1996 and has taken refuge in the US ambassador's residence in Bujumbura; former Major (retired) Pierre BUYOYA has not been recognized as president of \JBurundi\j by the US or most other governments
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Pascal-Firmin NDIMIRA (since 31 July 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister
\Ielections:\i NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (81 seats; members are popularly elected on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 29 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%; seats by party - (81 total) FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16; other parties won too small shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Charles MUKASI, president]; \JBurundi\j Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]; Organization of the People of \JBurundi\j or RPB [Sylvestre SINDAYIGAYA]; Socialist Party of \JBurundi\j or PSB; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP [Mathias HITIMANA, leader]; opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include \JBurundi\j African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA, Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Cyrille SIGEJEJE, chairman], and Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA, leader]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Severin NTAHOMVUKIYE
\Ichancery:\i Suite 212, 2233 \JWisconsin\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 342-2574
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Morris N. HUGHES, Jr. (27 June l996)
\Iembassy:\i Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
\Itelephone:\i [257] (2) 23454
\IFAX:\i [257] (2) 22926
\BFlag description:\b 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)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JBurundi\j is a landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage of economic development. The economy is predominately agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on the \Jcoffee\j 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 \Jcoffee\j market. As part of its economic reform agenda, launched in February 1991 with IMF and World Bank support, \JBurundi\j is trying to diversify its agricultural exports, attract foreign investment in industry, and modernize government budgetary practices. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 100,000 persons and the displacement of a million others. Production continued to fall in 1996; foods, medicines, and electricity are in extremely short supply. An impoverished and disorganized government can hardly implement the needed reform programs.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $4 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -3.7% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $600 (1995 est.)
\Idomestic:\i sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b 4,500 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14,480 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,028 km
\Iunpaved:\i 13,452 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b Lake Tanganyika
\BPorts and harbors:\b Bujumbura
\BAirports:\b 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary Gendarmerie
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 16 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,346,737 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 700,914 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 70,013 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $25 million (1993)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.6% (1993)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Cambodia (Atlas)",42,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of \JThailand\j, between \JThailand\j and Vietnam
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 00 N, 105 00 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 181,040 sq km
\Iland:\i 176,520 sq km
\Iwater:\i 4,520 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Oklahoma
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,572 km
\Iborder countries:\i Laos 541 km, \JThailand\j 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
\BCoastline:\b 443 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Gulf of \JThailand\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
\BNatural resources:\b timber, \Jgemstones\j, some iron ore, \Jmanganese\j, \Jphosphates\j, hydropower potential
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 13%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 11%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 66%
\Iother:\i 10% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 920 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with \JThailand\j are resulting in habitat loss and declining \Jbiodiversity\j (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); deforestation; soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping \BGeography - note:\b a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 106 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 50.25 years
\Imale:\i 48.79 years
\Ifemale:\i 51.79 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.81 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Cambodian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Cambodian
\BEthnic groups:\b Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
\BReligions:\b Theravada \JBuddhism\j 95%, other 5%
\BLanguages:\b Khmer (official), French
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 35%
\Imale:\i 48%
\Ifemale:\i 22% (1990 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Kingdom of Cambodia
\Iconventional short form:\i Cambodia
\Ilocal long form:\i Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
\Ilocal short form:\i Kampuchea
\BData code:\b CB
\BGovernment type:\b multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993
\BNational capital:\b Phnom Penh
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 22 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Phnum Penh, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
\BIndependence:\b 9 November 1949 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 9 November 1949
\BConstitution:\b promulgated 21 September 1993
\BLegal system:\b currently being defined
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i power shared between First Prime Minister Prince Norodom RANARIDDH (since NA 1993) and Second Prime Minister HUN SEN (since NA 1993)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the king
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime ministers appointed by the king
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 23 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FUNCINPEC 58, CPP 51, BLDP 10, MOLINAKA 1
\Inote:\i the May 1993 elections were for the Constituent Assembly which became the National Assembly after the new constitution was promulgated in September 1993
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court provided for by the constitution has not yet been established and the future judicial system is yet to be defined by law
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative \JCambodia\j (FUNCINPEC), Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People's Party (CPP), CHEA SIM; Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP), SON SANN faction; Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP), IENG MOULY faction; Democratic \JKampuchea\j (DK, also known as the Khmer Rouge), KHIEU SAMPHAN; Movement Pour La Liberation Nationale Khmere (MOLINAKA), PROM NEAKAREACH; Khmer Nation Party (KNP), SAM RAINSY
\Ichancery:\i 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 726-7742
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 726-8381
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN
\Iembassy:\i 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
\Imailing address:\i Box P, APO AP 96546
\Itelephone:\i [855] (23) 426436, 426438
\IFAX:\i [855] (23) 426811
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Cambodian economy - virtually destroyed by decades of war - is slowly recovering. Government leaders are moving toward restoring fiscal and monetary discipline and have established good working relations with international financial institutions. Growth, starting from a low base, has been strong in 1991-96. Despite such positive developments, the reconstruction effort faces many tough challenges because of the persistence of internal political divisions and the related lack of confidence of foreign investors. Rural Cambodia, where 90% of about 9.5 million Khmer live, remains mired in poverty. The almost total lack of basic \Jinfrastructure\j in the countryside will hinder development and will contribute to a growing imbalance in growth between urban and rural areas over the near term. Moreover, the government's lack of experience in administering economic and technical assistance programs and rampant corruption among officials will slow the growth of critical public sector investment. The decline of \Jinflation\j from the 1992 rate of more than 50% is one of the bright spots.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $710 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b service barely adequate for government requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i landline international service limited to Vietnam and other adjacent countries; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 5, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 5
\BTelevisions:\b 70,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 603 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 603 km 1.000-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 35,769 km
\Ipaved:\i 2,683 km
\Iunpaved:\i 33,086 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m; 282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m
\BPorts and harbors:\b Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh
\BMilitary branches:\b Khmer Royal Armed Forces (KRAF) - created in 1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist resistance armies; note - the KRAF is also known as the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF);
Resistance forces - National Army of Democratic \JKampuchea\j (Khmer Rouge)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,418,916 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,348,065 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 97,361 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $160 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b offshore islands and sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined; parts of border with \JThailand\j in dispute; maritime boundary with \JThailand\j not clearly defined
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment country for Golden Triangle heroin en route to West; possibly becoming money-laundering center; high-level \Jnarcotics\j-related corruption reportedly involving government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and \Jamphetamine\j production; large producer of cannabis for the international market
#
"Cameroon (Atlas)",43,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the Bight of \JBiafra\j, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 6 00 N, 12 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 475,440 sq km
\Iland:\i 469,440 sq km
\Iwater:\i 6,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,591 km
\Iborder countries:\i Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the \JCongo\j 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, \JGabon\j 298 km, \JNigeria\j 1,690 km
\BCoastline:\b 402 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 50 nm
\BClimate:\b varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
\BTerrain:\b diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Fako 4,095 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, \Jbauxite\j, iron ore, timber, hydropower potential
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 13%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 2%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 4%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 78%
\Iother:\i 3% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 210 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; \Jdesertification\j; poaching; overfishing
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban
\BGeography - note:\b sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
\BIndependence:\b 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French administration)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 20 May (1972)
\BConstitution:\b 20 May 1972
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system, with \Jcommon law\j influence; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGA (since 19 September 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 40%, SDF candidate John FRU NDI 36%, UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI 19%; note - election held amid widespread allegations of fraud
\BLegislative branch:\b 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)
\Ielections:\i last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDPM 109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC I; note - 7 contested seats will be filled in an election at a time to be set by the Supreme Court
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JCameroon\j People's Democratic Movement or CPDM (government-controlled and the only party until legalization of opposition parties in 1990) [Paul BIYA, president] \Imajor opposition parties:\i Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA, leader]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA, chairman]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI, leader]; Union of Cameroonian Populations or UPC [Ndeh NTUMAZAH, leader]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Alliance for Change or FAC; \JCameroon\j Anglophone Movement or CAM
\Ichancery:\i 2349 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 265-8790 through 8794
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
\Iembassy:\i Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 817, Yaounde; Pouch American Embassy DOS, Washington, DC 20521-2520 \Itelephone:\i [237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12
\IFAX:\i [237] 23-07-53
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Because of its offshore oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, \JCameroon\j 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 political instability, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. The development of the oil sector led to rapid economic growth between 1970 and 1985. Growth came to an abrupt halt in 1986, precipitated by steep declines in the prices of major exports: \Jcoffee\j, \Jcocoa\j, and \Jpetroleum\j. Export earnings were cut by almost one-third, and inefficiencies in fiscal management were exposed. 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. Political instability, following suspect elections in 1992, has limited the effectiveness of aid programs. Currently, \JCameroon\j receives only minimal assistance from the IMF and the World Bank. Although the 50% \Jdevaluation\j of the currency of 12 January 1994 improved the potential for export growth, mismanagement remains and is the main barrier to economic improvement. The \Jdevaluation\j led to a spurt in \Jinflation\j to 48% in 1994, but it moderated in 1995-96. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry remains slow.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $17.5 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,230 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 3,211,508 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,623,228 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 156,208 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $102 million (FY93/94)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by \JCameroon\j, Chad, \JNiger\j, and \JNigeria\j; dispute with \JNigeria\j over land and maritime boundaries in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the International Court of Justice
#
"Canada (Atlas)",44,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern \JNorth America\j, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j and North \JPacific Ocean\j, north of the conterminous US
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 60 00 N, 95 00 W
\BMap references:\b North America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 9,976,140 sq km
\Iland:\i 9,220,970 sq km
\Iwater:\i 755,170 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than US
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 8,893 km
\Iborder countries:\i US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with \JAlaska\j)
\BCoastline:\b 243,791 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
\BTerrain:\b mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
\BNatural hazards:\b continuous \Jpermafrost\j 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 \JArctic\j, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j and resulting \Jacid rain\j severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, \Jcoal\j-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and \Jforestry\j activities
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b second-largest country in world (after \JRussia\j); strategic location between \JRussia\j and US via north polar route; nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 161 km of the US/Canada border
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 78.96 years
\Imale:\i 75.61 years
\Ifemale:\i 82.48 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.66 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Canadian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Canadian
\BEthnic groups:\b \JBritish Isles\j origin 40%, French origin 27%, other European 20%, Amerindian 1.5%, other, mostly Asian 11.5%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 45%, United Church 12%, Anglican 8%, other 35% (1991)
\BLanguages:\b English (official), French (official)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 97% (1986 est.)
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Canada
\BData code:\b CA
\BGovernment type:\b confederation with parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Ottawa
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 10 provinces and 2 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, \JManitoba\j, New \JBrunswick\j, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, \JNova Scotia\j, \JOntario\j, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, \JYukon\j Territory*
\Inote:\i the Northwest Territories will be split in two as of April 1999; the eastern section will be renamed Nunavut, the west is as yet unnamed
\BIndependence:\b 1 July 1867 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b \JCanada Day\j, 1 July (1867)
\BConstitution:\b 17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the machinery of the government was set up in the British \JNorth America\j Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Romeo LeBLANC (since 8 February 1995)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993)
\Icabinet:\i Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the \JHouse of Commons\j is automatically designated by the governor general to become prime minister
\BLegislative branch:\b 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 \JHouse of Commons\j or Chambre des Communes (295 seats; note - number of seats will rise to 301 at the time of the next election; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)\Ielections:\i \JHouse of Commons\j - last held 25 October 1993 (next to be held by 3 November 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of votes by party - Liberal Party 41%, Reform Party 19%, Tories 16%, Bloc Quebecois 14%, New Democratic Party 7%, other 3%; seats by party - Liberal Party 177, Bloc Quebecois 53, Reform Party 52, New Democratic Party 9, Progressive Conservative Party 2, independents 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN]; Bloc Quebecois [Michel GAUTHIER (until March 1997)]; Reform Party [Preston MANNING]; New Democratic Party [Alexa MCDONOUGH]; Progressive Conservative Party [Jean CHAREST]
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 866, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430
\Itelephone:\i [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
\IFAX:\i [1] (613) 238-5720
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JCalgary\j, \JHalifax\j, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver
\BFlag description:\b three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in per capita output, market-oriented economic system, and pattern of production. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Canada started the 1990s in recession, and real rates of growth have averaged only 1.1% so far this decade. Because of slower growth, Canada still faces high unemployment - especially in Quebec and the Maritime Provinces - and a large public sector debt. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, however, Canada will enjoy better economic prospects in the future. The continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the confederation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $721 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i services 74%, manufacturing 15%, agriculture 3%, construction 5%, other 3% (1994)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 9.7% (December 1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $94.3 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $115.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (FY95/96 est.)
\BIndustries:\b processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, \Jpetroleum\j and natural gas
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 1.3% (1996)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 113.65 million kW (1994)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 16,137 kWh (1995 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b wheat, \Jbarley\j, oilseed, \Jtobacco\j, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; commercial fisheries provide annual catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is exported
\Itotal:\i 70,176 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
\Istandard gauge:\i 70,000 km 1.435-m gauge (63 km electrified)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 176 km 0.914-m gauge (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1.021 million km
\Ipaved:\i 358,371 km (including 19,000 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 662,629 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway
\BPipelines:\b crude and refined oil 23,564 km; \Jnatural gas\j 74,980 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, \JHalifax\j, Montreal, New Westminister, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New \JBrunswick\j), Saint John's (Newfoundland), Seven Islands, Sydney, Three Rivers, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
\Inote:\i does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes (1996 est.) \BAirports:\b 1,139 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 816
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 17
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 15
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 138
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 229
\Iunder 914 m:\i 417 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 323
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 55
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 268 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 17 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 8,160,914 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 7,007,901 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 208,138 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $9 billion (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.6% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b maritime boundary disputes with the US (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and \JFrance\j; in 1992 an \Jarbitration\j panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone area of 12,348 sq km to settle the dispute
\BIllicit drugs:\b 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 \Jcocaine\j entering the US market
#
"Cape Verde (Atlas)",45,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, group of Islands in the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, west of Senegal
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 16 00 N, 24 00 W
\BMap references:\b World
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,030 sq km
\Iland:\i 4,030 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Rhode Island
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 965 km
\BMaritime claims:\b measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
\BTerrain:\b steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Pico 2,829 m
\BNatural resources:\b salt, \Jbasalt\j rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), \Jlimestone\j, \Jkaolin\j, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 11%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 6%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 83% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 30 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b prolonged droughts; \Jharmattan\j wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b 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; \Jdesertification\j; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 49.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 70.04 years
\Imale:\i 66.76 years
\Ifemale:\i 73.42 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.2 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Cape Verdean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Cape Verdean
\BEthnic groups:\b \JCreole\j (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
\BReligions:\b \JRoman Catholicism\j fused with indigenous beliefs
\BLanguages:\b Portuguese, Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African words
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 71.6%
\Imale:\i 81.4%
\Ifemale:\i 63.8% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Cape Verde
\Iconventional short form:\i Cape Verde
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Cabo Verde
\Ilocal short form:\i Cabo Verde
\BData code:\b CV
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Praia
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 14 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, \JPraia\j, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
\BIndependence:\b 5 July 1975 (from \JPortugal\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
\BConstitution:\b new constitution came into force 25 September 1992
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister from among the members of the People's National Assembly
\Ielections:\i 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 People's National Assembly and appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro elected president; percent of vote - Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral People's National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) \Ielections:\i last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - MPD 59%, PAICV 28%, PCD 6%; seats by party - MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Movement for Democracy or MPD [Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and chairman]; African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD; Social Democratic Party or PSD [leader NA]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Alberto Santos SILVA CARLOS
\Ichancery:\i 3415 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 965-6820
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 965-1207
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Boston
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICT (17 June 1996)
\Iembassy:\i Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
\Imailing address:\i C. P. 201, Praia
\Itelephone:\i [238] 61 56 16
\IFAX:\i [238] 61 13 55
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, serious \Jwater\j shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term \Jdrought\j, and a high birthrate. 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 GNP is only 14%, of which fishing accounts for 4%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and \Jtuna\j, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances from emigrants and foreign aid, which form important supplements to GDP. Economic reforms, launched by the new democratic government in 1991, are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 1997 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $472 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.7% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1995 est.)
\Idomestic:\i interisland microwave radio relay system
\Iinternational:\i 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to \JSenegal\j and Guinea-\JBissau\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 7,000 (1991 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,100 km
\Ipaved:\i 858 km
\Iunpaved:\i 242 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JMindelo\j, \JPraia\j, Tarrafal
\BMerchant marine:\b
\Itotal:\i 3 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,032 GRT/5,966 DWT
\Iships by type:\i cargo 2, chemical tanker 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 6 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 5 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP; includes Army and Navy), Security Service
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 78,622 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 44,870 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $3.4 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from \JLatin America\j and Africa destined for Western Europe
#
"Cayman Islands (Atlas)",46,0,0,0
\I(dependent territory of the UK) \i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island group in \JCaribbean Sea\j, nearly one-half of the way from \JCuba\j to Honduras
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 19 30 N, 80 30 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 260 sq km
\Iland:\i 260 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 160 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
\BTerrain:\b low-lying \Jlimestone\j base surrounded by \Jcoral\j reefs
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i The Bluff 43 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 8%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 23%
\Iother:\i 69% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b hurricanes (July to November)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b no natural fresh \Jwater\j resources, drinking \Jwater\j supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b important location between \JCuba\j and Central America
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 36,153 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 4.25% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 14.24 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\Inote:\i major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 77.1 years
\Imale:\i 75.37 years
\Ifemale:\i 78.81 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.37 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Caymanian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Caymanian
\BEthnic groups:\b mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
\BReligions:\b United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
\BLanguages:\b English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 98%
\Ifemale:\i 98% (1970 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i \JCayman\j Islands
\BData code:\b CJ
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b George Town
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
\BConstitution:\b 1959, revised 1972 and 1992
\BLegal system:\b British \Jcommon law\j and local statutes
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
\Ihead of government:\i Governor and President of the Executive Council John OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; the governor is appointed by the queen
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, 3 official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - NA; seats - National Team coalition 9, independents 6
\BJudicial branch:\b Grand Court; \JCayman\j Islands Court of Appeal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b no formal political parties
\BInternational organization participation:\b Caricom (observer), CDB, \JInterpol\j (subbureau), IOC
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BFlag description:\b 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 \Jpineapple\j 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center; 28,000 foreign companies do business with the 600 registered banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. 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 \JNorth America\j. Total tourist arrivals exceeded one million visitors in 1995 and again in 1996. 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.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $860 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $23,800 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; \JGreece\j owns 7 ships, US 7, UK 5, India 1, \JJapan\j 1, \JNorway\j 1, Sweden 1, \JSwitzerland\j 1, and United Arab Emirates 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal \JCayman\j Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b vulnerable to drug money-laundering and drug transshipment
#
"Central African Republic (Atlas)",47,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b in 1996 the Central African Republic experienced three mutinies by dissident elements of the armed forces which demanded back pay as well as political and military reforms; continuing violence in 1997 between the government and rebel military and civilian groups over pay issues, living conditions, and lack of opposition party representation in the government has destroyed many businesses in the capital, reducing tax revenues and exacerbating the government's problems in meeting expenses
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 7 00 N, 21 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 622,980 sq km
\Iland:\i 622,980 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,203 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JCameroon\j 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j 1,577 km, Republic of the \JCongo\j 467 km, \JSudan\j 1,165 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
\BTerrain:\b vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
\BNatural hazards:\b hot, dry, dusty \Jharmattan\j winds affect northern areas; floods are common
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b tap \Jwater\j is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; \Jdesertification\j; deforestation
\BIndependence:\b 13 August 1960 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the republic)
\BConstitution:\b passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995
\BLegal system:\b based on French law
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Ange PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Michel GBEZERA-BRIA (since January 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a 6-year term; election last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held October 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Ange PATASSE elected president; percent of vote - PATASSE 52.45%, Abel GOUMBA 45.62%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (85 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held October 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MLPC 34, RDC 13, PLD 7, FPP 7, ADP 6, PSD 3, CN 3, MDREC 1, PRC 1, FC 1, MESAN 1, independents supporting David DACKO 6, independents 2
\Inote:\i 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
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Tchapka BREDE]; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Central African Republican Party or PRC; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Movement for the Renaissance and Evolution of Central Africa or MDREC [Joseph BENDOUNGA]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [the party of the president, Ange Felix PATASSE]; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; National Convention or CN [David GALIAMBO]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch Derant LAKOUE]; Social Evolution Movement of Black Africa or MESAN [Prosper LAVODRAMA and Joseph NGBANGADIBO]
\Ichancery:\i 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 483-7800, 7801
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 332-9893
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Mosina H. JORDAN
\Iembassy:\i Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 924, Bangui
\Itelephone:\i [236] 61 02 00, 61 25 78, 61 02 10
\IFAX:\i [236] 61 44 94
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Subsistence agriculture, together with \Jforestry\j, 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% \Jdevaluation\j of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, \Jcoffee\j, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Inflation, however, remains a problem. Moreover, ongoing violence between the government and rebel military and civilian groups over pay issues, living conditions, and opposition party political representation has destroyed many businesses in the capital, reducing tax revenues for the government, and delaying negotiations for an IMF financial aid agreement.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.8% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $800 (1995 est.)
\Ipartners:\i \JFrance\j 16%, \JBelgium\j-Luxembourg 40.1%, \JItaly\j, \JJapan\j, US, \JSpain\j, \JIran\j, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $176 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i food, textiles, \Jpetroleum\j products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products\Ipartners:\i \JFrance\j 37%, other EU countries, \JJapan\j 24%, \JAlgeria\j, \JCameroon\j, Namibia\BDebt - external:\b $890 million (1994 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
\Inote:\i beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 16,867 (1992 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b fair system
\Idomestic:\i network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 7,500 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 23,810 km
\Ipaved:\i 429 km
\Iunpaved:\i 23,381 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river
\BPorts and harbors:\b Bangui, Nola
\BAirports:\b 43 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 11
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 8 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 32
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 10
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 21 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Central African Army (includes Republican Guard), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 755,441 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 393,765 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $30 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.3% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Chad (Atlas)",48,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BHistorical perspective:\b After enduring decades of civil warfare among ethnic groups as well as invasions by \JLibya\j, Chad got started toward a more stable state with the seizure of the government in early December 1990 by former northern guerrilla leader Idress DEBY. His transitional government eventually suppressed armed rebellion in all quarters of the country, settled the territorial dispute with \JLibya\j on terms favorable to Chad, produced a democratic constitution which was ratified by popular referendum in March 1996, held multiparty national presidential elections in June and July 1996 (DEBY won with 67% of the vote), and held multiparty elections to the National Assembly in January and February 1997, in which Idress DEBY's party, Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS, won a majority of the seats.
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Central Africa, south of Libya
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 00 N, 19 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1.284 million sq km
\Iland:\i 1,259,200 sq km
\Iwater:\i 24,800 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than three times the size of California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,968 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JCameroon\j 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197 km, \JLibya\j 1,055 km, \JNiger\j 1,175 km, \JNigeria\j 87 km, \JSudan\j 1,360 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b tropical in south, desert in north
\BTerrain:\b broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Djourab Depression 175 m
\Ihighest point:\i Emi Koussi 3,415 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, \Jkaolin\j, fish (Lake Chad)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b inadequate supplies of potable \Jwater\j; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j; desertification
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 118.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 47.88 years
\Imale:\i 45.49 years
\Ifemale:\i 50.37 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.79 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Chadian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Chadian
\BEthnic groups:\b Muslims (\JArabs\j, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba), non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa), nonindigenous 150,000 (of whom 1,000 are French)\BReligions:\b Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mostly \Janimism\j) 25% \BLanguages:\b French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write in French or Arabic
\BIndependence:\b 11 August 1960 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
\BConstitution:\b 31 March 1995, passed by referendum
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA (since 9 April 1995); appointed by the president
\Icabinet:\i Council of State appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i the constitution provides for the election of a president by direct popular vote to serve a term of five years; 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 NA 2001); the prime minister is appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i 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. Idress DEBY 47.8 %; percent of vote, second round - Lt. Gen. DEBY 69.1%, Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE 30.9%; President DEBY reappointed Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (125 seats; members serve four-year terms); replaces the Higher Transitional Council or the Conseil Superieur de Transition \Ielections:\i 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 on 5 January 1997 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
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPS 65, URD 29, UNDR 15, RDP 3, others 13
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Maldom Bada ABBAS, chairman], originally in opposition but now the party in power and the party of the president; National Union for Development and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO, leader]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lal Mahamat CHOUA, leader]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE, leader]; note - in mid-1996 Chad had about 60 political parties, of which these are the most prominent in the new National Assembly
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of \JRomania\j; also similar to the flag of \JAndorra\j, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Unfavorable climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and lack of \Jinfrastructure\j make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil, \Jdrought\j, and food shortages. Consequently the economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a severe setback brought on by \Jcivil war\j in the late 1980s. About 85% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half of exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food credits, given chronic food shortages in several regions. Of all the Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from the 50% \Jdevaluation\j of their currencies on 12 January 1994. Despite an increase in external financial aid and price increases for cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt and enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to postpone payment of public sector salaries and to dampen economic enterprise by neglecting payments to domestic suppliers. The \Jdevaluation\j resulted in stepped-up \Jinflation\j of 41% in 1994; \Jinflation\j fell to 9% in 1995 but it remains high compared with other Francophone countries. In one favorable development, Chad in December 1996 concluded an agreement with ESSO/Chad (EXXON) for drilling and extracting \Jpetroleum\j at Doba. Oil will be piped through \JCameroon\j for export.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.6% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $600 (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 5,000 (1987 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b primitive system
\Idomestic:\i fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1 (1987 est.)
\Inote:\i limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative
\BTelevisions:\b 7,000 (1991 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 32,700 km
\Ipaved:\i 262 km
\Iunpaved:\i 32,438 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 2,000 km navigable
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 46 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 15
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 10 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 31
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 14
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 17 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,603,194 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 830,777 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 65,906 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $74 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 11.1% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b demarcation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by \JCameroon\j, Chad, \JNiger\j, and \JNigeria\j
#
"Chile (Atlas)",49,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern \JSouth America\j, bordering the South \JAtlantic Ocean\j and South \JPacific Ocean\j, between Argentina and Peru
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 30 00 S, 71 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 756,950 sq km
\Iland:\i 748,800 sq km
\Iwater:\i 8,150 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 6,171 km
\Iborder countries:\i Argentina 5,150 km, \JBolivia\j 861 km, \JPeru\j 160 km
\BCoastline:\b 6,435 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
\BTerrain:\b low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged \JAndes\j in east
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
\BNatural resources:\b copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 5%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 18%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 22%
\Iother:\i 55% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 12,650 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from industrial and vehicle emissions; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to loss of \Jbiodiversity\j; soil erosion; desertification
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, \JBeagle\j Channel, Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 74.73 years
\Imale:\i 71.5 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.95 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.17 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Chilean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Chilean
\BEthnic groups:\b white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish
\BLanguages:\b Spanish
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 95.2%
\Imale:\i 95.4%
\Ifemale:\i 95% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Chile
\Iconventional short form:\i Chile
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Chile
\Ilocal short form:\i Chile
\BData code:\b CI
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Santiago
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaiso
\Inote:\i the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
\BIndependence:\b 18 September 1810 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
\BConstitution:\b 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989
\BLegal system:\b 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
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle elected president; percent of vote - Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%, Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%, other 17.6%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (46 seats, 38 elected by popular vote; 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)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Coalition of Parties for Democracy 21 (PDC 13, PS 4, PPD 3, PR 1), Union for the Progress of \JChile\j 15 (RN 11, UDI 3, UCC 1), right-wing independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - Coalition of Parties for Democracy 53.95% (PDC 27.16%, PS 12.01%, PPD 11.82%, PR 2.96%), Union for the Progress of \JChile\j 30.57% (RN 15.25%, UDI 12.13%, UCC 3.19%); seats by party - Coalition of Parties for Democracy 70 (PDC 37, PPD 15, PR 2, PS 15, left-wing independent 1), Union for the Progress of \JChile\j 47 (RN 30, UDI 15, UCC 2), right-wing independents 3; note - subsequent to the election, the Radical Party (PR) became the Radical Social Democratic Party (PRSD)
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are appointed by the president, the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 17-member court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Coalition of Parties for Democracy or CPD consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Enrique KRAUSS]; Socialist Party or PS [Camilo ESCALONA]; Party for Democracy or PPD [Sergio BITAR]; Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Anselmo SULE]; Union for the Progress of \JChile\j or UPP consists mainly of three parties: National Renewal or RN [Alberto ESPINA]; Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Jovino NOVOA]; Center Center Union or UCC [Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b revitalized university student federations at all major universities; labor - United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations; Roman Catholic Church
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador John BIEHL Del Rios
\Ichancery:\i 1732 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 785-1746
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 887-5579
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, \JSan Francisco\j, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON
\Iembassy:\i Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago
\Imailing address:\i APO AA 34033
\Itelephone:\i [56] (2) 232-2600
\IFAX:\i [56] (2) 330-3710
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JChile\j has a prosperous, essentially free market economy. Civilian governments - which took over from the military in March 1990 - have continued to reduce the government's role in the economy while shifting the emphasis of public spending toward social programs. Growth in real GDP averaged more than 6.5% in 1991-1996, and \Jinflation\j is nearing a 40-year low. \JChile\j's currency and foreign reserves also are strong, as sustained foreign capital inflows - driven in part by state privatizations - have more than offset occasional current account deficits and public debt buybacks. President FREI, who took office in March 1994, has placed improving \JChile\j's education system and developing foreign export markets at the top of his economic agenda. Despite this progress, the Chilean economy remains largely dependent on a few sectors - particularly copper mining, fishing, and \Jforestry\j. Success in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual economic growth of 5% depends largely on world prices for these commodities, continued foreign investor confidence, and the government's ability to maintain a conservative fiscal stance. In 1996, Chile became an associate member of Mercosur and concluded a Free Trade Agreement with Canada.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $120.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $8,400 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, \Jforestry\j, and fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 6.5% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $17 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
\BIndustries:\b copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 4.8% (1995)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 5.964 million kW (1995)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of \JChile\j (National Police), Investigations Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 3,867,676 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,874,235 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 125,586 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $2.8 billion (1997); note - includes earnings from CODELCO Company; may exclude costs of pensions and internal security
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.5% (1997)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b short section of the southern boundary with Argentina is indefinite; \JBolivia\j has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South \JPacific Ocean\j since the Atacama area was lost to \JChile\j in 1884; dispute with \JBolivia\j over Rio Lauca \Jwater\j rights; territorial claim in \JAntarctica\j (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims
\BIllicit drugs:\b a minor transshipment country for \Jcocaine\j destined for the US and Europe; booming economy has made it more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits
#
"China (Atlas)",50,0,0,0
\I(also see separate \JTaiwan\j entry)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 35 00 N, 105 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 9,596,960 sq km
\Iland:\i 9,326,410 sq km
\Iwater:\i 270,550 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than the US
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 22,143.34 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAfghanistan\j 76 km, \JBhutan\j 470 km, \JBurma\j 2,185 km, Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km, \JKyrgyzstan\j 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, \JMongolia\j 4,673 km, \JNepal\j 1,236 km, \JPakistan\j 523 km, \JRussia\j (northeast) 3,605 km, \JRussia\j (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km
\BCoastline:\b 14,500 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i claim to shallow areas of East China Sea and Yellow Sea
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from the overwhelming use of high-sulfur \Jcoal\j as a fuel, produces \Jacid rain\j which is damaging forests; \Jwater\j shortages experienced throughout the country, particularly in urban areas; future growth in \Jwater\j usage threatens to outpace supplies; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from industrial effluents; much of the population does not have access to potable \Jwater\j; less than 10% of sewage receives treatment; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; \Jdesertification\j; trade in endangered species
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b world's fourth-largest country (after \JRussia\j, Canada, and US)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 37.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 69.98 years
\Imale:\i 68.61 years
\Ifemale:\i 71.5 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.81 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Chinese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Chinese
\BEthnic groups:\b Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%
\BReligions:\b Daoism (Taoism), \JBuddhism\j, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1% (est.)
\Inote:\i officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic
\BLanguages:\b Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the \JBeijing\j \Jdialect\j), Yue (\JCantonese\j), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, \JHakka\j dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic divisions entry)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 81.5%
\Imale:\i 89.9%
\Ifemale:\i 72.7% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i People's Republic of China
\Iconventional short form:\i China
\Ilocal long form:\i Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
\Ilocal short form:\i Zhong Guo
\Iabbreviation:\i PRC
\BData code:\b CH
\BGovernment type:\b Communist state
\BNational capital:\b Beijing
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 3 municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, \JBeijing\j**, 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*, \JXizang\j* (\JTibet\j), Yunnan, Zhejiang
\Inote:\i China considers \JTaiwan\j its 23rd province
\BIndependence:\b 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)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 1 October (1949)
\BConstitution:\b most recent promulgated 4 December 1982
\BLegal system:\b 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
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) and Vice President RONG Yiren (since 27 March 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Premier Zhu Rongji (17 March 1998); Vice Premiers, ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991), QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March 1993), WU Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and JIANG Chunyun (since 17 March 1995)
\Icabinet:\i State Council appointed by the National People's Congress (NPC)
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected by the National People's Congress for five-year terms; election last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); premier and vice premiers nominated by the president, confirmed by the National People's Congress
\Ielection results:\i JIANG Zemin elected by the Eighth National People's Congress; percent
of National People's Congress vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui
(2,977 seats; members indirectly elected at county or \Jxian\j level to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held NA March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - NA; seats - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the National People's Congress
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Chinese Communist Party (CCP), JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee; eight registered small parties controlled by CCP
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b no meaningful political opposition groups exist
\BInternational organization participation:\b AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS (pending member), CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, \JInterpol\j, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), Mekong Group, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador LI Daoyu
\Ichancery:\i 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 328-2500 through 2502
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador James R. SASSER
\Iembassy:\i Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
\Imailing address:\i PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to one that is more market-oriented but still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control. To this end the authorities switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite \JTaiwan\j, 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 \Jsocialism\j (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of \Jcapitalism\j (windfall gains and stepped-up \Jinflation\j). \JBeijing\j thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. In 1992-96 annual growth of GDP accelerated, particularly in the coastal areas - averaging more than 10% annually according to official figures. 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 1995-96 \Jinflation\j 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 have been losing the ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 60 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 \Jpollution\j, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the \Jwater\j table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development; furthermore, the regime gives insufficient priority to agricultural research. The next few years will witness increasing tensions between a highly centralized political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system. Rapid economic growth likely will continue but at a declining rate.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $3.39 trillion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1995 with use of official Chinese growth figure for 1996; the result may overstate China's GDP by as much as 25%)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 9.7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,800 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous \Jday\j's prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 20 million (1994 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b domestic and international services are increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and most townships
\Idomestic:\i \Jtelephone\j lines are being expanded to 100 million by 1996; interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular \Jtelephone\j systems have been installed; a domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 55 \Jearth\j stations is in place
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 5 Intelsat (4 \JPacific Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions); several international fiber-optic links to \JJapan\j, South Korea, and Hong Kong
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 274, FM NA, shortwave 0
\Inote:\i China owns an additional 270 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,754,413 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Hong Kong, Malta, \JLiberia\j, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, \JMarshall Islands\j, and \JSingapore\j (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 206 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 192
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 18
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 65
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 90
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 13
\Iunder 914 m:\i 6 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 8
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 5
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b 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)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 356,848,321 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 196,780,527 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 9,872,055 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b the officially announced but suspect figure is 70.2 billion yuan (1995 est.); note - conversion of the defense budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b boundary with India in dispute; disputed sections of the boundary with \JRussia\j remain to be settled; boundary with Tajikistan in dispute; short section of the boundary with North Korea is indefinite; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with \JMalaysia\j, \JPhilippines\j, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly \JBrunei\j; 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
\BIllicit drugs:\b major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem
#
"Christmas Island (Atlas)",51,0,0,0
\I(territory of \JAustralia\j) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 10 30 S, 105 40 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 135 sq km
\Iland:\i 135 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 138.9 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 12 nm
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; heat and \Jhumidity\j moderated by trade winds
\BTerrain:\b steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Murray Hill 361 m
\BNatural resources:\b phosphate
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 100% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 743 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b -8.98% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b NA births/1,000 population
\BDeath rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 population
\BNet migration rate:\b NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 live births
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i NA years
\Imale:\i NA years
\Ifemale:\i NA years
\BTotal fertility rate:\b NA children born/woman
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Christmas Islander(s)
\Iadjective:\i Christmas Island
\BEthnic groups:\b Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population
\BReligions:\b Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991)
\BLanguages:\b English
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of Christmas Island
\Iconventional short form:\i Christmas Island
\BData code:\b KT
\BDependency status:\b territory of Australia
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b The Settlement
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BNational holiday:\b NA
\BConstitution:\b Christmas Island Act of 1958
\BLegal system:\b under the authority of the governor general of \JAustralia\j and Australian law
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
\Ihead of government:\i Administrator (vacant); Official Secretary Merrilyn CHILVERS (since NA) is serving as acting administrator
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the queen and Australia
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held NA December 1996 (next to be held NA December 1997)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JAustralia\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1990, the mine was reopened by private operators. Australian-based Casinos \JAustria\j International Ltd. built a $45 million casino on Christmas Island.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i NA
\Iby occupation:\i tourism 400 people, mining 100 people
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\Inote:\i external \Jtelephone\j and telex services are provided by INTELSAT satellite
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 500 (1992)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b 350 (1992)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 24 km to serve phosphate mines
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Flying Fish Cove
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of Australia
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Clipperton Island (Atlas)",52,0,0,0
\I(possession of \JFrance\j)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Middle America, \Jatoll\j in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 10 17 N, 109 13 W
\BMap references:\b World
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 7 sq km
\Iland:\i 7 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 11.1 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical, humid, average \Jtemperature\j 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October
\BTerrain:\b \Jcoral\j atoll
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Rocher Clipperton 29 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (all \Jcoral\j)
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b subject to tornadoes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b reef about 8 km in circumference
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Clipperton Island
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Ile Clipperton
\Iformer:\i sometimes called Ile de la Passion
\BData code:\b IP
\BDependency status:\b possession of \JFrance\j; administered by \JFrance\j from French \JPolynesia\j by a high commissioner of the Republic
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JFrance\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The only economic activity is a \Jtuna\j fishing station.
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Atlas)",53,0,0,0
\I(territory of \JAustralia\j)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of \JIndonesia\j, about one-half of the way from \JAustralia\j to Sri Lanka
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 12 30 S, 96 50 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 14 sq km
\Iland:\i 14 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
\BArea - comparative:\b about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 2.6 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall
\BTerrain:\b flat, low-lying \Jcoral\j atolls
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 5 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 100% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b cyclones may occur in the early months of the year
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b fresh \Jwater\j resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b two \Jcoral\j atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 617 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.98% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b NA births/1,000 population
\BDeath rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 population
\BNet migration rate:\b NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 live births
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i NA years
\Imale:\i NA years
\Ifemale:\i NA years
\BTotal fertility rate:\b NA children born/woman
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Cocos Islander(s)
\Iadjective:\i Cocos Islander
\BEthnic groups:\b Europeans, Cocos Malays
\BReligions:\b Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.)
\BLanguages:\b English, Malay
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
\Iconventional short form:\i Cocos (Keeling) Islands
\BData code:\b CK
\BDependency status:\b territory of Australia
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b West Island
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BNational holiday:\b NA
\BConstitution:\b Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
\BLegal system:\b based upon the laws of \JAustralia\j and local laws
\BSuffrage:\b NA
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
\Ihead of government:\i Administrator (acting) Jarl ANDERSSON (since NA)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the queen and Australia
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (NA seats)
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b none
\BInternational organization participation:\b WMO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JAustralia\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from \JAustralia\j.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b NA
\Inote:\i the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage worker operations; tourism employs others
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\Iinternational:\i \Jtelephone\j, telex, and facsimile communications with \JAustralia\j and elsewhere via \Jsatellite\j; 1 \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station of NA type
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 300 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\Inote:\i intermittent \Jtelevision\j service via satellite
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; lagoon \Janchorage\j only
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of Australia
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Colombia (Atlas)",54,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern \JSouth America\j, bordering the \JCaribbean Sea\j, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North \JPacific Ocean\j, between \JEcuador\j and Panama
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 4 00 N, 72 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,138,910 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,038,700 sq km
\Iwater:\i 100,210 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than three times the size of Montana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 7,408 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBrazil\j 1,643 km, \JEcuador\j 590 km, Panama 225 km, \JPeru\j 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
\BCoastline:\b 3,208 km (\JCaribbean Sea\j 1,760 km, North \JPacific Ocean\j 1,448 km)
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
\BTerrain:\b flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high \JAndes\j Mountains, eastern lowland plains
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air \Jpollution\j, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 73.14 years
\Imale:\i 70.28 years
\Ifemale:\i 76.09 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.31 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Colombian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Colombian
\BEthnic groups:\b mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 95%
\BLanguages:\b Spanish
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 91.3%
\Imale:\i 91.2%
\Ifemale:\i 91.4% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Colombia
\Iconventional short form:\i Colombia
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Colombia
\Ilocal short form:\i Colombia
\BData code:\b CO
\BGovernment type:\b republic; executive branch dominates government structure
\BNational capital:\b Bogota
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 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 \JProvidencia\j, Santa Fe de Bogota*, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
\BIndependence:\b 20 July 1810 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
\BConstitution:\b 5 July 1991
\BLegal system:\b 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 \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Andres Pastrana (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Andres Pastrana (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held May 1998; 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
\Ielection results:\i Ernesto SAMPER Pizano hands over to his successor, Andres Pastrana
\BLegislative branch:\b 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 \JHouse of Representatives\j or Camara de Representantes (161 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held March 1998; \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held March 1998
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Justice (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
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Liberal Party or PL [Emilio LEBOLO Castellanos]; Conservative Party or PC [Fabio VALENCIA Cossio]; New Democratic Force or NDF [Andres PASTRANA Arango]; Democratic Alliance M-19 or AD/M-19 is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives; Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of \JColombia\j (FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC); National Salvation Movement or MSN [Dr. Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b two largest insurgent groups active in \JColombia\j - Revolutionary Armed Forces of \JColombia\j or FARC; and National Liberation Army or ELN
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of \JEcuador\j, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Boasting a diversified and stable economy, \JColombia\j has enjoyed \JLatin America\j's most consistent record of growth over the last several decades. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has expanded every year for more than 25 years, and unlike many other Latin American countries, \JColombia\j did not default on any of its official debts during the "lost decade" of the 1980s. Since 1990, when Bogota introduced a comprehensive reform program that opened the economy to foreign trade and investment, GDP growth has averaged more than 4% annually. Growth has been fueled in recent years by the rapid expansion of the oil sector, progress in the construction and financial service industries, and an influx of foreign capital. Direct foreign investment, especially in the oil industry, is rising at a rapid rate. In 1996, oil overtook \Jcoffee\j as \JColombia\j's main export. Non-\Jpetroleum\j economic growth slowed, however, due mostly to high interest rates - the result of high government spending and a tight monetary policy - and a real appreciation of the exchange rate. Business confidence was also damaged by a political crisis stemming from allegations President SAMPER solicited contributions from drug traffickers during the 1994 campaign. The slowdown in the growth of labor-intensive industries such as manufacturing has caused unemployment to rise to 11.5% by the end of 1996 and interfered with President SAMPER'S plans to lower the country's poverty rate, which has remained at about 40% despite the expanding economy.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $201.4 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.1% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,400 (1996 est.)
\Iships by type:\i bulk 5, cargo 6, container 1, multi-function large load carrier 2, oil tanker 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 913 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 606
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 9
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 32
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 36
\Iunder 914 m:\i 527 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 307
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 34
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 272 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 10,285,806 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 6,909,846 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 348,802 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $2 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.8% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with \JNicaragua\j over Archipelago de San Andres y \JProvidencia\j and Quita
Sueno Bank
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of \Jcoca\j, opium poppies, and cannabis; about 50,900 hectares of \Jcoca\j under cultivation in 1995; the world's largest processor of \Jcoca\j derivatives into \Jcocaine\j; supplier of \Jcocaine\j to the US and other international drug markets; active aerial eradication program seeks to virtually eliminate coca and opium crops
#
"Comoros (Atlas)",55,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BHistorical perspective:\b \JComoros\j has had difficulty in achieving political stability, having endured 18 coups or attempted coups since receiving independence from \JFrance\j in 1975.
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 12 10 S, 44 15 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,170 sq km
\Iland:\i 2,170 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 340 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
\BTerrain:\b volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Kartala 2,360 m
\BNatural resources:\b negligible
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 35%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 10%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 7%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 18%
\Iother:\i 30% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b cyclones and tsunamis possible during rainy season (December to April); Mount Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b important location at northern end of \JMozambique\j Channel
\BReligions:\b Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of \JSwahili\j and Arabic)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 57.3%
\Imale:\i 64.2%
\Ifemale:\i 50.4% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
\Iconventional short form:\i Comoros
\Ilocal long form:\i Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
\Ilocal short form:\i Comores
\BData code:\b CN
\BGovernment type:\b independent republic
\BNational capital:\b Moroni
\BAdministrative divisions:\b three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
\Inote:\i there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, \JMoroni\j, and Mutsamudu
\BIndependence:\b 6 July 1975 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
\BConstitution:\b 7 June 1992
\BLegal system:\b French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (died November 1998)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Ahmed ABDOU (since 27 December 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; election last held 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; share of vote - 64%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15 seats; 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 four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RND 39, RND candidate running as independent 1, FNJ 3
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Cour Supreme), two members are appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and former presidents of the republic
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND [Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim], party of the government; Front National pour la Justice or FNJ, Islamic party in opposition
\Inote:\i under a new constitution ratified in October 1996, a two party system was established; President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim called for all parties to dissolve and join him in creating the RND; 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
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant) Charge d'Affaires ad interim Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador to the US and Canada)
\Ichancery:\i (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the \JComoros\j to the United Nations, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
\Itelephone:\i [1] (212) 972-8010
\IFAX:\i [1] (212) 983-4712
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to \JMauritius\j is accredited to Comoros
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JIslam\j; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and \JMayotte\j (a territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j, but claimed by \JComoros\j); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b One of the world's poorest countries, \JComoros\j 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 \Jforestry\j, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes nearly 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
reached in the late 1990s.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $370 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -2.3% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $650 (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to 75 per French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been fixed since 1948
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 3,770 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations
\Idomestic:\i HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b 200 (1991 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 875 km
\Ipaved:\i 669 km
\Iunpaved:\i 206 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Fomboni, \JMoroni\j, Mutsamudu
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the South \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between \JAngola\j and Gabon
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 1 00 S, 15 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 342,000 sq km
\Iland:\i 341,500 sq km
\Iwater:\i 500 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Montana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,504 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAngola\j 201 km, \JCameroon\j 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j 2,410 km, \JGabon\j 1,903 km
\BCoastline:\b 169 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 200 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and \Jhumidity\j; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
\BTerrain:\b coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from vehicle emissions; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from the dumping of raw sewage; tap \Jwater\j is not potable; deforestation
\BReligions:\b Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
\BLanguages:\b French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongo are the most widely used)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 74.9%
\Imale:\i 83.1%
\Ifemale:\i 67.2% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of the Congo
\Iconventional short form:\i none
\Ilocal long form:\i Republique du Congo
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\Iformer:\i Congo\Brazzaville, Congo
\BData code:\b CF
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Brazzaville
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, \JBrazzaville\j*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
\BIndependence:\b 15 August 1960 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
\BConstitution:\b new constitution approved by referendum March 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system and customary law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister David Charles GANAO (since 2 September 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 August 1992 (next was to be held 27 July 1997 but armed clashes between political parties in early July seemed likely to delay it); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Pascal LISSOUBA elected president; percent of vote - Pascal LISSOUBA 61%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (125 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (60 seats; members are elected by local and regional councils to serve six-year terms)
\Ielections:\i National Assembly - last held 3 October 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); Senate - last held November 1996 (next to be held NA 2002)
\Ielection results:\i National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b the most important of the many political parties are Congolese Labor Party or PCT [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Association for Democracy and Development or RDD [Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president]; Association for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Bernard KOLELAS, leader]; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Pascal LISSOUBA, leader]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [David Charles GANAO, leader]; Union for Democratic Renewal or URD; Union for Development and Social
Progress or UDPS [Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC; Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Dieudonne Antoine GANGA
\Ichancery:\i 4891 \JColorado\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 726-5500
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 726-1860
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador J. Aubrey HOOKS (10 June 1996)
\Iembassy:\i Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 1015, Brazzaville
\Itelephone:\i [242] 83 20 70
\IFAX:\i [242] 83 63 38
\BFlag description:\b divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted \Jforestry\j as the mainstay of the economy, providing about 90% of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. Subsequently, falling oil prices cut GDP growth by half. Moreover, the government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to the government's shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 \Jdevaluation\j of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in \Jinflation\j of 61% in 1994 but \Jinflation\j has subsided since. Recent efforts to implement economic reforms have begun to show progress; the government and the IMF signed an aid agreement in mid-1996.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $4.9 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 0.9% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,960 (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 18,000 (1983 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in \JBrazzaville\j, \JPointe-Noire\j, and Loubomo; inter-city lines frequently out of order
\Idomestic:\i primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 4 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 8,500 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 795 km (includes 285 km private track)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 795 km 1.067-m gauge (1995 est.)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,760 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,238 km
\Iunpaved:\i 11,522 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b the \JCongo\j and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable \Jwater\j transport; other rivers are used for local traffic only
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 25 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JBrazzaville\j, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 601,771 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 306,757 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 26,081 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $110 million (1993)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.8% (1993)
\BMilitary - note:\b under the terms of a 1994 peace agreement, which ended two years of civil strife, members of militias who supported the three main political parties are being integrated into the military forces
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b long segment of boundary with Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j along the \JCongo\j River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made)
#
"Cook Islands (Atlas)",57,0,0,0
\I(free association with \JNew Zealand\j) \i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, group of islands in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 21 14 S, 159 46 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 240 sq km
\Iland:\i 240 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 120 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; moderated by trade winds
\BTerrain:\b low \Jcoral\j atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Te Manga 652 m
\BNatural resources:\b NEGL
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 9%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 13%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 78% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b typhoons (November to March)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 19,776 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.08% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 22.7 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -6.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 71.14 years
\Imale:\i 69.2 years
\Ifemale:\i 73.1 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Cook Islander(s)
\Iadjective:\i Cook Islander
\BEthnic groups:\b Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
\BReligions:\b Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church)
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Maori
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Cook Islands
\BData code:\b CW
\BDependency status:\b free association with \JNew Zealand\j; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; \JNew Zealand\j retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands
\BIndependence:\b none (became self-governing in free association with \JNew Zealand\j on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
\BNational holiday:\b Constitution Day, 4 August
\BConstitution:\b 4 August 1965
\BLegal system:\b based on \JNew Zealand\j law and English common law
\BSuffrage:\b NA years of age; universal adult
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Darryl DUNN (since NA 1994), representative of New Zealand
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1 February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1 February 1989)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; the queen's representative is appointed by the queen; the \JNew Zealand\j high commissioner is appointed by the \JNew Zealand\j Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 6 March 1994 (next to be held by NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Cook Islands Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Democratic Alliance Party 2
\Inote:\i the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY; Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS; Democratic Alliance Party, Norman GEORGE
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (self-governing in free association with \JNew Zealand\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (self-governing in free association with \JNew Zealand\j)
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Like 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 \Jinfrastructure\j. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and \Jcitrus\j fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to a fruit-processing plant and several clothing factories. Trade deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, largely from \JNew Zealand\j. In 1996, the government declared \Jbankruptcy\j, citing a $120 million public debt. Efforts to exploit tourism potential and expanding the mining and fishing industries have not been enough to adequately deal with the financial crisis. In an effort to stem further erosion of the tenuous economic situation, the government slashed public service salaries by 50%, condensed the number of government ministries from 52 to 22, reduced the number of civil servants by more than half, began selling government assets, and closed all overseas diplomatic posts except for the one in \JNew Zealand\j.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $57 million (1993 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,000 (1993 est.)
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $1.275 million from \JAustralia\j (FY96/97 est.); $5.4 million in budget support and $3.2 million in project and training aid from \JNew Zealand\j, the country's largest source of aid (FY95/96)
\BCurrency:\b 1 \JNew Zealand\j dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
\Idomestic:\i the individual islands are connected by a combination of \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j 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
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1
\BRadios:\b 13,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1 studio and 8 low-powered repeaters achieve good coverage on the island of Rarotonga
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b no permanent fresh \Jwater\j resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b important nesting area for birds and turtles
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants
\Inote:\i there is a staff of four at the meteorological station
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Coral Sea Islands Territory
\Iconventional short form:\i Coral Sea Islands
\BData code:\b CR
\BDependency status:\b territory of \JAustralia\j; administered by the Ministry for Sport, Territories, and Local Government
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from \JCanberra\j, Australia
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BLegal system:\b the laws of \JAustralia\j, where applicable, apply
\BExecutive branch:\b administered by the Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environments and Territories of Australia
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JAustralia\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BCommunications\b
\BCommunications - note:\b there are automatic \Jweather\j relay stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of \JAustralia\j; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Costa Rica (Atlas)",59,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Middle America, bordering both the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JPacific Ocean\j, between \JNicaragua\j and Panama
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 10 00 N, 84 00 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 51,100 sq km
\Iland:\i 50,660 sq km
\Iwater:\i 440 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Isla del Coco
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than West Virginia
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 639 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JNicaragua\j 309 km, Panama 330 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,290 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November)
\BTerrain:\b coastal plains separated by rugged mountains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
\BNatural resources:\b hydropower potential
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 6%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 5%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 46%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 31%
\Iother:\i 12% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 1,200 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of land for \Jcattle\j ranching; soil erosion
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 75.82 years
\Imale:\i 73.41 years
\Ifemale:\i 78.36 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.85 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Costa Rican(s)
\Iadjective:\i Costa Rican
\BEthnic groups:\b white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 95%
\BLanguages:\b Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 94.8%
\Imale:\i 94.7%
\Ifemale:\i 95% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Costa Rica
\Iconventional short form:\i Costa Rica
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Costa Rica
\Ilocal short form:\i Costa Rica
\BData code:\b CS
\BGovernment type:\b democratic republic
\BNational capital:\b San Jose
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
\BIndependence:\b 15 September 1821 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
\BConstitution:\b 9 November 1949
\BLegal system:\b based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (since 8 May 1994); First Vice President Rodrigo OREAMUNO Blanco (since 8 May 1994), Second Vice President Rebeca GRYNSPAN Mayufis (since 8 May 1994); note - president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (since 8 May 1994); First Vice President Rodrigo OREAMUNO Blanco (since 8 May 1994), Second Vice President Rebeca GRYNSPAN Mayufis (since 8 May 1994); note - president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet selected by the president
\Ielections:\i president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held NA February 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 49.7%, Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 47.5%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held NA February 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLN 28, PUSC 25, minority parties 4
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Liberation Party or PLN [Rolando ARAYA]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ]; National Agrarian Party or PAN; People's Party of Costa Rica or PPC [Lenin CHACON Vargas]; Agricultural Union Party or PUAC [Juan Guillermo BRENES Castillo]; Democratic Force Party or FD [Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA Bolanos]; People United [Humberto VARGAS Carbonell]; Patriotic Front Party; New Democratic Party or PDN [Rodrigo GUTIERREZ)]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate); Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE; Free Costa Rica Movement or MCRL (rightwing militants); National Association of Educators or ANDE; Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP
\BInternational organization participation:\b AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, \JG-7\j7, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Sonia PICADO
\Ichancery:\i 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 234-2945
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 265-4795
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Albuquerque, \JAtlanta\j, \JChicago\j, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, Philadelphia, \JSan Antonio\j, \JSan Diego\j, \JSan Francisco\j, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tampa
\Iconsulate(s):\i Austin
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Peter Jon DE VOS
\Iembassy:\i Pavas Road, San Jose
\Imailing address:\i APO AA 34020
\Itelephone:\i [506] 220-3939
\IFAX:\i [506] 220-2305
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Costa Rica's basically stable and progressive economy depends especially on tourism and the export of bananas, \Jcoffee\j, and other agricultural products. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put in place. Recent trends, however, have been disappointing. Economic growth slipped from 4.3% in 1994 to 2.5% in 1995, and to 0.9% in 1996. Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995 from 13.5% in 1994, then dropped back to 13.9% in 1996. Unemployment appears moderate at little more than 5% but substantial underemployment continues. Furthermore, substantial government deficits have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of social services. The government thus faces a formidable set of problems: to curb \Jinflation\j, reduce the deficit, encourage domestic savings, and improve public sector efficiency while increasing the role of the private sector, all this in harmony with IMF agreements.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $19 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -0.9% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,500 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b very good domestic \Jtelephone\j service
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i connected to Central American Microwave System; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 18
\BTelevisions:\b 340,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 950 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)
\Inote:\i the entire system was scheduled to be shut down on 31 June 1995 because of insolvency
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 35,600 km
\Ipaved:\i 5,945 km
\Iunpaved:\i 29,655 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b about 730 km, seasonally navigable
\BPipelines:\b \Jpetroleum\j products 176 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 143 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 115
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 16
\Iunder 914 m:\i 96 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 28
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 28 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public Security Force (Fuerza Publica) note - during 1996, the Ministry of Public Security reorganized and eliminated the Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard, and Frontier Guards as separate entities; they are now under the Ministry and operate on a geographic command basis performing ground security, law enforcement, counternarcotics, and national security (border patrol) functions; the Constitution prohibits armed forces
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 940,666 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 631,426 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 34,422 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $55 million (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment country for \Jcocaine\j and heroin from \JSouth America\j; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots
#
"Cote d'Ivoire (Atlas)",60,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between \JGhana\j and Liberia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 8 00 N, 5 00 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 322,460 sq km
\Iland:\i 318,000 sq km
\Iwater:\i 4,460 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than New Mexico
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,110 km
\Iborder countries:\i Burkina Faso 584 km, \JGhana\j 668 km, Guinea 610 km, \JLiberia\j 716 km, Mali 532 km
\BCoastline:\b 515 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Gulf of Guinea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mont Nimba 1,752 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, diamonds, \Jmanganese\j, iron ore, \Jcobalt\j, \Jbauxite\j, copper
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 8%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 4%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 41%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 22%
\Iother:\i 25% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 680 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been cleared by the timber industry); \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from sewage
and industrial and agricultural effluents
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 99.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 44.81 years
\Imale:\i 43.63 years
\Ifemale:\i 46.03 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.06 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Ivorian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Ivorian
\BEthnic groups:\b Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, \JMalinke\j 11%, Agni, foreign Africans (mostly Burkinabe and Malians, about 3 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)
\BReligions:\b indigenous 25%, Muslim 60%, Christian 12%
\BLanguages:\b French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 40.1%
\Imale:\i 49.9%
\Ifemale:\i 30% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
\Iconventional short form:\i Cote d'Ivoire
\Ilocal long form:\i Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
\Ilocal short form:\i Cote d'Ivoire
\Iformer:\i Ivory Coast
\BData code:\b IV
\BGovernment type:\b republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960
\BNational capital:\b Yamoussoukro
\Inote:\i although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the administrative center; foreign governments, including the US, maintain official presences in Abidjan
\BConstitution:\b 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time November 1990
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993); note - succeeded to the presidency following the death of President Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who had served continuously since November 1960
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10 December 1993)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 22 October 1995 (next to be held October 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Henri Konan BEDIE elected president; percent of vote - Henri Konan BEDIE 96%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (175 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i elections last held 27 November 1995 (next to be held November 2000) \Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDCI 150, RDR 13, FPI 12
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Democratic Party of the Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI [Henri Konan BEDIE]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Djeny KOBINA]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Ivorian Socialist Party or PSI [Morifere BAMBA]; over 20 smaller parties
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Koffi Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI
\Ichancery:\i 2424 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 797-0300
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Lannon WALKER
\Iembassy:\i 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
\Imailing address:\i 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan
\Itelephone:\i [225] 21 09 79
\IFAX:\i [225] 22 32 59
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of \JItaly\j, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters of \Jcoffee\j, \Jcocoa\j beans, and palm-kernel oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for \Jcoffee\j and \Jcocoa\j and to \Jweather\j conditions. Despite attempts by the government to diversify the economy, it is still largely dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly 85% of the population. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to improved prices for \Jcocoa\j and \Jcoffee\j, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and \Jrubber\j, limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling by multilateral lenders and \JFrance\j. The 50% \Jdevaluation\j of Franc Zone currencies on 12 January 1994 caused a one-time jump in the \Jinflation\j rate to 32% for 1994, but this rate fell to 8% by 1996, in part as the economy adjusted to the \Jdevaluation\j. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth rates - 6.5% in GDP in 1996.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $23.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,620 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 3,478,429 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,811,508 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 164,364 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $140 million (1993)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.4% (1993)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; minor transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US
#
"Croatia (Atlas)",61,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 45 10 N, 15 30 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 56,538 sq km
\Iland:\i 56,410 sq km
\Iwater:\i 128 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than West Virginia
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,197 km
\Iborder countries:\i Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, \JHungary\j 329 km, \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j 266 km (241 km with \JSerbia\j; 25 km with Montenego), \JSlovenia\j 670 km
\BCoastline:\b 5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km)
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
\BTerrain:\b geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coast, coastline, and islands
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Adriatic Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Dinara 1,830 m
\BNatural resources:\b oil, some \Jcoal\j, \Jbauxite\j, low-grade iron ore, \Jcalcium\j, natural \Jasphalt\j,
silica, mica, clays, salt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 21%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 2%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 20%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 38%
\Iother:\i 19% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 30 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent and destructive earthquakes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j (from metallurgical plants) and resulting \Jacid rain\j is damaging the forests; coastal \Jpollution\j from industrial and domestic waste; widespread casualties and destruction of \Jinfrastructure\j in border areas affected by civil strife
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b controls most land routes from Western Europe to \JAegean Sea\j and Turkish
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 21 counties (zupanijas, zupanija - singular): Bjelovar-Bilogora, City of Zagreb, \JDubrovnik\j-Neretva, Istra, Karlovac, Koprivnica-Krizevci, Krapina-Zagorje, Lika-Senj, Medimurje, Osijek-Baranja, Pozega-Slavonija, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Sibenik, Sisak-Moslavina, Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Split-Dalmatia, Varazdin, Virovitica-Podravina, Vukovar-Srijem, Zadar-Knin, Zagreb
\BIndependence:\b 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
\BNational holiday:\b Statehood Day, 30 May (1990)
\BConstitution:\b adopted on 22 December 1990
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Zlatko MATESA (since NA November 1995); Deputy Prime
Ministers Mate GRANIC (since 8 September 1992), Ivica KOSTOVIC (since 14 October 1993), Jure RADIC (since NA October 1994), Borislav SKEGRO (since 3 April 1993), and Ljerka MINTAS-HODAK (since November 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 August 1992 (next to be held 15 June 1997); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i President Franjo TUDJMAN reelected; percent of vote - Franjo TUDJMAN
56%, Dobroslav PARAGA 5%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Assembly or Sabor consists of the House of Districts or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats - 63 directly elected by popular vote, 5 presidentially appointed;
members serve four-year terms) and \JHouse of Representatives\j or the Zastupnicki Dom (127 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i House of Districts - last held 13 April 1997 (next to be held NA 2001);
House of Representatives - last held 29 October 1995 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i House of Districts - 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; \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - HDZ 45.23%, HSS\IDS/HNS/HKDU/SBHS 18.26%, HSLS 11.55%, SDP 8.93%, HSP 5.01%; seats by party - HDZ 75, HSLS 12, HSS 10, SDP 10, IDS 4, HSP 4, HNS 2, SNS 2, HND 1, ASH 1, HKDU 1, SBHS 1, independents 4
\BJudicial branch:\b 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
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Franjo TUDJMAN, president]; Croatian Democratic Independents or HND [Stjepan MESIC, president]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Vlado GOTOVAC, president]; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Ante DAPIC]; Croatian Peasants' Party or HSS [Zlatko TOMCIC]; Croatian People's Party or HNS [Radimir CACIC, president]; Serbian National Party or SNS [Milan DJUKIC]; Action of the Social Democrats of Croatia or ASH [Silvija DEGEN]; Croatian
Christian Democratic Union or HKDU [Marko VASELICA, president]; Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JACKOVIC]; Slanvonsko-Baranja Croatian Party or SBHS; Primorje Gorski Kotar Alliance
\Ichancery:\i 2343 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 588-5899
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 588-8936
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Peter W. GALBRAITH
\Iembassy:\i Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb
\Imailing address:\i US Embassy, \JZagreb\j, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5080 \Itelephone:\i [385] (1) 455-55-00
\IFAX:\i [385] (1) 455-85-85
\BFlag description:\b red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms (red
and white checkered)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of \JCroatia\j, after
Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav average. \JCroatia\j 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 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 draft 1997 budget boosts expenditures on the repair and upgrading of \Jinfrastructure\j. In 1996, the substantial trade deficit was partially offset by increased earnings from tourism.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $21.4 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i industry and mining 31.1%, agriculture 4.3%, government 19.1% (including
education and health), other 45.5% (1993)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 13% (yearend 1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $3.86 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $3.72 billion, including capital expenditures of $320 million (1994 est.)
\BIndustries:\b chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, \Jelectronics\j,
pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, \Jpetroleum\j and \Jpetroleum\j refining, food and beverages; tourism
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 0% (1995)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 3.59 million kW (1994)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transport equipment 13.6%, miscellaneous manufactures 27.6%, chemicals 14.2%, food and live animals 12.2%, raw materials 6.1%, fuels and lubricants 9.4%, beverages and \Jtobacco\j 2.7% (1993)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transport equipment 23.1%, fuels and lubricants 8.8%, food and live animals 9.0%, chemicals 14.2%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 16.0%, raw materials 3.5%, beverages and \Jtobacco\j 1.4% (1993)
\Inote:\i \JCroatia\j owns an additional 105 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,875,941 DWT operating under the registries of Malta, \JLiberia\j, Cyprus, Panama, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 68 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 60
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 6
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 47 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 8
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 7 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Frontier Guard,
Home Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,190,814 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 946,063 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 35,464 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $1.56 billion (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 10% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Eastern Slavonia, which was held by ethnic Serbs during the ethnic conflict, is currently being overseen by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia; reintegration of Eastern Slavonia into \JCroatia\j will occur in 1997; \JCroatia\j and \JItaly\j have not resolved a bilateral issue dating from WWII over property and ethnic minority rights; maritime border dispute with \JSlovenia\j over direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; the border issue is currently under negotiation; \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j is disputing \JCroatia\j's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern \JCroatia\j because it controls the entrance to \JKotor\j Bay in \JMontenegro\j; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP)
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western
Europe; a minor transit point for maritime shipments of South American \Jcocaine\j bound for Western Europe
#
"Cuba (Atlas)",62,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j south of Florida
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 21 30 N, 80 00 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 110,860 sq km
\Iland:\i 110,860 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 29 km
\Iborder countries:\i US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
\Inote:\i Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba
\BCoastline:\b 3,735 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat to rolling plains with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
\BNatural hazards:\b 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
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jpollution\j of \JHavana\j Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation \BGeography - note:\b largest country in Caribbean
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 75.2 years
\Imale:\i 72.83 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.71 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.54 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Cuban(s)
\Iadjective:\i Cuban
\BEthnic groups:\b mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
\BReligions:\b nominally Roman Catholic 85% prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, \JJehovah\j's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented
\BLanguages:\b Spanish
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 95.7%
\Imale:\i 96.2%
\Ifemale:\i 95.3% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Cuba
\Iconventional short form:\i Cuba
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Cuba
\Ilocal short form:\i Cuba
\BData code:\b CU
\BGovernment type:\b Communist state
\BNational capital:\b Havana
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, \JCienfuegos\j, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de \JCuba\j, Villa Clara
\BIndependence:\b 20 May 1902 (from \JSpain\j 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)
\BNational holiday:\b Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day, 1 January (1959)
\BConstitution:\b 24 February 1976
\BLegal system:\b based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 16 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i 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
\Ihead of government:\i 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
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly
\Inote:\i there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 15 March 1993 (next to be held NA)
\Ielection results:\i Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (589 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 24 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - NA; seats - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b People's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo Popular), president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]
\BInternational organization participation:\b CCC, ECLAC, FAO, \JG-7\j7, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), \JInterpol\j, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none; note - \JCuba\j 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; \Jtelephone\j: [1] (202) 797-8609, 8610, and 8615
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none; note - the US does have an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Michael G. KOZAK; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M, Vedado Seccion, \JHavana\j; \Jtelephone\j: 33-3551 through 3559 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX: 33-3700; protecting power in \JCuba\j is Switzerland
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The state plays the primary role in the 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 peso's black market value to move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to a low of 18-20 to the dollar in late September before climbing to 20-21 at the end of 1996. New taxes helped drive down the number of legally registered self-employed workers from 208,000 in January 1996 to 180,000 by December. \JHavana\j announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-1993, the result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently halted in 1994, when \JCuba\j reported a 0.7% growth. Government officials claimed that GDP increased by 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Export earnings rose an estimated 40% in 1996 to $2.1 billion, largely on the strength of increased sugar shipments to \JRussia\j and higher nickel production through a joint venture with a Canadian firm. With the economic recovery, imports rose for the second straight year, growing by an estimated 26% to $3.5 billion. Living standards for the average Cuban, however, have not improved significantly.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $16.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7.8% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,480 (1996 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i 7%
\Iindustry:\i 31%
\Iservices:\i 62% (1996 est.)
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 4.71 million economically active population (1989); 3,527,000 employed in state civilian sector (1989)
\Iby occupation:\i services and government 30%, industry 22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation and communications 7% (June 1990)
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b sugar, \Jpetroleum\j, food, \Jtobacco\j, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 6% (1995 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 4.082 million kW (1995)
\Iships by type:\i cargo 11, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 6
\Inote:\i \JCuba\j owns an additional 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 548,170 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Cyprus, Malta, \JBelize\j, and \JMauritius\j (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 162 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 130
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 7
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 7
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 14
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 10
\Iunder 914 m:\i 92 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 32
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 31 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b 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); Border Guards (TGF), which are controlled by the Interior Ministry
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 3,053,716
\Ifemales age 15-49:\i 3,007,277 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,896,023 (1997 est.)
\Ifemales:\i 1,861,886 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 61,934
\Ifemales:\i 58,648 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b roughly 4% (1995 est.)
\BMilitary - note:\b Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of \JCuba\j, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease
\BIllicit drugs:\b lesser transshipment point for \Jcocaine\j bound for the US
#
"Cyprus (Atlas)",63,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, island in the \JMediterranean Sea\j, south of Turkey
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 35 00 N, 33 00 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 9,250 sq km (note - 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish area)
\Iland:\i 9,240 sq km
\Iwater:\i 10 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 648 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters
\BTerrain:\b central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall; sea \Jwater\j intrusion to island's largest aquifier); \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, \JBiodiversity\j, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 76.54 years
\Imale:\i 74.38 years
\Ifemale:\i 78.81 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.17 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Cypriot(s)
\Iadjective:\i Cypriot
\BEthnic groups:\b Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish area)
\BReligions:\b Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%
\BLanguages:\b Greek, Turkish, English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 94%
\Imale:\i 98%
\Ifemale:\i 91% (1987 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Cyprus
\Iconventional short form:\i Cyprus
\Inote:\i the Turkish area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
\BData code:\b CY
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\Inote:\i a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified following the Turkish invasion of the island in July 1974, which gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), which has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal differences and creation of a new federal system of government
\BNational capital:\b Nicosia
\Inote:\i the Turkish area's capital is Lefkosa (\JNicosia\j)
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 6 districts; \JFamagusta\j, Kyrenia, Larnaca, \JLimassol\j, \JNicosia\j, \JPaphos\j; note - Turkish area administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of \JFamagusta\j, and small parts of \JNicosia\j and Larnaca
\BIndependence:\b 16 August 1960 (from UK)
\Inote:\i Turkish area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 from Republic of Cyprus
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 1 October
\Inote:\i Turkish area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day
\BConstitution:\b 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised
constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985
\BLegal system:\b based on \Jcommon law\j, with civil law modifications
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i 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
\Ihead of government:\i 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
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president \Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Glafcos CLERIDES elected president; percent of vote - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.3%, Yeoryios VASSILIOU 49.7%
\Inote:\i Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish 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 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU 37.5%; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish area
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral - Greek area: \JHouse of Representatives\j or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats of which only 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Greek area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held May 2001); Turkish area: last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held December 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Greek area: \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK 8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.1%; seats by party - DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 29.9%, DP 29.2%, CTP 24.2% TKP 13.3%, others 3.4%; seats by party - UBP (conservative) 17, DP 15, CTP 13, TKP 5
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature
\Inote:\i there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Greek area: Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Ioannis MATSIS]; Democratic Party or DIKO [Spyros KYPRIANOU]; United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK [Vassos LYSSARIDIS]; Liberal Party or KP [Nikolaos ROLANDIS]; Free Democrats Movement or KED [Yeoryios VASSILIOU]; New Horizons [Nikolaos KOUTSOU, secretary general]; Ecologists [Yeoryios PERDHIKIS]; Turkish area: National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Communal Liberation Party or TKP [Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]; Free Democratic Party or HDP [Ismet KOTAK]; Nationalist Justice Party or MAP [Zorlu TORE]; Unity and Sovereignty Party or BEP [Arif Salih KIRDAG]; Democratic Party or DP [Serdar DENKTASH]; the HDP, MAP, and VP merged under the label National Struggle Unity Party (MMBP) to compete in the 12 December 1993 legislative election
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Andreas NIKOLAIDES
\Ichancery:\i 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 462-5772
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 483-6710
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\Inote:\i representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORHAN, office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, \Jtelephone\j [1] (202) 887-6198
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Kenneth C. BRILL (26 June 1996)
\Iembassy:\i corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 4536, \JNicosia\j, Cyprus
\Itelephone:\i [357] (2) 476100
\IFAX:\i [357] (2) 465944
\BFlag description:\b 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
\Inote:\i 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Greek Cypriot economy is small and prosperous, but highly susceptible to external shocks. Industry contributes 23% to GDP and employs 25% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 72% to GDP and employs 62% of the labor force. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals (caused by fluctuations in political and economic conditions in Western Europe and the \JMiddle East\j) and the need for structural changes in the economy. One bright spot has been the low rate of \Jinflation\j. In 1996 Cyprus fully satisfied all the Maastricht convergence criteria. The Turkish Cypriot economy has less than one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture 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 nearly every sector. In January 1997, Turkey signed a $250 million economic cooperation accord with the Turkish Cypriot area to support tourism, education, and industry.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $8.8 billion (Greek area: purchasing power parity - $8,300,000,000; Turkish area: purchasing power parity - $536,000,000) (1996 est.)
\Irevenues:\i Greek area - $2.9 billion, Turkish area - $149 million
\Iexpenditures:\i Greek area - $3.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $453 million, Turkish area - $304 million, including capital expenditures of $20 million (1996)
\BIndustries:\b food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49 countries among which are \JGreece\j 723, \JGermany\j 172, \JRussia\j 45, Netherlands 32, \JJapan\j 30, \JBelgium\j 26, \JCuba\j 26, \JLatvia\j 17, UK 15, and US 14; Cyprus owns 71 additional ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,491,740 DWT that operate under the registries of Antigua and Barbuda, The \JBahamas\j, Hong Kong, \JLiberia\j, Malta, Panama, \JSyria\j, and UK (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 15 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 8
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 4 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Greek area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements); Hellenic Forces Regiment on Cyprus (ELDYK); Greek Cypriot Police;, Turkish area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (TCSF), Turkish Forces Regiment on Cyprus (KTKA), Turkish mainland army units
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 192,593 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 132,412 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 6,038 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $405 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 5.4% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek area controlled by the Cypriot Government (59% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island); there are two UK sovereign base areas within the Greek Cypriot portion of the island
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit point for heroin and \Jhashish\j via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from \JLebanon\j and Turkey; some \Jcocaine\j transits as well
#
"Czech Republic (Atlas)",64,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Central Europe, southeast of Germany
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 49 45 N, 15 30 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 78,703 sq km
\Iland:\i 78,645 sq km
\Iwater:\i 58 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than South Carolina
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,881 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAustria\j 362 km, \JGermany\j 646 km, \JPoland\j 658 km, \JSlovakia\j 215 km
\BTerrain:\b \JBohemia\j in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Elbe River 115 m
\Ihighest point:\i Snezka 1,602 m
\BNatural resources:\b hard \Jcoal\j, soft \Jcoal\j, \Jkaolin\j, clay, graphite
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 41%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 2%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 11%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 34%
\Iother:\i 12% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 240 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air and \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j in areas of northwest \JBohemia\j and in northern Moravia around \JOstrava\j present health risks; \Jacid rain\j damaging forests
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
\BGeography - note:\b 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
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 73.86 years
\Imale:\i 70.49 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.42 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.17 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Czech(s)
\Iadjective:\i Czech
\Inote:\i 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994
\BEthnic groups:\b Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%
\BReligions:\b atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%
\BLanguages:\b Czech, Slovak
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age NA and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 99% (est.)
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Czech Republic
\Iconventional short form:\i Czech Republic
\Ilocal long form:\i Ceska Republika
\Ilocal short form:\i Ceska Republika
\BData code:\b EZ
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Prague
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular); Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha, Severocesky, Severomoravsky, Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky
\BIndependence:\b 1 January 1993 (from \JCzechoslovakia\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Liberation Day, 8 May; Founding of the Republic, 28 October \BConstitution:\b ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
\BLegal system:\b civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j; 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
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Vaclav HAVEL (since 26 January 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Ivan KOCARNIK (since NA June 1992), Josef LUX (since NA June 1992), Josef ZIELENIEC (since NA June 1992)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 26 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Vaclav HAVEL elected president; percent of parliamentary vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate (81 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve staggered two-, four-, and six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Snemovna Poslancu (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 15-16 and 22-23 November 1996 (next to be held NA
November 1998 - to replace/re-elect 20 senators serving two-year terms); Chamber
of Deputies - last held 31 May-1 June 1996 (next to be held NA May 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - governing coalition (ODS 32, KDU-CSL 13, ODA 7), opposition (CSSD 25, KCSM 2, DEU 1, independent 1); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - governing coalition (ODS 68, KDU-CSL 18, ODA 13), opposition (CSSD 61, KCSM 22, SPR-RSC 18)
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Igoverning coalition:\i Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Vaclav KLAUS, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance or ODA [Michael ZANTOVSKY, chairman]; Christian Democratic Union-Czech People's Party or KDU-CSL [Josef LUX, chairman]
\Iopposition:\i Czech Social Democrats or CSSD - left opposition [Milos ZEMAN, chairman]; Communist Party or KSCM - left opposition [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Assembly for the Republic or SPR-RSC - extreme right radical [Miroslav SLADEK, chairman]; Democratic Union or DEU [Ratibor MAJZLIK, chairman]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Czech-Moravian Chamber of Trade Unions; Civic Movement
\Ichancery:\i 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 274-9101, 9102
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 966-8540
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Jenonne R. WALKER
\Iembassy:\i Trziste 15, 11801 \JPrague\j 1
\Imailing address:\i Unit 1330, APO AE 09213
\Itelephone:\i [420] (2) 5732-0663
\IFAX:\i [420] (2) 5732-0920
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JCzechoslovakia\j)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Western observers view the Czech Republic as one of the most politically and economically stable post-Communist states. Its key macroeconomic indicators are, in the aggregate, the best in the region, and public opinion polls show strong support for reform. The country emerged from recession in 1994 with 2.6% growth and reached about 5% growth in both 1995 and 1996 while keeping a balanced budget and reorienting exports to the EU. Inflation and unemployment of 8.7% and 3.3% respectively in 1996 are among the lowest in the region. \JPrague\j's mass privatization program, including its innovative distribution of ownership shares to Czech citizens via "coupon vouchers," has made the most rapid progress in Eastern Europe. About 80% of the economy is in private hands or is partially privatized. The Czech Republic appears to be the East European frontrunner in economic \Jintegration\j with the West; for example, in 1996 it began to strengthen its \Jbankruptcy\j law and to improve the transparency of stock market operations. It was the first post-Communist member of the OECD and is expected to be in the next group of new EU members. Its solid economic performance has led Standard and Poor's to upgrade the country's sovereign credit rating to "A" and has attracted over $6.7 billion in direct foreign investment to Czech industry between 1990 and September 1996 - one quarter from the US. \JPrague\j's biggest macroeconomic concerns now are mounting trade and current account deficits. In addition, the Czech economy still faces transition problems. The government continues to exert too much direct and indirect influence on the privatized economy, and the management of privatized firms sometimes is ineffective. Insufficient regulation and lack of public information in the capital markets and the banking system, combined with a shortage of experienced financial analysts, limit the ability to distribute new credit efficiently. The judicial system also has trouble speedily processing \Jbankruptcy\j cases. \JPrague\j has promised to overhaul its \Jbankruptcy\j law and improve stock market and bank operations, but it will take years to ensure compliance. \JPrague\j forecasts a balanced budget, 4.5% GDP growth, 3.3% unemployment and 7.5% to 8% \Jinflation\j for 1997.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $114.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $11,100 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i manufactured goods 32.4%, machinery and transport equipment 26.3%, chemicals 10.4%, raw materials and fuel 11.3% (1995)
\Ipartners:\i EU 55.1%, Eastern Europe, excluding \JSlovakia\j, and \JCIS\j countries 16.9%, \JSlovakia\j 16.2%, developing countries 6.6%, EFTA 1.8% (1995)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transport equipment 35.6%, manufactured goods 17.9%, chemicals 13.2%, raw materials and fuels 14.4% (1994)
\Ipartners:\i EU 56.4%, Eastern Europe, excluding \JSlovakia\j, and \JCIS\j countries 15.7%, \JSlovakia\j 13.1%, developing countries 6.0%, EFTA 2.5% (1995)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,715,759 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,068,143 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 84,516 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $1.22 billion (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.2% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b \JLiechtenstein\j claims \Jrestitution\j for 1,600 sq km of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that \Jrestitution\j does not go back before February 1948, when the communists seized power; individual Sudeten German claims for \Jrestitution\j of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II; unresolved property issues with \JSlovakia\j over redistribution of property of the former Czechoslovak federal government
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and \Jhashish\j and Latin American \Jcocaine\j to Western Europe; domestic consumption - especially of locally produced synthetic drugs - on the rise
#
"Denmark (Atlas)",65,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 56 00 N, 10 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 43,094 sq km
\Iland:\i 42,394 sq km
\Iwater:\i 700 sq km
\Inote:\i includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 68 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JGermany\j 68 km
\BCoastline:\b 7,314 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 4 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
\BTerrain:\b low and flat to gently rolling plains
\BNatural hazards:\b 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
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; \Jnitrogen\j and \Jphosphorus\j \Jpollution\j of the North Sea; drinking and surface \Jwater\j becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b controls Danish Straits (\JSkagerrak\j and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen
\Inote:\i there is one other city, Fredericksberg, mentioned by some sources, but the US government has not recognized it as a first-order administrative division; see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and \JGreenland\j, which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative divisions
\BIndependence:\b 10th century first organized as a unified state; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
\BNational holiday:\b Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
\BConstitution:\b 1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state
\BLegal system:\b civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the queen (born 26 May 1968)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since 25 January 1993)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the queen
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a constitutional monarch; prime minister appointed by the queen
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 21 September 1994 (next to be held not later than September 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 34.6%, Liberals 23.3%, Conservatives 15.0%, Socialist People's Party 7.3%, Progress Party 6.4%, Social Liberals 4.6%, Unity List 3.1%, Center Democrats 2.8%, Christian People's Party 1.8%; seats by party - Social Democrats 63, Liberals 44, Conservatives 28, Socialist People's Party 13, Progress Party 11, Social Liberals 8, Unity List 6, Center Democrats 5, independent 1; note - Progress Party split up in spring of 1995: Progress Party retained 7 seats, Danish People's Party 4 seats
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the monarch for life
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Social Democratic Party [Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN]; Conservative Party [Hans ENGELL]; Liberal Party [Uffe ELLEMANN-JENSEN]; Socialist People's Party [Holger K. NIELSEN]; Progress Party [Kirsten JAKOBSEN]; Center Democratic Party [Mimi JAKOBSEN]; Social Liberal Party [Marianne JELVED]; Unity Party [none]; Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN
\Ichancery:\i 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 234-4300
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 328-1470
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Los Angeles, and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Edward E. ELSON
\Iembassy:\i Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
\Imailing address:\i PSC 73, APO AE 09716
\Itelephone:\i [45] (31) 42 31 44
\IFAX:\i [45] (35) 43 02 23
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JFinland\j, \JIceland\j, \JNorway\j, and Sweden
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b 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 will concentrate on reducing the persistently high unemployment rate and the budget deficit as well as following the previous government's policies of maintaining low \Jinflation\j and a current account surplus. The coalition also vows to maintain a stable currency. The coalition has lowered marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax revenues; boosted industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and improved welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays. Prime Minister RASMUSSEN's reforms focus on adapting Denmark to the criteria for European \Jintegration\j by 1999; \JCopenhagen\j has won from the European Union (EU) the right to opt out of the European Monetary Union (EMU). Denmark is, in fact, one of the few EU countries likely to fit into the EMU on time.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $118.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $22,700 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i private services 40%, government services 30%, manufacturing and mining 19%, construction 6%, agriculture, \Jforestry\j, and fishing 5% (1995)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 8.2% (November 1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $62.1 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $66.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
\BIndustries:\b food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, \Jelectronics\j, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 3.4% (1996)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 9.458 million kW 000 kW
\BElectricity - production:\b 34.6 billion kWh
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 6,411 kWh (1995)
\BTelephones:\b 4.025 million (1995 est.), of which 822,000 are mobile telephones
\BTelephone system:\b excellent \Jtelephone\j and telegraph services
\Idomestic:\i buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, four cellular radio communications systems
\Iinternational:\i 18 submarine optical fiber cables linking Denmark with \JNorway\j, Sweden, \JRussia\j, \JPoland\j, \JGermany\j, the Netherlands, UK, Faroe Islands, \JIceland\j, and Canada; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 6 Intelsat; 10 Eutelsat; 1 Orion; 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, \JFinland\j, \JIceland\j, \JNorway\j, and Sweden) share the Danish \Jearth\j station and the Eik, \JNorway\j, station for world-wide Inmarsat access
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 50 (1996 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 3 million (1996 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,848 km (499 km privately owned and operated)
\Istandard gauge:\i 2,848 km 1.435-m gauge (326 km electrified; 760 km double track) (1995)\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 71,420 km
\Ipaved:\i 71,420 km (including 830 km of expressways)
\Inote:\i 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 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 109 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 102
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 7
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 13
\Iunder 914 m:\i 77 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 7
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 6 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,333,279 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,146,099 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 33,532 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $2.9 billion (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.6% (1997 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Rockall continental shelf dispute involving \JIceland\j, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
#
"Djibouti (Atlas)",66,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the \JRed Sea\j, between Eritrea and Somalia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 11 30 N, 43 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 22,000 sq km
\Iland:\i 21,980 sq km
\Iwater:\i 20 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Massachusetts
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 508 km
\Iborder countries:\i Eritrea 113 km, \JEthiopia\j 337 km, \JSomalia\j 58 km
\BCoastline:\b 314 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b desert; torrid, dry
\BTerrain:\b coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Asal -155 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mousa Alli 2,028 m
\BNatural resources:\b geothermal areas
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 9%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 91% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b inadequate supplies of potable \Jwater\j; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into \JEthiopia\j; mostly wasteland
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
\BConstitution:\b multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4 September 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law
\BSuffrage:\b NA years of age; universal adult
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers responsible to the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote to a six-year term; election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i President HASSAN GOULED reelected; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members are elected to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 18 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - NA; seats - RPP 65; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Iruling party:\i People's Progress Assembly or RPP [Hassan GOULED Aptidon]
\Iother parties:\i Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Mohamed Jama ELABE]; Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy or FRUD, and affiliates; Movement for Unity and Democracy or MUD
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Oudine
\Ichancery:\i Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 331-0270
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 331-0302
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Terri ROBL
\Iembassy:\i Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 185, Djibouti
\Itelephone:\i [253] 35 39 95
\IFAX:\i [253] 35 39 40
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a \Jfree trade\j zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance (an important supplement to GDP) to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of 40% to 50% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last six years because of recession, \Jcivil war\j, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). 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.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $500 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -3.1% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1995 est.)
\BCurrency:\b 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
\BExchange rates:\b Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 7,200 (1986 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b \Jtelephone\j facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay network
\Iinternational:\i submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, \JSicily\j, Marseilles, Colombo, and \JSingapore\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; MEDARABTEL regional microwave radio relay \Jtelephone\j network
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b 17,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
\BMilitary branches:\b Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force), National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 103,569 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 60,751 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $26 million (1989)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Dominica (Atlas)",67,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 30 N, 61 20 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 750 sq km
\Iland:\i 750 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 148 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
\BTerrain:\b rugged mountains of volcanic origin
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
\BNatural resources:\b timber
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 9%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 13%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 3%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 67%
\Iother:\i 8% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 66,633 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 28% (male 9,287; female 9,115)
\I15-64 years:\i 63% (male 21,364; female 20,617)
\I65 years and over:\i 9% (male 2,569; female 3,681) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b -1.26% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 17.72 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 6.24 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -24.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 77.6 years
\Imale:\i 74.74 years
\Ifemale:\i 80.6 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.92 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Dominican(s)
\Iadjective:\i Dominican
\BEthnic groups:\b black, \JCarib\j Amerindian
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), French patois
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 94%
\Imale:\i 94%
\Ifemale:\i 94% (1970 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Commonwealth of Dominica
\Iconventional short form:\i Dominica
\BData code:\b DO
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Roseau
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
\BIndependence:\b 3 November 1978 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
\BConstitution:\b 3 November 1978
\BLegal system:\b based on English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister\Ielections:\i president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote representatives; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 12 June 1995; byelections held 13 August 1996 (next to be held by October 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UWP 12, DLP 5, DFP 4
\BJudicial branch:\b Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Santa Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVERIN]; Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Rosie DOUGLAS]; United Workers Party or UWP [Edison JAMES]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Edward I. WATTY (non-resident)
\Ichancery:\i 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 364-6781
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 364-6791
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in \JBridgetown\j (\JBarbados\j), but travels frequently to Dominica
\BFlag description:\b green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms. Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 26% 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 government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $208 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1996 est.)
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b -10% (1994 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 15,000 kW (1994)
\BElectricity - production:\b 52 million kWh (1994)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 479 kWh (1994 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b bananas, \Jcitrus\j, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; \Jforestry\j and fisheries potential not exploited
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $40 million (f.o.b., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i bananas 70%, soap, bay oil, vegetables, \Jgrapefruit\j, oranges
\Ipartners:\i UK 55%, Caricom countries, \JItaly\j, US
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $122 million (f.o.b., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
\Ipartners:\i US 25%, Caricom, UK, \JJapan\j, Canada
\BDebt - external:\b $110 million (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)
\BFiscal year:\b 1 July - 30 June
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 14,613 (1993 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i fully automatic network
\Iinternational:\i microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and \JGuadeloupe\j; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 45,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1 cable
\BTelevisions:\b 5,200 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 765 km
\Ipaved:\i 385 km
\Iunpaved:\i 380 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Portsmouth, Roseau
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for \Jnarcotics\j bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer
#
"Dominican Republic (Atlas)",68,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of \JHispaniola\j, between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, east of Haiti
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 19 00 N, 70 40 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 48,730 sq km
\Iland:\i 48,380 sq km
\Iwater:\i 350 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 275 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JHaiti\j 275 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,288 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 6 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical maritime; little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
\BTerrain:\b rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 46 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 69.39 years
\Imale:\i 67.21 years
\Ifemale:\i 71.69 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.1 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Dominican(s)
\Iadjective:\i Dominican
\BEthnic groups:\b white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 95%
\BLanguages:\b Spanish
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 82.1%
\Imale:\i 82%
\Ifemale:\i 82.2% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Dominican Republic
\Iconventional short form:\i none
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica Dominicana
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\BData code:\b DR
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Santo Domingo
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 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
\BIndependence:\b 27 February 1844 (from \JHaiti\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
\BConstitution:\b 28 November 1966
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil codes
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age
\Inote:\i members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i 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 \Ihead of government:\i 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
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet nominated by the president
\Ielections:\i 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)
\Ielection results:\i President FERNANDEZ elected to his first term; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 48.75%
\BLegislative branch:\b 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 (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 30 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRSC 15, PLD 1, PRD 14; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Imajor parties:\i Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo]; Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Lidio CADET]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Jose Franciso PENA Gomez]; Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI \Iminor parties:\i National Veterans and Civilian Party or PNVC [Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier]; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD [Andres Van Der HORST]; Democratic Quisqueyan Party or PQD [Elias WESSIN Chavez]; National Progressive Force or FNP [Marino VINICIO Castillo]; Popular Christian Party or PPC [Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert]; Dominican Communist Party or PCD [Narciso ISA Conde]; Dominican Workers' Party or PTD [Ivan RODRIGUEZ]; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union or UPA [Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini]; Alliance for Democracy Party or APD [Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA]; Democratic Union or UD [Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert]
\Inote:\i in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual party structures
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Collective of Popular Organizations or COP
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Bernardo VEGA Boyrie
\Ichancery:\i 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 332-6280, 6281
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 265-8057
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, Philadelphia, \JSan Francisco\j, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
\Iconsulate(s):\i Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), \JDetroit\j, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK
\Iembassy:\i corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo
\Imailing address:\i Unit 5500, APO AA 34041
\Itelephone:\i [1] (809) 221-2171, 221-8100
\IFAX:\i [1] (809) 686-7437
\BFlag description:\b a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic reforms launched in late 1994 contributed to exchange rate stabilization, reduced \Jinflation\j, and strong GDP growth in 1995-96. In 1996, there was increased mineral and \Jpetroleum\j exploration, and a new investment law that allows for repatriation of capital dividends has drawn more investment to the island. Upon coming to power in August 1996, President FERNANDEZ nevertheless inherited a trouble-ridden economy hampered by a pressured peso, a large external debt, nearly bankrupt state-owned enterprises, and a manufacturing sector hindered by daily power outages. In December, FERNANDEZ presented a bold economic reform package - including such reforms as the \Jdevaluation\j of the peso, income tax cuts, a 50% increase in sales taxes, reduced import tariffs, and increased \Jgasoline\j prices - in an attempt to create a market-oriented economy that can compete internationally. The legislature, however, has been slow to act on several of the economic measures.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $29.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7.3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,670 (1996 est.)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 18 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 728,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 757 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominica Government Railway); 240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,300 km
\Ipaved:\i 6,064 km
\Iunpaved:\i 6,236 km (1995 est.)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 96 km; \Jpetroleum\j products 8 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence of \JQuito\j)
\BConstitution:\b 10 August 1979
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Jamil Mahuad (since 10 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Jamil Mahuad (since 11 February 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Inote:\i Jamil Mahuad, 49, winner of July 12 elections as candidate for the Popular Democracy Party, takes office as \JEcuador\j's 41st president, replacing President Fabian Alarcon, who was elected by Congress in February 1997 after Abdala Bucaram was ejected by congressional vote.
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i Not available
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (82 seats; 12 members are popularly elected at large nationally to serve four-year terms; 70 members are popularly elected by province for two-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held July 12 1998
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\ICenter-Right parties:\i Social Christian Party or PSC [Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president]; Ecuadorian Conservative Party or PCE [Freddy BRAVO]
\ICenter-Left parties:\i Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leader]; Popular Democracy or DP [Jamil MAHUAD, leader]; Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]
\IPopulist parties:\i Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM, leader]; Popular Revolutionary Action or APRE [Frank VARGAS Passos, leader]; Pachakutik-New Country or P-NP [Freddy EHLERS]
\IFar-Left parties:\i Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Juan Jose CASTELLO, leader]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Fernando FLORES
\Ichancery:\i 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 234-7200
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
\Iconsulate(s):\i Newark
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Leslie ALEXANDER
\Iembassy:\i Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria, Quito
\Imailing address:\i APO AA 34039
\Itelephone:\i [593] (2) 562-890
\IFAX:\i [593] (2) 502-052
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Guayaquil
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JColombia\j that is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JEcuador\j has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. As an exporter of primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Growth has been uneven in recent years as the government has repeatedly initiated ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The populist government of Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz proposed a major currency reform in 1996, but popular discontent with new austerity measures and rampant official corruption undermined his government's position. Congress replaced BUCARAM with Fabian ALARCON in February 1997. ALARCON has adopted a minimalist economic program that puts off major decisions until the next elected government takes office in August 1998. \JEcuador\j has joined the Word Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. Growth slowed to 2.0% in 1996, due to a lack of investment caused by political uncertainty and high domestic interest
rates.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $47 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $4,100 (1996 est.)
\Iships by type:\i container 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 14, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 179 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 143
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 6
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 11
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 13
\Iunder 914 m:\i 111 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 36
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 33 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 3,077,812 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,079,537 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 125,185 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $390.2 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.1% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b three sections of the boundary with \JPeru\j are in dispute
\BIllicit drugs:\b significant transit country for derivatives of \Jcoca\j originating in \JColombia\j, \JBolivia\j, and \JPeru\j; minor illicit producer of \Jcoca\j; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit \Jnarcotics\j; important money-laundering hub
#
"Egypt (Atlas)",70,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Africa, bordering the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between \JLibya\j and the Gaza Strip
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 27 00 N, 30 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,001,450 sq km
\Iland:\i 995,450 sq km
\Iwater:\i 6,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,689 km
\Iborder countries:\i Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, \JLibya\j 1,150 km, \JSudan\j 1,273 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,450 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
\BTerrain:\b vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salinization below \JAswan\j High Dam; \Jdesertification\j; oil \Jpollution\j threatening \Jcoral\j reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial \Jwater\j source; rapid growth in population overstraining natural resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b controls \JSinai\j Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and \JMediterranean Sea\j; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 71 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 61.75 years
\Imale:\i 59.8 years
\Ifemale:\i 63.8 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.5 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Egyptian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Egyptian
\BEthnic groups:\b Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%
\BReligions:\b Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate), Coptic Christian and other 6% (official estimate)
\BLanguages:\b Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 51.4%
\Imale:\i 63.6%
\Ifemale:\i 38.8% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Arab Republic of Egypt
\Iconventional short form:\i Egypt
\Ilocal long form:\i Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\Iformer:\i United Arab Republic (with \JSyria\j)
\BData code:\b EG
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Cairo
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 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 \JWadi\j al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, \JAswan\j, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
\BIndependence:\b 28 February 1922 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)
\BConstitution:\b 11 September 1971
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed El-GANZOURI (since 4 January 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i 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 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i national referendum validated President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third term
\BLegislative branch:\b 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)
\Ielections:\i People's Assembly - last held 29 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA)
\Ielection results:\i 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, Liberals 1; Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Constitutional Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Democratic Party (NDP), President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader, is the dominant party; legal opposition parties are as follows: New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN; Socialist Labor Party (SLP), Ibrahim SHUKRI; National Progressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid Muhi al-DIN; Socialist Liberal Party, Mustafa Kamal MURAD; Democratic Unionist Party, Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misr al-\JFatah\j Party (Young \JEgypt\j Party), leader NA; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party, Dia' al-din DAWUD; Democratic Peoples' Party, Anwar AFIFI; The Greens Party, Kamal KIRAH; Social Justice Party, Muhammad 'ABDAL-'AL
\Inote:\i formation of political parties must be approved by government
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b 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 two years to block its influence; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Ahmed Maher El SAYED
\Ichancery:\i 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 895-5400
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.
\Iembassy:\i (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo
\Imailing address:\i Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900
\Itelephone:\i [20] (2) 3557371
\IFAX:\i [20] (2) 3572000
\Ibranch office:\i Alexandria
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JSyria\j that has two green stars and to the flag of \JIraq\j, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b By the end of the 1980s \JEgypt\j - hit by the collapse of the world oil market and servicing a foreign debt totaling about $50 billion - faced crises in virtually all economic sectors. Problems of low productivity and poor economic management were compounded by the adverse social effects of large population growth rates, high \Jinflation\j, and massive urban overcrowding. In the face of these pressures, in 1991, \JEgypt\j undertook wide-ranging macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform measures. This reform effort has been supported by three successive IMF arrangements, the last of which was concluded in October 1996. \JEgypt\j's reform efforts - and its participation in the Gulf war coalition - also led to massive debt relief under the Paris Club arrangements. \JEgypt\j's foreign debt fell to about $31 billion at yearend 1996. Although the pace of reform has been uneven and slower than envisaged under the IMF programs, substantial progress has been made in improving macroeconomic performance - budget deficits have been slashed while foreign reserves in 1996 were at an all-time high - and in moving toward a more decentralized, market-oriented economy. \JEgypt\j was able to capitalize on its progress during the third \JMiddle East\j/North Africa economic conference which it hosted in November 1996. \JEgypt\j's President MUBARAK told reporters that \JEgypt\j had concluded deals worth $10 billion in investment during the conference, 20 times the country's estimated total direct foreign investment for the 1995/96 fiscal year. According to press reports, \JEgypt\j and foreign investors agreed on nine megaprojects, including the export of liquefied \Jnatural gas\j from \JEgypt\j to Turkey, estimated at $2 billion to $4 billion. \JEgypt\j has a broad-based inventory of geographic, human, and physical assets which in a liberalized market environment could spur rapid, sustainable growth into the next century. But rapid population growth continues to cast a shadow over economic prospects.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $183.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.9% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,900 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b large system by Third World standards but inadequate for present requirements and undergoing extensive upgrading
\Idomestic:\i principal centers at Alexandria, \JCairo\j, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to \JSudan\j; microwave radio relay to Israel; participant in Medarabtel
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 39, FM 6, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 41
\BTelevisions:\b 5 million (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,751 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 4,751 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 km double track)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 50,000 km
\Ipaved:\i 15,000 km
\Iunpaved:\i 35,000 km (1990 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-\JCairo\j Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 16,942,953 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 10,987,037 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 672,197 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $3.28 billion (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 8.2% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b administrative boundary with \JSudan\j does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km
\BIllicit drugs:\b a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers; large domestic consumption of \Jhashish\j from \JLebanon\j and \JSyria\j
#
"El Salvador (Atlas)",71,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Middle America, bordering the North \JPacific Ocean\j, between \JGuatemala\j and Honduras
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 50 N, 88 55 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 21,040 sq km
\Iland:\i 20,720 sq km
\Iwater:\i 320 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Massachusetts
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 545 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JGuatemala\j 203 km, \JHonduras\j 342 km
\BCoastline:\b 307 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 200 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April)
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 30.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 69.27 years
\Imale:\i 65.89 years
\Ifemale:\i 72.81 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.13 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Salvadoran(s)
\Iadjective:\i Salvadoran
\BEthnic groups:\b mestizo 94%, Amerindian 5%, white 1%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 75%
\Inote:\i 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
\BLanguages:\b Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 71.5%
\Imale:\i 73.5%
\Ifemale:\i 69.8% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of El Salvador
\Iconventional short form:\i El Salvador
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de El Salvador
\Ilocal short form:\i El Salvador
\BData code:\b ES
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b San Salvador
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, \JSan Salvador\j, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
\BIndependence:\b 15 September 1821 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
\BConstitution:\b 20 December 1983
\BLegal system:\b based on civil and \JRoman law\j, with traces of \Jcommon law\j; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994); Vice President Enrique
BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994); Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994); note - the president is both the chief
of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 20 March 1994, with a run-off election held 24 April 1994 (next to be held NA March 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Armando CALDERON Sol elected president; percent of vote - Armando CALDERON SOL (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (\JCD\j/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other 10.49%; because no candidate received a majority, a run-off election was held and the results were as follows - Armando CALDERON SOL (ARENA) 68.35%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (\JCD\j/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve three-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - ARENA 35.4%, FMLN 34.3%, PCN 8.1%, PDC 7.9%, \JCD\j 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 11, PDC 9, PRSC 3, \JCD\j 2, PLD 2, MU 1, PD 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Gloria SALGUERO Gross, president]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Salvador SANCHEZ Ceren (aka Leonel GONZALEZ), general coordinator]; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Ronal UMANA, secretary general]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, secretary general]; Democratic Convergence or \JCD\j [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general]; Unity Movement Party or MU [Jorge MARTINEZ Menendez, president]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, founder]; Democratic Party or PD (breakaway from FMLN) [Joaquin VILLALOBOS, founder, Ana Guadalupe MARTINEZ, leader]; Social Christian Renovation Party or PRSC (breakaway from PDC) [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, founder]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b labor organizations - Salvadoran Communal Union or UCS (peasant association); General Confederation of Workers or CGT (moderate); United Workers Front or FUT; business organizations - Productive Alliance or AP (conservative); National Federation of Salvadoran Small Businessmen or FENAPES (conservative)
\Ichancery:\i 2308 \JCalifornia\j Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 265-9671, 9672
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, \JDallas\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Anne PATTERSON
\Iembassy:\i Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Station Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador
\Imailing address:\i Unit 3116, APO AA 34023
\Itelephone:\i [503] 278-4444
\IFAX:\i [503] 278-6011
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JNicaragua\j, 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 \JHonduras\j, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b El Salvador possesses a fast-growing entrepreneurial economy in which 90% of economic activity is in private hands, with growth averaging 5% since 1990. Yet, because the 1980s were a decade of \Jcivil war\j and stagnation, per capita GDP has not regained the level of the late 1970s. The rebound in the 1990s stems from the government program, in conjunction with the IMF, of privatization, deregulation, and fiscal stabilization. The economy now is oriented more toward manufacturing and services compared with agriculture. The sizable trade deficits are in the main covered by remittances from the large number of Salvadorans abroad.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $12.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,080 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i as of 1 June 1990, the rate is based on the average of the buying and selling rates, set on a weekly basis, for official receipts and payments, imports of \Jpetroleum\j, and \Jcoffee\j exports; prior to that date, a system of floating was in effect
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 300,000 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i nationwide microwave radio relay system
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j); connected to
Central American Microwave System
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 18, FM 80, shortwave 2
\BRadios:\b 1 million (1996 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 11 (1996 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 600,000 (1996 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 602 km (single track; note - some sections abandoned, unusable, or operating at reduced capacity)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 602 km 0.914-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,320 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,712 km (including 110 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 10,608 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b Rio Lempa partially navigable
\BPorts and harbors:\b Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto El Triunfo
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 72 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 52
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 48 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 20
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 20 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,330,498 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 844,314 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 64,530 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $101 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 0.9% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b land boundary dispute with \JHonduras\j mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, \JHonduras\j and \JNicaragua\j likely would be required
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for \Jcocaine\j; marijuana produced for local consumption
#
"Equatorial Guinea (Atlas)",72,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the Bight of \JBiafra\j, between \JCameroon\j and Gabon
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 2 00 N, 10 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 28,050 sq km
\Iland:\i 28,050 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maryland
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 539 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JCameroon\j 189 km, \JGabon\j 350 km
\BCoastline:\b 296 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; always hot, humid
\BTerrain:\b coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount \JMalabo\j 3,008 m
\BNatural resources:\b timber, \Jpetroleum\j, small unexploited deposits of gold, \Jmanganese\j, uranium
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 5%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 4%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 4%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 46%
\Iother:\i 41% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b violent windstorms
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b tap \Jwater\j is not potable; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, \JEndangered Species\j, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b insular and continental regions rather widely separated
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 78.5%
\Imale:\i 89.6%
\Ifemale:\i 68.1% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Equatorial Guinea
\Iconventional short form:\i Equatorial Guinea
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
\Ilocal short form:\i Guinea Ecuatorial
\Iformer:\i Spanish Guinea
\BData code:\b EK
\BGovernment type:\b republic in transition to multiparty democracy
\BNational capital:\b Malabo
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, \JBioko\j Norte, \JBioko\j Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
\BIndependence:\b 12 October 1968 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
\BConstitution:\b new constitution 17 November 1991
\BLegal system:\b partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
\BSuffrage:\b NA years of age; universal adult
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since April 1996); Vice Prime Minister Francisco Javier Ndongo MBENGONO (since April 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term; election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2003)
\Ielection results:\i President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected without opposition; percent of popular vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral House of Peoples Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held November 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 68, CSD 6, UDS 5, CLD 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Tribunal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Iruling party:\i Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]
\Iopposition parties:\i Convergence for Social Democracy or CSD [Santiago Obama Ndong, president]; Democratic Social Union or UDS [Camelo MODU, general secretary]; Liberal Democratic Convention or CLD [Alfonso Nsue MIFUMU, president]; Liberal Party or PL [Santos PASCUAL]; National Democratic Union or UDENA [Jose MECHEBA Ikaka, president]; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition or PCSD [Buenaventura Moswi M'Asumu, general coordinater]; Party of Progress or PP [Severo MOTO Nsa, president]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Casiano Masi Edu]; Popular Union or UP [Juan BITUI, president]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo Moto NSA, president]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president]; Social Democratic and Popular Convergence or CSDP [Secundino Oyono Agueng Ada, general secretary]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Benjamin-Gabriel Balingha Balinga Alene, general secretary]; Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea or PSGE [Tomas MICHEBE Fernandez, general secretary]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
\Ichancery:\i Suite 405, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 393-0525
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 393-0348
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b 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
\BFlag description:\b 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)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Farming, \Jforestry\j, and fishing account for about half of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on \Jcocoa\j 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 \Jtitanium\j, iron ore, \Jmanganese\j, uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil exploration, taking place under concessions offered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful and has contributed to Equatorial Guinea's strong growth rates in the early 1990s. The country responded favorably to the \Jdevaluation\j of the CFA franc in January 1994.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $328 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 11.2% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $800 (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 2,000 (1987 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b poor system with adequate government services
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i international communications from Bata and \JMalabo\j to African and European countries; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force, National Police
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 95,788 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 48,696 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $2.5 million (FY93/94)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b maritime boundary dispute with \JGabon\j because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
#
"Eritrea (Atlas)",73,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BHistorical perspective:\b on 29 May 1991, ISAIAS Afworke, secretary general of the Peoples' Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served as the country's legislative body, announced the formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE)in preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea; the referendum resulted in a landslide vote for independence which was proclaimed on 27 April 1993
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Africa, bordering the \JRed Sea\j, between Djibouti and Sudan
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 00 N, 39 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 121,320 sq km
\Iland:\i 121,320 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Pennsylvania
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,630 km
\Iborder countries:\i Djibouti 113 km, \JEthiopia\j 912 km, \JSudan\j 605 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,234 km total; mainland on \JRed Sea\j 1,151 km, islands in \JRed Sea\j 1,083 km
\BMaritime claims:\b NA
\BClimate:\b hot, dry desert strip along \JRed Sea\j coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except on coastal desert
\BTerrain:\b 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
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Kobar Sink -75 m
\Ihighest point:\i Soira 3,013 m
\BNatural resources:\b gold, \Jpotash\j, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil (\Jpetroleum\j geologists are prospecting for it), fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 12%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 48%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 20%
\Iother:\i 19% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 280 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; \Jdesertification\j; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of \Jinfrastructure\j from civil warfare
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of \JEthiopia\j along the \JRed Sea\j upon de jure independence from \JEthiopia\j on 27 April 1993
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 117.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 50.61 years
\Imale:\i 48.85 years
\Ifemale:\i 52.42 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.47 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Eritrean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Eritrean
\BEthnic groups:\b ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (\JRed Sea\j coast dwellers) 3%
\BReligions:\b Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
\BLanguages:\b Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Italian, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, minor tribal languages
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i State of Eritrea
\Iconventional short form:\i Eritrea
\Ilocal long form:\i Hagere Ertra
\Ilocal short form:\i Ertra
\Iformer:\i Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
\BData code:\b ER
\BGovernment type:\b transitional government
\Inote:\i following a successful referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National Assembly, composed entirely of the Peoples' 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 pending the promulgation of a constitution and popular elections
\Inote:\i 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, would go into effect sometime in 1998; the new provinces, which have not been recommended by the US Board on Geographic Names for recognition by the US government, pending acceptable definition of the boundaries, are: Anseba, Debub, Debubawi, Gash-Barka, Maakel, and Semanawi Keyih Bahri
\BIndependence:\b 27 May 1993 (from \JEthiopia\j; formerly the Eritrea Autonomous Region)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day (independence from \JEthiopia\j), 24 May (1993)
\BConstitution:\b transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993; the promulgation of a draft constitution is expected in 1998
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b NA; note - the transitional constitution of 19 May 1993 did not provide rules for suffrage, but it seems likely that the final version of the constitution, to be promulgated some time in 1998, will follow the example set in the referendum of 1993 and extend suffrage to all persons 18 years of age or older
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i State Council is the collective executive authority
\Inote:\i the president is head of the State Council and National Assembly
\Ielections:\i president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 8 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1997)
\Ielection results:\i ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits not established pending new constitution)
\Ielections:\i 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF) and 75 directly elected members serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections are held in 1997
\BJudicial branch:\b Judiciary
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [ISAIAS Afworki, PETROS Solomon]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ; Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean Liberation Front - United Organization or ELF-UO [Mohammed Said NAWUD]; Eritrean Liberation Front - Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC [Ahmed NASSER]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador AMDEMICHAEL Berhane Khasai
\Ichancery:\i 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 319-1991
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 319-1304
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador John HICKS
\Iembassy:\i Franklin D. Roosevelt St., Asmara
\Imailing address:\i P.O. Box 211, Asmara
\Itelephone:\i [291] (1) 120004
\IFAX:\i [291] (1) 127584
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b With independence from \JEthiopia\j on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faced the bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country. Most of the population must continue to depend on subsistence farming. Domestic output (GDP) is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and income and sales taxes. Road construction is a top domestic priority. Shortages persist in housing, education, and health care. Eritrea has inherited the entire coastline of \JEthiopia\j and has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. \JEthiopia\j is largely dependent on Eritrean ports for its foreign commerce.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.9% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $570 (1995 est.)
\Ipartners:\i \JEthiopia\j, Saudi \JArabia\j, \JItaly\j, United Arab Emirates
\BDebt - external:\b $162 million (1995 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents; at present, Ethiopian currency used; note - new Eritrean currency, the nakfa, to be circulated in 1997
\BExchange rates:\b birr (Br) per US$1 (end of the period) - 6.4260 (December 1996), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.000 (fixed rate 1992-93); note - following independence from \JEthiopia\j, Eritrea continued to use Ethiopian currency\Inote:\i 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
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i very inadequate; about 4 telephones per 100 families, most of which are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0
\Inarrow gauge:\i 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i nonoperational since 1978 except for an about 5 km stretch that was reopened in \JMassawa\j in 1994; rehabilitation of the remainder and of the rolling stock is under way; links Ak'ordat and Asmara (formerly Asmera) with the port of \JMassawa\j (formerly Mits'iwa)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,930 km
\Ipaved:\i 841 km
\Iunpaved:\i 3,089 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Assab (Aseb), \JMassawa\j (Mits'iwa)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $40 million (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b a dispute with Yemen over sovereignty of the Hanish Islands in the southern \JRed Sea\j has been submitted to \Jarbitration\j under the auspices of the ICJ
#
"Estonia (Atlas)",74,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of \JFinland\j, between \JLatvia\j and Russia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 59 00 N, 26 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 45,226 sq km
\Iland:\i 43,211 sq km
\Iwater:\i 2,015 sq km
\Inote:\i includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than New Hampshire and \JVermont\j combined
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 633 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JLatvia\j 339 km, \JRussia\j 294 km
\BCoastline:\b 3,794 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i limits to be fixed in coordination with neighboring states
\BNatural hazards:\b flooding occurs frequently in the spring
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil and \Jgroundwater\j with \Jpetroleum\j products, chemicals at former Soviet military bases; \JEstonia\j 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
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 14.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 68.38 years
\Imale:\i 62.39 years
\Ifemale:\i 74.67 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.29 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Estonian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Estonian
\BEthnic groups:\b Estonian 64.2%, Russian 28.7%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.9% (1995)
\BReligions:\b Evangelical Lutheran, others include Baptist, Methodist, 7th Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, 7th Day Baptist, Judaism
\BLanguages:\b Estonian (official), \JLatvian\j, Lithuanian, Russian, other
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 100%
\Imale:\i 100%
\Ifemale:\i 100% (1989 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Estonia
\Iconventional short form:\i Estonia
\Ilocal long form:\i Eesti Vabariik
\Ilocal short form:\i Eesti
\Iformer:\i Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
\BData code:\b EN
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Tallinn
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harju maakond (\JTallinn\j), Hiiu maakond (Kardla), Ida-Viru maakond (Johvi), Jarva maakond (Paide), Jogeva maakond (Jogeva), Laane maakond (Haapsalu), Laane-Viru maakond (Rakvere), Parnu maakond (Parnu), Polva maakond (Polva), Rapla maakond (Rapla), Saare maakond (Kuessaare), Tartu maakond (Tartu), Valga maakond (Valga), Viljandi maakond (Viljandi), Voru maakond (Voru)
\Inote:\i administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
\BIndependence:\b 6 September 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 28 June 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Lennart MERI (since 21 October 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Tiit VAHI (acting since NA March 1995; confirmed 17 April 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament \Ielections:\i president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after 3 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 \Ielection results:\i Lennart MERI elected president by an electoral assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote - Lennert MERI 61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is \JEstonia\j and Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats by party - KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home is \JEstonia\j 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5
\BJudicial branch:\b National Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Tiit VAHI, chairman] made up of 4 parties: Coalition Party, Country People's Party/Farmer's Assembly, Rural Union, and Pensioners' and Families' League; Reform Party-Liberals or RE [Siim KALLAS, chairman]; Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaa) [Toivo JURGENSON, chairman]; National Independence Party or ERSP [Kelam TUNNE, chairman]; Our Home is \JEstonia\j made up of 2 parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian People's Party of \JEstonia\j; United Peoples Party [Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman]; Russian Party of \JEstonia\j [Nikolai MASPANOV, chairman]; Moderates or M made up of 2 parties: Social Democratic Party and Rural Center Party; Social Democratic Party [Eiki NESTOR, chairman]; Rural Center Party [Vambo KAAL, chairman]; Right-Wingers [Ulo NUGIS, chairman]; Republican Conservative [Vootele HANSEN]; Development/Progressive Party [Andra VEIDEMANN, chairwoman], note - party was created by defectors from Center Party in late spring 1996, now holds 6 or 7 seats in Parliament \BInternational organization participation:\b BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, \JInterpol\j, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNMIBH, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lauri LEPIK
\Ichancery:\i 2131 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 588-0101
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 588-0108
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Lawrence P. TAYLOR
\Iembassy:\i Kentmanni 20, \JTallinn\j EE 0001
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy, \JTallinn\j; PSC 78, Box T; APO AE 09723
\Itelephone:\i [372] (6) 312-021
\IFAX:\i [372] (6) 312-025
\BFlag description:\b pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JEstonia\j continues to experience strong economic growth after its economy bottomed out in 1993. Bolstered by a widespread national desire to reintegrate into Western Europe, \JEstonia\j has adhered to disciplined fiscal and financial policies and has led the FSU countries in pursuing economic reform. Monthly \Jinflation\j has been held to 2% in 1995-96. Following four years of decline, \JEstonia\j's GDP grew at 3% in 1995 and 1996. Despite these positive economic indicators, the current account deficit is widening. The resident IMF representative in \JEstonia\j has been worried since early 1996 about a rising public sector deficit boosted by local government spending. Small- and medium-scale privatization is essentially complete, and large-scale privatization is progressing gradually. In 1996, \JEstonia\j's national airline was privatized; in 1997 \JEstonia\j plans to privatize large \Jinfrastructure\j, i.e., Eesti Energia, \JTallinn\j Port, Estonian Telecom, and Oil Shale. Estonia has successfully reoriented its trade toward the West, two-thirds of exports now going to Western markets. Estonia's \Jfree trade\j policies were the cornerstone of its negotiations with the European Union, and led to the signing of an association agreement in June 1995. Estonia was the only Baltic state not to have a transition period imposed by the EU prior to its implementation of a \Jfree trade\j agreement.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,560 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i Western commitments $285 million (including international financial institutions)
\BCurrency:\b 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents (introduced in August 1992)
\BExchange rates:\b krooni (EEK) per US$1 - 12.6 (January 1997), 12.410 (December 1996), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991 (1994), 13.223 (1993); note - krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 400,000 (1994 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b system is antiquated; improvements are being made piecemeal, with emphasis on business needs and international connections; there are still about 150,000 unfulfilled requests for subscriber service
\Idomestic:\i substantial investment has been made in cellular systems which are operational throughout Estonia
\Iinternational:\i international traffic is carried to the other former Soviet republics by landline or microwave radio relay and to other countries partly by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch and partly by a new \JTallinn\j-Helsinki fiber-optic, submarine cable which gives \JEstonia\j access to international circuits everywhere; access to the international packet-switched digital network via Helsinki
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b 3 commercial broadcast stations, 1 government broadcast station (1994)\BRadios:\b 710,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 4 (1993)
\Inote:\i provide Estonian programs as well as Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs
\BTelevisions:\b 600,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated industrial lines
\Ibroad gauge:\i 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14,992 km
\Ipaved:\i 8,096 km (including 65 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 6,896 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 500 km perennially navigable
\BPipelines:\b \Jnatural gas\j 420 km (1992)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Haapsalu, Narva, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
\BMilitary branches:\b 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)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 353,616 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 277,489 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 10,396 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $35 million (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.5% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996, which Estonia is prepared to sign and ratify in January 1997; Estonia had claimed over 2,000 sq km territory in the Narva and Pechory regions in Russia - based on boundary established under the 1920 Peace Treaty of Tartu
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and
the Caucasus, and \Jcocaine\j from \JLatin America\j to Western Europe and Scandinavia
#
"Ethiopia (Atlas)",75,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BHistorical perspective:\b on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa; a new constitution was promulgated in December 1994 and national and regional popular elections were held in May and June 1995
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 8 00 N, 38 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,127,127 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,119,683 sq km
\Iwater:\i 7,444 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,311 km
\Iborder countries:\i Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, \JKenya\j 830 km, \JSomalia\j 1,626 km, \JSudan\j 1,606 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
\BTerrain:\b high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Denakil -125 m
\Ihighest point:\i Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m
\BNatural resources:\b small reserves of gold, \Jplatinum\j, copper, potash
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 12%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 40%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 25%
\Iother:\i 22% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
\I65 years and over:\i 3% (male 745,554; female 861,739) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 2.67% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 45.59 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 17.56 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -1.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\Inote:\i repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to \JSudan\j, \JKenya\j and \JSomalia\j for refuge from war and \Jfamine\j in earlier years, is expected to continue in 1997; entry into Ethiopia of Sudanese and Somalis fleeing the fighting in their own countries is also continuing in 1997
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 121.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 46.62 years
\Imale:\i 45.48 years
\Ifemale:\i 47.8 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.94 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Ethiopian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Ethiopian
\BEthnic groups:\b Oromo 40%, \JAmhara\j and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
\BReligions:\b Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8% \BLanguages:\b Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 35.5%
\Imale:\i 45.5%
\Ifemale:\i 25.3% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
\Iconventional short form:\i Ethiopia
\Ilocal long form:\i YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
\Ilocal short form:\i YeItyop'iya
\Iabbreviation:\i FDRE
\BData code:\b ET
\BGovernment type:\b federal republic
\BNational capital:\b Addis Ababa
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akababi) and 1 federal capital*: Addis Ababa*; Afar; \JAmhara\j; Benshangul/Gumaz; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples; Tigray
\BIndependence:\b oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu regime)
\BConstitution:\b new constitution promulgated in December 1994
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers as provided in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and approved by the Council of People's Representatives
\Ielections:\i president elected by the Council of People's Representatives for a six-year term; election last held June 1995 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections
\Ielection results:\i NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote by the Council of People's Representatives - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the Council of the Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the Council 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); note - the upper chamber represents the ethnic interests of the regional governments
\Ielections:\i regional and national popular elections were held in May and June 1995
(next to be held NA 2000) and the Federal Parliamentary Assembly assumed legislative power on 21 August 1995
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - NA; seats - NA; note - EPRDF won nearly all seats \BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are elected by the national legislature
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Oromo Liberation Front or OLF; All \JAmhara\j People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since MENGISTU'S resignation, including several Islamic militant groups
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos
\Ichancery:\i 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 234-2281, 2282
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 328-7950
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador David H. SHINN (17 June 1996)
\Iembassy:\i Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
\Itelephone:\i [251] (1) 550666
\IFAX:\i [251] (1) 552191
\BFlag description:\b 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; \JEthiopia\j 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JEthiopia\j continues to face difficult economic problems as one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for more than half of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment; \Jcoffee\j generates 60% of export earnings. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of \Jdrought\j, poor cultivation practices, and deterioration of internal security conditions. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but less than 10% of agriculture, is state-run. The government is considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants and is implementing reform measures that are gradually liberalizing the economy. A major medium-term problem is the improvement of roads, \Jwater\j supply, and other parts of an \Jinfrastructure\j badly neglected during years of civil strife.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $24.8 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7.7% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $430 (1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i food and live animals, \Jpetroleum\j and \Jpetroleum\j products, chemicals (1995)
\Ipartners:\i Saudi \JArabia\j 13.3%, \JItaly\j 11.6%, US 10.2%, \JGermany\j 9.1%, \JJapan\j (1993)
\BDebt - external:\b $4.3 billion (1995 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $367 million (FY95/96)
\BCurrency:\b 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period) - 6.4260 (December 1996), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93); fixed at 2.070 before 1992
\Inote:\i 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
\BFiscal year:\b 8 July - 7 July
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 100,000 (1983 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b open wire and microwave radio relay system adequate for government use \Idomestic:\i open wire and microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i open wire to \JSudan\j and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to \JKenya\j and Djibouti; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 2 \JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 9.9 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b 100,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 681 km 1.000-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 28,360 km
\Ipaved:\i 4,254 km
\Iunpaved:\i 24,106 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; \JEthiopia\j is landlocked but by agreement with Eritrea may use the ports of Assab and Massawa
\BMilitary branches:\b Ground Forces, Air Force, Police
\Inote:\i following the secession of Eritrea, \JEthiopia\j's naval facilities remained in Eritrea's possession; current reorganization plans do not include a navy
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 13,257,668 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 6,889,800 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 605,030 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $110 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b most of the southern half of the boundary with \JSomalia\j is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with \JSomalia\j over the Ogaden
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and \JNorth America\j as well as \Jcocaine\j destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (chat) for local use and regional export
#
"Europa Island (Atlas)",76,0,0,0
\I(possession of \JFrance\j)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 22 20 S, 40 22 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 28 sq km
\Iland:\i 28 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 22.2 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical
\BTerrain:\b NA
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 24 m
\BNatural resources:\b negligible
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i NA%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b wildlife sanctuary
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants
\Inote:\i there is a small military garrison
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Europa Island
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Ile Europa
\BData code:\b EU
\BDependency status:\b possession of \JFrance\j; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
\BNational capital:\b none; administered by \JFrance\j from Reunion
\BIndependence:\b none (possession of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JFrance\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BCommunications\b
\BCommunications - note:\b 1 meteorological station
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claimed by Madagascar
\BLocation:\b Southern \JSouth America\j, islands in the South \JAtlantic Ocean\j, east of southern Argentina
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 51 45 S, 59 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,170 sq km
\Iland:\i 12,170 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Connecticut
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,288 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate
\BTerrain:\b rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Usborne 705 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, wildlife
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 99%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 1% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b strong winds persist throughout the year
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 2,432 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 2.43% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b NA births/1,000 population
\BDeath rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 population
\BNet migration rate:\b NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 live births
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i NA years
\Imale:\i NA years
\Ifemale:\i NA years
\BTotal fertility rate:\b NA children born/woman
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Falkland Islander(s)
\Iadjective:\i Falkland Island
\BEthnic groups:\b British
\BReligions:\b primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, \JEvangelist\j Church, \JJehovah\j's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
\BLanguages:\b English
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Colony of the Falkland Islands
\Iconventional short form:\i Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
\BData code:\b FA
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Stanley
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
\BConstitution:\b 3 October 1985
\BLegal system:\b English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
\Ihead of government:\i Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats, 8 elected; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held NA October 1993 (next was to be held NA October 1998)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BFlag description:\b blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders. So far, efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry have been unsuccessful. The economy has diversified since 1987, when the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year and support the island's health, education, and welfare system. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and \Jtrout\j fishing. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per \Jday\j. An agreement between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\Inote:\i UK, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments totaled $18 million (1993-94)
\BCurrency:\b 1 Falkland pound (£F) = 100 pence
\BExchange rates:\b Falkland pound (£F) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 1,180 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j) with links through
\BMilitary branches:\b British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
#
"Faroe Islands (Atlas)",78,0,0,0
\I(part of the Danish realm)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the north \JAtlantic Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from \JIceland\j to Norway
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 62 00 N, 7 00 W
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,399 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,399 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
\BArea - comparative:\b eight times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,117 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
\BTerrain:\b rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Slaettaratindur 882 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, whales
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 6%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 94% (1996)
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b 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
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 39,873 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 25% (male 4,960; female 4,812)
\I15-64 years:\i 60% (male 12,913; female 11,117)
\I65 years and over:\i 15% (male 2,708; female 3,363) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b -6.36% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 11.46 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 9.05 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -38.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 78.37 years
\Imale:\i 75.41 years
\Ifemale:\i 81.32 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.37 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Faroese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Faroese
\BEthnic groups:\b Scandinavian
\BReligions:\b Evangelical Lutheran
\BLanguages:\b Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\Inote:\i similar to Denmark proper
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Faroe Islands
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Foroyar
\BData code:\b FO
\BDependency status:\b part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Torshavn
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
\BIndependence:\b none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
\BNational holiday:\b Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
\BConstitution:\b 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
\BLegal system:\b Danish
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Ms. Vibeke LARSEN, chief administrative officer (since mid-1995)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Edmund JOENSEN (since 15 September 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament
\Ielections:\i the queen is a constitutional monarch; high commissioner appointed by the queen; 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 NA 1994 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Edmund JOENSEN elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 23.4%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 7 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - Unionist Party 23.4%, People's Party 16.0%, Social Democrats 15.4%, Republicans 13.7%, Workers' Party 9.5%, Christian People 6.3%, Center Party 5.8%, Home Rule Party 5.6%; seats by party - Unionist Party 8, People's Party 6, Social Democrats 5, Republicans 4, Workers' Party 3, Christian People 2, Center Party 2, Home Rule Party 2
\Inote:\i election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - Unionist Party 22.5%, People's Party 21.7%; seats by party - Unionist Party 1, People's Party 1
\BJudicial branch:\b none
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Workers' Party [Alis JACOBSEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam A NEYSTABO]; Unionist Party [Edmund JOENSEN]; Republican Party [Heini O. HEINESEN]; Center Party [Tordur NICLASEN]; Christian People's Party [Niels Pauli DANIELSEN]; People's Party [Arnfinn KALLSBERG]
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
\BFlag description:\b 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)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Faroese economy in 1995 and 1996 saw a noticeable upturn after several years of decline brought on by a drop in fish catches and declining prices and by over-spending by the Faroese Home Rule Government (FHRG). In the early 1990s, property values plummeted, and the FHRG had to bail out and merge the two largest Faroese banks. Fishing is now improving; wage costs are increasing; the FHRG's budget is almost in balance; and the large foreign debt has come down significantly. Nevertheless, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the reduction in the foreign debt is at the cost of low investment. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may lay the basis for an eventual economic rebound. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living comparable to the Danes and other Scandinavians. \BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $800 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $16,300 (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 4,043 kWh (1995)
\BAgriculture - products:\b milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon farming; fish
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $362 million (f.o.b., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i fish and fish products 92%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships)
\Ipartners:\i Denmark 22.2%, UK 25.8%, \JGermany\j 9.7%, \JFrance\j 8.3%, \JNorway\j 6.2%, US 2.0%
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $315.6 (c.i.f., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transport equipment 17.0%, consumer goods 33%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 26.9%, fuels 11.4%, fish and salt 6.7%
\Ipartners:\i Denmark 34.5%, \JNorway\j 15.9%, UK 8.4% \JGermany\j 7.8%, Sweden 5.8%, US 1.5%
\BDebt - external:\b $767 million (1995 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $150 million (1995)
\BNatural hazards:\b cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; soil erosion
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 66 years
\Imale:\i 63.66 years
\Ifemale:\i 68.46 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.78 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Fijian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Fijian
\BEthnic groups:\b Fijian 49%, Indian 46%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%
\BReligions:\b Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%
\Inote:\i Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986)
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 91.6%
\Imale:\i 93.8%
\Ifemale:\i 89.3% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Fiji
\Iconventional short form:\i Fiji
\BData code:\b FJ
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\Inote:\i military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared \JFiji\j a republic on 6 October 1987
\BNational capital:\b Suva
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
\BIndependence:\b 10 October 1970 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 10 October (1970)
\BConstitution:\b 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25 July 1990; the 1990 constitution is under review; the review is scheduled to be completed by 1997
\BLegal system:\b based on British system
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (acting president since 15 December 1993, president since 12 January 1994); First Vice President Ratu Sir Josaia TAIVAIQIA (since 12 January 1994); Second Vice President Ratu Inoke TAKIVEIKATA (since 12 January 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Mahendra CHAUDHRY (since May 1999)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament
\Inote:\i 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
\Ielections:\i president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA elected president; percent of Great Council of Chiefs vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 9 for Indians and others, and 1 for the island of Rotuma; members appointed by the president to serve five-year terms) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j (70 seats; 37 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 27 for ethnic Indians, and 6 for independents and others; members elected by popular vote on a communal basis to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 18-25 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SVT 31, NFP 20, FLP 7, FAP 5, GVP 4, independents 2, ANC 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Fijian Political Party (SVT - primarily Fijian), leader Maj. Gen. Sitivini RABUKA; National Federation Party (NFP; primarily Indian), Jai Ram REDDY; Fijian Nationalist Party (FNP), Sakeasi BUTADROKA; Fiji Labor Party (FLP), Mahendra CHAUDHRY; General Voters Party (GVP), Leo SMITH; Fiji Conservative Party (FCP), leader NA; Conservative Party of Fiji (CPF), leader NA; Fiji Indian Liberal Party, leader NA; Fiji Indian Congress Party, leader NA; Fiji Independent Labor (Muslim), leader NA; Four Corners Party, leader NA; Fijian Association Party (FAP), Josevata KAMIKAMICA; General Electors' Association, leader NA
\Inote:\i in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National Congress (ANC) merged with the Fijian Association (FA); the remaining members of the ANC have renamed their party the General Electors' Association
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Ratu Napolioni MASIREWA
\Ichancery:\i Suite 240, 2233 \JWisconsin\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 337-8320
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 337-1996
\Iconsulate(s):\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Don Lee GEVIRTZ
\Iembassy:\i 31 Loftus Street, Suva
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 218, Suva
\Itelephone:\i [679] 314466
\IFAX:\i [679] 300081
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JFiji\j, 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 tourism are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Roughly 250,000 tourists visit each year. Political uncertainty and \Jdrought\j, however, contribute to substantial fluctuations in earnings from tourism and sugar and to the emigration of skilled workers. In 1992, growth was approximately 3%, based on growth in tourism and a lessening of labor-management disputes in the sugar and gold-mining sectors. In 1993, the government's budgeted growth rate of 3% was not achieved because of a decline in non-sugar agricultural output and damage from Cyclone Kina. Growth in 1994 of 5% was largely attributable to increased tourism and expansion in the manufacturing sector.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,500 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose \Jtelephone\j, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i access to important cable link between US and Canada and NZ and \JAustralia\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 7, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b 12,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 597 km; note - belongs to the government-owned \JFiji\j Sugar Corporation
\Inarrow gauge:\i 597 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,370 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,655 km
\Iunpaved:\i 1,715 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
\BPorts and harbors:\b Labasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Suva
\Iships by type:\i chemical tanker 2, oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 21 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 18
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 15 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Republic of \JFiji\j Military Forces (RFMF; includes army, navy, and a small air wing)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 210,048 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 115,766 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 8,986 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $32 million (1997)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 5% (1997)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Finland (Atlas)",80,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of \JFinland\j, between Sweden and Russia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 64 00 N, 26 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 337,030 sq km
\Iland:\i 305,470 sq km
\Iwater:\i 31,560 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Montana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,628 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JNorway\j 729 km, Sweden 586 km, \JRussia\j 1,313 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 6 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 12 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm (in the Gulf of \JFinland\j - 3 nm)
\BClimate:\b cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
\BTerrain:\b mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Baltic Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
\BNatural resources:\b timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 8%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 76%
\Iother:\i 16% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 640 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from manufacturing and power plants contributing to \Jacid rain\j; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
\BGeography - note:\b long boundary with \JRussia\j; \JHelsinki\j is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
\BLanguages:\b Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 100% (1980 est.)
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Finland
\Iconventional short form:\i Finland
\Ilocal long form:\i Suomen Tasavalta
\Ilocal short form:\i Suomi
\BData code:\b FI
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Helsinki
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 12 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, \JOulu\j, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa
\BIndependence:\b 6 December 1917 (from \JRussia\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
\BConstitution:\b 17 July 1919
\BLegal system:\b civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of vote - Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 19 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - Social Democratic Party 28.3%, Center Party 19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 17.9%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green League 6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%, Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian League 3.0%, Liberal People's Party 0.6%, Young Finns 2.8%; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 39, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22, Swedish People's Party 11, Green League 9, Ecology Party 1, Rural 1, Finnish Christian League 7, Young Finns 2, Aaland Islands 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Igovernment coalition:\i Social Democratic Party [Paavo LIPPONEN]; National Coalition (conservative) Party [Sauli NIINISTO]; Leftist Alliance (Communist) People's Democratic League
and Democratic Alternative [Claes ANDERSSON]; Swedish People's Party [(Johan) Ole NORRBACK]; Green League [Pekka HAAVISTO]
\Iother:\i Center Party [Esko AHO]; Finnish Christian League [Toimi KANKAANNIEMI]; Rural Party [Raimo VISTBACKA]; Liberal People's Party [Tuulikki UKKOLA]; Greens Ecological Party or EPV; Young Finns [Risto PENTTILA]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Finnish Communist Party-Unity [Yrjo HAKANEN]; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party [Timo LAHDENMAKI]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA
\Ichancery:\i 3301 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 298-5800
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 298-6030
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER
\Iembassy:\i Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
\Imailing address:\i APO AE 09723
\Itelephone:\i [358] (9) 171931
\IFAX:\i [358] (9) 174681
\BFlag description:\b 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)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JFinland\j has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output equaling that of the UK, \JFrance\j and \JItaly\j. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, and \Jengineering\j industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, \JFinland\j depends on imports of raw materials, \Jenergy\j, 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 \JFinland\j and the former \JSoviet Union\j under which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for Finnish manufactured goods. The Finns voted in an October 1994 referendum to enter the EU, and \JFinland\j officially joined the Union on 1 January 1995. Attempts to cut the unacceptably high rate of unemployment and increasing \Jintegration\j with Western Europe will dominate the economic picture over the next few years.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $97.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $19,000 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15.0%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and \Jforestry\j 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%
\BUnemployment rate:\b 16.6% (1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $25.9 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
\BIndustries:\b metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 7.4% (1995)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 14.14 million kW (1994)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 12,373 kWh (1995 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b \Jcereals\j, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy \Jcattle\j; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric tons
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $29.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
\Icommodities:\i paper and pulp, machinery, chemicals, metals, timber
\Ipartners:\i EU 46.5% (\JGermany\j 13.4%, UK 10.3%), Sweden 11%, US 7.2%, \JJapan\j 2.1%, FSU 8.6% (1994)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $23.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
\Icommodities:\i foodstuffs, \Jpetroleum\j and \Jpetroleum\j products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains
\Ipartners:\i EU 44% (\JGermany\j 15%, UK 8.3%), Sweden 10.4%, US 7.6%, \JJapan\j 6.5%, FSU 10.3 (1994)
\BDebt - external:\b $30 billion (December 1993)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Idonor:\i ODA, $355 million (1993)
\BCurrency:\b 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia
\BTelephone system:\b good service from cable and microwave radio relay network
\Idomestic:\i cable and microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i 1 submarine cable; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian
Ocean Regions); note - \JFinland\j shares the Inmarsat \Jearth\j station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, \JIceland\j, \JNorway\j, and Sweden)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 4.98 million (1991 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 235
\BTelevisions:\b 1.92 million (1995 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,895 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 5,895 km 1.524-m gauge (1,993 km electrified; 480 km double- or more-track) (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 77,722 km
\Ipaved:\i 48,965 km (including 394 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 28,757 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,298,576 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,068,503 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 32,985 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $1.9 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.6% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b minor transshipment point for Latin American \Jcocaine\j for the West European market
#
"France (Atlas)",81,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between \JBelgium\j and Spain southeast of the UK; bordering the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between \JItaly\j and Spain
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 46 00 N, 2 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 547,030 sq km
\Iland:\i 545,630 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,400 sq km
\Inote:\i includes only metropolitan \JFrance\j, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,892.4 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAndorra\j 60 km, \JBelgium\j 620 km, \JGermany\j 451 km, \JItaly\j 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, \JSpain\j 623 km, \JSwitzerland\j 573 km
\BCoastline:\b 3,427 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially \JPyrenees\j in south, Alps in east
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Rhone River delta -2 m
\Ihighest point:\i \JMont Blanc\j 4,807 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jcoal\j, iron ore, \Jbauxite\j, fish, timber, zinc, potash
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 33%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 2%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 20%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 27%
\Iother:\i 18% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 16,300 sq km (1995 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b flooding
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b some forest damage from \Jacid rain\j; air \Jpollution\j from industrial and vehicle emissions; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b largest West European nation; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 78.38 years
\Imale:\i 74.44 years
\Ifemale:\i 82.53 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.66 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
\Iadjective:\i French
\BEthnic groups:\b Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%
\BLanguages:\b French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, \JCatalan\j, Basque, Flemish)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 99%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 99% (1980 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i French Republic
\Iconventional short form:\i France
\Ilocal long form:\i Republique Francaise
\Ilocal short form:\i France
\BData code:\b FR
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Paris
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 22 regions (regions, singular - region); \JAlsace\j, \JAquitaine\j, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-\JFrance\j, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-\JPyrenees\j, Nord-Pas-de-\JCalais\j, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, \JProvence\j-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
\Inote:\i metropolitan \JFrance\j is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or \JCorsica\j) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, \JGuadeloupe\j, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (\JMayotte\j, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
\BDependent areas:\b Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French \JPolynesia\j, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna
\Inote:\i the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
\BIndependence:\b 486 (unified by Clovis)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
\BConstitution:\b 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC \JMaastricht Treaty\j in 1992; amended to tighten \Jimmigration\j laws 1993
\BLegal system:\b civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Lionel JOSPIN (since 3 June 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i 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 appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Jacques CHIRAC elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN 47.36%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan \JFrance\j, 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 under a single-member majoritarian system to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998); National Assembly - last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA May 2002)\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 94, UDF 127, PS 75, PCF 15, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 245, RPR 140, UDF 109, PCF 37, PRS 13, Ecologists 8, MDC 7, LDI-MPF 1, FN 1, various left 9, various right 7
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation, judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Rally for the Republic or RPR [Alain JUPPE, president]; Union for French Democracy or UDF (coalition of PR, FD, RAD, PPDF) [Francois LEOTARD]; Republican Party or PR [Francois LEOTARD]; Democratic Force or FD [Francois BAYROU]; Socialist Party or PS [Lionel JOSPIN]; Radical Party or RRRS [Andre ROSSINOT, Aymeri de MONTESQUIEU]; Communist Party or PCF [Robert HUE]; National Front or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; The Greens [Dominique VOYNET]; Generation Ecology or GE [Brice LALONDE]; Citizens Movement or MDC [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT]; National Center of Independents and Peasants or CNIP [Jean-Antoine GIANSILY]; Radical Socialist Party or PRS; Movement for \JFrance\j or LDI-MPF
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, about 800,000 members (est.); independent labor union 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
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Francois V. BUJON DE L'ESTANG
\Ichancery:\i 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 944-6000
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 944-6166
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JAtlanta\j, \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, \JHonolulu\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, \JSan Francisco\j, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Pamela C. HARRIMAN (died in office 2 February 1997)
\Iembassy:\i 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JBelgium\j, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b One of the four West European trillion-dollar economies, the French economy features considerable state control over its capitalistic market system. In running important industrial segments (railways, airlines, electricity, telecommunications), administering an exceptionally generous social welfare system, and staffing an enormous bureaucracy, the state spends about 55% of GDP. \JFrance\j has substantial agricultural resources and a diversified modern industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. Largely self-sufficient in agricultural products, \JFrance\j is a major exporter of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become crucial to the economy. Following stagnation and recession in 1991-93, French GDP expanded 2.4% in 1994 and in 1995 but at only 1.3% in 1996. Persistently high unemployment still poses a major problem for the government, as will the need to cut back on government spending to keep the economy internationally competitive and enable \JFrance\j to qualify for European Economic and Monetary Union, slated to introduce a common European currency in January 1999. The government also has laid plans to sell off much of its stake in the telecommunications and defense industries in 1997 as part of its bid to make domestic companies more competitive with foreign rivals. However, the socialist victory at the polls in June 1997 casts doubt on \JFrance\j's future policy toward economic union and privatization of domestic economic activity.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.22 trillion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $20,900 (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 6,278 kWh (1995 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b wheat, \Jcereals\j, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $275 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles and clothing
\Ipartners:\i \JGermany\j 17%, \JItaly\j 9%, UK 9%, \JSpain\j 8%, \JBelgium\j-Luxembourg 8%, US 6%, Netherlands 4.5%, \JJapan\j 2%, \JRussia\j 0.7% (1996)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $255.5 billion f.o.b., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products
\Ipartners:\i \JGermany\j 17%, \JItaly\j 10%, US 8%, \JBelgium\j-Luxembourg 8%, UK 8%, \JSpain\j 7%, Netherlands 5%, \JJapan\j 3%, \JRussia\j 1.5% (1996)
\Idomestic:\i extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic \Jsatellite\j system
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for \JAtlantic Ocean\j), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j Region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries \BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 41, FM 800 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0
\Istandard gauge:\i 33,524 km 1.435-m gauge; 32,275 km are operated by French National Railways (SNCF); 13,741 km of SNCF routes are electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-tracked
\Inarrow gauge:\i 599 km 1.000-m gauge
\Inote:\i does not include 33 tourist railroads, totaling 469 km, many being of very narrow gauge (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,512,700 km
\Ipaved:\i 812,700 km (including 9,140 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 700,000 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JBordeaux\j, Boulogne, \JCherbourg\j, Dijon, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, \JMarseille\j, Mullhouse, \JNantes\j, Paris, \JRouen\j, Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg
\Iships by type:\i bulk 5, cargo 3, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 1, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 3, multi-function large load carrier 1, oil tanker 13, passenger 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 1
\Inote:\i \JFrance\j also maintains a captive register for French-owned ships in the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 460 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 382
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 13
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 26
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 91
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 73
\Iunder 914 m:\i 179 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 78
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 75 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 3 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army (includes Marines), Navy (includes Naval Air), Air Force (includes Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 14,800,821 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 12,315,337 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 394,362 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $47.7 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.5% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; \JComoros\j claims \JMayotte\j; \JMauritius\j claims Tromelin Island; \JSeychelles\j claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana; territorial claim in \JAntarctica\j (Adelie Land); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and \JFrance\j; in 1992 an \Jarbitration\j panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone area of 12,348 sq km to settle the dispute; claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for and consumer of South American \Jcocaine\j and Southwest Asian heroin
#
"French Guiana (Atlas)",82,0,0,0
\I(overseas department of \JFrance\j)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern \JSouth America\j, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between \JBrazil\j and Suriname
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 4 00 N, 53 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 91,000 sq km
\Iland:\i 89,150 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,850 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Indiana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,183 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBrazil\j 673 km, Suriname 510 km
\BCoastline:\b 378 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jbauxite\j, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, \Jkaolin\j, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 83%
\Iother:\i 17% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 20 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b mostly an unsettled wilderness
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 156,946 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 32% (male 25,267; female 24,146)
\I15-64 years:\i 63% (male 54,051; female 45,489)
\I65 years and over:\i 5% (male 4,014; female 3,979) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 3.62% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 24.19 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 4.56 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 16.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 76.06 years
\Imale:\i 72.84 years
\Ifemale:\i 79.45 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.38 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i French Guianese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i French Guianese
\BEthnic groups:\b black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic
\BLanguages:\b French
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 83%
\Imale:\i 84%
\Ifemale:\i 82% (1982 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Department of Guiana
\Iconventional short form:\i French Guiana
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Guyane
\BData code:\b FG
\BDependency status:\b overseas department of France
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Cayenne
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BIndependence:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
\BConstitution:\b 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
\BLegal system:\b French legal system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of \JFrance\j Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Pierre DARTOUT (since NA)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the General Council Stephan PHINERA (since NA March 1994) \Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i representative of the French Government appointed by the president of \JFrance\j on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils, who vote on party lines
\BLegislative branch:\b 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)
\Ielections:\i General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Council - last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSG 8, FDP 4, RPR 1, other left 2, other right 2, other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSG 16, FDG 10, RPR 2, independents 3
\Inote:\i 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 - FDG 1; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, independent (left) 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with \Jjurisdiction\j over Martinique, \JGuadeloupe\j, and French Guiana)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Guianese Socialist Party or PSG [Leone MICHOTTE]; Socialist Party or PS [Jean BART] (may be a subset of PSG); Nationalist Popular Party of \JGuyana\j (Parti Nationaliste Populaire Guiana) or PNPG [Jose DORCY]; Union of Social Democrats (Union des Socialistes Democates) or USD [Leon BERTRAND] (umbrella group of RPR and UDF); Rally for the Republic or RPR [Leon BERTRAND]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [R. CHOW-CHINE]; \JGuyana\j Democratic Front or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Walwari Committee [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON]; Action Democrate Guiana or ADG [Andre LECANTE]; Forces de Progres or FDP
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JFrance\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is tied closely to that of \JFrance\j through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at \JKourou\j, fishing and \Jforestry\j are the most important economic activities, with exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1992. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and \Jenergy\j. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $800 million (1993 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1993 est.)
\Idomestic:\i fair open wire and microwave radio relay system
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 5, FM 7, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 79,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 9
\BTelevisions:\b 22,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,817 km (national 432 km, departmental 385 km, community 1,000 km)\Ipaved:\i 727 km
\Iunpaved:\i 1,090 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft
\BPorts and harbors:\b Cayenne, Degrad des \JCannes\j, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 10 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 7
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 4 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b French Forces, Gendarmerie
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 44,799 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 29,033 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)
\BIllicit drugs:\b small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
#
"French Polynesia (Atlas)",83,0,0,0
\I(overseas territory of \JFrance\j)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, archipelago in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from \JSouth America\j to Australia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 00 S, 140 00 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
\Iland:\i 3,660 sq km
\Iwater:\i 507 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,525 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical, but moderate
\BTerrain:\b mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Orohena 2,241 m
\BNatural resources:\b timber, fish, cobalt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 1%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 6%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 5%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 31%
\Iother:\i 57% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b occasional cyclonic storms in January
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in French \JPolynesia\j is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the \JPacific Ocean\j - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 233,488 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 34% (male 39,958; female 38,492)
\I15-64 years:\i 62% (male 75,450; female 69,441)
\I65 years and over:\i 4% (male 5,063; female 5,084) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.89% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 23.27 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 4.95 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 13.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 72.17 years
\Imale:\i 69.81 years
\Ifemale:\i 74.65 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.77 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i French Polynesian(s)
\Iadjective:\i French Polynesian
\BEthnic groups:\b Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% \BReligions:\b Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%
\BLanguages:\b French (official), Tahitian (official)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 14 and over can read and write, but definition of \Jliteracy\j not available
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 98%
\Ifemale:\i 98% (1977 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of French Polynesia
\Iconventional short form:\i French Polynesia
\Ilocal long form:\i Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
\Ilocal short form:\i Polynesie Francaise
\BData code:\b FP
\BDependency status:\b overseas territory of \JFrance\j since 1946
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Papeete
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j); 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
\Inote:\i Clipperton Island is administered by \JFrance\j from French Polynesia
\BIndependence:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
\BConstitution:\b 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
\BLegal system:\b based on French system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of \JFrance\j Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Dominique BUR (since NA)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the Territorial Government of French \JPolynesia\j Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Tinomana EBB (since NA)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
\Ielections:\i high commissioner appointed by the president of \JFrance\j 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
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 12 May 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 22, Polynesian Liberation Front 10, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4
\Inote:\i 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 - NA; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b People's Rally for the Republic (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; Polynesian Union Party (includes Te Tiarama and Here Ai'a Party) [Jean JUVENTIN]; Polynesian Liberation Front (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; Independent Party (Ia Mana Te Nunaa) [Jacques DROLLET]; Te Aratia Ote Nunaa [Tinomana EBB]; Haere i Mua [Alexandre LEONTIEFF]; other small parties
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Since 1962, when \JFrance\j stationed military personnel in the region, French \JPolynesia\j has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. The territory will continue to benefit from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with \JFrance\j aimed principally at creating new jobs.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.76 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1995 est.)
\BExchange rates:\b Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 98.48 (January 1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 33,200 (1983 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 5, FM 2, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 116,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 6
\BTelevisions:\b 35,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 792 km
\Ipaved:\i 792 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Mataura, \JPapeete\j, Rikitea, Uturoa
\Iships by type:\i chemical tanker 1, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 41 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 35
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 5
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 13
\Iunder 914 m:\i 15 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 6 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Atlas)",84,0,0,0
\I(overseas territory of \JFrance\j)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b South of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, \JAntarctica\j, and \JAustralia\j; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands includes Ile \JAmsterdam\j, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of \JAntarctica\j, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 43 00 S, 67 00 E
\BMap references:\b Antarctic Region
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 7,781 sq km
\Iland:\i 7,781 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Ile \JAmsterdam\j, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in \JAntarctica\j that is not recognized by the US
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,232 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen only
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b antarctic
\BTerrain:\b volcanic
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mont Ross on Kerguelen 1,850 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, crayfish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b Ile \JAmsterdam\j and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b remote location in the southern Indian Ocean
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants
\Inote:\i there were 134 (1996) mostly researchers whose numbers vary from winter (July) to summer (January)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
\Iconventional short form:\i French Southern and Antarctic Lands
\Ilocal long form:\i Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
\Ilocal short form:\i Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
\BData code:\b FS
\BDependency status:\b overseas territory of \JFrance\j since 1955; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from Paris, France
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et \JAmsterdam\j; excludes "Adelie Land" claim in \JAntarctica\j that is not recognized by the US
\BIndependence:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JFrance\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to \JFrance\j and Reunion.
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $24.5 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996)
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\Inote:\i a subset of the French register allowing French-owned ships to operate under more liberal taxation and manning regulations than permissible under the main French register (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b none
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b "Adelie Land" claim in \JAntarctica\j is not recognized by the US
#
"Gabon (Atlas)",85,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the \JAtlantic Ocean\j at the Equator, between Republic of the \JCongo\j and Equatorial Guinea
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 1 00 S, 11 45 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 267,670 sq km
\Iland:\i 257,670 sq km
\Iwater:\i 10,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Colorado
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,551 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JCameroon\j 298 km, Republic of the \JCongo\j 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km
\BCoastline:\b 885 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; always hot, humid
\BTerrain:\b narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, \Jmanganese\j, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 1%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 18%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 77%
\Iother:\i 3% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 40 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; poaching
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 87.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 56.05 years
\Imale:\i 53.13 years
\Ifemale:\i 50.06 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.85 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Gabonese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Gabonese
\BEthnic groups:\b 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
\BReligions:\b Christian 55%-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist
\BLanguages:\b French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\BIndependence:\b 17 August 1960 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 17 August (1960) (\JGabon\j granted full independence from \JFrance\j)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 14 March 1991
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j not accepted
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema (since 9 December 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i President Omar BONGO reelected; percent of vote - Omar BONGO 51%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral legislature consists of a Senate (91 seats) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms
\Ielections:\i National Assembly - last held in December 1996 (next to be held in December 2001); Senate - last held 12 January 1997 (next to be held in January 2002)\Ielection results:\i National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 100, Morena-Bucherons/RNB 8, PUP 3, CLR 3, FAR 1, UPG 1, USG 2, PGP 2; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 51, RNB 17, PGP 4, ADERA 3, RDP 1, others 15
\Inote:\i the provision of the constitution for the establishment of a senate was implemented in the 12 January 1997 elections
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal (2); Court of State Security; County Courts
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Action Forum for Renewal or FAR [Leon MBOU-YEMBI, secretary general]; Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, former sole party [Simplice Guedet MANZELA, secretary general]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE, president]; Gabonese People's Union or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]; Gabonese Socialist Union or USG [Dr. Serge Mba BEKALE]; National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks or Morena-Bucherons/RNB [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; ADERA
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic problems, \JGabon\j enjoys a per capita income three times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. \JGabon\j depended on timber and \Jmanganese\j until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth has been feeble since 1991 and \JGabon\j continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, \Jmanganese\j, and uranium exports. Despite an abundance of natural wealth and a manageable rate of population growth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and \JGabon\j 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. \JFrance\j provided additional financial support in January 1997 after \JGabon\j had met IMF targets for mid-1996.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $6.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,400 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture 65%, industry and commerce, services
\BUnemployment rate:\b 10%-14% (1993 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $1.3 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $311 million (1993 est.)
\BIndustries:\b food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement; \Jpetroleum\j extraction and refining; \Jmanganese\j, uranium, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 301,000 kW (1992)
\BElectricity - production:\b 930 million kWh (1994)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 744 kWh (1994 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b \Jcocoa\j, \Jcoffee\j, sugar, \Jpalm oil\j; \Jrubber\j; okoume (a tropical softwood); \Jcattle\j; small fishing operations (provide a catch of about 30,000 metric tons)
\Inote:\i beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 22,000 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 12 \Jearth\j stations
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard (charged with protecting the president and other senior officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 275,520 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 140,777 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 11,293 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $154 million (1993)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.4% (1993)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
#
"Gaza Strip (Atlas)",86,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b 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. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996. 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 has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 \JCairo\j 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 DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations which began on 5 May 1996.
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between \JEgypt\j and Israel
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 31 25 N, 34 20 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 360 sq km
\Iland:\i 360 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 62 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JEgypt\j 11 km, Israel 51 km
\BCoastline:\b 40 km
\BMaritime claims:\b Israeli occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation
\BClimate:\b temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
\BTerrain:\b flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JMediterranean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
\BNatural resources:\b NEGL
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 24%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 39%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 11%
\Iother:\i 26% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 120 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jdesertification\j; salination of fresh water
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1996 est.)
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 987,869 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i in addition, there are 5,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip (August 1996 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 72.46 years
\Imale:\i 71.12 years
\Ifemale:\i 73.87 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 7.68 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i NA
\Iadjective:\i NA
\BEthnic groups:\b Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
\BReligions:\b Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic, \JHebrew\j (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Gaza Strip
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Qita Ghazzah
\BData code:\b GZ
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic progress in the Gaza Strip has been hampered by tight Israeli security restrictions. In 1991 roughly 40% of Gaza Strip workers were employed across the border by Israeli industrial, construction, and agricultural enterprises, with worker remittances supplementing GDP by roughly 50%. Gaza has depended upon Israel for nearly 90% of its external trade. The Persian Gulf crisis and its aftershocks has dealt blows to Gaza since August 1990. Worker remittances from the Gulf states have dropped, unemployment and popular unrest have increased, and living standards have fallen. The withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip in May 1994 has added to the set of adjustment problems. This series of disruptions has meant a sharp decline in employment in Israel since 1991 and a drop in GDP as a whole. An estimated 378,000 persons were in refugee camps in 1996.\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -1% to -2% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i construction 33.4%, agriculture 20.0%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels
14.9%, industry 10.0%, other services 21.7% (1991)
\Inote:\i excluding Israeli settlers
\BUnemployment rate:\b 35% to 40% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $684 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $779 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996)
\Inote:\i includes West Bank
\BIndustries:\b 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
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\Inote:\i 3.1% of Palestinian households have telephones
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA; note - 95% of Palestinian households have radios (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b NA; note - 59% of Palestinian households have televisions (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km; note - one line, abandoned and in disrepair, little trackage remains
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\Inote:\i small, poorly developed road network
\BPorts and harbors:\b Gaza
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i new international airport under construction and scheduled to open in June 1997
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b NA
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b 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 (Atlas)",87,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b Beset by ethnic and civil strife since independence in 1991, Georgia began to stabilize in 1994. Separatist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been dormant since spring 1994, although political settlements remain elusive. Russian peacekeepers are deployed in both regions and a UN Observer Mission is operating in Abkhazia. As a result of these conflicts, Georgia still has about 250,000 internally displaced people. In 1995, Georgia adopted a new constitution and conducted generally free and fair nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections. In 1996, the government focused its attention to implementing an ambitious economic reform program and professionalizing its parliament. Violence and organized crime were sharply curtailed in 1995 and 1996, but corruption remains rife.
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southwestern Asia, bordering the \JBlack Sea\j, between Turkey and Russia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 42 00 N, 43 30 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 69,700 sq km
\Iland:\i 69,700 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than South Carolina
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,461 km
\Iborder countries:\i Armenia 164 km, \JAzerbaijan\j 322 km, \JRussia\j 723 km, Turkey 252 km
\BCoastline:\b 310 km
\BMaritime claims:\b NA
\BClimate:\b warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on \JBlack Sea\j coast
\BTerrain:\b largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhida Lowland opens to the \JBlack Sea\j in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JBlack Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 m
\BNatural resources:\b forests, hydropower, \Jmanganese\j deposits, iron ore, copper, minor \Jcoal\j and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and \Jcitrus\j growth
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 9%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 4%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 25%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 34%
\Iother:\i 28% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 4,000 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy \Jpollution\j of Mtkvari River and the \JBlack Sea\j; inadequate supplies of potable \Jwater\j; soil \Jpollution\j from toxic chemicals
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution
\Inote:\i administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
\BIndependence:\b 9 April 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 26 May (1991)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 17 October 1995
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i 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; elected president 5 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i 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; elected president 5 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet of Ministers
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA April 2001)
\Ielection results:\i Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Supreme Council or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - CUG 24%, NDP 8%, All Georgia Revival Union 7%, all other parties received less than 5% each; seats by party - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Citizens Union of Georgia or CUG [Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, Zurab ZHVANIA, general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTARIA]; United Republican Party, umbrella organization for parties including the GPF and the Charter 1991 Party [Notar NATADZE, chairman]; Georgian Popular Front or GPF [Nodar NATADZE, chairman]; Charter 1991 Party [Tedo PAATASHVILI]; Georgian Social Democratic Party or GSDP [Guram MUCHAIDZE, secretary general]; All Georgia Union for Revival [Alsan ABASHIDZE]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Irakli SHENGELAYA]; Democratic Georgia Union or DGU [Avtandil MARGIANI]; National Independence Party or NIP [Irakliy TSERETELI, chairman]; Georgian Monarchists' Party or GMP [Temur ZHORZHOLIANI]; Greens Party; Agrarian Party of Georgia or APG [Roin LIPARTELIANI]; United Communist Party of Georgia or UCP [Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b supporters of ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA (deceased 1 January 1994) remain a source of opposition; separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia
\BInternational organization participation:\b BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), \JCIS\j, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
\Ichancery:\i (temporary) Suite 424, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 393-5959
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 393-4537
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador William H. COURTNEY
\Iembassy:\i
25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i 995-32-989-967 or 995-32-933-803 (operator assisted)
\IFAX:\i tie-line FAX 997-0200; 933-759 or 938-951
\BFlag description:\b maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around \JBlack Sea\j tourism; cultivation of \Jcitrus\j fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of \Jmanganese\j and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The country imports the bulk of its \Jenergy\j needs, including \Jnatural gas\j and oil products. Its only sizable internal \Jenergy\j 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, has made substantial economic gains in 1995-96, pushing GDP growth and slashing \Jinflation\j. Georgia had been suffering from acute \Jenergy\j shortages, although \Jenergy\j deliveries improved in 1996. Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery on the development of an international transportation corridor through the key \JBlack Sea\j ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. The decision in 1996 to construct an early Caspian oil pipeline through Georgia underscores the viability of such a corridor and may spur greater western investment in the economy. A growing trade deficit and political uncertainties \Jcloud\j the short-term economic picture.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $7.1 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated
from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 11% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,350 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i industry and construction 31%, agriculture and \Jforestry\j 25%, other 44% (1990)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 21% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b steel, \Jaircraft\j, machine tools, foundry equipment, electric locomotives, tower cranes, electric welding equipment, machinery for food preparation and meat packing, electric motors, process control equipment, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 7.7% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 4.56 million kW (1994)
\Icommodities:\i \Jcitrus\j fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products; diverse types of machinery; ferrous and nonferrous metals; textiles; chemicals; fuel re-exports\Ipartners:\i \JRussia\j, Turkey, Armenia, \JAzerbaijan\j, \JBulgaria\j (1996)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $647 million (c.i.f., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts, transport equipment \Ipartners:\i \JRussia\j, Turkey, \JAzerbaijan\j (1996); note - EU and US send humanitarian food shipments
\BDebt - external:\b $1.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $28 million (1993)
\Inote:\i commitments, 1992-95, $1,200 million ($675 million disbursements)
\BCurrency:\b lari introduced September 1995 replacing the coupon
\BExchange rates:\b lari per US$1 (end of period) - 1.28 (December 1996), 1.24 (December 1995)
\Iinternational:\i landline to \JCIS\j members and Turkey; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Eutelsat; leased connections with other countries via the Moscow international gateway switch; international electronic mail and telex service available
\Itotal:\i 1,583 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines\Ibroad gauge:\i 1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 21,000 km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\Inote:\i Georgia reports 19,635 km of "hard surfaced" roads which combine the lengths of paved and graveled roads; 1,365 km of unsurfaced or dirt roads are reported separately (1995 est.)
\BTransportation - note:\b transportation network is in poor condition and disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,288,694 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,020,609 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 40,799 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 38.2 trillion coupons (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates to Western Europe
#
"Germany (Atlas)",88,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and \JPoland\j, south of Denmark
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 51 00 N, 9 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 356,910 sq km
\Iland:\i 349,520 sq km
\Iwater:\i 7,390 sq km
\Inote:\i includes the formerly separate Federal Republic of \JGermany\j, the German Democratic Republic, and Berlin, following formal unification on 3 October 1990
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Montana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,621 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAustria\j 784 km, \JBelgium\j 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, \JFrance\j 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, \JPoland\j 456 km, \JSwitzerland\j 334 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,389 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity
\BTerrain:\b lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b emissions from \Jcoal\j-burning utilities and industries and lead emissions from vehicle exhausts (the result of continued use of leaded fuels) contribute to air \Jpollution\j; \Jacid rain\j, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; heavy \Jpollution\j in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern \JGermany\j; hazardous waste disposal
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 76.81 years
\Imale:\i 73.64 years
\Ifemale:\i 80.16 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.24 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i German(s)
\Iadjective:\i German
\BEthnic groups:\b German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, Italians 0.7%, Greeks 0.4%, \JPoles\j 0.4%, other 4.6% (made up largely of people fleeing the war in the former Yugoslavia)
\BReligions:\b Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 1.7%, unaffiliated or other 26.3%
\BLanguages:\b German
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 99% (1977 est.)
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Federal Republic of Germany
\Iconventional short form:\i Germany
\Ilocal long form:\i Bundesrepublik Deutschland
\Ilocal short form:\i Deutschland
\BData code:\b GM
\BGovernment type:\b federal republic
\BNational capital:\b Berlin
\Inote:\i the shift from \JBonn\j to Berlin will take place over a period of years, with \JBonn\j retaining many administrative functions and several ministries even after parliament moves in 1999
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 16 states (laender, singular - land); \JBaden\j-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, \JHamburg\j, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, \JSchleswig\j-Holstein, Thueringen \BIndependence:\b 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, \JFrance\j) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of \JGermany\j (FRG or West \JGermany\j) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East \JGermany\j) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West \JGermany\j and East \JGermany\j took place 3 October 1990;
all four power rights formally relinquished 15 March 1991
\BNational holiday:\b German Unity Day (Day of Unity), 3 October (1990)
\BConstitution:\b 23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united German people 3 October 1990
\BLegal system:\b civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Johannes RAU (since May 1999)
\Ihead of government:\i Chancellor Gerhard SHROEDER (since 30 September 1998)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president upon the proposal of the chancellor
\Ielections:\i president elected by the Federal Convention including members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of members elected by the Land Parliaments for a five-year term; election last held September 1998; chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term
\Ielection results:\i Johannes RAU elected president; percent of Federal Convention vote - NA; Gerhard SHROEDER elected chancellor; percent of Federal Assembly - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral chamber (no official name for the two chambers as a whole) consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (656 seats usually, but 672 for the 1994 term; elected by direct 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 (68 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)
\Ielection results:\i Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht, half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Helmut KOHL, chairman]; Christian Social Union or CSU [Theo WAIGEL, chairman]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [Wolfgang GERHARDT, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [Gerhard SCHROEDER, chairman]; Alliance '90/Greens [Gunda ROESTEL, Juergen TRITTIN, cochairpersons]; Party of Democratic Socialism or PDS [Lothar BISKY, chairman]; Republikaner [Rolf SCHLIERER, chairman]; National Democratic Party or NPD [Ellen-Doris SCHERER]; Communist Party or DKP [Rolf PRIEMER and Heinz STEHR, cochairpersons]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b employers' organizations, expellee, refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups
\Ichancery:\i 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 298-4000
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 298-4249
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JAtlanta\j, \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, \JDetroit\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, \JSan Francisco\j, Seattle
\Iconsulate(s):\i Wellington (\JAmerican Samoa\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James D. BINDENAGEL
\Iembassy:\i Deichmanns Aue 29, 53170 Bonn
\Imailing address:\i APO AE 09080, PSC 117, Bonn
\Itelephone:\i [49] (228) 3391
\IFAX:\i [49] (228) 339-2663
\Ibranch office:\i Berlin
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JDusseldorf\j, Frankfurt am Main, \JHamburg\j, \JLeipzig\j, Munich
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JGermany\j, the world's third-most powerful economy, is gearing up for the European Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. One key economic priority is meeting the Maastricht criteria for entry into EMU, a goal complicated by record unemployment and stagnating growth. The government has implemented an austerity budget in its attempt to get the deficit down to 3% of GDP as required by Maastricht, but further cuts probably will be necessary and there is little consensus among the parties or elites about next steps toward that end. In recent years business and political leaders have become increasingly concerned about \JGermany\j's apparent decline in attractiveness as a business location. They cite the increasing preference of German companies to locate new manufacturing facilities - long the strength of the postwar economy - in foreign countries, including the US, rather than in \JGermany\j, so they can be closer to their markets and avoid \JGermany\j's high taxes and labor costs. At the same time, \JGermany\j faces its own unique problem of bringing its eastern area up to scratch after 45 years of communist rule. Despite substantial progress toward economic \Jintegration\j, the eastern states will continue to rely on the annual subsidy of approximately $100 billion from the western part into the next century. Assistance from the west helped the east to average nearly 8% annual economic growth in 1992-95, even though the overall German economy had averaged less than 2% growth; growth in the east, however, tumbled to 2% in 1996, with unemployment a particularly severe problem.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.7 trillion (western: purchasing power parity - $1.56 trillion; eastern: purchasing power parity - $142 billion) (1996 est.)
\Iexpenditures:\i $832.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
\BIndustries:\b western: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, \Jcoal\j, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, \Jelectronics\j, food and beverages; eastern: metal fabrication, chemicals, brown \Jcoal\j, shipbuilding, machine building, food and beverages, textiles, \Jpetroleum\j refining
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 1.3% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 109.73 million kW (1994)
\Icommodities:\i manufactures 88.2% (including machines and machine tools, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel products), agricultural products 5.0%, raw materials 2.3%, fuels 1.0%, other 3.5% (1995)
\Ipartners:\i EU 57.7% (\JFrance\j 11.7%, UK 8.1%, \JItaly\j 7.6%, Netherlands 7.5%, \JBelgium\j-Luxembourg 6.5%, \JAustria\j 5.5%), Eastern Europe 8.0%, other West European countries 7.5%, US 7.3%, NICs 5.6%, \JJapan\j 2.5%, OPEC 2.2%, China 1.4% (1996 est. for first 10 months)
\Icommodities:\i manufactures 74.2%, agricultural products 9.9%, fuels 6.4%, raw materials 5.9%, other 3.6% (1995)
\Ipartners:\i EU 55.5% (\JFrance\j 10.8%, Netherlands 8.6%, \JItaly\j 8.4%, \JBelgium\j-Luxembourg 6.6%, UK 6.4%, \JAustria\j 3.9%), Eastern Europe 8.7%, other West European countries 7.2%, US 6.8%, \JJapan\j 5.3%, NICs 5.3%, China 2.4%, OPEC 1.7%, other 7.1% (1995)
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Idonor:\i ODA, $9 billion (1996 est.)
\BCurrency:\b 1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige
\BExchange rates:\b deutsche marks (DM) per US$1 - 1.6043 (January 1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 44 million
\BTelephone system:\b \JGermany\j 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 is being rapidly modernized and integrated with that of the western part \Idomestic:\i the region which was formerly West \JGermany\j is served by an extensive system of automatic \Jtelephone\j exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic \Jsatellite\j system; cellular \Jtelephone\j service is widely available and includes roaming service to many foreign countries; since the reunification of \JGermany\j, the \Jtelephone\j system of the eastern region has been upgraded and enjoys many of the advantages of the national system \Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 14 Intelsat (12 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j region), 2 Intersputnik (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j region and 1 Indian Ocean region); 6 submarine cable connections; 2 HF radiotelephone communication centers; tropospheric scatter links \BRadio broadcast stations:\b western - AM 80, FM 470, shortwave 0; eastern - AM 23, FM 17, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 70 million (1991 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 246 (repeaters 6,000); note - there are 15 Russian repeaters in eastern Germany
\BTelevisions:\b 44.8 million (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 43,966 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 43,531 km 1.435-m; 40,355 km are owned by Deutsche Bahn AG (DB); 17,015 km of the DB system are electrified and 16,941 km are double- or more-tracked\Inarrow gauge:\i 389 km 1.000-m gauge (DB operates 146 km of 1.000-m gauge); 7 km 0.900-m gauge; 39 km 0.750-m gauge
\Inote:\i in addition to the DB system there are 54 privately-owned industrial or excursion railways, ranging in route length from 2 km to 632 km, with a total length of 3,465 km (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 639,800 km
\Ipaved:\i 504,800 km (including 11,013 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 135,000 km all-\Jweather\j, graveled (1993 est.)
\BWaterways:\b western - 5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of 1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea; eastern - 2,319 km (1988)
\Inote:\i includes ships from the former East Germany and West Germany
\BAirports:\b 613 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 544
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 13
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 63
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 69
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 51
\Iunder 914 m:\i 348 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 69
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 5
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 7
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 55 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 65 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm), Air Force, Medical Corps, Border Police, Coast Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 20,918,653 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 17,939,494 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 450,147 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $42.8 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.5% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b source of precursor chemicals for South American \Jcocaine\j processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin and \Jhashish\j, Latin American \Jcocaine\j, and European-produced synthetic drugs
#
"Ghana (Atlas)",89,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 8 00 N, 2 00 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 238,540 sq km
\Iland:\i 230,020 sq km
\Iwater:\i 8,520 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Oregon
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,093 km
\Iborder countries:\i Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, \JTogo\j 877 km
\BCoastline:\b 539 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
\BTerrain:\b mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
\BNatural hazards:\b dry, dusty, \Jharmattan\j winds occur from January to March; droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b recent \Jdrought\j in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water \Jpollution\j; inadequate supplies of potable water
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
\BGeography - note:\b Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly \Jharmattan\j wind (January to March)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
\BConstitution:\b new constitution approved 28 April 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 3 November 1992); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 3 November 1992); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by the Parliament
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected by popular vote for four-year terms;
election last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Jerry John RAWLINGS elected president; percent of vote - Rawlings 58.8%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 126, NPP 65, PCP 5, PNC 1, to be determined 3
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter Ala ADJETY]; People's Heritage Party or PHP [Alex ERSKINE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong Kuman Kuman]; Every Ghanian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Ashang OKINE]; Peoples Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOS-AYIFL, acting chairman]; Peoples National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Designate Harry SAWYERS
\Ichancery:\i 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 686-4520
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 686-4527
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Edward BRYNN
\Iembassy:\i Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 194, Accra
\Itelephone:\i [233] (21) 775348
\IFAX:\i [233] (21) 775747
\BFlag description:\b 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 \JEthiopia\j; similar to the flag of \JBolivia\j, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Well endowed with natural resources, \JGhana\j has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, \JGhana\j remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. \JGhana\j has made steady progress in liberalizing its economy since 1983. Overall growth continued at a rate of approximately 5% in 1995 and 1996, due largely to increased gold, timber, and \Jcocoa\j production - major sources of foreign exchange. The economy, however, continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for almost half of GDP and employs 55% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In 1995-96, \JGhana\j has made mixed progress under a three-year structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side, public sector wage increases, regional peacekeeping commitments, and the containment of internal unrest in the underdeveloped north have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with \JGhana\j's austerity program.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $27 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,530 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry 18.7%, sales and clerical 15.2%, professional 3.7%, services, transportation, and communications 7.7%
\BUnemployment rate:\b 10% (1993 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $1.05 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $178 million (1993)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1995 est.)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 37,561 km
\Ipaved:\i 9,353 km (including 21 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 28,208 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 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
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 4,254,386 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,365,286 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 178,560 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $30 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 0.8% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American \Jcocaine\j destined for Europe and the US
#
"Gibraltar (Atlas)",90,0,0,0
\I(dependent territory of the UK)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of \JGibraltar\j, which links the \JMediterranean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, on the southern coast of Spain
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 36 11 N, 5 22 W
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 6.5 sq km
\Iland:\i 6.5 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1.2 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JSpain\j 1.2 km
\BCoastline:\b 12 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
\BTerrain:\b a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JMediterranean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Rock of \JGibraltar\j 426 m
\BNatural resources:\b NEGL
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 100% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b limited natural freshwater resources, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location on Strait of \JGibraltar\j that links the North Atlantic
Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 28,913 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 20% (male 3,121; female 2,725)
\I15-64 years:\i 66% (male 10,771; female 8,278)
\I65 years and over:\i 14% (male 1,629; female 2,389) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.48% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 13.45 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 8.78 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (\JChurch of England\j 8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
\BLanguages:\b English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i NA
\Itotal population:\i above 95%
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Gibraltar
\BData code:\b GI
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Gibraltar
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
\BConstitution:\b 30 May 1969
\BLegal system:\b English law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Admiral Sir Richard LUCE (NA February 1997)
\Ihead of government:\i Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed from among the elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
\Inote:\i there is also a \JGibraltar\j Council that advises the governor
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats, 15 elected; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%; seats by party - SD 8, SL 7
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JGibraltar\j Socialist Labor Party or SL [Joe BOSSANO]; \JGibraltar\j Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights or GCL/AACR [Adolfo CANEPA]; \JGibraltar\j Social Democrats or SD [Peter CARUANA]; \JGibraltar\j National Party or NP [Joe GARCIA]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; \JGibraltar\j Representatives Organization
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BFlag description:\b two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JGibraltar\j benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of employment.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $205 million (1993 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,600 (1993 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture NEGL
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $111.6 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995-96)
\BIndustries:\b tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK naval and air bases; \Jtobacco\j, mineral waters, beer, canned fish
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 33,000 kW (1993)
\BElectricity - production:\b 90 million kWh (1994)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BAgriculture - products:\b none
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $57 million (f.o.b., 1993)
\Icommodities:\i (principally reexports) \Jpetroleum\j 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
\BExchange rates:\b \JGibraltar\j pounds (£G) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); note - the \JGibraltar\j pound is at par with the British pound
\BFiscal year:\b 1 July - 30 June
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 19,356 (1994)
\BTelephone system:\b adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities
\Idomestic:\i automatic exchange facilities
\Iinternational:\i radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 4
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 49.9 km (including 12.9 km public highways)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air pollution; \Jwater\j pollution
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Desertification, Tropical Timber 94
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location dominating the \JAegean Sea\j and southern approach to
Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
\BIndependence:\b 1829 (from the \JOttoman Empire\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)
\BConstitution:\b 11 June 1975
\BLegal system:\b based on codified \JRoman law\j; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995) \Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by Chamber of Deputies for a five-year term; election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president; percent of Chamber of
Deputies vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i elections last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by NA September 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%, KKE 5.6%, Coalition
of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%, Political Spring 2.9%; seats by party - PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Konstandinos SIMITIS]; Communist Party or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; Political Spring [Andonios SAMARAS]; Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Nikolaos KONSTANDOPOULOS]; Democratic Social Movement or DIKKI [Dhimitrios TSOVOLAS]; Rainbow Coalition [Pavlos VOSKOPOULOS]
\BFlag description:\b nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JGreece\j has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for roughly half of GDP. Tourism is a major source of foreign exchange, and agriculture is self-sufficient, except for meat, dairy products, and animal feedstuffs. Macroeconomic problems include mediocre GDP growth, the huge public sector, substantial budget deficits, and 10% unemployment. The government's hard drachma policy and public sector wage restraint are largely responsible for the downward trend in \Jinflation\j, now at the lowest level in 22 years. Investment is likely to be the primary engine for economic growth in 1997. \JAthens\j continues to rely heavily on EU aid, which currently amounts to about 4% of GDP. Despite widespread protests from unions and farmers, Prime Minister SIMITIS presented a tough 1997 budget to help bring \JGreece\j closer to meeting the EU criteria for participating in economic and monetary union. SIMITIS faces strong opposition to further privatization and further austerity. Plans to increase defense spending could undermine SIMITIS's goal to curb government expenditures.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $106.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.2% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b adequate, modern networks reach all areas; microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine cables to off-shore islands
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable
\Iinternational:\i tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 29, FM 17 (repeaters 20), shortwave 0
\Istandard gauge:\i 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 100 km double track)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 887 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type railway for steep grades)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 116,440 km
\Ipaved:\i 106,775 km (including 420 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 9,665 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the \JCorinth\j Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of \JCorinth\j connecting the Gulf of \JCorinth\j with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Piraievs (\JPiraeus\j) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 26 km; \Jpetroleum\j products 547 km
\Inote:\i \JGreece\j owns an additional 1,883 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 67,631,159 DWT operating under the registries of The \JBahamas\j, \JBelize\j, \JCayman\j Islands, Cyprus, \JHonduras\j, \JLiberia\j, Malta, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, \JSingapore\j, \JSyria\j, Vanuatu (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 78 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 75
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 5
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 15
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 16
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 18
\Iunder 914 m:\i 21 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard, Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 21 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,677,826 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,050,740 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 80,102 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $4.9 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 4.6% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in \JAegean Sea\j; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name; in September 1995, Skopje and \JAthens\j signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; \JAthens\j also lifted its economic embargo on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
\BIllicit drugs:\b a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the \JMiddle East\j and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American \Jcocaine\j transits or is consumed in \JGreece\j
#
"Greenland (Atlas)",93,0,0,0
\I(part of the Danish realm)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern \JNorth America\j, island between the \JArctic\j Ocean and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, northeast of Canada
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 72 00 N, 40 00 W
\BMap references:\b \JArctic\j Region
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,175,600 sq km
\Iland:\i 2,175,600 sq km (341,600 sq km ice-free, 1,834,000 sq km ice-covered) (est.)
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than three times the size of Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 44,087 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b \Jarctic\j to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
\BTerrain:\b flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
\BNatural hazards:\b continuous \Jpermafrost\j over northern two-thirds of the island
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b protection of the \Jarctic\j environment; preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling; note - \JGreenland\j participates actively in \JInuit\j Circumpolar Conference (ICC)
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Whaling (extended through Denmark)
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b dominates North \JAtlantic Ocean\j between \JNorth America\j and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 58,768 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 27% (male 7,843; female 7,711)
\I15-64 years:\i 68% (male 21,931; female 18,237)
\I65 years and over:\i 5% (male 1,393; female 1,653) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.94% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 16.39 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 6.99 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BIndependence:\b none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division)
\BNational holiday:\b Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
\BConstitution:\b 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
\BLegal system:\b Danish
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties
\Ielections:\i the queen is a constitutional monarch; high commissioner appointed by the queen; prime minister is elected by the Parliament; election last held NA 1991 (next to be held NA)
\Ielection results:\i Gunnar MARTENS elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held by 5 March 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - Siumut 38.4%, \JInuit\j Ataqatigiit 20.3%, Atassut Party 30.1%; seats by party - Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, \JInuit\j Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1
\Inote:\i 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court or Landsret
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b two-party ruling coalition; Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman]; \JInuit\j Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark) [Daniel SKIFTE]; Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JGreenland\j suffered negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. Nonetheless, prospects for substantial economic growth in the near future are poor. The \JGreenland\j Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a light fiscal policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the public budget and low \Jinflation\j. Since 1990, \JGreenland\j has registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last remaining lead and zinc mine in 1989. \JGreenland\j today is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far the largest income earner. Despite resumption of several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near term potential and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in \JGreenland\j's economy. About half the government revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $892 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $15,500 (1995 est.)
\Inatural hazards:\i lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
\Iinternational agreements:\i party to - \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Whaling
\BGeographic note:\b the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and \JGrenada\j
\BPeople:\b
\BPopulation:\b 94,961 (July 1996 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 43% (male 20,975; female 20,246)
\I15-64 years:\i 52% (male 26,089; female 23,068)
\I65 years and over:\i 5% (male 2,112; female 2,471) (July 1996 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.55% (1996 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 29.13 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.74 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -17.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i 1.02 male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i 1.04 male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i 1.13 male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i 0.86 male(s)/female
\Iall ages:\i 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy \Iat birth:\i
\Itotal population:\i 70.89 years
\Imale:\i 68.39 years
\Ifemale:\i 73.44 years (1996 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Grenadian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Grenadian
\BEthnic divisions:\b black African
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic, Anglican, other Protestant sects
\BLanguages:\b English (official), French patois
\BLiteracy:\b age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 98%
\Ifemale:\i 98%
\BGovernment:\b
\BName of country:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i \JGrenada\j
\BData code:\b GJ
\BType of government:\b parliamentary democracy
\BCapital:\b Saint George's
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
\BIndependence:\b 7 February 1974 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
\BConstitution:\b 19 December 1973
\BLegal system:\b based on English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Reginald Oswald PALMER (since 6 August 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June 1995) was appointed from members of the House of Assembly by the governor general
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of the opposition
House of Representatives: elections last held on 20 June 1995 (next to be held by NA October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) NDC 5, GULP 2, NNP 8
\BJudicial branch:\b West Indies Associate States Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Democratic Congress (NDC), George BRIZAN; \JGrenada\j United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY; The National Party (TNP), Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith MITCHELL; Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence MARRYSHOW; New Democratic Party (NDP), James MITCHELL; Unity Labor Party (ULP), Vincent BEACHE
\Ichancery:\i 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 265-2561
\IUS diplomatic representation:\i
\Ichief of mission:\i the ambassador to \JBarbados\j is accredited to \JGrenada\j; Charge d'Affaires Dennis CARTER
\Iembassy:\i Point Salines, Saint George's
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, \JGrenada\j, W.I.
\Itelephone:\i [1] (809) 444-1173 through 1178
\IFAX:\i [1] (809) 444-4820
\BFlag:\b a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic \Jnutmeg\j pod on the hoist-side triangle (\JGrenada\j is the world's second-largest producer of \Jnutmeg\j, after \JIndonesia\j); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions
\BEconomy:\b
\BEconomic overview:\b The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of the labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped, but is growing due to a favorable private investment climate since 1983. The economy achieved an impressive average annual growth rate of 5.5% in 1986-91 but has slowed since 1992. The new MITCHELL government has moved forward with a plan to eliminate personal income tax in the hope of spurring domestic consumption.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $284 million (1995 est.)
\Ipartners:\i US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, \JJapan\j 7.1% (1991)
\BExternal debt:\b $89.1 million (1995 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BTransportation:\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 994 km
\Ipaved:\i 597 km
\Iunpaved:\i 397 km (1988 est.)
\BPorts:\b Grenville, Saint George's
\BMerchant Marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\Iwith paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\Iwith paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iwith paved runways under 914 m:\i 1 (1995 est.)
\BCommunications:\b
\BTelephones:\b 5,650 (1988 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b automatic, islandwide \Jtelephone\j system
\Idomestic:\i interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
\Iinternational:\i new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 80,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1 (1988 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 30,000 (1993 est.)
\BDefense:\b
\BBranches:\b Royal \JGrenada\j Police Force, Coast Guard
\BManpower availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\Imales fit for military service:\i NA
\IDefense expenditures:\i $NA, NA% of GDP
#
"Guadeloupe (Atlas)",95,0,0,0
\I(overseas department of \JFrance\j)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, islands in the eastern \JCaribbean Sea\j, southeast of Puerto Rico
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 16 15 N, 61 35 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,780 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,706 sq km
\Iwater:\i 74 sq km
\Inote:\i \JGuadeloupe\j is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, including Basse-Terre, \JGrande-Terre\j, Marie-Galante, La Desirade, Iles des Saintes, St. Barthelemy, and part of St. Martin
\BArea - comparative:\b 10 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 10.2 km
\Iborder countries:\i Netherlands \JAntilles\j (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km
\BCoastline:\b 306 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
\BTerrain:\b Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; \JGrande-Terre\j is low \Jlimestone\j formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Soufriere 1,467 m
\BNatural resources:\b cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 14%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 4%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 14%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 39%
\Iother:\i 29% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 30 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 77.6 years
\Imale:\i 74.57 years
\Ifemale:\i 80.77 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.86 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Guadeloupian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Guadeloupe
\BEthnic groups:\b black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant sects 1%
\BLanguages:\b French (official) 99%, \JCreole\j patois
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 90%
\Imale:\i 90%
\Ifemale:\i 90% (1982 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Department of Guadeloupe
\Iconventional short form:\i Guadeloupe
\Ilocal long form:\i Departement de la Guadeloupe
\Ilocal short form:\i Guadeloupe
\BData code:\b GP
\BDependency status:\b overseas department of France
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Basse-Terre
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BIndependence:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
\BConstitution:\b 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
\BLegal system:\b French legal system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of \JFrance\j Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Michel DIEFENBACHER (since NA March 1995)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the General Council Dominique LARIFLA (since NA); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i prefect appointed by the president of \JFrance\j on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
\Ielection results:\i NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral General Council or Conseil General (43 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional(41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
\Ielections:\i General Council - last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by NA 1996); Regional Council - last held 31 January 1994 (next to be held 16 March 1998)
\Ielection results:\i General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FRUI.G 13, RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3, UPLG 1, PSG 1, independent 1; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - RPR/FGPS-\Jdissidents\j 48.30%, FGPS 17.09%, FRUI.G 7.44%, PPDG 8.90%, UPLG 7.75% PCG 6.05%; seats by party - RPR/FGPS-\Jdissidents\j 22, FGPS/FRUI.G 9, PPDG 5, PCG 3, UPLG 2
\Inote:\i \JGuadeloupe\j elects two representatives to the French Senate; elections last held in September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPDG 1, FGPS 1; \JGuadeloupe\j elects four representatives to the French National Assembly; elections last held on 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FGPS 2, RPR 1, PCG 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with \Jjurisdiction\j over \JGuadeloupe\j, French Guiana, and Martinique
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Rally for the Republic or RPR [Daniel BEAUBRUN]; Communist Party of \JGuadeloupe\j or PCG [Christian Medard CELESTE]; Socialist Party or FGPS [Georges LOUISOR]; Popular Union for the Liberation of \JGuadeloupe\j or UPLG [Claude MAKOUKE]; FGPS \JDissidents\j or FRUI.G [Dominique LARIFLA]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Marcel ESDRAS]; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG [Henri BANGOU]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Movement for Independent \JGuadeloupe\j or MPGI; General Union of \JGuadeloupe\j Workers or UGTG; General Federation of \JGuadeloupe\j Workers or CGT-G; Christian Movement for the Liberation of \JGuadeloupe\j or KLPG
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a five-pointed gold star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of \JFrance\j is used for official occasions
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon \JFrance\j for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although \JGuadeloupe\j is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from \JFrance\j. Light industry
consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $9,200 (1995 est.)
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 8 (private stations licensed to broadcast FM 30), shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 100,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 9
\BTelevisions:\b 150,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,082 km (national 329 km, regional 582 km, community/local 1171 km)
\Ipaved:\i 1,742 km
\Iunpaved:\i 340 km (1985 est.)
\Inote:\i in 1996 there were 3,200 km of roads
\BPorts and harbors:\b Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on St. Barthelemy), Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 9 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 9
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 6 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b French Forces, Gendarmerie
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Guam (Atlas)",96,0,0,0
\I(territory of the US)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, island in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 28 N, 144 47 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 541.3 sq km
\Iland:\i 541.3 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b three times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 125.5 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b volcanic origin, surrounded by \Jcoral\j reefs; relatively flat coralline \Jlimestone\j plateau (source of most fresh \Jwater\j) with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in south
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Lamlam 406 m
\BNatural resources:\b fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from \JJapan\j)
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 11%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 11%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 15%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 18%
\Iother:\i 45% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago;
strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 160,595 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 2.5% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 23.35 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 74.29 years
\Imale:\i 72.42 years
\Ifemale:\i 76.13 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.16 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Guamanian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Guamanian
\BEthnic groups:\b Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
\BLanguages:\b English, Chamorro, Japanese
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 99%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 99% (1990 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of Guam
\Iconventional short form:\i Guam
\BData code:\b GQ
\BDependency status:\b organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between \JGuam\j and the US under the \Jjurisdiction\j of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Agana
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (territory of the US)
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of the US)
\BNational holiday:\b \JGuam\j Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521); Liberation Day, 21 July (1944)
\BConstitution:\b Organic Act of 1 August 1950
\BLegal system:\b modeled on US; federal laws apply
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994)
\Icabinet:\i executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the \JGuam\j legislature
\Ielections:\i governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote and serve four-year terms; election last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Carl GUTIERREZ elected governor of \JGuam\j; percent of vote - Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) 54.6%, Tommy TANAKA (Republican) NA%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislature (21 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican 11, Democratic 10
\Inote:\i \JGuam\j elects one delegate to the US \JHouse of Representatives\j; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democrat 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Federal District Court, judge is appointed by the president; Territorial Superior Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Republican Party (controls the legislature); Democratic Party (party of the Governor)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territory of the US)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territory of the US)
\BFlag description:\b territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides;
centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical \Jellipse\j containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenue generated by the tourism industry. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than one million tourists visit \JGuam\j each year. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. \JGuam\j faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $19,000 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i mostly transshipments of refined \Jpetroleum\j products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
\Ipartners:\i US 25%, former Trust Territory of the \JPacific Islands\j 63%, other 12%
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $493 million (c.i.f., 1984)
\Icommodities:\i \Jpetroleum\j and \Jpetroleum\j products, food, manufactured goods
\Ipartners:\i US 23%, \JJapan\j 19%, other 58%
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guamanian Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
\BCurrency:\b 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 3
\BTelevisions:\b 75,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 674 km (all-\Jweather\j roads)
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Apra Harbor
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 4
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Guatemala (Atlas)",97,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Middle America, bordering the \JCaribbean Sea\j, between \JHonduras\j and \JBelize\j and bordering the North \JPacific Ocean\j, between El Salvador and Mexico
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 30 N, 90 15 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 108,890 sq km
\Iland:\i 108,430 sq km
\Iwater:\i 460 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Tennessee
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,687 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBelize\j 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, \JHonduras\j 256 km, Mexico 962 km
\BCoastline:\b 400 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling \Jlimestone\j plateau (Peten)
\BNatural hazards:\b numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; soil erosion; \Jwater\j pollution
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 49.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 65.64 years
\Imale:\i 63.02 years
\Ifemale:\i 68.39 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 4.89 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Guatemalan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Guatemalan
\BEthnic groups:\b Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 44% \BReligions:\b Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan
\BLanguages:\b Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 55.6%
\Imale:\i 62.5%
\Ifemale:\i 48.6% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Guatemala
\Iconventional short form:\i Guatemala
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Guatemala
\Ilocal short form:\i Guatemala
\BData code:\b GT
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Guatemala
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, \JGuatemala\j, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
\BIndependence:\b 15 September 1821 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
\BConstitution:\b 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986
\Inote:\i suspended 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president
\BLegal system:\b civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14 January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14 January 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14 January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14 January 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers named by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 12 November 1995; runoff held 7 January 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held on 12 November 1995 to select 80 new congressmen (next to be held in November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAN 43, FRG 21, FDNG 6, DCG 4, UCN 3, UD 2, MLN 1
\Inote:\i on 11 November 1993 the congress approved a procedure that reduced its number from 116 seats to 80; the procedure provided for a special election in mid-1994 to elect an interim congress of 80 members to serve until replaced in the November 1995 general election; the plan was approved in a general referendum in January 1994 and the special election was held on 14 August 1994
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia); additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided over by the President of the Supreme Court, judges are elected for a five-year term by Congress
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Centrist Union or UCN [Juan AYERDI Aguilar]; Christian Democratic Party or DCG [Alfonso CABRERA Hidalgo]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen]; National Liberation Movement or MLN [Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Sergio FLORES Cruz]; Revolutionary Party or PR [Carlos CHAVARRIA Perez]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; Democratic Union or UD [Jose CHEA Urruela]; New Guatemalan Democratic Front or FDNG [Rafael ARRIAGA Martinez]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM; Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI; leftist movement of former guerrillas known as Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union or URNG has four main factions - Guerrilla Army of the Poor or EGP; Revolutionary Organization of the People in Arms or ORPA; Rebel Armed Forces or FAR; Guatemalan Labor Party or PGT/O; note - signed peace treaty with government on 29 December 1996; URNG formally disbanded 29-30 March 1997
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Pedro Miguel LAMPORT Kelsall
\Ichancery:\i 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 745-4952 through 4954
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 745-1908
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Donald J. PLANTY (18 July 1996)
\Iembassy:\i 7-01 Avenida la Reforma, Zone 10, \JGuatemala\j City
\Imailing address:\i APO AA 34024
\Itelephone:\i (502) 331-1541
\IFAX:\i (502) 334-8477
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red \Jquetzal\j (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from \JSpain\j) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is based on family and corporate agriculture, which accounts for 25% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds of exports. Manufacturing and construction, predominantly in private hands, account for about 20% of GDP and 18% of the labor force. In both 1990 and 1991, the economy grew by 3%, the fourth and fifth consecutive years of mild growth. In 1992 growth picked up to almost 5% as government policies favoring competition and foreign trade and investment took stronger hold. In 1993-94, despite political unrest, this momentum continued, foreign investment held up, and annual growth averaged 4%. Strong international prices for \JGuatemala\j's traditional commodity exports featured 4.9% growth in 1995; growth receded to 3% in 1996. Given the markedly uneven distribution of land and income, the government faces major obstacles in its program of economic modernization and the reduction of poverty.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $39 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,460 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i connected to Central American Microwave System; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 15
\BRadios:\b 400,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 25
\BTelevisions:\b 475,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 884 km (102 km privately owned)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,795 km
\Ipaved:\i 3,519 km (including 135 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 9,276 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-\Jwater\j season
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 275 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 446 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 318
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 5
\Iunder 914 m:\i 309 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 128
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 8
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 119 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,741,575 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,791,136 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 129,408 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $128.3 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 0.8% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b border with \JBelize\j in dispute; talks to resolve the dispute are ongoing
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit country for \Jcocaine\j shipments; illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; the government has an active eradication program for cannabis and opium poppy
#
"Guernsey (Atlas)",98,0,0,0
\I(British crown dependency)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 49 28 N, 2 35 W
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 194 sq km
\Iland:\i 194 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes \JAlderney\j, \JGuernsey\j, Herm, \JSark\j, and some other smaller islands
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 50 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 12 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
\BTerrain:\b mostly level with low hills in southwest
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location on \JSark\j 114 m
\BNatural resources:\b cropland
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i NA%
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 63,731 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 18% (male 5,703; female 5,584)
\I15-64 years:\i 67% (male 20,883; female 21,702)
\I65 years and over:\i 15% (male 3,959; female 5,900) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.28% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 13.54 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 9.65 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 8.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNational holiday:\b Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
\BConstitution:\b unwritten; partly statutes, partly \Jcommon law\j and practice
\BLegal system:\b English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
\Ihead of government:\i Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Vice-Admiral Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994) and Bailiff Mr. Graham Martyn DOREY (since February 1992)
\Icabinet:\i Advisory and Finance Committee (other committees) appointed by the Assembly of the States
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; lieutenant governor appointed by the queen; \Jbailiff\j appointed by the queen
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Assembly of the States (60 seats, 33 popularly elected; members serve six-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 20 April 1994 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
\BJudicial branch:\b Royal Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b none; all independents
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (British crown dependency)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (British crown dependency)
\BFlag description:\b white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Financial services account for about 55% of total income. Tourism, manufacturing, and \Jhorticulture\j, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Bank profits (1992) registered a record 26% growth. Fund management and insurance are the two other major income generators.
\BExchange rates:\b \JGuernsey\j pounds (£G) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); note - the \JGuernsey\j pound is at par with the British pound
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 41,850 (1983 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i 1 submarine cable
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Guinea (Atlas)",99,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between Guinea-\JBissau\j and Sierra Leone
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 11 00 N, 10 00 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal area:\i 245,860 sq km
\Iland area:\i 245,860 sq km
\Icomparative area:\i slightly smaller than Oregon
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,399 km
\Iborder countries:\i Guinea-\JBissau\j 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, \JLiberia\j 563 km, Mali 858 km, \JSenegal\j 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
\BCoastline:\b 320 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
\BInternational disputes:\b none
\BClimate:\b generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly \Jharmattan\j winds
\BTerrain:\b generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mont Nimba 1,752 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jbauxite\j, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 6%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Imeadows and pastures:\i 12%
\Iforest and woodland:\i 42%
\Iother:\i 40%
\BIrrigated land:\b 240 sq km (1989 est.)
\BEnvironment:\b
\Icurrent issues:\i deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable \Jwater\j; \Jdesertification\j; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing
\Inatural hazards:\i hot, dry, dusty \Jharmattan\j haze may reduce visibility during dry season
\Iinternational agreements:\i party to - \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - \JDesertification\j, Hazardous Wastes
\I65 years and over:\i 3% (male 84,005; female 116,626) (July 1996 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.85% (1996 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 42.59 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 18.71 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -5.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
\Bnote:\b in prior years Guinea received several hundred thousand refugees from the civil wars in \JLiberia\j and Sierra Leone, many of whom are now returning to their own countries
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i 1.03 male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i 1 male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i 0.96 male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i 0.72 male(s)/female
\Iall ages:\i 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 134.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy \Iat birth:\i
\Itotal population:\i 45.06 years
\Imale:\i 42.73 years
\Ifemale:\i 47.47 years (1996 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.72 children born/woman (1996 est.)
\BIndependence:\b 2 October 1958 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)
\BConstitution:\b 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
chief of state and \Ihead of government:\i President Lansana CONTE, elected in the first multiparty election 19 December 1993 (president must be elected by a majority of the votes cast); prior to the election he had ruled as head of military government since 5 April 1984
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers was appointed by the president
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral
People's National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire): the People's National Assembly was dissolved after the 3 April 1984 coup; framework established in December 1991 for a new National Assembly with 114 seats; legislative elections were held on 11 June 1995; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (114 total) PUP 71, RPG 19, PRP 9, UNR 9, UPG 2, PDG 1, UNP 1, PDG/RDA 1, other 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b political parties were legalized on 1 April 1992; of the more than 40 with legal status, the following won seats in the legislature in the 11 June 1995 elections
pro-government: Party for Unity and Progress (PUP)
\Iother:\i Rally for the Guinean
\BPeople:\b (RPG), Alpha CONDE; Union for a New Republic (UNR), Mamadou BAH; Party for Renewal and Progress (PRP), Siradiou DIALLO; Union for Progress of Guinea (UPG), Secretary-General Jean-Marie DORE; Democratic Party of Guinea (DPG), Ahmed Sekou TOURE; National Union for the Prosperity of Guinea (UNPG), Lt.Col. Facine TOURE, leader; Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG), El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN, leader
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Bangoura Mahawa CAMARA
\Ichancery:\i 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 483-9420
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 483-8688
\IUS diplomatic representation:\i
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Joseph A. SALOOM III
\Iembassy:\i Rue KA 038, Conakry
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 603, Conakry
\Itelephone:\i [224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23
\IFAX:\i [224] 44 15 22
\BFlag:\b three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of \JEthiopia\j; similar to the flag of \JRwanda\j, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band
\BEconomy:\b
\BEconomic overview:\b Although possessing major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The agricultural sector employs 80% of the work force. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's \Jbauxite\j reserves. The mining sector accounted for 85% of exports in 1991. Long-run improvements in \Jliteracy\j, financial institutions, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Except in the \Jbauxite\j industry, foreign investment remains minimal.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $6.5 billion (1995 est.)
\Bnote:\b the official exchange rate of the Guinean franc was set and quoted weekly against the US dollar until end-October 1993; since 1 November 1994, the exchange rate is determined in the interbank market for foreign exchange
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BTransportation:\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,086 km
standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge; note - includes 662 km in common carrier service from \JKankan\j to Conakry
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 29,750 km
\Ipaved:\i 4,490 km
\Iunpaved:\i 25,260 km (1991 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft
\BPorts:\b Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
\BMerchant Marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b
\Itotal:\i 14
\Iwith paved runways over 3,047 m:\i 1
\Iwith paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\Iwith paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iwith paved runways under 914 m:\i 1
\Iwith unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 6
\Iwith unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:\i 3 (1995 est.)
\BCommunications:\b
\BTelephones:\b 18,000 (1994 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 257,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b 65,000 (1993 est.)
\BDefense:\b
\BBranches:\b Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)
\BManpower availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,684,264
\Imales fit for military service:\i 849,404 (1996 est.)
\IDefense expenditures:\i exchange rate conversion - $50 million, 1.6% of GDP (1994)
#
"Guinea-Bissau (Atlas)",100,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between Guinea and Senegal
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 12 00 N, 15 00 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 36,120 sq km
\Iland:\i 28,000 sq km
\Iwater:\i 8,120 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 724 km
\Iborder countries:\i Guinea 386 km, \JSenegal\j 338 km
\BCoastline:\b 350 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June
to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with
northeasterly \Jharmattan\j winds
\BTerrain:\b mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, timber, \Jphosphates\j, \Jbauxite\j, unexploited deposits of petroleum
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 11%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 38%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 38%
\Iother:\i 12% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 17 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b hot, dry, dusty \Jharmattan\j haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BIndependence:\b 10 September 1974 (from \JPortugal\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 10 September (1974)
\BConstitution:\b 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b 15 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (initially assumed power 14 November 1980)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Manuel da Costa SATURNINO (since 5 November 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held NA August 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of vote - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%, Kumba YALLA 48%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - PAIGC 46.0%, RGB-MB 19.2%, PRS 10.3%, UM 12.8%, FLING 2.5%, PCD 5.3%, PUSD 2.9%, FCG 0.2%, others 0.8%; seats by party - PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS 12, UM 6, FLING 1
\BJudicial branch:\b none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council of Ministers
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b African Party for the Independence of Guinea-\JBissau\j and Cape Verde or PAIGC [President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader]; Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea or FLING [Francois Kankoila MENDY]; Guinea-\JBissau\j Resistance-Bah \JFatah\j Movement or RGB-MB [Domingos FERNANDES Gomes]; Guinea Civic Forum or FCG [Antonieta Rosa GOMES]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Vi'tor MANDINGA]; Social Renovation Party or PRS [Koumba YALLA, leader]; Union for Change Coalition or UM [Joao da COSTA, Pres.]; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Vi'tor Sau'de MARIA]
\BInternational organization participation:\b ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, \JG-7\j7, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Rufino Jose MENDES
\Ichancery:\i 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Guinea-\JBissau\j ranks among the poorest countries in the world. Farming and fishing are the main economic activities. Cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and fish are the primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because of a weak \Jinfrastructure\j and the high cost of development. Although Guinea-\JBissau\j won an IMF Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility in 1996, recent political instability and overspending have undermined the progress of economic reform and delayed disbursements of donor aid.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $950 (1996 est.)
\BNational holiday:\b Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
\BConstitution:\b 6 October 1980
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Executive President Samuel HINDS (since March 1997); replaced Cheddi JAGAN who died in office, March 1997
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Janet JAGAN (since March 1997); filled vacancy created when Samuel HINDS ascended to office of Executive President following death of Cheddi JAGAN, March 1997
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature
\Ielections:\i president elected by the majority party in the National Assembly after
legislative elections, which must be held within five years; legislative elections last held 5 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); prime minister appointed by the president
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (65 seats, 53 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held by October 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats by party - PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Judicature
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b People's Progressive Party (PPP), People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE; For a Good and Green \JGuyana\j (GGG), Hamilton GREEN; Working People's Alliance (WPA), Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The United Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN; \JGuyana\j Labor Party (GLP); \JGuyana\j Democratic Party
(GDP), Asgar ALLY; Guyanese Organized for Liberty and Democracy Party (GOLD), Anthony MEKDECI
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Trades Union Congress (\JTUC\j); \JGuyana\j Council of Indian Organizations
(GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC)
\Inote:\i the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized\BInternational organization participation:\b ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, \JG-7\j7, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), \JInterpol\j, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL
\Ichancery:\i 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 265-6900, 6901
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Hugh SIMON
\Iembassy:\i 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
\Itelephone:\i [592] (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969
\IFAX:\i [592] (2) 58497
\BFlag description:\b green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and the green
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b In 1996, \JGuyana\j, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, posted its fifth straight year of economic growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold and \Jbauxite\j mining and by sugar. Favorable growth factors have included expansion in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable \Jatmosphere\j for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a moderate \Jinflation\j rate, and the continued support of international organizations. Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electric power has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government must persist in efforts to manage its sizable external debt and extend its privatization program.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7.9% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,490 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b fair system for long-distance calling
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay network for trunk lines
\Iinternational:\i tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat
(\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 1
\BRadios:\b 398,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 11 (1995 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 32,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 88 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 40 km 1.435-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 48 km 0.914-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 7,820 km
\Ipaved:\i 571 km
\Iunpaved:\i 7,249 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively
\BPorts and harbors:\b Bartica, \JGeorgetown\j, Linden, New \JAmsterdam\j, Parika
\BMilitary branches:\b \JGuyana\j Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps), \JGuyana\j People's Militia (GPM), \JGuyana\j National Service (GNS)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 198,350 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 150,105 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $7 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.7% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for \Jnarcotics\j from \JSouth America\j - primarily Venezuela - to the US and Europe; producer of cannabis
#
"Haiti (Atlas)",102,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, western one-third of the island of \JHispaniola\j, between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, west of the Dominican Republic
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 19 00 N, 72 25 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 27,750 sq km
\Iland:\i 27,560 sq km
\Iwater:\i 190 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maryland
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 275 km
\Iborder countries:\i Dominican Republic 275 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,771 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i to depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
\BTerrain:\b mostly rough and mountainous
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
\BNatural resources:\b bauxite
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 20%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 13%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 18%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 5%
\Iother:\i 44% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 750 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and use as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban
\BGeography - note:\b shares island of \JHispaniola\j with Dominican Republic (western one-third is \JHaiti\j, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 102.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 49.49 years
\Imale:\i 47.45 years
\Ifemale:\i 51.63 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 4.76 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Haitian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Haitian
\BEthnic groups:\b black 95%, mulatto plus white 5%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 80% (of which an overwhelming majority also practice Voodoo), Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
\BLanguages:\b French (official) 10%, Creole
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\BIndependence:\b 1 January 1804 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
\BConstitution:\b approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed to be observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule, October 1994
\BLegal system:\b based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Rene Garcia PREVAL (since 7 February 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Rosny SMARTH (since March 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet; chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Rene Garcia PREVAL elected president; percent of vote - Rene Garcia PREVAL 88%, Leon JEUNE 2.5%, Victor BENOIT 2.3%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August and runoffs on 17 September (election held for nine seats 6 April 1997; runoffs to be held 25 May 1997 were postponed); Chamber of Deputies - last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August and runoffs on 17 September (next to be held NA 1999; byelections for two vacant seats were held 6 April 1997; runoffs to be held 25 May 1997 were postponed)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lavalas Platform
17, FNDC 6, National Alliance for Democracy and Progress 2, RDNP 1, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lavalas Platform 67, FNCD 2, CONACOM 1, PANPRA 1, MRN 2, MKN 1, PROP 1, UPD 2, independents 4, vacant 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Front for Change and Democracy (FNCD), Evans PAUL and Turneb DELPE; National Cooperative Action Movement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH; National
Congress of Democratic Movements (CONACOM), Victor BENOIT; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in \JHaiti\j (MIDH), Marc BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge GILLES; National Patriotic Movement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean BELIZAIRE; National Agricultural and Industrial Party (PAIN), Louis DEJOIE; Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE; Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Fritz PIERRE; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT; National Labor Party (PNT), Remy ZAMOR; Mobilization for National Development (MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Haiti (MODELH), Francois LATORTUE; Popular Organizations Gathering Power (PROP), Simon JEAN-POIX; Movement for the Organization of the Country (MOP), Gesner COMEAU and Jean \JMOLIERE\j; Democratic Unity Confederation (KID), Evans PAUL; National Lavalas Political Organization (OPL), Gerard PIERRE-CHARLES; Open the Gate Party (PLB), Renaud BERNARDIN; Haitian National Democratic Progressive Party (PNDPH), Turneb DELPE; Union of Patriotic Democrats (UPD), Rockefeller GUERRE; Cooperative Action for Economic Liberation (KLE), Leon JEUNE; Generation 2004, Claude ROUMAIN; Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti (ALAH), Reynold GEORGES; Lavalas Political Platform or PPL (an alliance of OPL and MOP) [Renaud BERNARDIN];
Haitian Democratic Party (PADEMH), Clark PARENT; National Rally of Democratic Forces (RANFO), Jean Nazaire THIDE, Marino ETIENNE; National Alliance for Democracy and Progress
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Roman \JCatholic Church\j; Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers Trade Unions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National Popular Assembly (APN); Papaye Peasants Movement (MPP)
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white
rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b About 75% of the population lives in abject poverty. Nearly 70% of all
Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force. The country has experienced little or no job creation since President PREVAL took office in February 1996. Failure to reach agreements with international sponsors have denied Haiti badly needed budget and development assistance. Meeting aid conditions in 1997 will be especially challenging in the face of mounting popular criticism of reforms.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $6.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b domestic facilities barely adequate, international facilities slightly
better
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 33, FM 0, shortwave 2
\BRadios:\b 320,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 4 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 32,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line) - closed in early 1990's
\Inarrow gauge:\i 40 km 0.760-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,080 km
\Ipaved:\i 987 km
\Iunpaved:\i 3,093 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b negligible; less than 100 km navigable
\BPorts and harbors:\b Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Cayes, Miragoane, \JPort-au-Prince\j,
Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 11 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 7
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 4 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 4 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Haitian National Police (PNH)
\Inote:\i the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been demobilized but still exist on paper until/unless constitutionally abolished
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,430,855 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 774,835 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 71,003 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA; note - mainly for police and security activities
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claims US-administered Navassa Island
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for \Jcocaine\j and marijuana en route to the US and Europe
#
"Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Atlas)",103,0,0,0
\I(territory of \JAustralia\j)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 53 06 S, 72 31 E
\BMap references:\b Antarctic Region
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 412 sq km
\Iland:\i 412 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than 2 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 101.9 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b antarctic
\BTerrain:\b Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent \Jvolcano\j; McDonald Islands - small and rocky
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Big Ben 2,745 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b Heard Island is dominated by a dormant \Jvolcano\j called Big Ben
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b primarily used for research stations
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
\Iconventional short form:\i Heard Island and McDonald Islands
\BData code:\b HM
\BDependency status:\b territory of \JAustralia\j; administered by the Ministry for Sport, Territories, and Local Government
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from \JCanberra\j, Australia
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JAustralia\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of Australia
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Holy See (Vatican City) (Atlas)",104,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Europe, an enclave of \JRome\j (\JItaly\j)
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 41 54 N, 12 27 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 0.44 sq km
\Iland:\i 0.44 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3.2 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JItaly\j 3.2 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
\BTerrain:\b low hill
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i unnamed location 19 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 75 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (urban area)
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
\BGeography - note:\b urban; landlocked; enclave of \JRome\j, \JItaly\j; world's smallest state; outside the \JVatican City\j, 13 buildings in \JRome\j and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 850 (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.15% (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i none
\Iadjective:\i none
\BEthnic groups:\b Italians, Swiss
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic
\BLanguages:\b Italian, Latin, various other languages
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i The Holy See (State of the \JVatican City\j)
\Iconventional short form:\i Holy See (\JVatican City\j)
\Ilocal long form:\i Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
\Ilocal short form:\i Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
\BData code:\b VT
\BGovernment type:\b monarchical-sacerdotal state
\BNational capital:\b Vatican City
\BIndependence:\b 11 February 1929 (from \JItaly\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II)
\Inote:\i Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
\BConstitution:\b Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978)
\Ihead of government:\i \JSecretary of State\j Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991)
\Icabinet:\i Pontifical Commission appointed by Pope
\Ielections:\i pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); \Jsecretary of state\j appointed by the pope
\BJudicial branch:\b none; normally handled by Italy
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b none
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
\BInternational organization participation:\b IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN
\Ichancery:\i 3339 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 333-7121
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN
\Iembassy:\i Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, \JRome\j 00153
\Imailing address:\i PSC 59, APO AE 09624
\Itelephone:\i [39] (6) 46741
\IFAX:\i [39] (6) 5758346, 57300682
\BFlag description:\b two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of \JRome\j.
\BLabor force:\b NA
\Iby occupation:\i dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $175.5 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
\BIndustries:\b printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
\BExchange rates:\b Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1568.1 (January 1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 2,000
\BTelephone system:\b automatic exchange
\Idomestic:\i tied into Italian system
\Iinternational:\i uses Italian system
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 862 meters; note - connects to \JItaly\j's network at \JRome\j's Saint Peter's station
\Inarrow gauge:\i 862 meters 1.435-m gauge
\BHighways:\b none; all city streets
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b none
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of \JItaly\j; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to Vatican City
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Honduras (Atlas)",105,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Middle America, bordering the \JCaribbean Sea\j, between \JGuatemala\j and Nicaragua and bordering the North \JPacific Ocean\j, between El Salvador and Nicaragua
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 00 N, 86 30 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 112,090 sq km
\Iland:\i 111,890 sq km
\Iwater:\i 200 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Tennessee
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,520 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JGuatemala\j 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, \JNicaragua\j 922 km
\BCoastline:\b 820 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
\BNatural resources:\b timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, \Jantimony\j, \Jcoal\j, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 15%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 3%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 14%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 54%
\Iother:\i 14% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 740 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging hurricanes and floods
along Caribbean coast
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of freshwater) with heavy metals as well as several rivers and streams
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 68.81 years
\Imale:\i 66.38 years
\Ifemale:\i 71.37 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 4.26 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Honduran(s)
\Iadjective:\i Honduran
\BEthnic groups:\b mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
\BLanguages:\b Spanish, Amerindian dialects
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 72.7%
\Imale:\i 72.6%
\Ifemale:\i 72.7% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Honduras
\Iconventional short form:\i Honduras
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Honduras
\Ilocal short form:\i Honduras
\BData code:\b HO
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Tegucigalpa
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) plus probable Central District (Tegucigalpa); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan,
Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la \JBahia\j, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
\BIndependence:\b 15 September 1821 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
\BConstitution:\b 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
\BLegal system:\b rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English \Jcommon law\j; accepts ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Carlos Flores FACUSSE (27 January 1998); First Vice President General (Ret.) Walter LOPEZ; Second Vice President Juan DE LA CRUZ Avelar; Third Vice President \JGuadeloupe\j JEREZANO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Carlos Flores FACUSSE (27 January 1998) First
Vice President General (Ret.) Walter LOPEZ; Second Vice President Juan DE LA CRUZ Avelar; Third Vice President \JGuadeloupe\j JEREZANO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last
held 28 November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Carlos Roberto REINA Idiaquez elected president; percent of vote - Carlos
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (128 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held on 27 November 1993 (next to be held November 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - PNH 53%, PLH 41%, PDCH 1.0%, PINU-SD 2.5%,
other 2.5%; seats by party - PLH 71, PNH 55, PINU-SD 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Liberal Party (PLH), Carlos FLORES Facusse, president; National Party of \JHonduras\j (PNH), Oswaldo RAMOS Soto, president; National Innovation and Unity Party (PINU), Olban VALLADARES, president; Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Efrain DIAZ Arrivillaga, president
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b National Association of Honduran Campesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP); Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH); National Union of Campesinos (UNC); General Workers Confederation (CGT); United Federation
of Honduran Workers (FUTH); Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in \JHonduras\j (CODEH); Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations (CCOP)
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, \JSan Francisco\j, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
\Iconsulate(s):\i \JBoston\j, \JDetroit\j, and Jacksonville
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador James Francis CREAGAN (29 July 1996)
\Iembassy:\i Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
\Itelephone:\i [504] 36-9320, 38-5114
\IFAX:\i [504] 36-9037
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of \JCentral America\j - Costa Rica, El Salvador, \JGuatemala\j, \JHonduras\j, and \JNicaragua\j; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
band; also similar to the flag of \JNicaragua\j, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JHonduras\j is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Agriculture employs nearly two-thirds of the labor force and produces two-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low. Manufacturing, mining, and construction account for 30 % of GDP and generate 20% of exports. Basic problems include rapid population growth, high underemployment, \Jinflation\j, a lack of basic services, a large and inefficient public sector, and the dependence of the export sector mostly on \Jcoffee\j and bananas, which are subject to sharp price fluctuations.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $11.5 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; \JRussia\j owns 8 ships, Vietnam 3, North Korea 2, \JGreece\j 1, \JJapan\j 1, \JSingapore\j 1, \JIran\j 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 107 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 88
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 5
\Iunder 914 m:\i 78 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 19
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 19 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Public Security Forces (FUSEP)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,370,116 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 816,054 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 66,304 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $42.5 million (1997)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b about 1.5% (1997)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b land boundary dispute with El Salvador mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, \JHonduras\j, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Nicaragua
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for drugs and \Jnarcotics\j; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption
#
"Hong Kong (Atlas)",106,0,0,0
\BAffiliation:\b (Special Administrative Region of People's Republic of China)
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 22 15 N, 114 10 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal area:\i 1,040 sq km
\Iland area:\i 990 sq km
\Icomparative area:\i six times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 30 km
border country: China 30 km
\BCoastline:\b 733 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
territorial sea: 3 nm
\BInternational disputes:\b none
\BClimate:\b tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
\BTerrain:\b hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 78.71 years
\Imale:\i 75.98 years
\Ifemale:\i 81.62 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.33 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Chinese
\Iadjective:\i Chinese
\BEthnic groups:\b Chinese 95%, other 5%
\BReligions:\b eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
\BLanguages:\b Chinese (\JCantonese\j), English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 92.2%
\Imale:\i 96%
\Ifemale:\i 88.2% (1996 est.)
\BGovernment:\b
\BName of country:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of People's Republic of China (HKSAR)
\Iconventional short form:\i Hong Kong
abbreviation: HK
\BData code:\b HK
\BType of government:\b Special Administrative Region of People's Republic of China (HKSAR) with a high degree of autonomy
\BCapital:\b Victoria
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 1 only
\BIndependence:\b none
\BNational holiday:\b Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)
\BConstitution:\b In process of formulation
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j with final ajudication in H.K.
\BSuffrage:\b direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies. A new political system is in the process of evolving.
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Jiang Zemin
\Ihead of government:\i Tung Chee Hwa
\Icabinet:\i
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral
Legislative Council: indirect and direct elections last held 17 September 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 30 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 20 directly elected, 10 elected by election committee) Democratic Party 21, Liberal Party 10, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong 6, other parties and independents 23. Hong Kong is preparing for new elections in 1998.
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court - Court of Final Appeal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Democratic Party, Martin LEE, chairman; Liberal Party, Allen LEE, chairman; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing, chairman; Hong Kong Democratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying, chairman
\BOther political or pressure groups:\b Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL), Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman; Liberal Democratic Federation, HU Fa-kuang, chairman; Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China), LEE Chark-tim, president; Hong Kong and \JKowloon\j Trade Union Council (pro-\JTaiwan\j); Confederation of Trade Unions (pro-democracy), LEE Cheuk-yan, chairman; Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong, president; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China, Szeto WAH, chairman
\BFlag:\b The white Bauhinia flower on a red background.
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be
imported. Manufacturing and construction account for about 18% of GDP. Goods and services exports account for about 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90, and picked up to 4.2% in 1991, 5.0% in 1992, 5.2% in 1993, 5.5% in 1994, 4.8% in 1995, and 4.7% in 1996. A shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Prospects for 1997 remain bright so long as major trading
partners continue to be reasonably prosperous and so long as investors feel China will support free market practices after the takeover on 1 July 1997.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $163.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $26,000 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 34.4%, services 19.8%, manufacturing 14.2%, financing, insurance, and real estate 12.4%, transport and communications 5.1%, construction 2.1%, other 12% (1994)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 3.1% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $19 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $14.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $289 million (FY95/96 est.)
\Icommodities:\i foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, \Jpetroleum\j; a large share is reexported
\Ipartners:\i China 36%, \JJapan\j 15%, \JTaiwan\j 9%, US 8%, \JSingapore\j 5%, South Korea 5% (1995)
\BDebt - external:\b none (1996)
\BEconomic aid:\b $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994), 7.800 (1993), 7.741 (1992); note - linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 3.31 million (1996)
\BTelephone system:\b modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (1 \JPacific Ocean\j and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to \JGuangzhou\j, China; access to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member nations, \JJapan\j, \JTaiwan\j, \JAustralia\j, \JMiddle East\j, and Western Europe
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 3 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 4 (British Broadcasting Corporation repeater 1; British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater 1)
\BTelevisions:\b 1.75 million (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 34 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 34 km 1.435-m gauge (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i also has 43 km of metro with 38 stations
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15 countries among
which are UK 50, South Africa 12, \JBelgium\j 10, China 9, \JJapan\j 8, \JBermuda\j 5,
US 5, Israel 4, \JGermany\j 3, and \JSwitzerland\j 3; Hong Kong owns an additional
498 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,810,794 DWT that operate under the
registries of The \JBahamas\j, \JBelize\j, \JBermuda\j, Cyprus, \JLiberia\j, Malta, Panama,
Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, \JSingapore\j, \JSri Lanka\j, and Vanuatu\BAirports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i new international airport under construction and will open in 1998
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BDefense:\b People's Liberation Army of China
#
"Howland Island (Atlas)",107,0,0,0
\I(territory of the US)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, island in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 0 48 N, 176 38 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1.6 sq km
\Iland:\i 1.6 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 6.4 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
\BTerrain:\b low-lying, nearly level, sandy, \Jcoral\j island surrounded by a narrow
fringing reef; depressed central area
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 3 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jguano\j (deposits worked until late 1800s)
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 5%
\Iother:\i 95%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b no natural fresh \Jwater\j resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing
shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\Inote:\i American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Howland Island
\BData code:\b HQ
\BDependency status:\b unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife
Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from Washington, DC
\BFlag description:\b the flag of the US is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
\BAirports:\b airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world
flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
\BTransportation - note:\b Earhart Light is a \Jday\j beacon near the middle of the west coast that
was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Hungary (Atlas)",108,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Central Europe, northwest of Romania
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 47 00 N, 20 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 93,030 sq km
\Iland:\i 92,340 sq km
\Iwater:\i 690 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Indiana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,009 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAustria\j 366 km, \JCroatia\j 329 km, \JRomania\j 443 km, \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j 151 km (all with \JSerbia\j), \JSlovakia\j 515 km, \JSlovenia\j 102 km, \JUkraine\j 103 km
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b an early-1996 government study identified 179 areas that suffer from air \Jpollution\j, 54 areas with polluted soil, and 32 areas with polluted underground
water; the study estimated clean-up costs at $350 million, but the 1996 government budget allocated only about $7 million for this purpose
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western
Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between \JUkraine\j and Mediterranean basin
\BIndependence:\b 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
\BNational holiday:\b St. Stephen's Day (National Day), 20 August (commemorates the coronation
of King Stephen in 1000 AD)
\BConstitution:\b 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight
\BLegal system:\b in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western model
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim president
since 2 May 1990)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Gyula HORN (since 15 July 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by the National Assembly for a four-year term; election
last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
\Ielection results:\i Arpad GONCZ elected president; a total of 335 votes were cast by the
National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259; Gyula HORN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are
elected by popular vote under a system of proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held on 8 and 29 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MSzP 209, SzDSz 70, MDF 37, FKgP 26, KDNP 22, FiDeSz 20, other 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the National Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF [Sandor LEZSAK, chairman]; Independent Smallholders or FKgP [Jozsef TORGYAN, president]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP [Gyula HORN, president]; Christian Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Gyorgy GICZY, president]; Federation of Young Democrats or FiDeSz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor KUNCZE, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP [Ivan SZABO, chairman]
\Inote:\i the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party or MSzMP renounced \JCommunism\j and became the Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP in October 1989; there is still a small MMP (Communist Party); the MDNP was formed in March 1996 by breakaway members of the Hungarian Democratic Forum
\Ichancery:\i 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 362-6730
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 966-8135
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Donald M. BLINKEN
\Iembassy:\i V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy Budapest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 \Itelephone:\i [36] (1) 267-4400, 269-9331
\IFAX:\i [36] (1) 269-9326
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JHungary\j probably had the most Western-oriented economy in East Europe
before the transition to a market system began in 1990, and Budapest made good progress in the initial years of transition. The reform process slowed in 1993-94, however, in part because of the May 1994 elections and the resulting change in government. By 1994 the privatization of state firms had ground to a halt, while both the budget and current account deficits soared to unsustainable levels - about 8% and 10% of GDP, respectively. The situation improved sharply
in 1995: an austerity program introduced in March reduced both deficits; and a renewed privatization effort later in the year resulted in more than $3 billion worth of sales of state firms to foreign investors - money used mostly to reduce \JHungary\j's large foreign debt. Real GDP increased 2.9% in 1994 - following several years of steep decline - and about 1.5% in 1995 and only 0.5% in 1996. Unemployment reached 14% in early 1993 before gradually falling back to 11% in 1996. Inflation has oscillated; it reached 40% in mid-1991, dropped to 17% in early 1994, jumped back to 31% by mid-1995, and settled at 20% in 1996. Prospects for 1997 and 1998 are good compared with the situation earlier. Most forecasters expect 2% to 3% GDP growth in 1997 and slightly higher growth in 1998. Inflation and unemployment are edging down. With the government still committed to reform, both the budget and current account deficits are at IMF target levels - about 4% of GDP. Budapest also is making good progress in restructuring the pension, health, tax, education, and other systems as part of the effort to decrease the role of government. This dramatic shift in economic policy was rewarded in 1996 by the IMF, which finally signed the standby agreement Budapest had sought, and by the OECD, which welcomed \JHungary\j as a member.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $74.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 0.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $7,500 (1996 est.)
\BTelephones:\b 2.16 million (1 January 1996) - there are 21.1 per 100 inhabitants, 54.1 per 100 households; mobile \Jtelephone\j services are used by 267,000 subscribers
\BTelephone system:\b 14,213 telex lines; automatic \Jtelephone\j network based on microwave radio
relay system; the average waiting time for telephones is expected to drop to one year by the end of 1997 (down from over 10 years in the early 1990's); note - the former state-owned telecommunications firm MATAV - now privatized and managed by a US/German consortium - has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new phone lines during 1996-98
\Istandard gauge:\i 7,408 km 1.435-m gauge (2,216 km electrified; 1,236 km double track)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 176 km 0.760-m gauge (1995)
\Inote:\i Hungry and \JAustria\j jointly manage the cross-border standard-gauge railway between \JGyor\j, Sopron, Ebenfurti, and Vasut, a distance of about 100 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 158,633 km
\Ipaved:\i 69,957 km (including 378 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 88,676 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 1,622 km (1988)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 1,204 km; \Jnatural gas\j 4,387 km (1991)
\BMilitary branches:\b Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, Territorial Defense
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,631,781 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,099,109 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 78,828 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $550 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.5% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia
\BIllicit drugs:\b major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and transit point for South American \Jcocaine\j destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamines and methamphetamines
#
"Iceland (Atlas)",109,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Europe, island between the \JGreenland\j Sea and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, northwest of the UK
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 65 00 N, 18 00 W
\BMap references:\b \JArctic\j Region
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 103,000 sq km
\Iland:\i 100,250 sq km
\Iwater:\i 2,750 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Kentucky
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 4,988 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
\BTerrain:\b mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
\BNatural hazards:\b earthquakes and volcanic activity
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from \Jfertilizer\j runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location between \JGreenland\j and Europe; westernmost European
country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 269,697 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly
from official population data because of volatile migration rates
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 24% (male 32,931; female 31,390)
\I15-64 years:\i 64% (male 87,993; female 86,107)
\I65 years and over:\i 12% (male 14,107; female 17,169) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.47% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 15.35 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 6.93 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -3.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)
\BConstitution:\b 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
\BLegal system:\b civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 29 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; percent of vote - 41.4%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - Independence Party 37.1%, Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists 14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats by party - Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Haestirettur, justices are appointed for life by the
president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Independence Party (conservative) or IP [David ODDSSON]; Progressive Party (liberal) or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; Social Democratic Party or SDP
[Sighvatur BJORGVINSSON]; People's Alliance (left socialist) or PA [Margret FRIMANNSDOTTIR]; Women's Party or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR]; People's Movement (centrist); National Awakening (People's Revival Party) or PR [Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR]
\BFlag description:\b blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JIceland\j's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with
an extensive welfare system, low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. The economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In the absence of other natural resources - except \Jenergy\j - \JIceland\j's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to drops in world prices for its main exports: fish
and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. The center-right government plans to continue its policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing \Jinflation\j, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $5.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $19,800 (1996 est.)
and Indian Ocean Regions); note - \JIceland\j shares the Inmarsat \Jearth\j station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, \JFinland\j, \JNorway\j, and Sweden)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and repeaters), shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 91,500 licensed (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 202 (transmitters and repeaters)
\BTelevisions:\b 96,100 licensed (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,378 km
\Ipaved:\i 3,070 km
\Iunpaved:\i 9,308 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, \JReykjavik\j,
\Iships by type:\i chemical tanker 1, container 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 84 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 60
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 4
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 5
\Iunder 914 m:\i 50 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 24
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 21 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note - \JIceland\j's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 70,833 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 62,601 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b none
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
#
"India (Atlas)",110,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between \JBurma\j and Pakistan
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 20 00 N, 77 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,287,590 sq km
\Iland:\i 2,973,190 sq km
\Iwater:\i 314,400 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than one-third the size of the US
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 14,103 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBangladesh\j 4,053 km, \JBhutan\j 605 km, \JBurma\j 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, \JNepal\j 1,690 km, \JPakistan\j 2,912 km
\BCoastline:\b 7,000 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
\BTerrain:\b upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, \JHimalayas\j in north
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jcoal\j (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, \Jmanganese\j, mica,
\BNatural hazards:\b droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common; earthquakes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; \Jdesertification\j; air \Jpollution\j from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap \Jwater\j is not potable throughout the country; huge and rapidly growing population is overstraining natural resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 65.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 62.41 years
\Imale:\i 61.68 years
\Ifemale:\i 63.18 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.29 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Indian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Indian
\BEthnic groups:\b Indo-\JAryan\j 72%, Dravidian 25%, \JMongoloid\j and other 3%
\BReligions:\b Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhist 0.7%, Jains 0.5%, other 0.4%
\BLanguages:\b English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication, \JHindi\j the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people, \JBengali\j (official), \JTelugu\j (official), \JMarathi\j (official), Tamil (official), \JUrdu\j (official), \JGujarati\j (official), \JMalayalam\j (official), \JKannada\j (official), Oriya (official), \JPunjabi\j (official), Assamese (official), Kashmiri (official), Sindhi (official), Sanskrit (official), Hindustani a popular variant of Hindu/\JUrdu\j, is spoken widely throughout northern India
\Inote:\i 24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons; numerous other languages and dialects, for the most part mutually unintelligible
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 52%
\Imale:\i 65.5%
\Ifemale:\i 37.7% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of India
\Iconventional short form:\i India
\BData code:\b IN
\BGovernment type:\b federal republic
\BNational capital:\b New Delhi
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 25 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, \JGoa\j, \JGujarat\j, Haryana, Himachel Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, \JKarnataka\j, \JKerala\j, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, \JMaharashtra\j, \JManipur\j, Meghalaya, Mizoram, \JNagaland\j, Orissa, \JPondicherry\j*, Punjab, \JRajasthan\j, \JSikkim\j, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
\BIndependence:\b 15 August 1947 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 26 January (1950)
\BConstitution:\b 26 January 1950
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j; limited judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Prime Minister Atal Behari VAJPAYEE (since 15 March 1998)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Atal Behari VAJPAYEE (since 15 March 1998)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members
of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of the states for a five-year term; vice president elected by both houses of Parliament; prime minister elected by parliamentary members of the majority party following legislative elections
\Ielection results:\i Shankar Dayal SHARMA elected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA; Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN elected vice president; percent of Parliament vote - NA; I.K. GUJRAL elected prime minister; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or
Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250 members, up to 12 of which are appointed by the president, the remainder are chosen by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and the People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 elected by popular vote, 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i People's Assembly - last held 27 April through May 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), A. B. VAJPAYEE; Congress (I) Party, Sitaram KESRI, president; Janata Dal Party, Laloo Prasad YADAV; Janata Dal (Ajit), Ajit SINGH; Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M), Harkishan Singh SURJEET; Tamil Maanila Congress, G. K. MOOPANAR; Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu), M. KARUNANIDHI; Samajwadi Party (SP), Mulayam Singh YADAV (president), Om Prakash CHAUTALA, Devi LAL; \JTelugu\j Desam (Naidu) (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh), Chandrababu NAIDU; Communist Party of India (CPI), Indrajit GUPTA; Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY; Asom Gana Parishad, Prafulla Kumar MAHANTA; Congress (Tiwari), Arjun SINGH and N.D. TIWARI; All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), Prem Dutta PALIWAL (chairman), Chitta BASU (general secretary); Muslim League, G. M. BANATWALA; Madhya Pradesh Vikas Congress, Madhavro SCINDIA; \JKarnataka\j Congress Party, S. BANGARAPPA; Shiv Sena, Bal THACKERAY; Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM; Communist Party of India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Vinod MISHRA; Akali Dal factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab; National Conference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir), Farooq ABDULLAH; Bihar Peoples Party, Lovely ANAND; Samata Party (formerly Janata Dal members), George FERNANDES; Indian National League, Suliaman SAIT; \JKerala\j Congress (Mani faction), K. M. MANI
\Inote:\i subsequent to the election, the following parties were dissolved - Congress
(Tiwari), Madhya Pradesh Vikas Congress, and \JKarnataka\j Congress Party
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy; numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Adam Sena, Ananda Marg, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
\Ichancery:\i 2107 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Embassy located at 2536 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 939-7000
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 483-3972
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Frank G. WISNER
\Iembassy:\i Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [91] (11) 600651
\IFAX:\i [91] (11) 6872028
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JBombay\j, \JCalcutta\j, Chennai (Madras), Mumbai
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of \JNiger\j, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b India's economy is a mixture of traditional village farming, modernagriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services. A large share of the population, perhaps as much as 40%, remains too poor to afford an adequate diet. The policy in the 1980s of fueling economic growth through high government expenditure proved unsustainable, however, and in the wake of an international payments crisis in 1991 India has been transforming its semi-socialist, insular economy into a more open, market-oriented economy. Production, trade, and investment reforms since 1991 have provided new opportunities for Indian businesspersons and an estimated 200 million plus middle class consumers. New Delhi has stimulated exports, attracted foreign investment, and revived confidence in India's economic prospects. GDP growth exceeded 6% in 1995 and in 1996. Most of the country's external fundamentals - including the current account balance and reserves (now about $19 billion) - are healthy. Even so, the Indian Government needs to restore the early momentum of reform, especially by continuing reductions in the extensive remaining government regulations. The government will also have to deal with rising government expenditures and higher debt servicing which could create a debt trap by the turn of the century. Even if a series of weak coalition governments come to power in the next few years and are unable to push reforms aggressively, parts of the economy that have already benefited from deregulation will continue to grow. Moreover, the country can build on other strengths, including its diverse industrial base, large scientific and technical pool, its well-developed legal system, and its large middle class.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.538 trillion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,600 (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 419 kWh (1995)
\BAgriculture - products:\b rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; \Jcattle\j, \Jwater\j buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish catch of about 3 million metric tons ranks India among the world's top 10 fishing nations
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $30.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i clothing, gems and jewelry, \Jengineering\j goods, chemicals, leather manufactures,
cotton yarn, and fabric
\Ipartners:\i US, \JJapan\j, \JGermany\j, UK, Hong Kong
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $34.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i crude oil and \Jpetroleum\j products, machinery, gems, \Jfertilizer\j, chemicals
\Ipartners:\i US, \JGermany\j, Saudi \JArabia\j, UK, \JBelgium\j, Japan
\BDebt - external:\b $97.9 billion (March 1995)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $1.237 billion (1993); US ODA bilateral commitments $171 million; US Ex-Im bilateral commitments $680 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA bilateral commitments $2.48 billion; OPEC bilateral aid $200 million; World Bank (IBRD) multilateral commitments $2.8 billion; Asian Development Bank (AsDB) multilateral commitments $760 million; International Finance Corporation (IFC) multilateral commitments $200 million; other multilateral commitments
\BTelephone system:\b probably the least adequate \Jtelephone\j system of any of the industrializing countries; three of every four villages have no \Jtelephone\j service; only 5% of India's villages have long-distance service; poor \Jtelephone\j service significantly impedes commercial and industrial growth and penalizes India in global markets; slow improvement is taking place with the recent admission of private and private-public investors, but demand for communication services is also growing rapidly \Idomestic:\i local service is provided mostly by open wire and obsolete electromechanical and manual switchboard systems; within the last 10 years a substantial amount of digital switch gear has been introduced for local service; long-distance traffic is carried mostly by open wire, coaxial cable, and low-capacity microwave radio relay; since 1985, however, significant trunk capacity has been added in the form of fiber-optic cable and a domestic \Jsatellite\j system with over 100 \Jearth\j stations
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); submarine cables to \JMalaysia\j and UAE
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 96, FM 4, shortwave 0
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, various security or paramilitary forces (includes
Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast Guard)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 258,172,895 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 151,693,072 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 10,465,427 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $8 billion (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.7% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b boundaries with \JBangladesh\j and China in dispute; status of Kashmir with \JPakistan\j; \Jwater\j-sharing problems with downstream riparian \JPakistan\j over the Indus (Wular Barrage); \JBangladesh\j and India signed a treaty 12 December 1996 to share \Jwater\j from the Ganges
\BIllicit drugs:\b world's largest licit producer of opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; major transit country for illicit \Jnarcotics\j produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of \Jhashish\j and methaqualone; produced 47 metric tons of illicit opium in 1996
#
"Indian Ocean (Atlas)",111,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b body of \Jwater\j between Africa, \JAntarctica\j, Asia, and Australia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 30 00 S, 80 00 E
\BMap references:\b World
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 73.6 million sq km
\Inote:\i includes Arabian Sea, Bass Straight, Bay of Bengal, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, \JRed Sea\j, Strait of Malacca, and other tributary \Jwater\j bodies
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than eight times the size of the US; third-largest ocean (after the \JPacific Ocean\j and \JAtlantic Ocean\j, but larger than the \JArctic\j Ocean)
\BCoastline:\b 66,526 km
\BClimate:\b northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in the southern Indian Ocean
\BTerrain:\b surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low \Jatmospheric pressure\j over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninety East Ridge
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Java Trench -7,258 m
\Ihighest point:\i sea level 0 m
\BNatural resources:\b oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules
\BNatural hazards:\b ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme south near \JAntarctica\j from May to October
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b endangered marine species include the \Jdugong\j, seals, turtles, and whales; oil \Jpollution\j in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait
\BGovernment\b
\BData code:\b none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes appendix
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the \JMiddle East\j, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of \Jpetroleum\j and \Jpetroleum\j products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and \JIndonesia\j. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from \JRussia\j, \JJapan\j, Korea, and \JTaiwan\j also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and \Jtuna\j. Large reserves of \Jhydrocarbons\j are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi \JArabia\j, \JIran\j, India, and western \JAustralia\j. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa, \JIndonesia\j, \JSri Lanka\j, and \JThailand\j.
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephone system:\b
\Iinternational:\i submarine cables from India to UAE and \JMalaysia\j and from \JSri Lanka\j to Djibouti and Indonesia
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JCalcutta\j (India), Colombo (\JSri Lanka\j), Durban (South Africa), Jakarta (\JIndonesia\j), Madras (India), Melbourne (\JAustralia\j), \JMumbai\j (\JBombay\j; India), Richard's Bay (South Africa)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
#
"Indonesia (Atlas)",112,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 5 00 S, 120 00 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,919,440 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,826,440 sq km
\Iwater:\i 93,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than three times the size of Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,602 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JMalaysia\j 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
\BCoastline:\b 54,716 km
\BMaritime claims:\b measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
\BTerrain:\b mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
\BReligions:\b Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1985)
\BLanguages:\b Bahasa \JIndonesia\j (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch,
local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 83.8%
\Imale:\i 89.6%
\Ifemale:\i 78% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Indonesia
\Iconventional short form:\i Indonesia
\Ilocal long form:\i Republik Indonesia
\Ilocal short form:\i Indonesia
\Iformer:\i Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
\BData code:\b ID
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Jakarta
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa \JTimur\j, \JKalimantan\j Barat, \JKalimantan\j Selatan, \JKalimantan\j Tengah, \JKalimantan\j \JTimur\j, Lampung, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara \JTimur\j, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, \JTimor\j \JTimur\j, Yogyakarta*
\BIndependence:\b 17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949, \JIndonesia\j became legally independent from the Netherlands)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
\BConstitution:\b August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959
\BLegal system:\b based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie (since 21 May 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie (since 21 May 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected by consensus by the People's Consultative Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 11 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Jusuf Habibie was appointed by President Suharto to be his successor. This move came as a result of economic problems, the downward slide of the Rupiah and popular pressure from the Indonesian people for Suharto to step down.
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral \JHouse of Representatives\j or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (500 seats; 400 elected by popular vote, 100 are appointed military representatives; members serve five-year terms; note - beginning with the elections in May 1997, the composition of the DPR will change to 425 elected representatives and 75 appointed representatives)
\Ielections:\i last held 8 June 1992 (next scheduled for 29 May 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - Golkar 68%, PPP 17%, PDI 15%; seats by party - Golkar 282, PPP 62, PDI 56
\Inote:\i the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 500 indirectly selected members; it meets every five years to elect the president and vice president and to approve the broad outlines of national policy
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung), the judges are appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Golkar (de facto ruling political party based on functional groups), HARMOKO, general chairman; \JIndonesia\j Democracy Party (PDI - federation of former Nationalist and Christian Parties), SOERJADI, chairman; Development Unity Party (PPP, federation of former Islamic parties), Ismail Hasan METAREUM, chairman
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Arifin Mohamad SIREGAR
\Ichancery:\i 2020 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 775-5200
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 775-5365
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY
\Iembassy:\i Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Jakarta
\Imailing address:\i Unit 8129, Box 1, APO AP 96520
\Itelephone:\i [62] (21) 344-2211
\IFAX:\i [62] (21) 386-2259
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Surabaya
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of \JPoland\j, which is white (top) and red
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JIndonesia\j's sound macroeconomic management, combined with an emphasis on rapid deregulation and encouragement of private investment resulted in real GDP growth in 1991-96 averaging about 7%. This was impressive, but not sufficient to cut underemployment while absorbing the 2.3 million workers annually entering the labor force. Foreign investment has boosted manufacturing output and exports in recent years. The economy's growth is driven by continuing expansion of nonoil exports. Plantation crops - \Jrubber\j and \Jpalm oil\j - and textiles and plywood are being encouraged for both export and job generation. Industrial output is based on diverse natural resources, including crude oil, \Jnatural gas\j, timber, metals, and \Jcoal\j. \JJapan\j remains \JIndonesia\j's most important customer and supplier of aid. Growth in 1996 was led by industry, transport, and tourism. Strong growth should continue in 1997 assuming no sharp rise in political uncertainty.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $779.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,770 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i manufactures 51.9%, fuels 26.4%, foodstuffs 12.7%, raw materials 9.0% \Ipartners:\i \JJapan\j 27.1%, US 13.9%, \JSingapore\j 8.3%, South Korea 6.4%, \JTaiwan\j 3.9%, China 3.8%, Hong Kong 3.6% (1995)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $42.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i manufactures 75.3%, raw materials 9.0%, foodstuffs 7.8%, fuels 7.7% \Ipartners:\i \JJapan\j 22.7%, US 11.7%, \JGermany\j 6.9%, South Korea 6.0%, \JSingapore\j 5.8%, \JAustralia\j 5.0%, \JTaiwan\j 4.5% (1995)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 58,556,503 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 34,439,340 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 2,295,832 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $3.3 billion (FY97/98)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.3% (FY97/98)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b sovereignty over \JTimor\j \JTimur\j (East \JTimor\j Province) disputed with \JPortugal\j and not recognized by the UN; two islands in dispute with Malaysia
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; possible growing role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin
#
"Iran (Atlas)",113,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the \JCaspian Sea\j, between \JIraq\j and Pakistan
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 32 00 N, 53 00 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1.648 million sq km
\Iland:\i 1.636 million sq km
\Iwater:\i 12,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Alaska
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,440 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAfghanistan\j 936 km, Armenia 35 km, \JAzerbaijan\j-proper 432 km, \JAzerbaijan\j-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, \JIraq\j 1,458 km, \JPakistan\j 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,440 km
\Inote:\i \JIran\j also borders the \JCaspian Sea\j (740 km)
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i natural prolongation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i bilateral agreements, or median lines in the Persian Gulf
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
\BTerrain:\b rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
\BNatural hazards:\b periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along the Western border
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; \Jdesertification\j; oil \Jpollution\j in the Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 50.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 67.82 years
\Imale:\i 66.47 years
\Ifemale:\i 69.23 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 4.52 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Iranian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Iranian
\BEthnic groups:\b Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
\BReligions:\b Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%
\BLanguages:\b Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 72.1%
\Imale:\i 78.4%
\Ifemale:\i 65.8% (1994 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Islamic Republic of Iran
\Iconventional short form:\i Iran
\Ilocal long form:\i Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
\Ilocal short form:\i Iran
\BData code:\b IR
\BGovernment type:\b theocratic republic
\BNational capital:\b Tehran
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 25 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
\Inote:\i there may be two new provinces named Qom and Qazvin
\BIndependence:\b 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of \JIran\j proclaimed)
\BNational holiday:\b Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
\BConstitution:\b 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership
\BLegal system:\b the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
\BSuffrage:\b 15 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i supreme leader (rahbar-e moazam) and functional chief of state - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)
\Ihead of government:\i President Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI (since 3 August 1989); First
Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NA August 1989)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval \Ielections:\i supreme leader appointed for life by the Council of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 11 June 1993 (next to be held 23 May 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI elected president; percent of vote - Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI 63%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (270 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 8 March and 19 April 1996 (next to be held NA March 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JIran\j has no political parties; the most important political "groupings" are - Tehran Militant Clergy Association, Secretary General Ayatollah Mohammad EMAMI-KASHANI; Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Servants of Reconstruction (G-6), Mohammad HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI, Hosein MARASHI
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, and the Islamic Coalition Association; opposition groups include the Liberation Movement of \JIran\j and the Nation of \JIran\j party; armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan; the Society for the Defense of Freedom
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none; note - \JIran\j has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy, headed by Faramarz FATH-NEJAD; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209 \JWisconsin\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; \Jtelephone\j: [1] (202) 965-4990
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none; note - protecting power in \JIran\j is Switzerland
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JIran\j's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures. Under President RAFSANJANI, the government adopted a number of market reforms to reduce the state's role in the economy, but most of these changes have moved slowly or have been reversed because of political opposition. In the early 1990s, \JIran\j experienced a financial crisis caused by an import surge that began in 1989 and general financial mismanagement. In 1993-1994, \JIran\j rescheduled $15 billion in debt, with the bulk of payments due in 1996-97. The strong oil market in 1996 has helped ease financial pressures, however, and Tehran has so far made timely debt service payments. In 1996, \JIran\j's oil earnings - which account for 85% of total export revenues - climbed 20% from the previous year. \JIran\j's financial situation will remain tight through the end of the decade, and continued timely debt service payments will depend, in part, on persistent strong oil prices during the next few years.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $343.5 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,200 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i shortage of skilled labor; 1.38% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1997 est.)
\BUnemployment rate:\b over 30% (1995 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b \Jpetroleum\j, \Jpetrochemicals\j, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 4.3% (1994 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 25.12 million kW (1994)
\Icommodities:\i machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals,
technical services, refined oil products
\Ipartners:\i \JGermany\j, \JJapan\j, \JItaly\j, UK, UAE, \JRussia\j, France
\BDebt - external:\b $30 billion (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $40 million (1993)
\BCurrency:\b 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note - domestic figures are generally referred to in terms of the toman
\BExchange rates:\b Iranian rials (IR) per US$1 - 1,755.12 (January 1997), 1,750.76 (1996), 1,747.93 (1995), 1,748.75 (1994), 1,267.77 (1993), 65.55 (1992); black market rate: 4,600 rials per US$1 (March 1997); note - as of May 1995, the "official rate" of 1,750 rials per US$1 is used for imports of essential goods and services and for oil exports, whereas the "official export rate" of 3,000 rials per US$1 is used for non-oil exports and imports not covered by the official rate \BFiscal year:\b 21 March - 20 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 3.02 million (1992 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay extends throughout country; system centered in Tehran
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (2 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, \JPakistan\j, \JSyria\j, \JKuwait\j, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 77, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 14.3 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 28
\BTelevisions:\b 3.9 million (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 7,286 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 94 km 1.676-m gauge
\Istandard gauge:\i 7,192 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km electrified) (1996 est.)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 158,000 km
\Ipaved:\i 93,378 km (including 460 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 64,622 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use
\Iships by type:\i bulk 47, cargo 36, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 2, container 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 22, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9, short-sea passenger 1 \Inote:\i \JIran\j owns an additional 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 141,992 DWT that operate under the registry of Cyprus (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 227 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 115
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 32
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 11
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 29
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 18
\Iunder 914 m:\i 25 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 112
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 10
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 98 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 12 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Islamic Republic of \JIran\j regular forces (includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces), Revolutionary Guards (includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, and Basij-mobilization-forces), Law Enforcement Forces
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 21 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 15,700,662 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 9,332,944 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 650,804 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b according to official Iranian data, Iran budgeted 8,283.9 billion rials for defense in 1997; note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using current exchange rates could produce misleading results
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b \JIran\j and \JIraq\j restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al-Arab waterway; \JIran\j occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by \JIran\j) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by \JIran\j); it jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by \JIran\j) - over which \JIran\j has taken steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has garnered significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting these Iranian actions; \JCaspian Sea\j boundaries are not yet determined among \JAzerbaijan\j, Iran, Kazakstan, \JRussia\j, and Turkmenistan
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and international drug trade; net opiate importer but also a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe
#
"Iraq (Atlas)",114,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the Persian Gulf, between \JIran\j and Kuwait
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 33 00 N, 44 00 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 437,072 sq km
\Iland:\i 432,162 sq km
\Iwater:\i 4,910 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,631 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JIran\j 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, \JKuwait\j 242 km, Saudi \JArabia\j 814 km, \JSyria\j 605 km, Turkey 331 km
\BCoastline:\b 58 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i not specified
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
\BTerrain:\b mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b government \Jwater\j control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Shi'a Muslims, who have inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable \Jwater\j; development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Environmental Modification
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 57.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 67.38 years
\Imale:\i 66.31 years
\Ifemale:\i 68.5 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.26 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Iraqi(s)
\Iadjective:\i Iraqi
\BEthnic groups:\b Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%
\BReligions:\b Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 58%
\Imale:\i 70.7%
\Ifemale:\i 45% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Iraq
\Iconventional short form:\i Iraq
\Ilocal long form:\i Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
\Ilocal short form:\i Al Iraq
\BData code:\b IZ
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Baghdad
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 18 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, \JBaghdad\j, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
\BIndependence:\b 3 October 1932 (from \JLeague of Nations\j mandate under British administration)
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
\BConstitution:\b 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (provisional Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted
\BLegal system:\b based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since NA May 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979); Deputy Prime Minister Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since NA); Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since NA)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers
\Inote:\i there is also a Revolutionary Command Council; Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri
\Ielections:\i president and vice presidents elected by a two-thirds majority of the Revolutionary Command Council; election last held 17 October 1995 (next to be held NA)
\Ielection results:\i SADDAM Husayn reelected president; percent of Revolutionary Command Council vote - 99%; Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF and Taha Yasin RAMADAN elected vice presidents; percent of Revolutionary Command Council vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (250 seats; 30 appointed by SADDAM Husayn to represent the three northern provinces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah; 220 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 24 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Cassation
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Ba'th Party, SADDAM Husayn, central party leader
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b political parties and activity severely restricted; opposition to regime from disaffected members of the Ba'th Party, Army officers, tribes, and Shi'a religious and ethnic Kurdish \Jdissidents\j; the Green Party (government-controlled)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none; note - \JIraq\j has an Interest Section in the Algerian Embassy headed by Dr. Khairi O. T. AL ZUBAIDI; address: Iraqi Interests Section, Algerian Embassy, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; \Jtelephone\j: [1] (202) 483-7500;
FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Polish Embassy in \JBaghdad\j, which is in the Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club); address: P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, \JBaghdad\j; \Jtelephone\j: [964] (1) 719-6138, 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791; FAX: [964] (1) 718-9297
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of \JSyria\j that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of \JEgypt\j that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning and management of industrial production and foreign trade while leaving some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to private enterprise. The economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with \JIran\j and damage to oil export facilities by \JIran\j, led the government to implement austerity measures and to borrow heavily and later reschedule foreign debt payments; \JIraq\j suffered economic losses of at least $100 billion from the war. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages, salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded high priority by the government, also was under financial constraints. \JIraq\j's seizure of \JKuwait\j in August 1990, subsequent international economic embargoes, and military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture. Industrial and transportation facilities, which suffered severe damage, have been partially restored. Oil exports are at 25% of the prewar level following the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 986 in December 1996. Shortages of spare parts continue. The UN-sponsored economic embargo has reduced exports and imports and has contributed to the sharp rise in prices. The Iraqi Government has been unwilling to abide by UN resolutions so that the economic embargo could be removed. The government's policies of supporting large military and internal security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have exacerbated shortages. In accord with a UN resolution Iraq agreed to an oil-for-food deal in 1996, under which it would export $2 billion worth of oil in exchange for badly needed food and medicine. The first oil was pumped in December 1996, and the first supplies of food and medicine should arrive in March 1997. Per capita output for 1995-96 and living standards are well below the 1989-90 level, but any estimates have a wide range of error.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $42 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 0% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1996 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 4.4 million (1989)
\Iby occupation:\i services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22%
\Inote:\i severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about 1,600,000 (July 1990); since then, it has declined substantially
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b \Jpetroleum\j, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 6.83 million kW (1996)
\BDebt - external:\b very heavy relative to GDP but amount unknown (1996)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
\BExchange rates:\b Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 0.3109 (fixed official rate since 1982); black market rate - Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 1,200 (May 1997), 3,000 (December 1995); subject to wide fluctuations
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 632,000 (1987 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b reconstitution of damaged telecommunication facilities began after the Gulf war; most damaged facilities have been rebuilt
\Idomestic:\i the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (\JAtlantic Ocean\j Region) and 1 Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan, \JKuwait\j, \JSyria\j, and Turkey; \JKuwait\j line is probably nonoperational
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 16, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 4.02 million (1991 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 13
\BTelevisions:\b 1 million (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,032 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 2,032 km 1.435-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 46,500 km
\Ipaved:\i 39,990 km
\Iunpaved:\i 6,510 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Persian Gulf war
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Internal Security Forces
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 5,039,332 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,825,888 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 246,404 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b \JIran\j and \JIraq\j restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in November 1994, \JIraq\j formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with \JKuwait\j which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to \JKuwait\j and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands; dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
#
"Ireland (Atlas)",115,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, west of Great Britain
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 53 00 N, 8 00 W
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 70,280 sq km
\Iland:\i 68,890 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,390 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than West Virginia
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 360 km
\Iborder countries:\i UK 360 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,448 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i not specified
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
\BTerrain:\b mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location on major air and sea routes between \JNorth America\j and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60 miles of Dublin
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981)\BLanguages:\b Irish (\JGaelic\j), spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard, English is the language generally used
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\BNational holiday:\b Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
\BConstitution:\b 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister John BRUTON (since 15 December 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held NA November 1997); prime minister nominated by the \JHouse of Representatives\j and appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Mary Bourke ROBINSON elected president; percent of vote - Mary Bourke
ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad
Eireann (60 seats, 49 elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote and proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held NA February 1992 (next to be held NA February 1997); \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 25 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6; \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president on the advice of the government (prime minister and cabinet)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Democratic Left [Proinsias DE ROSSA]; Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Labor Party [Richard SPRING]; Fine Gael [John BRUTON]; Communist Party of Ireland [Michael O'RIORDAN]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; The Workers' Party [Marion DONNELLY]; Green Alliance [Bronwen MAHER]\Inote:\i Prime Minister BRUTON heads a three-party coalition consisting of the Fine Gael, the Labor Party, and the Democratic Left
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER (will return to Dublin in July)
\Ichancery:\i 2234 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 462-3939
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 232-5993
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, New York, and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH
\Iembassy:\i 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [353] (1) 6688777
\IFAX:\i [353] (1) 6689946
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of \JItaly\j, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 38% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 26% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business investment. Since the 1980s, \Jinflation\j has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment remains a serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development agency to aid small indigenous firms.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $59.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $16,800 (1996 est.)
\Iships by type:\i bulk 1, cargo 27, chemical tanker 2, container 5, oil tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 40 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 37
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 29 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda Siochana)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 959,807 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 778,234 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 36,560 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $618 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.3% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, \JIceland\j, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for and consumer of \Jhashish\j from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; transshipment point for heroin and \Jcocaine\j
#
"Israel (Atlas)",116,0,0,0
\I(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)\i
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the data below, unless otherwise noted. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, and Israel and \JSyria\j, to achieve a permanent settlement between them. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the \JSinai\j pursuant to the 1979 Israel-\JEgypt\j Peace treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between \JEgypt\j and Lebanon
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 31 30 N, 34 45 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 20,770 sq km
\Iland:\i 20,330 sq km
\Iwater:\i 440 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than New Jersey
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,006 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JEgypt\j 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, \JLebanon\j 79 km, \JSyria\j 76 km, West Bank 307 km
\BCoastline:\b 273 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i to depth of exploitation
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
\BTerrain:\b Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Dead Sea -408 m
\Ihighest point:\i Har Meron 1,208 m
\BNatural resources:\b copper, \Jphosphates\j, bromide, \Jpotash\j, clay, sand, sulfur, \Jasphalt\j, \Jmanganese\j, small amounts of \Jnatural gas\j and crude oil
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 17%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 4%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 7%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 6%
\Iother:\i 66% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 1,800 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b limited arable land and natural fresh \Jwater\j resources pose serious constraints; \Jdesertification\j; air \Jpollution\j from industrial and vehicle emissions; \Jgroundwater\j \Jpollution\j from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Marine Life Conservation
\BGeography - note:\b there are 203 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 26 in East \JJerusalem\j (August 1996 est.)
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 5,534,672 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i includes 136,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, 15,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 5,000 in the Gaza Strip, and 156,000 in East \JJerusalem\j (August 1996 est.)
\BIndependence:\b 14 May 1948 (from \JLeague of Nations\j mandate under British administration)\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May)
\BConstitution:\b no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the basic laws of the parliament (\JKnesset\j), and the Israeli citizenship law
\BLegal system:\b mixture of English \Jcommon law\j, British Mandate regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Ehud BARAK (since June 1999)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet selected from and approved by the Knesset
\Ielections:\i president elected by the Knesset for a five-year term; election last held March 1999; prime minister elected by popular vote for a four-year term; note - in March 1992, the Knesset approved legislation, effective in 1996, which allowed for the direct election of the prime minister; under the new law, each voter casts two ballots - one for the direct election of the prime minister and one for the party in the Knesset; the candidate that receives the largest percentage of the popular vote then works to form a coalition with other parties to achieve a parliamentary majority of 61 seats; finally, the candidate must submit his or her cabinet to the Knesset for approval and this must be done within 45 days of the election; in contrast to the old system, under the new law, the prime minister's party need not be the single-largest party in the Knesset
\Ielections:\i last held May 1999
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Labor Party 34, Likud Party 32, SHAS 10, MERETZ 9, National Religious Party 9, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya 7, Hadash-Balad 5, Third Way 4, United Arab List 4, United Jewish \JTorah\j 4, Moledet 2; note - Likud, Tzomet, and Gesher candidates ran on a joint list
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Igovernment coalition:\i Likud Party, Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael EITAN; Gesher, David LEVI; SHAS, Arieh DERI; National Religious Party, Zevulun HAMMER; Yisra'el Ba'Aliya, Natan SHARANSKY; United Jewish \JTorah\j, Meir PORUSH; Third Way, Avigdor KAHALANI; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI
\Iopposition:\i Labor Party, Shimon PERES; MERETZ, Yossi SARID; United Arab List, Abd al-Malik DAHAMSHAH; Hadash-Balad, Hashim MAHAMID
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Gush Emunim, Israeli nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and is critical of government's \JLebanon\j policy
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Eliahu BEN-ELISSAR
\Ichancery:\i 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 364-5500
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 364-5610
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JAtlanta\j, \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Martin S. INDYK
\Iembassy:\i 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
\Imailing address:\i PSC 98, Box 100, APO AE 09830
\Itelephone:\i [972] (3) 519-7575
\IFAX:\i [972] (3) 517-3227
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JJerusalem\j; note - an independent US mission, established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign government
\BFlag description:\b white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the \JMagen David\j (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Israel has a market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Manufacturing and construction employ about 29% of Israeli workers, agriculture, \Jforestry\j, and fishing 3.5%, and services the rest. Israel is largely self-sufficient in food production except for grains. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable current account deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the US, which is its major source of economic and military aid. To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel has been targeting high-technology niches in international markets, such as medical scanning equipment. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR, which topped 750,000 during the period 1989-96, initially increased unemployment, intensified housing problems, and strained the government budget. At the same time, the immigrants bring to the economy valuable scientific and professional expertise.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $85.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.6% (1996)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $16,400 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i public services 29.3%, manufacturing 22.1%, construction 6.5%, commerce 13.9%, finance and business 10.4%, personal and other services 7.4%, transport, storage, and communications 6.3%, agriculture, \Jforestry\j, and fishing 3.5%, other 0.6% (1992)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 6.5% (1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $41 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996)
\BIndustries:\b food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles and apparel, chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transport equipment, electrical equipment, \Jpotash\j mining, high-technology \Jelectronics\j, tourism
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 8% (1995)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 6.92 million kW (1995 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval, and air components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard, Chen (women); note - historically there have been no separate Israeli military services
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,420,066
\Ifemales age 15-49:\i 1,391,042 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,162,745 (1997 est.)
\Ifemales:\i 1,134,610 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 50,744
\Ifemales:\i 48,519 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $9.2 billion (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b about 9.8% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b 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; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli troops in southern \JLebanon\j since June 1982
\BIllicit drugs:\b increasingly concerned about \Jcocaine\j and heroin abuse and trafficking
#
"Italy (Atlas)",117,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central \JMediterranean Sea\j, northeast of Tunisia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 42 50 N, 12 50 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 301,230 sq km
\Iland:\i 294,020 sq km
\Iwater:\i 7,210 sq km
\Inote:\i includes \JSardinia\j and Sicily
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Arizona
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,932.2 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAustria\j 430 km, \JFrance\j 488 km, Holy See (\JVatican City\j) 3.2 km, San Marino
39 km, \JSlovenia\j 232 km, \JSwitzerland\j 740 km
\BCoastline:\b 7,600 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b predominantly Mediterranean; \JAlpine\j in far north; hot, dry in south
\BTerrain:\b mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
\BNatural hazards:\b regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; \Jacid rain\j damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Tropical Timber 94
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 78.25 years
\Imale:\i 75.13 years
\Ifemale:\i 81.58 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.16 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Italian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Italian
\BEthnic groups:\b Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and \JAlbanian\j-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
\BLanguages:\b Italian, German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'\JAosta\j region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\BIndependence:\b 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of \JItaly\j proclaimed)
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946)
\BConstitution:\b 1 January 1948
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law influence; appeals treated as trials de novo; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25)
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI (since May 1999)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister (referred to in \JItaly\j as the president of the Council of Ministers) Massimo D'ALEMA (since October 1998)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term; election last held 25 May 1992 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI elected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato della Repubblica (326 seats, 315 popularly elected of which 232 are directly elected and 83 by regional proportional representation, 11 appointed senators-for-life; members serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; 475 are directly elected, 155 by regional proportional representation; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 21 April 1996 (next to be held by NA April 2001); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 April 1996 (next to be held by NA April 2001)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Olive Tree 157, Freedom Alliance 116, Northern League 27, Refounded Communists 10, regional lists 3, Social Movement-Tricolor Flames 1, Panella Reformers 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Olive Tree 284, Freedom Alliance 246, Northern League 59, Refounded Communists 35, Southern Tyrol List 3, Autonomous List 2, other 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale, composed of 15 judges (one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by Parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative supreme courts)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\IOlive Tree (Ulivo):\i Democratic Party of the Left or PDS [Massimo D'ALEMA]; Greens (Verdi) [Carlo RIPA DI MEANA]; Italian Renewal or RI [Lamberto DINI]; Italian Popular Party or PPI [Franco MARINI - elected 12 January 1997]
\IFreedom Pole:\i Forza Italia or FI [Silvio BERLUSCONI]; National Alliance or AN [Gianfranco FINI]; Christian Democratic Center or CCD [Pierferdinando CASINI]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Rocco BUTTIGLIONE]
\Iother:\i Northern League or NL [Umberto BOSSI]; \JCommunism\j Refoundation or RC [Fausto BERTINOTTI]; Italian Social Movement-Tricolor Flame or MSI-Fiamma Tricolore [Pino RAUTI]; Pannella-Sgarbi's List (Lista Pannella-Sgarbi) [Marco PANNELLA]; Italian Socialists or SI [Enrico BOSELLI]; Autonomous List (a group of minor parties); Southern Tyrols List or SVP (German speakers)
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b the Roman \JCatholic Church\j; three major trade union confederations (Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL which is PDS-dominated, Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL which is centrist, and Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL which is center-right); Italian manufacturers and merchants associations (Confindustria, Confcommercio); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Ferdinando SALLEO
\Ichancery:\i 1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 and 2700 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 328-5500
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 483-2187
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
\Iconsulate(s):\i \JDetroit\j and New Orleans
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Reginald BARTHOLOMEW
\Iembassy:\i Via Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome
\Imailing address:\i PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
\Itelephone:\i [39] (6) 46741
\IFAX:\i [39] (6) 488-2672
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Florence, Milan, Naples
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Since World War II, the Italian economy has changed from one based on agriculture into a ranking industrial economy, with approximately the same total and per capita output as \JFrance\j and the UK. This basically capitalistic economy is still divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less developed agricultural south, with large public enterprises. Most raw materials needed by industry and over 75% of \Jenergy\j requirements must be imported. In the second half of 1992, \JRome\j became unsettled by the prospect of not qualifying to participate in EU plans for economic and monetary union later in the decade; thus, it finally began to address its huge fiscal imbalances. Subsequently, the government has adopted fairly stringent budgets, abandoned its inflationary wage indexation system, and started to scale back its generous social welfare programs, including pension and health care benefits. In November 1996 the lire rejoined the European monetary system, which it had left in September 1992 when under extreme pressure in currency markets. \JItaly\j in early 1997 faces the problem of restructuring its economy to meet Maastricht criteria for inclusion in the EMU, together with other problems of refurbishing a tottering communications system, curbing industrial \Jpollution\j, and adjusting to new EU and global competitive forces.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.12 trillion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 0.8% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $19,600 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b modern, well-developed, fast; fully automated \Jtelephone\j, telex, and data services
\Idomestic:\i high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j Region), and NA Eutelsat; 21 submarine cables
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 135, FM 28 (repeaters 1,840), shortwave 0
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 14,356,666 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 12,423,178 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 339,255 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $20.4 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.9% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b \JItaly\j is negotiating with \JSlovenia\j over property and minority rights issues dating from World War II; \JCroatia\j and \JItaly\j have not resolved a bilateral issue dating from WWII over property and ethnic minority rights
\BIllicit drugs:\b important gateway for and consumer of Latin American \Jcocaine\j and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market
#
"Jamaica (Atlas)",118,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island in the \JCaribbean Sea\j, south of Cuba
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 18 15 N, 77 30 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 10,990 sq km
\Iland:\i 10,830 sq km
\Iwater:\i 160 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Connecticut
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,022 km
\BMaritime claims:\b measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\BNatural hazards:\b hurricanes (especially July to November)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to \Jcoral\j reefs; air \Jpollution\j in Kingston results from vehicle emissions
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location between \JCayman\j Trench and \JJamaica\j Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 15 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 75.12 years
\Imale:\i 72.8 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.56 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.39 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Jamaican(s)
\Iadjective:\i Jamaican
\BEthnic groups:\b black 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian and Afro-East Indian 3%, white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%, other 1.2%
\BReligions:\b Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%, Baptist 10%, Anglican 7.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%, Methodist 3.1%, United Church 2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%, other, including some spiritual cults 39.1% (1982)
\BLanguages:\b English, Creole
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 85%
\Imale:\i 80.8%
\Ifemale:\i 89.1% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Jamaica
\BData code:\b JM
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Kingston
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 14 parishes; Clarendon, \JHanover\j, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
\BIndependence:\b 6 August 1962 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day (first Monday in August) (1962)
\BConstitution:\b 6 August 1962
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1 August 1991)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since NA 1993)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party 13 seats, opposition 8 seats) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 30 March 1993 (next to be held by March 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 52, JLP 8; note - the establishment of a major third party, the National Democratic Movement (NDM) in 1995 led to a realignment of seats - PNP 51, JLP 7, NDM 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b People's National Party (PNP), P. J. PATTERSON; \JJamaica\j Labor Party (JLP), Edward SEAGA; National Democratic Movement (NDM), Bruce GOLDING
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists); New Beginnings Movement (NBM)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL
\Ichancery:\i 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 452-0660
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 452-0081
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Miami and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador J. Gary COOPER
\Iembassy:\i \JJamaica\j Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859
\IFAX:\i [1] (876) 926-6743
\BFlag description:\b diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Key sectors in this island economy are \Jbauxite\j (\Jalumina\j and \Jbauxite\j account for more than half of exports) and tourism. Since assuming office in 1992, Prime Minister PATTERSON has consolidated the market-oriented reforms initiated by his predecessor, Michael MANLEY, to make \JJamaica\j a regional leader in economic reform. PATTERSON has eliminated most price controls, streamlined tax schedules, and privatized government enterprises. Tight monetary and fiscal policies under an IMF program have helped slow \Jinflation\j and stabilize the exchange rate, but, as a result, economic growth has slowed down and unemployment remains high. \JJamaica\j's medium-term prospects depend largely on its ability to continue to attract foreign capital and to limit speculation against the Jamaican dollar.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $8.4 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 0.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,260 (1996 est.)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 1.04 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 8
\BTelevisions:\b 330,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 272 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 272 km 1.435-m gauge; note - 207 km belonging to the \JJamaica\j Railway Corporation which were in common carrier service are no longer operational; the remaining track is privately owned and used to transport bauxite
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 18,600 km
\Ipaved:\i 13,132 km
\Iunpaved:\i 5,468 km (1995 est.)
\BPipelines:\b \Jpetroleum\j products 10 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JAlligator\j Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Rocky Point
\BMilitary branches:\b \JJamaica\j Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Air Wing), \JJamaica\j Constabulary Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 691,799 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 488,569 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 25,532 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $30 million (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for \Jcocaine\j from Central and \JSouth America\j to \JNorth America\j and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government has an active cannabis eradication program
#
"Jan Mayen (Atlas)",119,0,0,0
\I(territory of \JNorway\j)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Europe, island between the \JGreenland\j Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 71 00 N, 8 00 W
\BMap references:\b \JArctic\j Region
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 373 sq km
\Iland:\i 373 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 124.1 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 10 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 4 nm
\BClimate:\b \Jarctic\j maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
\BTerrain:\b volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Norwegian Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Haakon VII Toppen\Beerenberg 2,277 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b dominated by the \Jvolcano\j Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no permanent inhabitants
\Inote:\i there are personnel who operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran) C base and the \Jweather\j and coastal services radio station
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Jan Mayen
\BData code:\b JN
\BDependency status:\b territory of \JNorway\j; administered from Oslo, \JNorway\j, through a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard); however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JNorway\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of \JNorway\j's radio and meteorological stations located on the island.
\BElectricity - capacity:\b NA kW
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
\Inote:\i radio and meteorological station
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of Norway
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Japan (Atlas)",120,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Asia, island chain between the North \JPacific Ocean\j and the Sea of \JJapan\j, east of the Korean Peninsula
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 36 00 N, 138 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal area:\i 377,835 sq km
\Iland area:\i 374,744 sq km
\Icomparative area:\i slightly smaller than \JCalifornia\j
\Bnote:\b includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okinotori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and \JVolcano\j Islands (Kazan-retto)
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 29,751 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
\BInternational disputes:\b islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group occupied by the \JSoviet Union\j in 1945, now administered by \JRussia\j, claimed by \JJapan\j; Liancourt Rocks disputed with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands) claimed by China and \JTaiwan\j
\BClimate:\b varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
\BTerrain:\b mostly rugged and mountainous
\Ilowest point:\i Hachiro-gata -4 m
\Ihighest point:\i Fujiyama 3,776 m
\BNatural resources:\b negligible mineral resources, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 13%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Imeadows and pastures:\i 1%
\Iforest and woodland:\i 67%
\Iother:\i 18%
\BIrrigated land:\b 28,680 sq km (1989)
\BEnvironment:\b
\Icurrent issues:\i air \Jpollution\j from power plant emissions results in \Jacid rain\j; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading \Jwater\j quality and threatening aquatic life; \JJapan\j's appetite for fish and tropical timber is contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere
\Inatural hazards:\i many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis
\Iinternational agreements:\i party to - Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship \JPollution\j, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, \JDesertification\j, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
\BGeographic note:\b strategic location in northeast Asia
\BIndependence:\b 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
\BNational holiday:\b Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933)
\BConstitution:\b 3 May 1947
\BLegal system:\b modeled after European civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 20 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989) is a constitutional monarch
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Keizo OBUCHI (since 24 July 1998)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Diet (Kokkai)
House of Councillors (Sangi-in): half of the members elected every three years to six-year terms; elections last held 23 July 1995 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (252 total, with 126 up for election) LDP 110 (49 newly won), Shinshinto 56 (40 newly won), SDP 38 (16 newly won), JCP 14 (8 newly won), Sakigate 3 (3 newly won), others 19 (4 newly won), independents 12 (6 newly won); note - the distribution of seats as of 1 March 1996 is as follows - LDP 111, Heisei-kai 69, SDP 35, JCP 14, Sakigake 3, others and independents 19, vacancies 1
House of Representatives (Shugi-in): all members elected every four years to four-year terms; elections last held 18 July 1993 (next to be held by July 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (511 total) LDP 223, SDP 70, Shinseito 55, Komeito 51, JNP 35, JCP 15, DSP 15, Sakigake 13, others 4, independents 30; note - the distribution of seats as of 1 March 1996 is as follows - LDP 207, Shinshinto 170, SDP 63, Sakigake 22, JCP 15, others and independents 19, vacant 15
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, \Jchief justice\j is appointed by the emperor after designation by the cabinet, all other justices are appointed by the cabinet
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Keizo OBUCHI, president and Koichi KATO, secretary general; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Tomiichi MURAYAMA, president and Kanju SATO, secretary general; Sakigake (Harbinger), Masayoshi TAKEMURA, chairman and Yukio HATOYAMA, secretary general; Shinshinto (New Frontier Party, NFP), Ichiro OZAWA, chairman and Takashi YONEZAWA, secretary general; \JJapan\j Communist Party (JCP), Tetsuzo FUWA, presidium chairman
\Bnote:\b Shinshinto was formed in December 1994 by the merger of Shinseito (\JJapan\j Renewal Party, JRP), Komeito (Clean Government Party, CGP), \JJapan\j New Party (JNP), Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), and several minor groups; Heisei-kai is a joint bloc of Shinshinto and Komei members; Komei is a group formed from what remains of Komeito in the upper house
\Ichancery:\i 2520 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 939-6700
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 328-2187
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Agana (\JGuam\j), \JAnchorage\j, \JAtlanta\j, \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, \JDetroit\j, \JHonolulu\j, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), Los Angeles, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, Portland (Oregon), \JSan Francisco\j, and Seattle
\Imailing address:\i Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-0001
\Itelephone:\i [81] (3) 3224-5000
\IFAX:\i [81] (3) 3505-1862
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Naha (\JOkinawa\j), Osaka-Kobe, \JSapporo\j
\Iconsulate(s):\i \JFukuoka\j, \JNagoya\j
\BFlag:\b white with a large red disk (representing the \Jsun\j without rays) in the center
\BEconomy:\b
\BEconomic overview:\b Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (roughly 1% of GDP) have helped \JJapan\j advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most powerful economy in the world. One notable characteristic of the economy is the working together of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely knit groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force; this guarantee is slowly eroding. Industry, the most important sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self-sufficient in rice, \JJapan\j must import about 50% of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. \JJapan\j maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades overall economic growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s and 1980s. Growth came to a halt in 1992-95 largely because of the aftereffects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets. At yearend 1995, the financial structure is shaky with banks holding hundreds of billions of dollars of suspect assets. At the same time, the continued basic strength of the economy has been reflected in substantial trade surpluses, sizable foreign investments, and remarkably low rates of unemployment, \Jinflation\j, and social disorder. The crowding of the habitable land area and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $2.6792 trillion (1995 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i trade and services 54%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 33%, agriculture, \Jforestry\j, and fishing 7%, government 3%, other 3% (1988)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 3.1% (1995)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $595 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $829 billion, including capital expenditures (public works only) of about $122 billion (1995 est.)
\BIndustries:\b among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of steel and non-ferrous \Jmetallurgy\j, heavy electrical equipment, construction and mining equipment, motor vehicles and parts, electronic and telecommunication equipment, machine tools, automated production systems, locomotives and railroad rolling stock, ships, chemicals; textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995)
\BElectricity:\b
\Icapacity:\i 205,140,000 kW (1993)
\Iproduction:\i 915 billion kWh (1995)
\Iconsumption per capita:\i 7,293 kWh (1995)
\BAgriculture:\b rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; world's largest fish catch of 10 million metric tons in 1991
\Bnote:\b \JJapan\j owns an additional 1,587 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 50,072,815 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, \JLiberia\j, Vanuatu, The \JBahamas\j, \JSingapore\j, Cyprus, \JPhilippines\j, Hong Kong, and Malta (1995 est.)
\BAirports:\b
\Itotal:\i 164
\Iwith paved runways over 3,047 m:\i 6
\Iwith paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 32
\Iwith paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 34
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 30
\Iwith paved runways under 914 m:\i 60
\Iwith unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1995 est.)
\IHeliports:\i 11 (1995 est.)
\BCommunications:\b
\BTelephones:\b 64 million (1987 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b excellent domestic and international service
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 5 Intelsat (4 \JPacific Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions); submarine cables to China, \JPhilippines\j, \JRussia\j, and US (via \JGuam\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 318, FM 58, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 97 million (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 12,350 (1 kW or greater 196)
\BTelevisions:\b 100 million (1993 est.)
\BDefense:\b
\BBranches:\b \JJapan\j Ground Self-
\BDefense:\b Force (Army), \JJapan\j Maritime Self-
\BDefense:\b Force (Navy), \JJapan\j Air Self-
\BDefense:\b Force (Air Force)
\BManpower availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 31,833,691
\Imales fit for military service:\i 27,322,517
males reach military age (18) annually: 858,912 (1996 est.)
\IDefense expenditures:\i exchange rate conversion - $50.2 billion, 1% of GDP (FY95/96)
#
"Jarvis Island (Atlas)",121,0,0,0
\I(territory of the US) \i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, island in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 0 22 S, 160 03 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 4.5 sq km
\Iland:\i 4.5 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 8 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
\BTerrain:\b sandy, \Jcoral\j island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 23 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jguano\j (deposits worked until late 1800s)
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b no natural fresh \Jwater\j resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\Inote:\i Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a \Jweather\j station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Jarvis Island
\BData code:\b DQ
\BDependency status:\b unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from Washington, DC
\BFlag description:\b the flag of the US is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only; note - there is one boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island
\BTransportation - note:\b there is a \Jday\j beacon near the middle of the west coast
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Jersey (Atlas)",122,0,0,0
\I(British crown dependency)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 49 15 N, 2 10 W
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 117 sq km
\Iland:\i 117 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 70 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 12 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate; mild winters and cool summers
\BTerrain:\b gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 143 m
\BNatural resources:\b agricultural land
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 57%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 43%
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 88,510 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 18% (male 7,995; female 7,435)
\I15-64 years:\i 68% (male 30,009; female 30,523)
\I65 years and over:\i 14% (male 5,170; female 7,378) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.73% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 12.64 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 9.17 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 3.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNational holiday:\b Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
\BConstitution:\b unwritten; partly statutes, partly \Jcommon law\j and practice
\BLegal system:\b English law and local statute
\BSuffrage:\b NA years of age; universal adult
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
\Ihead of government:\i Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA 1995)
\Icabinet:\i committees appointed by the Assembly of the States
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; lieutenant governor and \Jbailiff\j appointed by the queen
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Assembly of the States (57 seats, 53 elected including 12 senators popularly elected for six-year terms, half retiring every third year, 12 constables popularly elected triennially, and 29 deputies popularly elected triennially)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (British crown dependency)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (British crown dependency)
\BFlag description:\b white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, \Jcauliflower\j, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy \Jcattle\j is known worldwide and represents an important export earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1986 the finance sector overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP, accounting for 40% of the island's output. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an \Jelectronics\j industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and \Jenergy\j requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b NA
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $643.7 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $597.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
\BIndustries:\b tourism, banking and finance, dairy
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 50,000 kW standby
\Inote:\i electricity supplied by France
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\Inote:\i electricity supplied by France
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh (1992)
\Icommodities:\i light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
\Ipartners:\i UK
\BImports:\b $NA
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
\Ipartners:\i UK
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b none
\BCurrency:\b 1 Jersey pound (£J) = 100 pence
\BExchange rates:\b Jersey pounds (£J) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 61,447 (1983 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i 3 submarine cables
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Johnston Atoll (Atlas)",123,0,0,0
\I(territory of the US) \i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, \Jatoll\j in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 16 45 N, 169 30 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2.8 sq km
\Iland:\i 2.8 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 10 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Summit Peak 5 m
\BNatural resources:\b NA; \Jguano\j deposits worked until depletion about 1890; none remains in 1997
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b no natural fresh \Jwater\j resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location in the North \JPacific Ocean\j; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by \Jcoral\j dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from \Jcoral\j dredging; closed to the public; former nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants
\Inote:\i there are 1,200 US military and civilian contractor personnel (January 1997 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Johnston Atoll
\BData code:\b JQ
\BDependency status:\b unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the US Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) and managed cooperatively by DNA and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
\BNational capital:\b none
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territory of the US)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territory of the US)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of the US is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
\BElectricity - capacity:\b NA kW
\Inote:\i electricity supplied by the base operating support contractor
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\Inote:\i electricity supplied by the base operating support contractor
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\BTelephone system:\b 52 \Jtelephone\j lines; excellent system
\Idomestic:\i 60-channel submarine cable, 22 DSN circuits by satellite, Autodin with standard remote terminal, digital \Jtelephone\j switch, Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), UHF/VHF air-ground radio, a link to the Pacific Consolidated Telecommunications Network (PCTN) satellite
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM 5 channels, shortwave NA
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 30.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 72.69 years
\Imale:\i 70.81 years
\Ifemale:\i 74.68 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 4.94 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Jordanian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Jordanian
\BEthnic groups:\b Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
\BReligions:\b Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 8%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 86.6%
\Imale:\i 93.4%
\Ifemale:\i 79.4% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
\Iconventional short form:\i Jordan
\Ilocal long form:\i Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
\Ilocal short form:\i Al Urdun
\Iformer:\i Transjordan
\BData code:\b JO
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Amman
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 8 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, '\JAmman\j, At Tafilah, Az \JZarqa\j', Irbid, Ma'an
\BIndependence:\b 25 May 1946 (from \JLeague of Nations\j mandate under British administration)\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
\BConstitution:\b 8 January 1952
\BLegal system:\b based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 20 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King Abdullah II (since October 1998)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Abd al-Salam al-MAJALI (since 19 March 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the king
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister appointed by the king
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the House of Notables or Majlis al-A'ayan (a 40-member body appointed by the king from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j (80 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 8 November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997
\Ielection results:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- IAF 16, Jordanian National Alliance Party 4, Al-Yaqazah Party 2, Al-Watan Party 2, Al-'Ahd Party 2, Jordanian Arab Democratic Party 2, Al-Mustaqbal Party 1, Jordanian Arab Socialist Ba'th Party 1, Jordanian Democratic Progressive Party 1, Jordanian People's Democratic Party-Hashd 1, Jordanian Socialist Democratic Party 1, independents 47
\Inote:\i the \JHouse of Representatives\j has been convened and dissolved by the king several times since 1974; in November 1989 the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Cassation
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Al-Ahrar (Liberals) Party, Ahmad al-ZU'BI, secretary general; Al-Taqaddumi (Progressive) Party, Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general; Constitutional Jordanian Arab Front Party, Milhim al-TALL, leader; Democratic Arab Islamic Movement Party-Du'a', Yusuf ABU BAKR, secretary general; Islamic Action Front (IAF), Ishaq al-FARHAN, secretary general; Jordanian Arab Socialist Ba'th Party, Taysir al-HIMSI, command first secretary; Jordanian Communist Party (JCP), Ya'qub ZAYADIN, secretary general; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party, 'Azmi al-KHAWAJA, secretary general; Jordanian People's Democratic Party-Hashd, Salim al-NAHHAS, secretary general; Jordanian Unionist Democratic Party, 'Isa MADANAT (secretary general), Ali AMIR (secretary general), Munis al-RAZZAZ (secretary general); Pan-Arab Action Front Party, Muhammad al-ZU'BI, secretary general; Progressive Arab Ba'th Party, Mahmud al-MA'AYITAH, command secretary; Al-Mustaqbal (Future) Party, Sulayman 'ARAR, secretary general; Jordanian Arab Partisans Party, Muhammad al-MAJALI, leader, Muhammad al-SHURAYDAH, secretary general; Jordanian Peace Party, leader NA; Ansar Party, leader NA; Ummah Party, leader NA; Arab Land Party, leader NA
\Inote:\i in 1995, the Jordanian Arab Democratic Party, the Jordanian Democratic Progressive Party, and the Jordanian Socialist Democratic Party merged to form the Jordanian Unionist Democratic Party, Isa MADANAT, Ali AMIR, Munis al-RAZZAZ, secretaries general; in May 1997 the following parties - Al-'Ahd (Pledge) Party, 'Abd al-Hadi al-MAJALI, secretary general; Al-Watan (Homeland) Party, 'Akif al-FAYIZ, leader; Al-Yaqazah (Awakening) Party, 'Abd al-Ra'uf al-RAWABIDAH, secretary general; Democratic Arab Unionist Party-Wa'd, Anis al-MU'ASHIR, secretary general; Jordanian Arab Masses Party, 'Abd al-Khaliq SHATAT, secretary general; Jordanian National Alliance Party, Mijhim al-KHURAYSHAH, secretary general; Popular Unity Party-the Unionists, Mustafa AL-'ISAWI, secretary general; and the Progress and Justice Party, 'Ali al-SA'D, secretary general - merged to form the National Constitutional Party, 'Abd al Hadi AL-MAJALI, secretary general \BInternational organization participation:\b ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, \JG-7\j7, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFCTU, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTAES, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Fayez A. TARAWNEH
\Ichancery:\i 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 966-2664
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 966-3110
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Wesley W. EGAN, Jr.
\Iembassy:\i Jabel Amman, Amman
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 354, \JAmman\j 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200
\Itelephone:\i [962] (6) 820101
\IFAX:\i [962] (6) 820159
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of \Jwater\j and other natural resources such as oil and \Jcoal\j. Jordan benefited from increased Arab aid during the oil boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when its annual real GNP growth averaged more than 10%. In the remainder of the 1980s, however, reductions in both Arab aid and worker remittances slowed real economic growth to an average of roughly 2% per year. Imports - mainly oil, capital goods, consumer durables, and food - outstripped exports, with the difference covered by aid, remittances, and borrowing. In mid-1989, the Jordanian Government began debt-rescheduling negotiations and agreed to implement an IMF-supported program designed to gradually reduce the budget deficit and implement badly needed structural reforms. The Persian Gulf crisis that began in August 1990, however, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the government to shelve the IMF program, stop most debt payments, and suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab states, worker remittances, and trade contracted; and refugees flooded the country, producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting GDP growth, and straining government resources. The economy rebounded in 1992, largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers returning from the Gulf, but the recovery was uneven in 1994-96. The government is implementing the reform program adopted in 1992 and continues to secure rescheduling and write-offs of its heavy foreign debt. Debt, poverty, and unemployment remain Jordan's biggest on-going problems.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $20.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.9% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10.0%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52.0% (1992)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 16% (1994 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $2.7 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $630 million (1997 est.)
\Inote:\i since May 1989, the dinar has been pegged to a basket of currencies
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 81,500 (1987 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b adequate \Jtelephone\j system
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay, cable, and radiotelephone links
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to \JIraq\j, Saudi \JArabia\j, and \JSyria\j; microwave radio relay to \JLebanon\j is inactive; participant in Medarabtel
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 5, FM 7, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 1.1 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 8 and 1 TV receive-only \Jsatellite\j link
\BTelevisions:\b 350,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 676 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 676 km 1.050-m gauge; note - an additional 110 km stretch of the old Hejaz railroad is out of use
\BMilitary branches:\b Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force); Ministry of the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,043,324 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 743,712 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 46,760 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $589 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 8.2% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Juan de Nova Island (Atlas)",125,0,0,0
\I(possession of \JFrance\j)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 17 03 S, 42 45 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 4.4 sq km
\Iland:\i 4.4 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 24.1 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 12 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to depth the of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical
\BTerrain:\b NA
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 10 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jguano\j deposits and other fertilizers
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 90%
\Iother:\i 10%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b periodic cyclones
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b wildlife sanctuary
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Juan de Nova Island
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Ile Juan de Nova
\BData code:\b JU
\BDependency status:\b possession of \JFrance\j; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
\BIndependence:\b none (possession of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JFrance\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km; short line going to a jetty
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claimed by Madagascar
#
"Kazakstan (Atlas)",126,0,0,0
\BAlso spelt Kazakhstan\b
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Central Asia, northwest of China
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 48 00 N, 68 00 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,717,300 sq km
\Iland:\i 2,669,800 sq km
\Iwater:\i 47,500 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than four times the size of Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,012 km
\Iborder countries:\i China 1,533 km, \JKyrgyzstan\j 1,051 km, \JRussia\j 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379
km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\Inote:\i Kazakstan borders the Aral Sea (1,015 km) and the \JCaspian Sea\j (1,894 km)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
\BTerrain:\b extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western \JSiberia\j to oasis and desert in Central Asia
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
\Ihighest point:\i Zhengis Shingy 7,439 m
\BNatural resources:\b major deposits of \Jpetroleum\j, \Jnatural gas\j, \Jcoal\j, iron ore, \Jmanganese\j, chrome ore, nickel, \Jcobalt\j, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, \Jbauxite\j, gold, uranium
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 12%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 11%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 57%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 4%
\Iother:\i 16% (1996 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 22,000 sq km (1996 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial \Jpollution\j is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; \Jpollution\j in the \JCaspian Sea\j; soil \Jpollution\j from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salinization from faulty irrigation practices
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 57.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 63.79 years
\Imale:\i 58.32 years
\Ifemale:\i 69.53 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.14 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Kazakstani(s)
\Iadjective:\i Kazakstani
\BEthnic groups:\b Kazak (Qazaq) 46%, Russian 34.7%, Ukrainian 4.9%, German 3.1%, Uzbek
2.3%, Tatar 1.9%, other 7.1% (1996)
\BReligions:\b Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
\BLanguages:\b Kazak (Qazaq) official language spoken by over 40% of population, Russian official language spoken by two-thirds of population and used in everyday business
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 96% (1989 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Kazakstan
\Iconventional short form:\i Kazakstan
\Ilocal long form:\i Qazaqstan Respublikasy
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\Iformer:\i Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
\BData code:\b KZ
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Almaty (according to a September 1995 presidential decree, the capital is to be moved to Aqmola)
\Inote:\i on 3 May 1997, President NAZARBAYEV that the total number of oblasts would be reduced to 14; administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
\BIndependence:\b 16 December 1991 (from the \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 25 October (1991); Republic Day, 16 December (1991)
\BConstitution:\b adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995; first post-independence
constitution was adopted 28 January 1993
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990-91, president since 1 December 1991); State Secretary Abish KEKILDAYEV (since 30 October 1996) is second in rank to the president
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Akezhan KAZHEGELDIN (since 12 October 1994) and First Deputy Prime Minister Akhmetzhan YESIMOV (since 24 October 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 2000); note - President NAZARBAYEV's term was extended to the year 2000 by a nationwide referendum held 30 April 1995; state secretary (created by presidential decree) is appointed by the president; prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV elected president without opposition; percent of vote - NA
\Inote:\i President NAZARBAYEV has expanded his presidential powers by decree: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss the government, dissolve parliament, call referenda at his discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other members are popularly elected, two each from each oblast and Almaty, to serve four-year terms) and the Majilis (67 seats; members are popularly elected to serve four-year terms); note - with the oblasts being reduced to 14, the Senate will eventually be reduced to 37
\Ielections:\i Senate - (indirect) last held 5 December 1995 (next to be held NA 1999);
Majilis - last held 9 December and 23 December 1995 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - party members 13, no party affiliation 34, of which "independent" state officials 25, nominated by the president 7, elected by popular vote 15; Majilis - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - party members 22, no party affiliation 45
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7 members)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Alash National Freedom Party party [Aron ATABEK]; People's Unity Party or PUP (was Union of People's Unity) [Akhan BIZHANOV, chairman]; Democratic Party [Tulegen ZHUKEYEV and Altynbek SARSENBAYEV, cochairmen]; People's Congress of Kazakstan or NKK [Olzhas SULEYMENOV, chairman]; AZAMAT Movement [Petr SVOIK, Murat AUEZOV, and Galym ABILSAITOV, cochairmen]; Communist Party or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN, first secretary]; National Democratic Party [Kamal ORMANTAYEV, chairman]; AZAT party [Toleubek KARAMENDIN, chairman]; Labor movement [Madel ISMAILOV, chairman]; Peasant Union of the Republic Kazakstan or KPU; Republican People's Slavic Movement-Harmony or Lad [Aleksander SAMARKIN, chairman]; Party for Social Justice and Economic Revival "Tagibat"; Social Democratic Party of Kazakstan or SDPK [Dos KUSHIMOV, cochairman]; People's Cooperative Party [Umirzak SARSENOV, chairman]; Organization of Veterans; Republican Party; Russian Center [Nina SIDOROVA, chairwoman]; Russian \JCossacks\j [Vladimir DESYATOV, head (ataman)]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Independent Trade Union Center [Leonid SOLOMIN, president]; Kazakstani-American Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director]; Democratic Committee on Human Rights [Baretta YERGALIEVA, chairwoman]; Independent Miners Union [Victor GAIPOV, president]; The Almaty-\JHelsinki\j Foundation for Human Rights [Ninel FOKINA, chairwoman]; Legal Development of Kazakstan [Vitaliy VORONOV, chairman]
\BFlag description:\b sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold \Jsun\j with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in yellow
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Kazakstan, the second largest of the former Soviet states in territory, possesses enormous untapped \Jfossil\j fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands accommodating both livestock and grain production. Kazakstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a relatively large machine building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR and the collapse of demand for Kazakstan's traditional heavy industry products have resulted in a sharp contraction of the economy since 1991, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. In 1995-96 the pace of the government program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. The December 1996 signing of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium agreement to build a new pipeline from Kazakstan's western Tengiz oil field to the \JBlack Sea\j increases prospects for substantially larger oil exports in several years. The emigration of large numbers of skilled Slavic managers and technicians from the northern industrial areas will hold back future growth.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $48.6 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated
from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.1% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,880 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i industry 27%, agriculture and \Jforestry\j 23%, other 50% (1996)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 2.6% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large additional numbers of unemployed and underemployed workers (December 1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b oil, \Jcoal\j, iron ore, \Jmanganese\j, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, \Jtitanium\j, \Jbauxite\j, gold, silver, \Jphosphates\j, sulfur, iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials; much of industrial capacity is shut down and/or is in need of repair
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 0.3% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 17 million kW 000 kW
\BElectricity - production:\b 58.9 billion kWh
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 3,800 kWh (1996 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b grain, mostly spring wheat, cotton; wool, meat
\Iinternational:\i international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by \Jsatellite\j and through 8 international telecommunications circuits at the Moscow international gateway switch; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intelsat and a new \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station established at Almaty of unknown type
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
\BRadios:\b 4.088 million (with multiple speakers for program diffusion 6.082 million)
\Itotal:\i 13,841 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
\Ibroad gauge:\i 13,841 km 1.520-m gauge (3,299 km electrified) (1992)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 158,581 km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km (1994)
\Inote:\i there are 87,572 km of public roads, maintained by governmental highway maintenance organizations; the rest are privately maintained by industrial organizations; of the total, 107,885 km are either paved or otherwise surfaced for all-\Jweather\j use
\BWaterways:\b 4,002 km on the Syrdariya River and Ertis River
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 4,416,061 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 3,526,153 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 154,520 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 18.9 billion tenges (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b \JCaspian Sea\j boundaries are not yet determined among \JAzerbaijan\j, \JIran\j, Kazakstan, \JRussia\j, and Turkmenistan
\BIllicit drugs:\b significant illicit cultivation of cannabis and limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrone); limited government eradication program; cannabis consumed largely in the \JCIS\j; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to \JRussia\j, \JNorth America\j, and Western Europe from Southwest Asia
#
"Kenya (Atlas)",127,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between \JSomalia\j and Tanzania
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 1 00 N, 38 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 582,650 sq km
\Iland:\i 569,250 sq km
\Iwater:\i 13,400 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,446 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JEthiopia\j 830 km, \JSomalia\j 682 km, \JSudan\j 232 km, \JTanzania\j 769 km, \JUganda\j 933 km
\BCoastline:\b 536 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
\BTerrain:\b low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount \JKenya\j 5,199 m
\BNatural resources:\b gold, \Jlimestone\j, soda ash, salt \Jbarytes\j, rubies, \Jfluorspar\j, garnets, wildlife
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 7%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 37%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 30%
\Iother:\i 25% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 660 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of \Jwater\j quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; \Jdesertification\j; poaching
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 55.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 54.39 years
\Imale:\i 54.21 years
\Ifemale:\i 54.59 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 4.26 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Kenyan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Kenyan
\BEthnic groups:\b \JKikuyu\j 22%, \JLuhya\j 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
\BReligions:\b Protestant (including Anglican) 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, other 8%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), \JSwahili\j (official), numerous indigenous languages
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 78.1%
\Imale:\i 86.3%
\Ifemale:\i 70% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Kenya
\Iconventional short form:\i Kenya
\Iformer:\i British East Africa
\BData code:\b KE
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Nairobi
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, \JNairobi\j Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western
\BIndependence:\b 12 December 1963 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
\BConstitution:\b 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making \JKenya\j a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote from among the members of the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held by early 1998); vice president appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent of vote - Daniel T. arap MOI 37%, Kenneth MATIBA (FORD-ASILI) 26%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 19%, Oginga ODINGA (FORD-\JKenya\j) 17%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (200 seats, 12 appointed by the president, 188 popularly elected members to serve 5-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held between 1 April 1997 and 31 January 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KANU 100, FORD-\JKenya\j 31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller parties 3; president nominates 12 additional members; note - as of 9 April 1996 seat distribution (among non-appointed seats) was: KANU 106, FORD-\JKenya\j 32, FORD-Asili 22, DP 22, smaller parties and vacancies 6
\Inote:\i first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law in 1991
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal, \Jchief justice\j is appointed by the president; High Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Iruling party:\i \JKenya\j African National Union or KANU [President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI]
\Iopposition party:\i Forum for the Restoration of Democracy or FORD-\JKenya\j [Michael WAMALWA]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy or FORD-Asili [Kenneth MATIBA]; Democratic Party of \JKenya\j or DP [Mwai KIBAKI]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; unregistered SAFINA party with which prominent naturalist Richard Leakey is associated; human rights groups; labor unions
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Benjamin Edgar KIPKORIR
\Ichancery:\i 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 387-6101
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 462-3829
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELL (17 July 1996)
\Iembassy:\i corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
\Itelephone:\i [254] (2) 334141
\IFAX:\i [254] (2) 340838
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Since 1993, the government of \JKenya\j has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls, removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint, and reduction of the public sector through privatization of publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. \JKenya\j's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and \Jinflation\j remained under control. Substantial barriers to growth and development remain, including electricity shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population growth rate (which has declined substantially in recent years).
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $39.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,400 (1996 est.)
\Ipartners:\i \JUganda\j 22.8%, UK 20.1%, \JTanzania\j 19.1%, \JGermany\j 14.0%, Netherlands 7.6%, US 6.1%
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transportation equipment 53%, \Jpetroleum\j and \Jpetroleum\j products 23.7%, iron and steel 12.2%, raw materials, food and consumer goods (1989)
\Ipartners:\i UK 21.3%, UAE 18%, \JJapan\j 14%, \JGermany\j, US
\BDebt - external:\b $7 billion (1994 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i multilateral $490 million; bilateral $433 million (1993 est.)
\Iships by type:\i oil tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 200 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 92
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 3
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 22
\Iunder 914 m:\i 63 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 108
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 12
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 95 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 6,903,241 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,266,063 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $134 million (FY94/95)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.9% (FY94/95)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b administrative boundary with \JSudan\j does not coincide with international boundary
\BIllicit drugs:\b widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat); transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and, sometimes, \JNorth America\j; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa
#
"Kingman Reef (Atlas)",128,0,0,0
\I(territory of the US)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, reef in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 6 24 N, 162 24 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1 sq km
\Iland:\i 1 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 3 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
\BTerrain:\b low and nearly level
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 1 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1996)
\BNatural hazards:\b wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b none
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b barren \Jcoral\j \Jatoll\j with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Kingman Reef
\BData code:\b KQ
\BDependency status:\b unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the US Navy; however, it is awash the majority of the time, so it is not usable and is uninhabited
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from Washington, DC
\BFlag description:\b the flag of the US is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BAirports:\b lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and \JAmerican Samoa\j by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Kiribati (Atlas)",129,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, group of islands in the \JPacific Ocean\j, straddling the equator, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to \JAustralia\j; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati unilaterally moved the International Date Line from the middle of the country to include its easternmost islands and make it the same \Jday\j throughout the country
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 1 25 N, 173 00 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 717 sq km
\Iland:\i 717 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
\BArea - comparative:\b four times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,143 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
\BTerrain:\b mostly low-lying \Jcoral\j atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
\BNatural resources:\b phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 51%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 3%
\Iother:\i 46% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b heavy \Jpollution\j in lagoon of south \JTarawa\j \Jatoll\j due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground \Jwater\j at risk
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the \JPacific Ocean\j - the others are Makatea in French \JPolynesia\j and Nauru
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 82,449 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.85% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 26.79 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 7.71 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 51.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 62.35 years
\Imale:\i 60.56 years
\Ifemale:\i 64.37 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.17 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i I-Kiribati
\BEthnic groups:\b Micronesian
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 53%, Protestant (Congregational) 41%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985 est.)
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Gilbertese
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Kiribati
\Iconventional short form:\i Kiribati
\Inote:\i pronounced kiribas
\Iformer:\i Gilbert Islands
\BData code:\b KR
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Tarawa
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
\Inote:\i in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, \JTarawa\j) and 21 island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, \JKiritimati\j, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, \JTarawa\j, Teraina
\BIndependence:\b 12 July 1979 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
\BConstitution:\b 12 July 1979
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President
(Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Assembly
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; note - the House of Assembly chooses the presidential candidates from among their members and then those candidates compete in a general election; election last held 30 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); vice president appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Teburoro TITO elected president; percent of vote - Teburoro TITO 51.2%, Tewareka TENTOA 18.3%, Roniti TEIWAKI 16.0%, Peter Taberannang TIMEON 14.5%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member, and one nominated to represent Banaba; members serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 22 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Maneaban Te Mauri 13, National Progressive Party 7, independents 19
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; High Court, judges at all levels are appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; Maneaban Te Mauri Party, Roniti TEIWAKI
\Inote:\i there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall
Islands is accredited to Kiribati; \JHonolulu\j is a honorary consul
\BFlag description:\b the upper half is red with a yellow \Jfrigate\j bird flying over a yellow rising \Jsun\j, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b A remote country of 33 scattered \Jcoral\j atolls, Kiribati has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP growth has declined from about 10% in 1988 to about 2.6% in 1995. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak \Jinfrastructure\j, and remoteness from international markets. The financial sector is at an early stage of development. Foreign financial aid, largely from the UK and \JJapan\j, is a critical supplement to GDP, equal in amount to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years. Remittances from overseas I-Kiribati account for more than $5 million each year.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $62 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.6% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $800 (1996 est.)
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JPacific Ocean\j)
\Inote:\i Kiribati is being linked to the \JPacific Ocean\j Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve \Jtelephone\j service
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 15,000 (1992 est.)
#
"Korea, North (Atlas)",130,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of \JJapan\j, between China and South Korea
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 40 00 N, 127 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 120,540 sq km
\Iland:\i 120,410 sq km
\Iwater:\i 130 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Mississippi
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,673 km
\Iborder countries:\i China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, \JRussia\j 19 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,495 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Imilitary boundary line:\i 50 nm in the Sea of \JJapan\j and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and \Jaircraft\j without permission are banned
\BClimate:\b temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
\BTerrain:\b mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
\BNatural hazards:\b late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b localized air \Jpollution\j attributable to inadequate industrial controls; water \Jpollution\j; inadequate supplies of potable water
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and \JRussia\j; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 25 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 70.6 years
\Imale:\i 67.5 years
\Ifemale:\i 73.85 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.29 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Korean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Korean
\BEthnic groups:\b racially homogeneous
\BReligions:\b \JBuddhism\j and Confucianism, some \JChristianity\j and syncretic Chondogyo
\Inote:\i autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
\BLanguages:\b Korean
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write Korean
\Itotal population:\i 99%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 99% (1990 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Democratic People's Republic of Korea
\Iconventional short form:\i North Korea
\Ilocal long form:\i Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\Inote:\i the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to their country
\Iabbreviation:\i DPRK
\BData code:\b KN
\BGovernment type:\b Communist state; one-man dictatorship
\BNational capital:\b P'yongyang
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (si, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province)
\BIndependence:\b 9 September 1948
\Inote:\i 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
\BNational holiday:\b DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 17 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i KIM Chong-il [de facto]; note - President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition 24 May 1990 and died 8 July 1994 leaving his son KIM Chong-il as designated successor; however the son has not assumed the titles that his father held and no new elections have been held or scheduled
\Ihead of government:\i Acting Premier HONG Song-nam (since NA February 1997)
\Icabinet:\i State Administration Council appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly
\Ielections:\i premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
\Ielection results:\i HONG Song-nam elected acting premier; percent of Supreme People's Assembly vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA); note - the term of the Assembly expired in April 1995 without a new election and it has not been convened since the death of KIM Il-song in July 1994
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - the KWP approves a single
list of candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few seats
\BJudicial branch:\b Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b major party - Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee; Korean Social Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, YU Mi-yong, chairwoman
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none; note - North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by KIM Hyong-u
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song in the past and now his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by an average of 4%-5% annually during 1989-96 because of systemic problems and disruptions in socialist-style economic relations and technological links with the former USSR and China. The leadership has insisted on maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical shortages in the \Jenergy\j sector have led to increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial development since World War II. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry, including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind. Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea has not yet become self-sufficient in food production. Indeed, a shortage of arable lands, several years of poor harvests, systemic inefficiencies, a cumbersome distribution system, and extensive floods in 1995-96 have resulted in recurring food shortages. Substantial grain shipments from \JJapan\j and South Korea are offsetting a portion of the losses. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $20.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $900 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i \Jpetroleum\j, grain, coking \Jcoal\j, machinery and equipment, consumer goods
\Ipartners:\i China, \JJapan\j, Hong Kong, \JGermany\j, \JRussia\j, Singapore
\BDebt - external:\b $8 billion (1992 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\Inote:\i small amounts of grant aid from South Korea, \JJapan\j, US and other countries \BCurrency:\b 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
\BExchange rates:\b North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 30,000 (1990 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b system is believed to be available principally for government business
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 18, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 3.5 million
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 11
\BTelevisions:\b 400,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,000 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified; 159 km double track)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 665 km 0.762-m gauge
\Idual gauge:\i 240 km (standard and broad gauge) (1996 est.)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 23,000 to 30,000 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,725 km
\Iunpaved:\i 21,275 to 28,275 km (1990 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
\Inote:\i North Korea owns an additional 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 58,435 DWT operating under the registries of \JCambodia\j, \JHonduras\j, and \JPoland\j (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 49 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 22
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 15
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 2 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 27
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 4
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 5
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 12
\Iunder 914 m:\i 6 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 6,928,338 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,188,070 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 200,136 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $5 billion to $7 billion (1995 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 25% (1995 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea
#
"Korea, South (Atlas)",131,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of \JJapan\j and the Yellow Sea, south of North Korea
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 37 00 N, 127 30 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 98,480 sq km
\Iland:\i 98,190 sq km
\Iwater:\i 290 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Indiana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 238 km
\Iborder countries:\i North Korea 238 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,413 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i not specified
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait
\BClimate:\b temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
\BTerrain:\b mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
\BNatural hazards:\b occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; earthquakes in southwest
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j in large cities; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 73.6 years
\Imale:\i 70.01 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.69 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.78 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Korean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Korean
\BEthnic groups:\b homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
\BReligions:\b \JChristianity\j 49%, \JBuddhism\j 47%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1%
\BLanguages:\b Korean, English widely taught in high school
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 99.3%
\Ifemale:\i 96.7% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Korea
\Iconventional short form:\i South Korea
\Ilocal long form:\i Taehan-min'guk
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\Inote:\i the South Koreans generally use the term "Hanguk" to refer to their country
\Iabbreviation:\i ROK
\BData code:\b KS
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Seoul
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 6 special cities* (gwangyoksi, singular and plural); Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo, Inch'on-gwangyoksi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi*, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-gwangyoksi*, Taejon-gwangyoksi*
\BIndependence:\b 15 August 1948
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 15 August (1948)
\BConstitution:\b 25 February 1988
\BLegal system:\b combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
\BSuffrage:\b 20 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President KIM Dae Jung (since 25 February 1998)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil (since 25 February 1998)
\Icabinet:\i State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 18 December 1997 (President KIM Yong-sam resigned on 20 February 1998 due to South Korea's economic problems. He was succeeded by KIM Dae Jung); prime minister appointed by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
\Ielection results:\i Currently unavailable.
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 11 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NKP 139, NCNP 79, ULD 50, DP 15, independents 16; note - the distribution of seats as of December 1996 was NKP 155, NCNP 78, ULD 47, DP 12, independents 7
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president subject to the consent of the National Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Imajority party:\i Not available
\Iopposition:\i Not available
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Korean National Council of Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean Industries; Korean Traders Association; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
\Ichancery:\i 2450 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 939-5600
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Agana (\JGuam\j), \JAnchorage\j, \JAtlanta\j, \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, \JHonolulu\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, \JSan Francisco\j, and Seattle
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant)
\Iembassy:\i 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-0001
\Itelephone:\i [82] (2) 397-4114
\IFAX:\i [82] (2) 738-8845
\Iconsulate(s):\i Pusan
\BFlag description:\b white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b As one of the Four Dragons of East Asia, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth. Three decades ago its GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is eight times India's, 15 times North Korea's, and already up with the lesser economies of the European Union. This success has been achieved by a unique system of guidance by an authoritarian government of what is essentially an entrepreneurial process. The government has sponsored large-scale adoption of technology and management from \JJapan\j and other modern nations; has successfully pushed the development of export industries while encouraging the import of machinery and materials at the expense of consumer goods; and has pushed its labor force to a work effort seldom matched anywhere even in wartime. Real GDP grew by an average 10% in 1986-91, then paused to a "mere" 5% in 1992-93, moved back up to 8% in 1994 and 9% in 1995, and about 7% in 1996. With a much higher standard of living and with a considerable easing of authoritarian controls, the work pace has softened. Growth rates will probably slow down over the medium term.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $647.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6.9% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $14,200 (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 3,563 kWh (1995 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b rice, root crops, \Jbarley\j, vegetables, fruit; \Jcattle\j, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh largest in world
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $130.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish
\Ipartners:\i US 17%, EU 13%, \JJapan\j 12%
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $150.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i machinery, \Jelectronics\j and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains
\Ipartners:\i US 22%, \JJapan\j 21%, EU 13%
\BDebt - external:\b $93 billion (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chun (theoretical)
\BExchange rates:\b South Korean won (W) per US$1 - 849.88 (January 1997), 804.45 (1996), 771.27 (1995), 803.45 (1994), 802.67 (1993), 780.65 (1992)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 16.6 million (1993)
\BTelephone system:\b excellent domestic and international services
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i fiber-optic submarine cable to China; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (2 \JPacific Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (\JPacific Ocean\j Region)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 79, FM 46, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 42 million (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 256 (57 of which are 1 kW or greater) (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 9.3 million (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,081 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 3,081 km 1.435-m gauge (560 km electrified) (1996 est.)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 74,235 km
\Ipaved:\i 56,419 km (including 1,824 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 17,816 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft
\BPipelines:\b \Jpetroleum\j products 455 km; note - additionally, there is a parallel \Jpetroleum\j, oils, and lubricants (POL) pipeline being completed
\Inote:\i South Korea owns an additional 254 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,744,507 DWT operating under the registries of Cyprus, \JLiberia\j, Malta, Panama, \JSingapore\j, and \JThailand\j (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 103 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 101
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 18
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 15
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 14
\Iunder 914 m:\i 53 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 199 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (Coast Guard)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 13,730,520 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 8,775,136 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 397,167 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $17.4 billion (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.3% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt Rocks claimed by \JJapan\j
#
"Kuwait (Atlas)",132,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the Persian Gulf, between \JIraq\j and Saudi Arabia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 29 30 N, 45 45 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 17,820 sq km
\Iland:\i 17,820 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than New Jersey
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 464 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JIraq\j 242 km, Saudi \JArabia\j 222 km
\BCoastline:\b 499 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
\BTerrain:\b flat to slightly undulating desert plain
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Persian Gulf 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 306 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, fish, shrimp, natural gas
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 8%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 92% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 20 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April, they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated \Jdesalination\j facilities provide much of the \Jwater\j; air and \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Marine Dumping
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 1,834,269 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i includes 1,381,063 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, Hawalli, Al Farwaniyah
\BIndependence:\b 19 June 1961 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 25 February (1950)
\BConstitution:\b approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
\BLegal system:\b civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have resided in \JKuwait\j since before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21
\Inote:\i only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al \JSabah\j (since 31 December 1977)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah al-Salim Al \JSabah\j (since 8 February 1978); First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al \JSabah\j (since 17 October 1992); Second Deputy Prime Minister SALIM al-\JSabah\j al-Salim Al \JSabah\j (since 7 October 1996) \Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir
\Ielections:\i none; the amir is a hereditary monarch of the MUBARAK line of the ruling
Sabah family; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the amir
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 7 October 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 50; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court of Appeal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b none
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-\JSabah\j al-Salim Al SABAH
\Ichancery:\i 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 966-0702
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 966-0517
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER
\Iembassy:\i Bneid al-Gar (opposite the \JKuwait\j International Hotel), \JKuwait\j City
\Imailing address:\i P.O. Box 77, SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, \JKuwait\j; Unit 6900, APO AE 09880-9000
\Itelephone:\i [965] 539-5307 or 539-5308
\IFAX:\i [965] 538-0282
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JKuwait\j is a small and relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. \JKuwait\j has rebuilt its war-ravaged \Jpetroleum\j sector; its crude oil production averaged 2 million barrels per \Jday\j in 1996. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 75% of government income. \JKuwait\j lacks \Jwater\j and has practically no arable land, thus preventing development of agriculture. With the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable \Jwater\j must be distilled or imported. Because of its high per capita income, comparable with Western European incomes, \JKuwait\j provides its citizens with extensive health, educational, and retirement benefits. The bulk of the work force is non-Kuwaiti, living at a considerably lower level. Per capita military expenditures are among the highest in the world. The economy improved moderately in 1994-96, with the growth in industry and finance. The World Bank has urged Kuwait to push ahead with privatization, including in the oil industry, but the government will move slowly on opening the \Jpetroleum\j sector.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $32.5 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $16,700 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b the civil network suffered some damage as a result of the Gulf war, but most of the \Jtelephone\j exchanges were left intact and, by the end of 1994, domestic and international telecommunications had been restored to normal operation; the quality of service is excellent
\Idomestic:\i new \Jtelephone\j exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, open wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular \Jtelephone\j system operates throughout \JKuwait\j and the country is well supplied with pay telephones
\Iinternational:\i coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi \JArabia\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j), and 1 Arabsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces, Coast Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 663,032 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 393,541 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 18,340 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $3.5 billion (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 12.8% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b in November 1994, \JIraq\j formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with \JKuwait\j which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991),
773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to \JKuwait\j and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands disputed by Saudi \JArabia\j
#
"Kyrgyzstan (Atlas)",133,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Central Asia, west of China
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 41 00 N, 75 00 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 198,500 sq km
\Iland:\i 191,300 sq km
\Iwater:\i 7,200 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than South Dakota
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,878 km
\Iborder countries:\i China 858 km, Kazakstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
\BTerrain:\b peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Kara-Daryya 132 m
\Ihighest point:\i Jengish Chokusu 7,439 m
\BNatural resources:\b abundant hydroelectric potential; significant deposits of gold and rare \Jearth\j metals; locally exploitable \Jcoal\j, oil, and \Jnatural gas\j; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, \Jbismuth\j, lead, and zinc
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 7%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 44%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 4%
\Iother:\i 45% (1993 est.)
\Inote:\i \JKyrgyzstan\j has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest
\BIrrigated land:\b 9,000 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j; many people get their \Jwater\j directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, \Jwater\j-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil \Jsalinity\j from faulty irrigation practices
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Hazardous Wastes
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 73.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 63.97 years
\Imale:\i 59.65 years
\Ifemale:\i 68.49 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.73 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Kyrgyzstani(s)
\Iadjective:\i Kyrgyzstani
\BEthnic groups:\b Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 11.8%
\BReligions:\b Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
\BLanguages:\b Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian - official language
\Inote:\i in March 1996, the Kyrgyzstani legislature amended the constitution to make Russian an official language, along with Kirghiz, in territories and work places where Russian-speaking citizens predominate
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Inote:\i administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
\BIndependence:\b 31 August 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 5 May 1993
\Inote:\i amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Apas JUMAGULOV (since NA December 1993)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; elections last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Askar AKAYEV elected president; percent of vote - Askar AKAYEV 75%; note - elections were held early which gave the two opposition candidates little time to campaign; AKAYEV may have orchestrated the "deregistration" of two other candidates, one of whom was a major rival
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh consists of the Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Legislative Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); Legislative Assembly - last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - not all of the 70 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly; Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - not all of the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held
\Inote:\i the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed for a 10-year term by the Zhogorku
Kenesh on recommendation of the president; Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Social Democratic Party or SDP; Democratic Movement of \JKyrgyzstan\j or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV, chairman]; National Unity; Communist Party of \JKyrgyzstan\j or PCK [Absamat MASALIYEV, chairman]; Democratic Movement of Free \JKyrgyzstan\j or ErK; Republican Popular Party of \JKyrgyzstan\j; Agrarian Party of \JKyrgyzstan\j; Ata Meken Party [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; ASABA [Chaprashty BAZARBAY]; Movement for the People's Salvation [Djumgalbek AMAMBAYEV]; Ashar [Zhumagazy USUPOV]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b National Unity Democratic Movement; Peasant Party; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs; Agrarian Party; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights [Ramazan DYRYIDAYEV]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Bakytbek ABDRISAYEV
\Ichancery:\i 1732 \JWisconsin\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 338-5141
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 338-5139
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Eileen A. MALLOY
\Iembassy:\i Erkindik Prospekt 66, Bishkek 720002
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [7] (3312) 22-26-93, 22-32-89
\IFAX:\i [7] (3312) 22-35-51
\BFlag description:\b red field with a yellow \Jsun\j in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the \Jsun\j is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kirghiz yurt
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JKyrgyzstan\j is a small, poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial exports included gold, mercury, uranium, and hydropower. \JKyrgyzstan\j has been one of the most progressive countries of the former \JSoviet Union\j in carrying out market reforms. Following a successful stabilization program, which lowered \Jinflation\j from 88% in 1994 to 32% for 1996, attention is turning toward stimulating growth. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production have been severe since the break up of the \JSoviet Union\j in December 1991, but by mid-1995 production began to recover and exports began to increase. Pensioners, unemployed workers, and government workers with salaries arrears continue to suffer. Foreign assistance plays a substantial role in the country's budget. In 1996 the economy showed strong signs that recovery was underway.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,290 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones
\Idomestic:\i principally microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i connections with other \JCIS\j countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by \Jsatellite\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b 1 state-run radio broadcast station
\BRadios:\b 825,000 (radio receiver systems with multiple speakers for program diffusion 748,000)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\Inote:\i receives Turkish broadcasts
\BTelevisions:\b 875,000
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
\Ibroad gauge:\i 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 18,560 km
\Ipaved:\i 16,890 km (including 140 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 1,670 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 600 km (1990)
\BPipelines:\b \Jnatural gas\j 200 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
\BAirports:\b 54 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 9
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 40
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 4
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 4
\Iunder 914 m:\i 32 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil Defense
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,109,139 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 900,105 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 44,447 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 151 million soms (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for \JCIS\j consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to \JRussia\j and Western Europe from Southwest Asia
#
"Laos (Atlas)",134,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 18 00 N, 105 00 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 236,800 sq km
\Iland:\i 230,800 sq km
\Iwater:\i 6,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Utah
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,083 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBurma\j 235 km, \JCambodia\j 541 km, China 423 km, \JThailand\j 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
\BTerrain:\b mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 94.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 53.19 years
\Imale:\i 51.63 years
\Ifemale:\i 54.83 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.76 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Lao or Laotian
\BEthnic groups:\b Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
\BReligions:\b Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
\BLanguages:\b Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 56.6%
\Imale:\i 69.4%
\Ifemale:\i 44.4% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Lao People's Democratic Republic
\Iconventional short form:\i Laos
\Ilocal long form:\i Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\BData code:\b LA
\BGovernment type:\b Communist state
\BNational capital:\b Vientiane
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone** (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
\BIndependence:\b 19 July 1949 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)
\BConstitution:\b promulgated 14 August 1991
\BLegal system:\b based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President (Gen.) Khamtay SIPHANDONE (appointed 24 February 1998 by the National Assembly)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Sisavath KEOBOUNPHANH (24 February 1998)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly
\Ielections:\i president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 22 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (85 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Not available
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BJudicial branch:\b People's Supreme Court, the president of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other parties proscribed
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
\Ichancery:\i 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 332-6416
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 332-4923
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN
\Iembassy:\i Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
\Itelephone:\i [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585
\IFAX:\i [856] (21) 212584
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official communist states - has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking - growth has averaged 7.5% annually since 1988. Even so, Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive \Jinfrastructure\j. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. In non-\Jdrought\j years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized \Jdrought\j cause shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to maintain the high rate of GDP growth.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $5.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,150 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was adopted
\BFiscal year:\b 1 October - 30 September
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 6,600 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b service to general public very poor; radiotelephone communications network provides generally erratic service to government users
\Idomestic:\i radiotelephone communications
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 560,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2
\BTelevisions:\b 32,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 18,153 km
\Ipaved:\i 2,505 km
\Iunpaved:\i 15,648 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
\BMilitary branches:\b Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,123,934 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 606,542 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 54,712 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $105 million (FY92/93)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 8.1% (FY92/93)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b boundary dispute with Thailand
\BIllicit drugs:\b world's third largest opium producer (200 metric tons from some 25,250 hectares in 1996); heroin producer; increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in \JBurma\j; illicit producer of cannabis
#
"Latvia (Atlas)",135,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between \JEstonia\j and Lithuania
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 57 00 N, 25 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 64,100 sq km
\Iland:\i 64,100 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than West Virginia
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,150 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBelarus\j 141 km, \JEstonia\j 339 km, \JLithuania\j 453 km, \JRussia\j 217 km
\BCoastline:\b 531 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air and \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and \Jgroundwater\j with chemicals and \Jpetroleum\j products at military bases
\BReligions:\b Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
\BLanguages:\b Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 100%
\Imale:\i 100%
\Ifemale:\i 99% (1989 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Latvia
\Iconventional short form:\i Latvia
\Ilocal long form:\i Latvijas Republika
\Ilocal short form:\i Latvija
\Iformer:\i \JLatvian\j Soviet Socialist Republic
\BData code:\b LG
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Riga
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
\BIndependence:\b 6 September 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
\BConstitution:\b the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since June 1999)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Andris SKELE (since 21 December 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament
\Ielections:\i president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held June 1999; prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected president in the first round of balloting
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve three-year terms)
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by the Parliament
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; \JLatvia\j's Way or LC [Valdis BIRKAVS]; For \JLatvia\j [Joachim SIEGERIST]; Fatherland and Freedom or TB [Maris GRINBLATS]; \JLatvian\j Unity Party or LVP [A. KAULS]; \JLatvian\j National Conservative Party or LNNK [Anna SEILE]; Green Party or LSZ [O. BATAREVSK]; \JLatvian\j Farmers Union or LZS [A. ROZENTALS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Maris VITOLDS]; National Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; \JLatvian\j Socialist Party or LSP [F. STROGANOVS]; \JLatvian\j Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Political Association of the Underprivileged or MPA [B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS]; \JLatvian\j Democratic Labor Party or LDDP [J. BOJARS]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; Peoples Front of Latvia or LTF [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [E. KIDE]; \JLatvian\j National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS]; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; \JLatvian\j Social-Democratic Workers Party or LSDSP; Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People; \JLatvian\j Independence Party or LNP [Valdis KONOVALOVS]n Democratic Labor Party or LDDP [J. BOJARS]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; Peoples Front of \JLatvia\j or LTF [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [E. KIDE]; \JLatvian\j National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS]; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; \JLatvian\j Social-Democratic Workers Party or LSDSP; Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People; \JLatvian\j Independence Party or LNP [Valdis KONOVALOVS]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
\Ichancery:\i 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 726-6785
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER
\Iembassy:\i Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
\Imailing address:\i PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723
\Itelephone:\i [371] (2) 210-005
\IFAX:\i [371] (2) 226-530
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b In the five years following the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, the \JLatvian\j economy has made substantial progress toward establishing a modern market economy and widening economic ties with the West. Two major long-term concerns are the growing trade deficit and the impact of organized crime. The economy in 1996 has largely recovered from the mid-1995 collapse of several commercial banks - including Latvia's large bank, Bank Baltija - and a severe government budget crisis. Prime Minister SKELE has stated that he expects the country's GDP to grow 5% in 1997 through the implementation of the government's new economic reform program. In December 1996, the government passed a balanced 1997 budget - its first - that SKELE predicts will reduce \Jinflation\j to 10% to 12% in 1997. Unemployment, which has held steady at about 6% over the past two years, reached roughly 7.5% in 1996. One of SKELE's key objectives for 1997 is to speed up the privatization program, which has lagged behind other areas of reform.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\Iby occupation:\i industry 41%, agriculture and \Jforestry\j 16%, services 43% (1990)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 7.5% (1996 official est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, \Jelectronics\j, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for \Jenergy\j, raw materials, and intermediate products
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 2% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 2.018 million kW (1993)
\BTelephone system:\b service is better than in most of the other former Soviet republics
\Idomestic:\i an NMT-450 analog cellular \Jtelephone\j network covers 75% of \JLatvia\j's population
\Iinternational:\i international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericsson digital \Jtelephone\j exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellular net; Sprint data network carries electronic mail
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b 25 (unknown type)
\BRadios:\b 1.4 million (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 30
\BTelevisions:\b 1.1 million (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,412 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)
\BMilitary branches:\b Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 575,121 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 450,640 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 16,323 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 176 million rubles (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3% to 5% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b based on the 1920 Treaty of Riga, \JLatvia\j had claimed the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the \JLatvian\j Soviet Socialist Republic to \JRussia\j in 1944; disputes maritime border with \JLithuania\j (primary concern is oil exploration rights)
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and \Jcocaine\j from \JLatin America\j to Western Europe and Scandinavia; produces illicit amphetamines for export
#
"Lebanon (Atlas)",136,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b \JLebanon\j has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year \Jcivil war\j, which began in 1975. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process. Since the end of the \Jcivil war\j, the Lebanese have formed five cabinets and conducted two legislative elections. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of \JLebanon\j. Israel maintains troops in southern \JLebanon\j and continues to support a proxy militia, the Army of South \JLebanon\j (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzin. \JSyria\j maintains about 30,000 troops in \JLebanon\j. These troops are based mainly in \JBeirut\j, North \JLebanon\j, and the Bekaa Valley. \JSyria\j's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during \JLebanon\j's \Jcivil war\j and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, \JBeirut\j's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from \JLebanon\j.
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between Israel and Syria
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 33 50 N, 35 50 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 10,400 sq km
\Iland:\i 10,230 sq km
\Iwater:\i 170 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 454 km
\Iborder countries:\i Israel 79 km, \JSyria\j 375 km
\BCoastline:\b 225 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; \JLebanon\j mountains experience heavy winter snows
\BTerrain:\b narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates \JLebanon\j and Anti-\JLebanon\j Mountains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JMediterranean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jlimestone\j, iron ore, salt, \Jwater\j-surplus state in a \Jwater\j-deficit region
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 21%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 9%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 1%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 8%
\Iother:\i 61% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 860 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b dust storms, sandstorms
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; soil erosion; \Jdesertification\j; air \Jpollution\j in \JBeirut\j from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; \Jpollution\j of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
\BGeography - note:\b Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 70.35 years
\Imale:\i 67.82 years
\Ifemale:\i 73 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.32 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Lebanese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Lebanese
\BEthnic groups:\b Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
\BReligions:\b \JIslam\j 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legally recognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6 Catholic, 1 Protestant), \JJudaism\j NEGL%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 92.4%
\Imale:\i 94.7%
\Ifemale:\i 90.3% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Lebanese Republic
\Iconventional short form:\i Lebanon
\Ilocal long form:\i Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
\Ilocal short form:\i Lubnan
\BData code:\b LE
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Beirut
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
\BIndependence:\b 22 November 1943 (from \JLeague of Nations\j mandate under French administration)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
\BConstitution:\b 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
\BLegal system:\b mixture of Ottoman law, \Jcanon law\j, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Emile LAHOUD (since October 1998)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI (since 22 October 1992)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the members of the National Assembly; the current Cabinet was formed in 1996
\Ielections:\i president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term; election last held 24 November 1989 (next to be held NA 1998); note - in 1995, the National Assembly amended the Constituition to extend the president's term by three years; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
\BJudicial branch:\b four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases
and one court for criminal cases)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown \Jcedar\j tree centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The 1975-91 \Jcivil war\j seriously damaged \JLebanon\j's economic \Jinfrastructure\j, cut national output by half, and all but ended \JLebanon\j's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore control in \JBeirut\j, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as the main sources of foreign exchange. \JLebanon\j's economy has made impressive gains since Prime Minister HARIRI launched his $18 billion "Horizon 2000" reconstruction program in 1993. Real GDP grew 8% in 1994 and 7% in 1995 before Israel's Operation Grapes of Wrath in April 1996 stunted economic activity. During 1992-96, annual \Jinflation\j fell from more than 170% to 10%, and foreign exchange reserves jumped to more than $4 billion from $1.4 billion. Burgeoning capital inflows have fueled foreign payments surpluses, and the Lebanese pound has remained relatively stable. Progress also has been made in rebuilding \JLebanon\j's war-torn physical and financial \Jinfrastructure\j. Solidere, a $2-billion firm, is managing the reconstruction of \JBeirut\j's central business district, the stock market reopened in January 1996, and international banks and insurance companies are returning. The government nonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic arena. The government has had to fund reconstruction by tapping foreign exchange reserves and boosting borrowing. The stalled peace process and ongoing violence in southern \JLebanon\j could spawn wider hostilities that would disrupt vital capital inflows. Furthermore, the gap between rich and poor has widened since HARIRI took office, sowing grassroots dissatisfaction over the skewed distribution of reconstruction's benefits and leading the government to shift its focus from rebuilding \Jinfrastructure\j to improving social conditions.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $13 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,400 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i paper and paper products 26%, food stuffs 16%, textiles and textile products 10%, jewelry 8%, metals and metal products 8%, electrical equipment and products 8%, chemical products 6%, transport vehicles 4% (1995)
\Ipartners:\i Saudi \JArabia\j 13%, \JSwitzerland\j 12%, UAE 11%, \JSyria\j 9%, US 5%, Jordan 5% (1995)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $7 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transport equipment 28%, foodstuffs 20%, consumer goods 19%, chemicals 9%, textiles 5%, metals 5%, fuels 3% (1995)
\Ipartners:\i \JItaly\j 19%, \JFrance\j 13%, US 12%, \JGermany\j 11%, UK 6%, \JBelgium\j 5%, Turkey 3% (1995)
\BDebt - external:\b $3 billion (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i aid pledges of $3.5 billion for 1997-2001
\BTelephone system:\b telecommunications system severely damaged by \Jcivil war\j; rebuilding well underway
\Idomestic:\i primarily microwave radio relay and cable
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to \JSyria\j; microwave radio relay to \JSyria\j but inoperable beyond \JSyria\j to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1
\Inote:\i government is licensing a limited number of the more than 100 AM and FM stations operated sporadically by various factions that sprang up during the civil war
\BRadios:\b 2.37 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 13
\Inote:\i government is licensing a limited number of TV stations operated by various factions
\BTelevisions:\b 1.1 million (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 222 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 222 km 1.435-m (from \JBeirut\j to the Syrian border)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6,359 km
\Ipaved:\i 6,041 km
\Iunpaved:\i 318 km (1995 est.)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Al Batrun, Al Mina, An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az Zahrani, \JBeirut\j, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
\BMilitary branches:\b Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 876,677 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 543,861 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $278 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 5.5% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Israeli troops in southern \JLebanon\j since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern \JLebanon\j since October 1976
\BIllicit drugs:\b small illicit producer of \Jhashish\j and heroin for the international drug trade; \Jhashish\j production is shipped to Western Europe, the \JMiddle East\j, and North and \JSouth America\j; a key locus of \Jcocaine\j processing and trafficking; a Lebanese/Syrian eradication campaign started in the early 1990s has practically eliminated the opium and cannabis crops
#
"Lesotho (Atlas)",137,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 29 30 S, 28 30 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 30,350 sq km
\Iland:\i 30,350 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maryland
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 909 km
\Iborder countries:\i South Africa 909 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
\BTerrain:\b mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jwater\j, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 11%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 66%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 23% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 30 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion; \Jdesertification\j; Highlands Water Project will control, store, and redirect \Jwater\j to South Africa
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
\BConstitution:\b 2 April 1993
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded to the throne following the death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on 16 January 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November 1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a hereditary monarch, but, under the terms of the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election, he has no executive or legislative powers; moreover, under traditional law the king can be elected or deposed by a majority vote of the College of Chiefs; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (65 seats; members elected for a five-year term by popular vote)
\Ielections:\i last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held by March 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BCP 65
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Basotho National Party or BNP [Evaristus SEKHONYANA]; Basotholand Congress Party or BCP [Ntsu MOKHEHLE]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Charles MOFELI]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE
\Ichancery:\i 2511 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 234-6815
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador \JBismarck\j MYRICK
\Iembassy:\i 254 Kingsway, \JMaseru\j West (Consular Section)
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 333, \JMaseru\j 100, Lesotho
\Itelephone:\i [266] 312666
\IFAX:\i [266] 310116
\BFlag description:\b divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Small, landlocked, and mountainous, \JLesotho\j has no important natural resources other than \Jwater\j. Its economy is based on agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. The number of such mine workers has declined steadily over the past five years; in 1996 their remittances added about 33% to GDP compared with the addition of roughly 67% in 1990. The great majority of households gain their livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor; a large portion of the adult male work force is employed in South African mines. Manufacturing depends largely on farm products which support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Although \Jdrought\j has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, completion of a major hydropower facility will permit the sale of \Jwater\j to South Africa and will support the economy's continued expansion. The pace of the privatization of state-owned firms increased toward the end of 1994.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 10% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,860 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i clothing, furniture, footwear, machinery and equipment, wool (1993)
\Ipartners:\i South African Customs Union 46%, \JNorth America\j 34%, EU 18% (1993)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i corn, clothing, building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines,
petroleum products (1993)
\Ipartners:\i South African Customs Union 83%, Asia 12%, EU 3% (1993)
\BDebt - external:\b $512 million (1993)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente
\Inote:\i maloti (M) is the plural form of loti
\BExchange rates:\b maloti (M) per US$1 - 4.6410 (January 1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992); note - the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 12,000 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b rudimentary system
\Idomestic:\i consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 66,000
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b 11,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in the statistics of South Africa
\Inarrow gauge:\i 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,955 km
\Ipaved:\i 887 km
\Iunpaved:\i 4,068 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 29 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 25
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 23 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 4 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b \JLesotho\j Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), \JLesotho\j Mounted Police
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 468,658 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 253,025 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Liberia (Atlas)",138,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b Years of civil strife have destroyed much of \JLiberia\j's economic \Jinfrastructure\j, made civil administration nearly impossible, and brought economic activity virtually to a halt. The deterioration of economic conditions has been greatly exacerbated by the flight of most business people with their expertise and capital. Civil order ended in 1990 when President Samuel Kenyon DOE was killed by rebel forces. In April 1996, when forces loyal to faction leaders Charles Ghankay TAYLOR and Alhaji KROMAH attacked rival ethnic Krahn factions, the fighting further damaged \JMonrovia\j's dilapidated \Jinfrastructure\j. Fighting waned in late May 1996, allowing West African peacekeepers to regain control of \JMonrovia\j. The \JAbuja\j II peace accord was signed in August 1996 replacing the Chairman of the ruling Council of State, Wilton SANKAWULO, with Ruth PERRY. National elections were scheduled for 30 May 1997, but long-term prospects for peace will remain poor unless the warring factions can overcome their greed, mutual suspicions and ethnic hatreds.
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 6 30 N, 9 30 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 111,370 sq km
\Iland:\i 96,320 sq km
\Iwater:\i 15,050 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Tennessee
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,585 km
\Iborder countries:\i Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
\BCoastline:\b 579 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 200 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and
low mountains in northeast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
\BNatural resources:\b iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 1%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 3%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 59%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 18%
\Iother:\i 19% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 20 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b dust-laden \Jharmattan\j winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil erosion; loss of \Jbiodiversity\j; \Jpollution\j of rivers from the dumping of iron ore tailings and of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 105.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 59.02 years
\Imale:\i 56.43 years
\Ifemale:\i 61.69 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.16 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Liberian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Liberian
\BEthnic groups:\b indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, \JKru\j, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians 5% (descendants of former slaves)
\BReligions:\b traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%
\BLanguages:\b English 20% (official), about 20 tribal languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 38.3%
\Imale:\i 53.9%
\Ifemale:\i 22.4% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Liberia
\Iconventional short form:\i Liberia
\BData code:\b LI
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Monrovia
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand \JKru\j, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
\BIndependence:\b 26 July 1847
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
\BConstitution:\b 6 January 1986
\BLegal system:\b dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American \Jcommon law\j for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Chairman of the Council of State Ruth PERRY (since NA August 1996); note - chairman of the Council of State is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i Chairman of the Council of State Ruth PERRY (since NA August 1996); note - chairman of the Council of State is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet selected by the leaders of the major factions in the civil war
\Ielections:\i last presidential election held 15 October 1985 (next to be held 19 July 1997); results - Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP) 26.4%, other 22.7%
\Inote:\i constitutional government ended in September 1990 when President Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces; \Jcivil war\j ensued and in August 1996 the \JAbuja\j II peace accord was signed by the major warring factions; a transitional coalition government under Ruth PERRY was formed in August 1996; presidential elections are scheduled for 19 July 1997
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Transitional Legislative Assembly, the members of which are appointed by the leaders of the major factions in the civil war
\Inote:\i the former bicameral legislature no longer exists and is unlikely to be reconstituted soon
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b present conditions of civil strife and anarchy have rendered \JLiberia\j's political parties completely ineffectual; prior to the outbreak of warfare among armed factions the following political parties were prominent: National Democratic Party of \JLiberia\j or NDPL [Augustus CAINE, chairman]; Liberian Action Party or LAP [Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman]; Unity Party or UP [Joseph KOFA, chairman]; United People's Party or UPP [Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS, chairman]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Charles Ghankay TAYLOR, chairman]; Liberian Peoples Party or LPP [Dusty WOLOKOLLIE, chairman]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b the following armed factions, in accordance with the peace accord of August 1995, form the transitional government of \JLiberia\j: Armed Forces of \JLiberia\j or AFL (formerly a part of the national armed forces) [Lt. Gen. Hezekiah BOWEN, leader]; National Patriotic Front of \JLiberia\j or NPFL (initiated hostilities against Samuel DOE's government from Cote d' Ivoire in December 1989) [Charles Ghankay TAYLOR, leader]; Central Revolutionary Committee or CRC (dissident members of the NPFL in conflict with forces loyal to Charles Ghankay TAYLOR) [Thomas J. WOEWIYU, LEADER]; \JLiberia\j Peace Council or LPC (has opposed NPLF forces in southeastern \JLiberia\j) [Dr. George F. SAIGBE BOLEY, chairman; Octavius WALKER, secretary-general]; United Liberation Movement of \JLiberia\j for Democracy or ULIMO (former supporters of Samuel DOE that have split on ethnic lines into two groups in conflict with each other: ULIMO-K [Alhaji G. V. KROMAH, leader] and ULIMO-J [Maj. Gen. Roosevelt JOHNSON, leader]); Lofa Defence Force or LDF (has fought the ULIMO forces in Lofa county) [Francois MASSAQUOI, leader]; note - the ULIMO-J forces are of the Krahn ethnic group and the ULIMO-K forces are of the \JMandingo\j ethnic group
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Konah K. BLACKETT
\Ichancery:\i 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 723-0437
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission William MILAM
\Iembassy:\i 111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 100098, Mamba Point, Monrovia
\Itelephone:\i [231] 226-370
\IFAX:\i [231] 226-148
\BFlag description:\b 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Civil war since 1990 has destroyed much of \JLiberia\j's economy, especially the \Jinfrastructure\j in and around \JMonrovia\j. Businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Many will not return. Richly endowed with \Jwater\j, mineral resources, forests and a climate favorable to agriculture, \JLiberia\j had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. Political and economic instability - including the stripping of resources by local warlords - threatens prospects for reconstruction as well as the repatriation of an estimated 750,000 Liberian refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. The continued political turmoil has prevented restoration of normal economic life, including the re-establishment of a strong central government with effective economic development programs.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 0% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i diamonds, iron ore, \Jrubber\j, timber, coffee
\Ipartners:\i US, EU, Netherlands, Singapore
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs
\Ipartners:\i US, EU, \JJapan\j, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS, South Korea
\BDebt - external:\b $2.1 billion (1994 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (officially fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 50 (October 1995), 7 (January 1992); market rate floats against the US dollar
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b less than 25,000 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b \Jtelephone\j and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is \JMonrovia\j; most telecommunications services inoperable due to insurgency
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 622,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 5 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 51,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 490 km (single track); note - three rail systems owned and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two have been shut down by the civil war
\Istandard gauge:\i 345 km 1.435-m gauge
\Inarrow gauge:\i 145 km 1.067-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 10,300 km
\Ipaved:\i 628 km
\Iunpaved:\i 9,672 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 56 countries among which are \JGermany\j 179, US 176, \JNorway\j 166, \JJapan\j 154, \JGreece\j 147, Hong Kong 120, China 45, UK 40, Monaco 39, and Cyprus 33 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 36 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 30
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 28 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 4 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b NA; the ultimate structure of the Liberian military force will depend on who is the victor in the ongoing civil war
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 592,730 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 316,906 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $14 million (1993)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.9% (1993)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b increasingly a transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American \Jcocaine\j for the European and US markets
#
"Libya (Atlas)",139,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Africa, bordering the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between \JEgypt\j and Tunisia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 25 00 N, 17 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,759,540 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,759,540 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Alaska
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,383 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAlgeria\j 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, \JEgypt\j 1,150 km, \JNiger\j 354 km, \JSudan\j 383 km, \JTunisia\j 459 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,770 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\Inote:\i Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees 30 minutes north
\BClimate:\b Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
\BTerrain:\b mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
\BNatural hazards:\b hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jdesertification\j; very limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest \Jwater\j development scheme in the world, is being built to bring \Jwater\j from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 57.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 65.05 years
\Imale:\i 62.84 years
\Ifemale:\i 67.37 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.19 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Libyan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Libyan
\BEthnic groups:\b \JBerber\j and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
\BReligions:\b Sunni Muslim 97%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 76.2%
\Imale:\i 87.9%
\Ifemale:\i 63% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
\Iconventional short form:\i Libya
\Ilocal long form:\i Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\BData code:\b LY
\BGovernment type:\b Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
\BNational capital:\b Tripoli
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular - baladiyat); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan
\Inote:\i the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 1,500 communes in 1992
\BIndependence:\b 24 December 1951 (from \JItaly\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
\BConstitution:\b 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
\BLegal system:\b based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Revolutionary Leader Gen. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state
\Ihead of government:\i Secretary of the General People's Committee (Premier) Abd al-Majid al-QA'UD (since 29 January 1994)
\Icabinet:\i General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress
\Ielections:\i national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples' committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held NA (next to be held NA)
\Ielection results:\i Abd al-Majid al-QA'UD elected head of government; percent of General People's Congress vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of peoples' committees)
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b none
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships
may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b \JLibya\j does not have an embassy in the US
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980
\BFlag description:\b plain green; green is the traditional color of \JIslam\j (the state religion)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. In 1990 per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, but subsequently GDP growth has slowed on average and has fluctuated sharply in response to changes in the world oil market. Import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of \Jpetrochemicals\j, iron, steel, and aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP, it employs 18% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output, and \JLibya\j imports about 75% of its food requirements. The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 have not yet had a major impact on the economy because \JLibya\j's oil revenues generate sufficient foreign exchange to sustain imports of food, consumer goods, and equipment for the oil industry and ongoing development projects.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $34.5 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.2% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,570 (1995 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b modern telecommunications system
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 14 \Jearth\j stations
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean); planned Arabsat and Intersputnik \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations; submarine cables to \JFrance\j and \JItaly\j; microwave radio relay to \JTunisia\j and \JEgypt\j; tropospheric scatter to \JGreece\j; participant in Medarabtel
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 1 million (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 12 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 500,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Inote:\i \JLibya\j has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made jointly with \JEgypt\j would establish a rail line from As Sallum, \JEgypt\j, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has been reported
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 19,189 km
\Ipaved:\i 10,738 km
\Iunpaved:\i 8,451 km (1987)
\BWaterways:\b none
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 4,383 km; \Jpetroleum\j products 443 km (includes liquefied \Jpetroleum\j gas or LPG 256 km); \Jnatural gas\j 1,947 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
\Iships by type:\i cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 4
\Inote:\i \JLibya\j owns an additional 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 33,050
DWT operating under the registries of \JAlgeria\j and Turkey (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 131 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 71
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 24
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 5
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 22
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 6
\Iunder 914 m:\i 14 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 60
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 5
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 14
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 39 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Command
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,211,700 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 721,592 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 59,216 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $1.4 billion (1994 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 6.1% (1994 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b maritime boundary dispute with \JTunisia\j; \JLibya\j claims about 19,400 sq km in northern \JNiger\j and part of southeastern \JAlgeria\j
#
"Liechtenstein (Atlas)",140,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Central Europe, between \JAustria\j and Switzerland
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 47 10 N, 9 32 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 160 sq km
\Iland:\i 160 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 78 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAustria\j 37 km, \JSwitzerland\j 41 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Ruggleller Riet 430 m
\Ihighest point:\i Grauspitz 2,599 m
\BNatural resources:\b hydroelectric potential
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 25%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 38%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 19%
\Iother:\i 18% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, \JBiodiversity\j, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b along with Uzbekistan, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 31,389 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 19% (male 3,032; female 2,909)
\I15-64 years:\i 70% (male 10,952; female 11,059)
\I65 years and over:\i 11% (male 1,410; female 2,027) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.02% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 13.03 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 7.33 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 4.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BIndependence:\b 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of \JLiechtenstein\j established)
\BNational holiday:\b Assumption Day, 15 August
\BConstitution:\b 5 October 1921
\BLegal system:\b local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 20 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu \JLiechtenstein\j (born 11 June 1968)
\Ihead of government:\i Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 14 April 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince
\Ielections:\i none; the prince is a hereditary monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the prince and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the prince
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBP 10, FL 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The Free List or FL
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b \JLiechtenstein\j does not have an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in routine diplomatic matters
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in \JLiechtenstein\j, but the US Ambassador at \JBern\j (\JSwitzerland\j) has been nominated to be the non-resident US Ambassador
to Liechtenstein
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on
the hoist side of the blue band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Despite its small size and limited natural resources, \JLiechtenstein\j has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and living standards on a par with the urban areas of its large European neighbors. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 18% - and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000 holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in \JLiechtenstein\j, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with \JSwitzerland\j and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its \Jenergy\j requirements. \JLiechtenstein\j is a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between EFTA and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $713 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $23,000 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b limited, but sufficient automatic \Jtelephone\j system
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b 1 broadcast station in Triesea
\Inote:\i linked to Swiss networks
\BRadios:\b 11,203 (1995)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\Inote:\i linked to Swiss networks
\BTelevisions:\b 11,421 (1995)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian
Federal Railways
\Istandard gauge:\i 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 250 km
\Ipaved:\i 250 km
\Iunpaved:\i 0 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b none
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claims 1,600 sq km of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that \Jrestitution\j does not go back before February 1948, when the communists seized power
#
"Lithuania (Atlas)",141,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between \JLatvia\j and Russia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 56 00 N, 24 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 65,200 sq km
\Iland:\i 65,200 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than West Virginia
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,273 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBelarus\j 502 km, \JLatvia\j 453 km, \JPoland\j 91 km, \JRussia\j (Kaliningrad) 227 km
\BCoastline:\b 99 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
\BTerrain:\b lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Baltic Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Juozapine Kalnas 292 m
\BNatural resources:\b peat
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 35%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 12%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 7%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 31%
\Iother:\i 15% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 430 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b contamination of soil and \Jgroundwater\j with \Jpetroleum\j products and chemicals at military bases
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 44 regions (rajonai, singular - rajonas) and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birsionas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Marijampoles Rajonas, \JKaunas\j*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininky Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Siltues Rajonas, Sirvinty Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traky Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, \JVilnius\j*, Zarasu Rajonas
\BIndependence:\b 6 September 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 16 February (1918)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 25 October 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Valdas ADAMKUS (5 January 1998)
\Ihead of government:\i President Valdas ADAMKUS
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held spring 1997); premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament
\Ielection results:\i Valdas Adamkus, 71, a Lithuanian-American and former United States Government official, scores a narrow victory over former prosecutor general, Arturas Paulauskas, 44, in Lithuania's presidential election runoff.
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Christian Democratic Party or LKDP [Algirdas SAUDARGAS, chairman]; Democratic Labor Party of \JLithuania\j or LDDP [Mindaugas STANKEVICIUS, chairman]; Lithuanian Nationalist Union or LTS [Rimantas SMETONA, chairman]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman]; Farmers' Union [Jonas CIULEVICIUS, chairman]; Center Union [Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party [Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Polish Union or LLS [Rsztardas MACIEKIANIEC, chairman]; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie WURTH-POLFER, president]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Lithuanian Future Forum
\BInternational organization participation:\b BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Alfonsas EIDINTAS
\Ichancery:\i 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 234-5860
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 328-0466
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador James W. SWIHART, Jr.
\Iembassy:\i Akmenu 6, \JVilnius\j 2600
\Imailing address:\i PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723
\Itelephone:\i [370] 670-6083
\IFAX:\i [370] 670-6084
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Since declaring independence in 1990, \JLithuania\j has implemented reforms aimed at eliminating the vestiges of the former socialist system. With the help of the IMF and other international institutions, the government has adopted a disciplined program to restrain \Jinflation\j, abolish most price controls, lower the budget deficit, and privatize the economy. More than two-thirds of its industrial facilities as well as most housing and agricultural enterprises have been privatized. Although some important "strategic" enterprises remain exempt from privatization, the new government has outlined plans to privatize large companies dealing with transport, pipelines, communications, and \Jenergy\j. While \JLithuania\j has reduced its trade dependence on \JRussia\j and other republics of the FSU from 85% in 1991 to about 40% in 1995, \JRussia\j remains \JLithuania\j's leading trading partner. \JLithuania\j has made great strides in reducing its annual rate of \Jinflation\j - from over 1,100% in 1992 to about 35% in 1995 and 13.1% in 1996. Although the government tried to stay the course on economic reform and fiscal discipline in 1996, the new government, which took office in 1996 inherited high debts for \Jenergy\j supplies. As for real resources, \JLithuania\j's growth depends largely on its ability to exploit its strategic location - with its ice-free port at Klaipeda and its rail and highway hub in \JVilnius\j connecting it with Eastern Europe, \JBelarus\j, \JRussia\j, and \JUkraine\j. Lacking important natural resources, it will remain dependent on imports of fuels and raw materials.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $14.1 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated
from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,870 (1996 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i 13%
\Iindustry:\i 32%
\Iservices:\i 55% (1996 est.)
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b 13.1% (1996 official est.)
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 1.836 million
\Iby occupation:\i industry and construction 42%, agriculture and \Jforestry\j 18%, other 40% (1990)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 8% (January 1997)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $1.4 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $168 million (1995)
\Inote:\i commitments from the West and international financial institutions,
$765 million (1992-95)
\BCurrency:\b 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas
\BExchange rates:\b litai per US$1 - 4.000 (January 1997), 4.000 (1996), 4.000 (1995), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992); note - fixed rate since 1 May 1994
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 1.012 million (1995)
\BTelephone system:\b telecommunications system ranks among the most modern of the former Soviet republics
\Idomestic:\i an NMT-450 analog cellular \Jtelephone\j network operates in \JVilnius\j and other cities; landlines and microwave radio relay connect switching centers
\Iinternational:\i international connections no longer depend on the Moscow international gateway switch, but are established by \Jsatellite\j through Oslo from \JVilnius\j and through \JCopenhagen\j from \JKaunas\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j); cellular network linked internationally through \JCopenhagen\j by Eutelsat; international electronic mail is available; landlines or microwave radio relay to former Soviet republics
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1, longwave 1
\BRadios:\b 1.42 million (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 3
\BTelevisions:\b 1.77 million (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,002 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 61,442 km
\Ipaved:\i 53,086 km (including 394 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 8,356 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 600 km perennially navigable
\BPipelines:\b crude oil, 105 km; \Jnatural gas\j 760 km (1992)
\BMilitary branches:\b Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 904,096 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 712,366 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 26,204 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $31.7 million (1996 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1% (1996 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b dispute with \JRussia\j over the position of the riparian and maritime boundary with Kaliningrad Oblast; disputes maritime border with \JLatvia\j (primary concern is oil exploration rights); treaty with \JBelarus\j defining the border awaits demarcation
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia and \JLatin America\j to Western Europe and Scandinavia
#
"Luxembourg (Atlas)",142,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Europe, between \JFrance\j and Germany
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 49 45 N, 6 10 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,586 sq km
\Iland:\i 2,586 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Rhode Island
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 359 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBelgium\j 148 km, \JFrance\j 73 km, \JGermany\j 138 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
\BTerrain:\b mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle floodplain in the southeast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Moselle River 133 m
\Ihighest point:\i Burgplatz 559 m
\BNatural resources:\b iron ore (no longer exploited)
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 24%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 20%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 21%
\Iother:\i 34%
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air and \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j in urban areas
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday)
\BConstitution:\b 17 October 1868, occasional revisions
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of Grand Duke JEAN, born 16 April 1955)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the sovereign, responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
\Ielections:\i none; the grand duke is a hereditary monarch; prime minister and vice prime minister appointed by the sovereign but are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 12 June 1994 (next to be held by June 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSV 21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights 5, Greens 5
\Inote:\i the Conseil d'Etat or Council of State is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies
\BJudicial branch:\b Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure de Justice, judges are appointed for life by the Grand Duke; Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Christian Social People's Party or CSV [Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Ben FAYOT]; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie Wurth POLFER]; Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights [Roby MEHLEN]; the Green Alternative [Abbes JACOBY]; other minor parties
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b group of steel companies representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation
\Ichancery:\i 2200 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 265-4171
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 328-8270
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Clay CONSTANTINOU
\Iembassy:\i 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
\Itelephone:\i [352] 46 01 23
\IFAX:\i [352] 46 14 01
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low \Jinflation\j, and low unemployment. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified. During the past decades, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic union with \JBelgium\j on trade and most financial matters, is also closely connected economically to the Netherlands, and, as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $10 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.7% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $24,500 (1995 est.)
\BCurrency:\b 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes
\BExchange rates:\b Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 30.067 (January 1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992); note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of \JPortugal\j; \JPortugal\j signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition)
\BNational holiday:\b Day of \JPortugal\j, 10 June (1580)
\BConstitution:\b 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by \JBeijing\j, promulgated 31 March 1993
\BLegal system:\b Portuguese civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of \JPortugal\j Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIERA (since 20 March 1991)
\Icabinet:\i Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members - five appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies, one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two represent economic interests), and three statutory members
\Ielections:\i none; governor general appointed by the president of \JPortugal\j after consultation with the Legislative Assembly
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor; members serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year terms by the governor
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Association to Defend the Interests of Macau, leader NA; Macau Democratic Center, leader NA; Group to Study the Development of Macau, leader NA; Macau Independent Group, leader NA
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JPortugal\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries - toys, artificial flowers, and \Jelectronics\j. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry probably represents over 40% of GDP. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh \Jwater\j, and \Jenergy\j imports. \JJapan\j and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $6.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $13,600 (1996 est.)
\Ipartners:\i US 42%, Hong Kong 10%, \JGermany\j 9.9%, China 9.6%, \JFrance\j 8%, UK 7.2% (1995)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $1.99 billion (c.i.f.,1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods
\Ipartners:\i Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, \JJapan\j 18% (1992 est.)
\BDebt - external:\b $0 (1996)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
\BExchange rates:\b patacas (P) per US$1 - 7.962 (1996), 8.034 (1993-95), 7.973 (1992); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 170,021 (1994 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 135,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\Inote:\i TV programs received from Hong Kong
\BTelevisions:\b 34,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 97 km
\Ipaved:\i 97 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Macau
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b NA
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 144,117 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 79,819 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of Portugal
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of (Atlas)",144,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 41 50 N, 22 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 25,333 sq km
\Iland:\i 24,856 sq km
\Iwater:\i 477 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Vermont
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 748 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAlbania\j 151 km, \JBulgaria\j 148 km, \JGreece\j 228 km, \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j 221 km (all with \JSerbia\j)
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
\BTerrain:\b mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; there are three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from metallurgical plants
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to \JAegean Sea\j and Southern Europe to Western Europe
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 1,995,859 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i the Macedonian government \Jcensus\j of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted
\Inote:\i in September 1996, the Macedonian Parliament passed legislation changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123 new municipalities are not yet available
\BIndependence:\b 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
\BNational holiday:\b 8 September
\BConstitution:\b adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 4 September 1992)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note - after the withdrawal of the Liberal Party (LP) from the ruling coalition in early 1996, the Council of Ministers was reorganized without LP participation
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 16 and 30 October 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SDSM 58, LP 29, SP 8, PDP 10, NDP 4, independents 7, other 4; note - since October 1994 elections, some members of the Assembly have changed their party affiliation; the seating as of January 1997 is as follows: SDSM 61, LP 27, SP 6, PDP 11, NDP 2, PDPA 5, independents 3, other 5
\BJudicial branch:\b Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected by the Judicial Council
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM (former Communist Party) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PDP [Abdurahman ALITI, president]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Ilijas HALIMI, president]; Liberal Party or LP [Stojan ANDOV, president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubislav IVANOV-ZINGO, president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljupco GEORGIEVSKI, president]; Democratic Party or DP [Petar GOSEV, president]; Party for Democratic Prosperity of Albanians or PDPA [Arben XHAFFERI, president]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Movement for All Macedonian Action or MAAK; Democratic Party of Serbs; Democratic Party of Turks; Party for Democratic Action (Slavic Muslim)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA
\Ichancery:\i 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 337 3063
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 337 3093
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Christopher Robert HILL (18 July 1996)
\Iembassy:\i Ilindenska BB, 9100 Skopje
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
\Itelephone:\i [389] (91) 116-180
\IFAX:\i [389] (91) 117-103
\BFlag description:\b a rising yellow \Jsun\j with 8 rays extending to the edges of the red field
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, although the poorest republic in the former Yugoslav federation, can meet basic food and \Jenergy\j needs through its own agricultural and \Jcoal\j resources. The economy slowly rebounded in 1996 after years of recession. Continued recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to redevelop trade ties with \JGreece\j and \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j; as well as on Skopje's continued commitment to economic liberalization. The economy depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts. An important supplement of GDP is the remittances from thousands of Macedonians working in \JGermany\j and other West European nations.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.1% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $960 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i food, beverage, \Jtobacco\j 17.0%, machinery and transport equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58%
\Ipartners:\i \JBulgaria\j, other former Yugoslav republics, \JGermany\j, Italy
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $1.4 billion (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and equipment 19%, chemicals 14%, fuels 12%
\Ipartners:\i other former Yugoslav republics, \JGermany\j, \JBulgaria\j, \JItaly\j, Austria
\BDebt - external:\b $1.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\Inote:\i US, $10 million (for humanitarian and technical assistance); in December 1995, the EU agreed to provide a credit line of ECU 21.7 million for investment projects
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 369,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 5 (relays 2)
\BTelevisions:\b 327,011 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 699 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 699 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 8,532 km
\Ipaved:\i 5,401 km (including 133 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 3,131 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b none, lake transport only
\BPipelines:\b 0 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 16 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 12 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 532,578 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 429,419 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 16,468 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 7 billion denars (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b dispute with \JGreece\j over name; in September 1995, Skopje and \JAthens\j signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; \JAthens\j also lifted its economic embargo on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in government
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and \Jhashish\j; minor transit point for South American \Jcocaine\j
#
"Madagascar (Atlas)",145,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 20 00 S, 47 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 587,040 sq km
\Iland:\i 581,540 sq km
\Iwater:\i 5,500 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 4,828 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
\BTerrain:\b narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Maromokotro 2,876 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jgraphite\j, chromite, \Jcoal\j, \Jbauxite\j, salt, \Jquartz\j, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 4%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 41%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 40%
\Iother:\i 14% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 10,870 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b periodic cyclones
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; \Jdesertification\j; surface \Jwater\j contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, \JEndangered Species\j, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
\BConstitution:\b 19 August 1992 by national referendum
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system and traditional \JMalagasy\j law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Didier RATSIRAKA; (since 10 February 1997) note - President Albert ZAFY impeached by the High Constitutional Court on 5 September 1996; Prime Minister Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY served as interim president until the election of President RATSIRAKA and then retired from the office of prime minister
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Pascal RAKOTOMAVO (since 21 February 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates nominated by the National Assembly
\Ielection results:\i percent of the popular vote for president - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (UNDD) 49.3%; percent of the National Assembly vote for prime minister - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate or Senat (two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled from popularly elected regional assemblies; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment; members serve four-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (138 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i National Assembly - last held 16 June 1993 (next to be held 3 August 1997)
\Ielection results:\i National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8
\Inote:\i the Senate has never been established because the regional assemblies have not been formed and are not expected to be formed before late in 1997, following a national referendum on a new constitution
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Committee of Living Forces or CFV, an alliance of National Union for Development and Democracy or UNDD [Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY, president], Support Committee for Democracy and Development in Madagascar or CSDDM [Francisque RAVONY, president], Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD, Congress Party for Madagascar Independence-Renewal or AKFM-Fanavaozana [Richard ANDRIAMANJATO, president], and some 12 other parties, trade unions, and religious groups; Association of United Malagasys or Famima [Didier RATSIRAKA, leader]; Confederation of Civil Societies for Development or CSCD [Guy Willy RAZANAMASY]; Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar or PMDM/MFM, formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power [Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA]; Rally for Social Democracy or RPSD [Evariste MARSON, president]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador \JPierrot\j Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO
\Ichancery:\i 2374 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Vicki J. HUDDLESTON
\Iembassy:\i 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 620, Antananarivo
\Itelephone:\i [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18
\IFAX:\i [261] (2) 234-539
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Madagascar suffers from chronic \Jmalnutrition\j, underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and \Jforestry\j, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 33% of GDP and contributing more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing. Growth in output in 1992-95 averaged only 1.4%, less than half the growth rate of the population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations, a decline in world \Jcoffee\j demand, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform. Formidable obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $12.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $880 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture 45,500, domestic service 29,750, industry 26,250, commerce 24,500, construction 19,250, service 15,750, transportation 10,500, other 3,500 (1985 est.)
\Inote:\i 175,000 workers (3.6% of the total work force) earn money wages; 4,725,000 workers receive no monetary wage (of these, 91% are engaged in subsistence agriculture)
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $250 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991 est.)
\Iships by type:\i cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 105 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 58
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 21
\Iunder 914 m:\i 31 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 47
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 45 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 3,204,200 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,903,268 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 136,216 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $29 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by \JFrance\j)
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
#
"Malawi (Atlas)",146,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, east of Zambia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 30 S, 34 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 118,480 sq km
\Iland:\i 94,080 sq km
\Iwater:\i 24,400 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,881 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JMozambique\j 1,569 km, \JTanzania\j 475 km, \JZambia\j 837 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
\BTerrain:\b narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i junction of the Shire River and international boundary with \JMozambique\j 37 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Mlanje Sapitwa 3,002 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jlimestone\j, unexploited deposits of uranium, \Jcoal\j, and bauxite
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 18%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 20%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 39%
\Iother:\i 23% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 280 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; land degradation; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day 6 July (1964); Republic Day 6 July (1966)
\BConstitution:\b 18 May 1995
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet named by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Bakili MULUZI elected president; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (177 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDF 84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5; note - because of defections and byelections, the seats in the National Assembly were held at the end of the year as follows: UDF 84, MCP 47, AFORD 34, independents 8, and vacant 4
\Inote:\i the constitution of 18 May 1995, in addition to reducing the age at which universal suffrage is conferred from 21 to 18 years, provided for a bicameral legislature; by 1999, in addition to the existing National Assembly, a Senate of 80 seats is to be elected
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court; Supreme Court of Appeal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Iruling party:\i United Democratic Front or UDF [Bakili MULUZI]
\Iopposition groups:\i Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Congress for the Second Republic or CSR [Kanyama CHIUME]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Hastings KAMURU BANDA, president/Gwanda CHAKAUMBA, vice president]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA, president]; People Democratic Party or PDP [Rolf PATEL]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eston KAKHOME, president]
\Ichancery:\i 2408 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 797-1007
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Peter R. CHAVEAS
\Iembassy:\i address NA, in new capital city development area in Lilongwe
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 30016, \JLilongwe\j 3, Malawi
\Itelephone:\i [265] 783 166
\IFAX:\i [265] 780 471
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red \Jsun\j centered in the black band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for 45% of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. The new government faces strong challenges, e.g., to spur exports, to improve educational and health facilities, and to deal with environmental problems of deforestation and erosion.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $7.5 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $800 (1996 est.)
\Idomestic:\i fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 1.011 million (1995)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 789 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 789 km 1.067-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 49,837 km
\Ipaved:\i 5,731 km
\Iunpaved:\i 44,106 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River, 144 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota
\BAirports:\b 41 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 26
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 4
\Iunder 914 m:\i 20 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 15
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 14 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,163,056 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,106,487 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $10.4 million (FY94/95)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b dispute with \JTanzania\j over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
#
"Malaysia (Atlas)",147,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of the island of \JBorneo\j, bordering \JIndonesia\j and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 2 30 N, 112 30 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 329,750 sq km
\Iland:\i 328,550 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,200 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than New Mexico
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,669 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBrunei\j 381 km, \JIndonesia\j 1,782 km, \JThailand\j 506 km
\BCoastline:\b 4,675 km (Peninsular \JMalaysia\j 2,068 km, East \JMalaysia\j 2,607 km)
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October
to February) monsoons
\BTerrain:\b coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 23.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 70.06 years
\Imale:\i 67.08 years
\Ifemale:\i 73.22 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.4 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Malaysian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Malaysian
\BEthnic groups:\b Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 26%, Indian 7%, others 9%
\BReligions:\b Peninsular \JMalaysia\j - Muslim (Malays), Buddhist (Chinese), Hindu (Indians); \JSabah\j - Muslim 38%, Christian 17%, other 45%; \JSarawak\j - tribal religion 35%, Buddhist and Confucianist 24%, Muslim 20%, Christian 16%, other 5%
\BLanguages:\b Peninsular \JMalaysia\j - Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil; \JSabah\j - English, Malay, numerous tribal dialects, Chinese (Mandarin and \JHakka\j dialects predominate); \JSarawak\j - English, Malay, Mandarin, numerous tribal languages
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 83.5%
\Imale:\i 89.1%
\Ifemale:\i 78.1% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Malaysia
\Iformer:\i Malayan Union
\BData code:\b MY
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional monarchy
\Inote:\i Federation of \JMalaysia\j formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, where governors are appointed by Malaysian Government; powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; \JSabah\j - self-governing state, holds 20 seats in \JHouse of Representatives\j, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; \JSarawak\j - self-governing state, holds 27 seats in \JHouse of Representatives\j, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government
\BNational capital:\b Kuala Lumpur
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, \JKelantan\j, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, \JPahang\j, \JPerak\j, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, \JSabah\j, \JSarawak\j, \JSelangor\j, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*
\BIndependence:\b 31 August 1957 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 31 August (1957)
\BConstitution:\b 31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Paramount Ruler TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1994) and Deputy Paramount Ruler Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah (since 26 April 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ANWAR bin Ibrahim (since 1 December 1993)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the paramount ruler from among the members of Parliament
\Ielections:\i paramount ruler and deputy paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 4 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the paramount ruler
\Ielection results:\i TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman elected paramount ruler; percent of vote - NA; Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah elected deputy paramount ruler; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan Negara (69 seats; 43 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 elected by the state legislatures; elected members serve six-year terms) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j or Dewan Rakyat (192 seats; members elected by popular vote directly weighted toward the rural Malay population to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held NA April 1995 (next to be held by 2000); \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 24-25 April 1995 (next to be held by 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - National Front 63%, other 37%; seats by party - National Front 162, DAP 9, PBS 8, PAS 7, Spirit of '46 6
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges appointed by the paramount ruler
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\IPeninsular \JMalaysia\j:\i National Front, a confederation of 14 political parties dominated by United Malays National Organization Baru (UMNO Baru), MAHATHIR bin Mohamad; Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), LING Liong Sik; Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, LIM Keng Yaik; Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), S. Samy VELLU; major opposition parties are Parti \JIslam\j SeMalaysia (PAS), Ustaz Fadzil Mohamed NOOR and the Democratic Action Party (DAP), CHEN Man Hin
\ISabah:\i National Front, dominated by the UMNO; Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Datuk YONG Teck Lee; Parti Democratic Sabah (PDS), Bernard DOMPOK; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Datuk Joseph KURUP
\ISarawak:\i National Front, composed of the Party Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud; Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar Stephen YONG Kuat Tze; Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Datuk Amar James WONG; Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Datuk Leo MOGGIE; major opposition party is Democratic Action Party (DAP), LIM Kit Siang
\Inote:\i subsequent to the election, the following parties were dissolved - Spirit of '46 (Semangat '46), Tengku Tan Sri RAZALEIGH, president, and \JSabah\j United Party (Parti Bersatu \JSabah\j, PBS), Datuk Seri Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador DALI Mahmud Hashim
\Ichancery:\i 2401 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 328-2700
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 483-7661
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador John R. MALOTT
\Iembassy:\i 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur or American Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
\Itelephone:\i [60] (3) 248-9011
\IFAX:\i [60] (3) 242-2207
\BFlag description:\b 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of \JIslam\j; the design was based on the flag of the US
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and public management, has posted a remarkable record of 9% average annual growth in 1988-96. This growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in poverty and a marked rise in real wages. In 1996 manufactured goods exports expanded less rapidly than in previous years because of the global slump in \Jelectronics\j; nonetheless, foreign investors continue to commit large sums in the economy. The government is aware of the inflationary potential of this rapid development and is closely monitoring fiscal and monetary policies.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $214.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 8.2% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $10,750 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i manufacturing 25%, agriculture, \Jforestry\j, and fisheries 21%, local trade and tourism 17%, services 12%, government 11%, construction 8% (1996)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 2.6% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $22.6 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BIndustries:\b Peninsular \JMalaysia\j - \Jrubber\j and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, \Jelectronics\j, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber; \JSabah\j - logging, \Jpetroleum\j production; \JSarawak\j - agriculture processing, \Jpetroleum\j production and refining, logging
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 12% (1994)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 7.83 million kW (1994)
\Idomestic:\i good intercity service provided on Peninsular \JMalaysia\j mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between \JSabah\j and \JSarawak\j via \JBrunei\j; domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 2 \Jearth\j stations
\Iinternational:\i submarine cables to India, Hong Kong and \JSingapore\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 \JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 28, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 8.08 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 33
\BTelevisions:\b 2 million (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,806 km (Peninsular \JMalaysia\j 1,672 km; \JSabah\j 134 km; \JSarawak\j 0 km)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 1,806 km 1.000-m gauge (Peninsular \JMalaysia\j 1,672 km; \JSabah\j 134 km)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 93,975 km
\Ipaved:\i 70,481 km (including 575 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 23,494 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 7,296 km (Peninsular \JMalaysia\j 3,209 km, \JSabah\j 1,569 km, \JSarawak\j 2,518 km)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 1,307 km; \Jnatural gas\j 379 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, \JPenang\j, Port Dickson, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjong Berhala, Tanjong Kidurong, Tawau
\BMilitary branches:\b Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, \JSarawak\j Border Scouts
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 21 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 5,280,741 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 3,201,235 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 184,351 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $2.5 billion (1997)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.6% (1997)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, \JPhilippines\j, \JTaiwan\j, Vietnam, and possibly \JBrunei\j; State of \JSabah\j claimed by the \JPhilippines\j; \JBrunei\j may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides \JBrunei\j into two parts; two islands in dispute with \JSingapore\j; two islands in dispute with Indonesia
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to Western markets despite severe penalties for drug trafficking
#
"Maldives (Atlas)",148,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 3 15 N, 73 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 300 sq km
\Iland:\i 300 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 644 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 35-310 nm as defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with India
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
\BTerrain:\b flat, with white sandy beaches
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location on Wilingili 24 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 10%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 3%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 3%
\Iother:\i 84% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies
\BGeography - note:\b 1,190 \Jcoral\j islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 280,391 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 47% (male 67,967; female 64,643)
\I15-64 years:\i 50% (male 71,316; female 67,993)
\I65 years and over:\i 3% (male 4,534; female 3,938) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 3.47% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 40.98 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 6.3 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
\BConstitution:\b 4 June 1968
\BLegal system:\b based on Islamic law with admixtures of English \Jcommon law\j primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Ministry of Atolls appointed by the president; note - need not be members of Majilis
\Ielections:\i president elected by secret ballot of the Majlis for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998)
\Ielection results:\i President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent of Majlis vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 92.76%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Citizens' Council or Majlis (48 seats; 40 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b \JMaldives\j does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by Ahmed ZAKI
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in \JMaldives\j; the US Ambassador to \JSri Lanka\j is accredited to \JMaldives\j and makes periodic visits there
\BFlag description:\b red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b During the 1980s tourism became one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1994, tourism, \JMaldives\j largest industry, accounted for about 18% of GDP and more than 60% of the \JMaldives\j' foreign exchange receipts. Fishing is a second leading growth sector. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. The Maldivian Government initiated an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. In 1994, industry which consisted mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts accounted for about 15% of GDP.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $423 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.8% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,620 (1995 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i fishing industry and agriculture 25%, services 21%, manufacturing and construction 21%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 16%, transportation and communication 10%, other 7%
\BUnemployment rate:\b NEGL%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $88 million (excluding foreign grants)
\Iexpenditures:\i $141 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
\BIndustries:\b fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, \Jcoral\j and sand mining
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 6.3% (1994 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 18,000 kW (1994)
\BElectricity - production:\b 40 million kWh (1994)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 163 kWh (1994 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b National Security Service (paramilitary police force)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 61,408 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 34,245 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Mali (Atlas)",149,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 17 00 N, 4 00 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1.24 million sq km
\Iland:\i 1.22 million sq km
\Iwater:\i 20,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 7,243 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAlgeria\j 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, \JMauritania\j 2,237 km, \JNiger\j 821 km, \JSenegal\j 419 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JSenegal\j River 23 m
\Ihighest point:\i Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
\BNatural resources:\b gold, \Jphosphates\j, \Jkaolin\j, salt, \Jlimestone\j, uranium, \Jbauxite\j, iron ore, \Jmanganese\j, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 2%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 25%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 6%
\Iother:\i 67% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 780 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b hot, dust-laden \Jharmattan\j haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; soil erosion; \Jdesertification\j; inadequate supplies of potable \Jwater\j; poaching
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Wetlands
\BIndependence:\b 22 September 1960 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22 September (1960)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 12 January 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since NA March 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 2002); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of vote - Alpha Oumar KONARE 85.15%, Mamadou DIABY 4.09%, other 10.76%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (116 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 8 March 1992 (next to be held in two rounds on 20 July and 3 August 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ADEMA 76, CNID 9, US/RAD 8, Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa 6, RDP 4, UDD 4, RDT 3, UFDP 3, PDP 2, UMDD 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Ibrahim N'DIAYE]; National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL]; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Madeira KEITA]; Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Almamy SYLLA]; Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT; Union of Democratic Forces for Progress or UFDP [Dembo DIALLO]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Idrissa TRAORE]; Malian Union for Democracy and Development or UMDD; Movement for the Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa or MIRIA [Mohammed Lamine TRAORE]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b United Movement and Fronts of Azawad or MFUA; Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Kaye or MPGK
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH
\Ichancery:\i 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 332-6603
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador David P. RAWSON
\Iembassy:\i Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 34, Bamako
\Itelephone:\i [223] 22 54 70
\IFAX:\i [223] 22 37 12
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the \JNiger\j. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export. Nonetheless the government has successfully implemented an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform, and the 50% \Jdevaluation\j of the African Franc in January 1994, has pushed up economic growth. Several multinational corporations increased gold mining operations in 1996 and the government projects that Mali will become a major Sub-Saharan gold exporter in the next few years.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.2% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $600 (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 11,000 (1982 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service \Idomestic:\i network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio relay in progress
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 430,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 11,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 641 km; (linked to \JSenegal\j's rail system through Kayes)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14,776 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,773 km
\Iunpaved:\i 13,003 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 1,815 km navigable
\BPorts and harbors:\b Koulikoro
\BAirports:\b 24 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 13
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 4
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 7 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 11
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 8 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,976,414 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,129,765 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $66 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.2% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Malta (Atlas)",150,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Europe, islands in the \JMediterranean Sea\j, south of \JSicily\j (\JItaly\j)
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 35 50 N, 14 35 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 320 sq km
\Iland:\i 320 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 140 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 25 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
\BTerrain:\b mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JMediterranean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Dingli Cliffs 245 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jlimestone\j, salt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 38%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 3%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 59% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 10 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b very limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources; increasing reliance on desalination
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, \JGozo\j, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 77.44 years
\Imale:\i 75.16 years
\Ifemale:\i 79.87 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.84 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Maltese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Maltese
\BEthnic groups:\b Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 98%
\BLanguages:\b Maltese (official), English (official)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 10 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 88%
\Imale:\i 88%
\Ifemale:\i 88% (1985)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Malta
\Iconventional short form:\i Malta
\BData code:\b MT
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Valletta
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (administered directly from Valletta)
\BIndependence:\b 21 September 1964 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
\BConstitution:\b 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Dr. Alfred SANT (since 28 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. George VELLA (since 29 October 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by the \JHouse of Representatives\j for a five-year term; election last held NA April 1994 (next to be held by NA April 1999); following \JHouse of Representatives\j elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term
\Ielection results:\i Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of \JHouse of Representatives\j vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral \JHouse of Representatives\j (usually 65 seats; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total: 69 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 26 October 1996 (next to be held by October 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - MLP 50.7%, NP 46.5%; seats by party - NP
34, MLP 31 (MLP 35, NP 34 after adjustment)
\BJudicial branch:\b Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Nationalist Party or NP [Edward FENECH ADAMI]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]
\BInternational organization participation:\b C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, \JG-7\j7, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC (observer), NAM, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Albert Borg Olivier DE PUGET
\Ichancery:\i 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 387-5470
\Iconsulate(s):\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles N. PATTERSON, Jr.
\Iembassy:\i 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 535, Valletta
\Itelephone:\i [356] 235960
\IFAX:\i [356] 223322
\BFlag description:\b two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Significant resources are \Jlimestone\j, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic \Jenergy\j sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, industry (especially \Jelectronics\j and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1995, over 1.1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $12,600 places Malta in the range of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $12,600 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 46 countries among which are \JGreece\j 478, \JCroatia\j 52, \JSwitzerland\j 48, \JRussia\j 46, \JItaly\j 44, \JNorway\j 37, Turkey 28, \JGermany\j 23, UK 22, and \JUkraine\j 20 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 99,032 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 78,710 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $65.5 million (FY96/97)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.7% (FY96/97)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Malta and \JTunisia\j are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
\BIllicit drugs:\b minor transshipment point for \Jhashish\j from North Africa to Western Europe
#
"Man, Isle of (Atlas)",151,0,0,0
\I(British crown dependency)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between \JGreat Britain\j and Ireland \BGeographic coordinates:\b 54 15 N, 4 30 W
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 588 sq km
\Iland:\i 588 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 113 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 12 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half the time
\BTerrain:\b hills in north and south bisected by central valley
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Irish Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Snaefell 620 m
\BNatural resources:\b lead, iron ore
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i NA% (extensive arable land and forests)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird
sanctuary
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 74,504 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 18% (male 6,681; female 6,427)
\I15-64 years:\i 65% (male 24,225; female 24,102)
\I65 years and over:\i 17% (male 5,198; female 7,871) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.86% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 12.48 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 11.89 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 8.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BConstitution:\b 1961, \JIsle of Man\j Constitution Act
\BLegal system:\b English law and local statute
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor His Excellency Sir Timothy DAUNT (since NA 1995)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the Legislative Council Sir Charles KERRUISH (since NA 1990)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers
\Ielections:\i the queen is a hereditary monarch; lieutenant governor appointed by the queen for a five-year term; president of the Legislative Council elected by the Tynwald for a NA-year term; election last held NA (next to be held NA)
\Ielection results:\i Sir Charles KERRUISH elected president of the Legislative Council; percent
of legislative vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (a 10-member body
composed of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i House of Keys - last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA 1996)\Ielection results:\i House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 24
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court of Justice, justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b there is no party system; members sit as independents
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (British crown dependency)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (British crown dependency)
\BFlag description:\b red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the
three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the
economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP. Banking now contributes about 45% to GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The \JIsle of Man\j enjoys free access to EU markets.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $780 million (1994 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $10,800 (1994 est.)
\BExchange rates:\b Manx pounds (£M) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 41,000 (1995)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 4
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 52 km (27 km electrified)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 640 km
\Ipaved:\i 320 km
\Iunpaved:\i 320 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 11 ships, \JSwitzerland\j 2, South Africa 1, Denmark 1, and Netherlands 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Marshall Islands (Atlas)",152,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, group of atolls and reefs in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 9 00 N, 168 00 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 181.3 sq km
\Iland:\i 181.3 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
\BArea - comparative:\b about the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 370.4 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands border \Jtyphoon\j belt
\BTerrain:\b low \Jcoral\j \Jlimestone\j and sand islands
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
\BNatural resources:\b phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 60%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 40%
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b occasional typhoons
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b inadequate supplies of potable water
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 60,652 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 50% (male 15,550; female 14,926)
\I15-64 years:\i 48% (male 14,732; female 14,032)
\I65 years and over:\i 2% (male 662; female 750) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 3.85% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 45.54 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 7.07 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 45.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 64.14 years
\Imale:\i 62.57 years
\Ifemale:\i 65.79 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.78 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Marshallese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Marshallese
\BEthnic groups:\b Micronesian
\BReligions:\b Christian (mostly Protestant)
\BLanguages:\b English (universally spoken and is the official language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 93%
\Imale:\i 100%
\Ifemale:\i 88% (1980 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of the Marshall Islands
\Iconventional short form:\i Marshall Islands
\Iformer:\i \JMarshall Islands\j District (Trust Territory of the \JPacific Islands\j)
\BData code:\b RM
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986
\BNational capital:\b Majuro
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none
\BIndependence:\b 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
\BNational holiday:\b Proclamation of the Republic of the \JMarshall Islands\j, 1 May (1979)
\BConstitution:\b 1 May 1979
\BLegal system:\b based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of Parliament
\Ielections:\i president elected by Parliament from among its own members for a four-year term; election last held 14 January 1997 (next to be held NA January 2000); note - Imata KABUA elected to succeed and complete the term of the late President Amata KABUA
\Ielection results:\i Imata KABUA elected president; percent of Parliament vote - 63%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 14 January 1997 (next to be held NA 2000; note - new elections will be held upon the completion of the term of the late President Amata KABUA)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
\Inote:\i the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on matters affecting customary law and practice
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court; High Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Our Islands Party, leader NA, and Ralik/Ratak Democratic Party (RRDP), Ramsey REIMERS
\BInternational organization participation:\b AsDB, ESCAP, \JG-7\j7, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), \JInterpol\j, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, WHO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
\Ichancery:\i 2433 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 234-5414
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 232-3236
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Honolulu
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED
\Iembassy:\i Oceanside, Long Island, Majuro
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the \JMarshall Islands\j 96960-1379; Majuro, 20521-4380 (pouch)
\Itelephone:\i [692] 247-4011
\IFAX:\i [692] 247-4012
\BFlag description:\b blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Agriculture and tourism are the mainstays of the economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts, tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry is the primary source of foreign exchange, employs about 10% of the labor force, and remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. The government is drafting economic reforms designed to increase revenue and compensate for reductions in US Government grants - in 1994, the US Government provided grants of $50 million, equal to 55% of the \JMarshall Islands\j' GDP. About 25% of the government's FY95/96 budget was devoted to debt repayment. In 1996, efforts to stabilize the economy included a 27% reduction in the government's work force and a 10% cut in the budget.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $94 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.5% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,680 (1995 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claims US territory of Wake Island
#
"Martinique (Atlas)",153,0,0,0
\I(overseas department of \JFrance\j) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island in the \JCaribbean Sea\j, north of Trinidad and Tobago
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 14 40 N, 61 00 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,100 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,060 sq km
\Iwater:\i 40 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 350 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; average \Jtemperature\j 17.3 degrees C; humid
\BTerrain:\b mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
\BNatural resources:\b coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 8%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 8%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 17%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 44%
\Iother:\i 23% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 40 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 78.98 years
\Imale:\i 76.21 years
\Ifemale:\i 81.83 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.81 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Martiniquais (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Martiniquais
\BEthnic groups:\b African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
\BLanguages:\b French, \JCreole\j patois
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 93%
\Imale:\i 92%
\Ifemale:\i 93% (1982 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Department of Martinique
\Iconventional short form:\i Martinique
\Ilocal long form:\i Departement de la Martinique
\Ilocal short form:\i Martinique
\BData code:\b MB
\BDependency status:\b overseas department of France
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Fort-de-France
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BIndependence:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
\BConstitution:\b 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
\BLegal system:\b French legal system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of \JFrance\j Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995); Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Emile CAPGRAS (since 22 March 1992)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i prefect appointed by the president of \JFrance\j on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
\Ielections:\i General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Assembly - last held on 22 March 1992 (next to be held by March 1998)
\Ielection results:\i General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - the PPM won a plurality; Regional Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR-UDF 16, MIM 9, PPM 9, PCM 5, independents 2
\Inote:\i Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 2; Martinique also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 3, PS 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre LESUEUR]; Union for a Martinique of Progress or UMP; Martinique Progressive Party or PPM [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Socialist Federation of Martinique or FSM [Jean CRUSOL]; Martinique Communist Party or PCM [George ERICHOT]; Martinique Patriots or PM; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Miguel LAVENTURE]; Martinique Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Republican Party or PR [Jean BAILLY]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Proletarian Action Group or GAP; Alhed Marie-Jeanne Socialist Revolution Group or GRS; Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Parti Martiniquais Socialiste or PMS; Association for the Protection of Martinique's Heritage (ecologist)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag of \JFrance\j is used for official occasions
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to \JFrance\j. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from \JFrance\j. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $3.95 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1995 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b domestic facilities are adequate
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i microwave radio relay to \JGuadeloupe\j, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 74,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 10
\BTelevisions:\b 65,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,724 km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km (1994)
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JFort-de-France\j, La Trinite
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for \Jcocaine\j and marijuana bound for the US and Europe
#
"Mauritania (Atlas)",154,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between \JSenegal\j and Western Sahara
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 20 00 N, 12 00 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,030,700 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,030,400 sq km
\Iwater:\i 300 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,074 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAlgeria\j 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, \JSenegal\j 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km
\BCoastline:\b 754 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
\BTerrain:\b mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
\Ihighest point:\i Kediet Ijill 910 m
\BNatural resources:\b iron ore, \Jgypsum\j, fish, copper, phosphate
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 38%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 4%
\Iother:\i 58% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 490 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by \Jdrought\j are contributing to \Jdesertification\j; very limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources away from the \JSenegal\j which is the only perennial river
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b most of the population concentrated along the \JSenegal\j River in the southern part of the country
\Inote:\i there may be a new capital district of Nouakchott
\BIndependence:\b 28 November 1960 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
\BConstitution:\b 12 July 1991
\BLegal system:\b three-tier system: Islamic (Shari'a) courts, special courts, and state security courts (in the process of being eliminated)
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Cheikh El Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA (since 2 January 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 17 January 1992 (next to be held NA January 1998); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 12 April 1996 (next to be held NA 1998); National Assembly - last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS 16, UFD/NE 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b legalized by constitution passed 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based; emerging parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS), led by President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed TAYA; Union of Democratic Forces-New Era (UFD/NE), headed by Ahmed Ould DADDAH; Assembly for Democracy and Unity (RDU), Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA; Popular Social and Democratic Union (UPSD), Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH; Mauritanian Party for Renewal (PMR), Hameida BOUCHRAYA; National Avant-Garde Party (PAN), Khattry Ould JIDDOU; Mauritanian Party of the Democratic Center (PCDM), Bamba Ould SIDI BADI; Action for Change (AC), Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Mauritanian Workers Union (UTM)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Bilal Ould WERZEG
\Ichancery:\i 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 232-5700
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Dorothy Myers SAMPAS
\Iembassy:\i address NA, Nouakchott
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 222, Nouakchott
\Itelephone:\i [222] (2) 526-60, 526-63
\IFAX:\i [222] (2) 515-92
\BFlag description:\b green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b A majority of the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. \JMauritania\j has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for almost 50% of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years, drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a substantial buildup of foreign debt. The government has begun the second stage of an economic reform program in consultation with the World Bank, the IMF, and major donor countries. Short-term growth prospects are gloomy because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6% (1995)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1995)
\BTelephone system:\b poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made)
\BReligions:\b Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), \JCreole\j, French, \JHindi\j, \JUrdu\j, \JHakka\j, Bojpoori
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 82.9%
\Imale:\i 87.1%
\Ifemale:\i 78.8% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Mauritius
\Iconventional short form:\i Mauritius
\BData code:\b MP
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Port Louis
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
\BIndependence:\b 12 March 1968 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
\BConstitution:\b 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system with elements of English \Jcommon law\j in certain areas
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice President Rabindranath GHURBURRUN (since 1 July 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 27 December 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 27 December 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held NA June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president and are responsible to the National Assembly
\Ielection results:\i Cassam UTEEM elected president and Rabindranath GHURBURRUN elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (66 seats - 62 popularly elected, 4 appointed; members serve five-year terms); note - the election commission appoints four members from the losing political parties to give representation to various ethnic minorities
\Ielections:\i last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/RMM 20%, other 15%; seats by party - MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1, Hizbullah 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Igovernment coalition:\i MLP/MMM alliance, consisting of Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navin RAMGOOLAM] and Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER]
\Iopposition:\i MSM/MSR alliance consisting of the Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH] and the Mauritian Militant Renaissance or MMR [Dr. Paramhansa NABABSING]; Organization of the People of Rodrigues or OPR [Louis Serge CLAIR]; \JMauritius\j Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Hizbullah [Imam Mustapha BEEHARRY]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b various labor unions
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING
\Ichancery:\i Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 966-0983
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Harold Walter GEISEL (8 July 1996)
\Iembassy:\i 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
\Imailing address:\i International Mail: P.O. Box 544, Port Louis; US Mail: American Embassy,
Port Louis, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450
\Itelephone:\i [230] 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767
\IFAX:\i [230] 208-9534
\BFlag description:\b four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Since independence in 1968, \JMauritius\j has developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to a middle income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial services, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been of the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much improved \Jinfrastructure\j. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to modernization and to exports), agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in 1991-96 continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $10,300 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i construction and industry 37%, services 24%, agriculture and fishing 15%, trade, restaurants, hotels 14%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3%
\BUnemployment rate:\b 2.4% (1991 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $732 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $550 million, including capital expenditures of $123 million (FY94/95 est.)
\BIndustries:\b food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing apparel; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery; tourism
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 5.8% (1992)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 235,000 kW (1991)
\BElectricity - production:\b 425 million kWh (1991)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 393 kWh (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b small system with good service
\Idomestic:\i primarily microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 395,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 4 (1987 est.)
\Inote:\i two new subscription channels began operation in 1995
\BTelevisions:\b 151,096 (1991 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,877 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,746 km (including 29 km of expressways)
\BMilitary branches:\b National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or SSU, and National Coast Guard)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 333,029 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 169,129 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $11.2 million (FY92/93)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 0.4% (FY92/93)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claims the island of Diego Garcia in UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims French-administered Tromelin Island
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems
#
"Mayotte (Atlas)",156,0,0,0
\I(territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 12 50 S, 45 10 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 375 sq km
\Iland:\i 375 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 185.2 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)
\BTerrain:\b generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Benara 660 m
\BNatural resources:\b NEGL
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i NA%
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b cyclones during rainy season
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b part of Comoro Archipelago
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 104,715 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 50% (male 26,101; female 25,877)
\I15-64 years:\i 48% (male 25,684; female 24,661)
\I65 years and over:\i 2% (male 1,171; female 1,221) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 3.76% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 47.42 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 9.78 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 73.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 59.14 years
\Imale:\i 56.82 years
\Ifemale:\i 61.53 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.56 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Mahorais (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Mahoran
\BEthnic groups:\b NA
\BReligions:\b Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
\BLanguages:\b Mahorian (a \JSwahili\j \Jdialect\j), French
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
\Iconventional short form:\i Mayotte
\BData code:\b MF
\BDependency status:\b territorial collectivity of France
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Mamoutzou
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j)
\BIndependence:\b none (territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
\BConstitution:\b 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
\BLegal system:\b French law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of \JFrance\j Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Philippe BOISADAM (since NA)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the General Council Younoussa BAMANA (since NA 1977)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i prefect appointed by the president of \JFrance\j on the advice of the French
Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council elected by the
members of the General Council for a six-year term
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPM 12, RPR 4, independents 3
\Inote:\i \JMayotte\j elects 1 member of the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held 24 September 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPM 1; \JMayotte\j also elects 1 member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held as a special election on 25 May - 1 June 1997); results - percent of vote by party - UDF-CDS 54.3%, RPR 44.3%; seats by party - DF-CDS 1
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Younoussa BAMANA]; Mahoran Rally for the Republic or RPR [Soibahadine Ibrahim RAMADAM]; Democratic Front or Front Democrate [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Association for French \JMayotte\j or Association Pour \JMayotte\j Francaise [Didier BEOUTIS]
\BInternational organization participation:\b FZ
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JFrance\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising. \JMayotte\j is not self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from \JFrance\j. The economy and future development of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance. \JMayotte\j's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $54 million (1993 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $600 (1993 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b NA
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $37.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985 est.)
\BIndustries:\b newly created lobster and shrimp industry
\BTelephone system:\b small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to \JComoros\j and other international connections
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 30,000 (1994 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b 3,500 (1994 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 93 km
\Ipaved:\i 72 km
\Iunpaved:\i 21 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Dzaoudzi
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claimed by \JComoros\j
#
"Mexico (Atlas)",157,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Middle America, bordering the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the Gulf of Mexico, between \JBelize\j and the US and bordering the North \JPacific Ocean\j, between \JGuatemala\j and the US
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 23 00 N, 102 00 W
\BMap references:\b North America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,972,550 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,923,040 sq km
\Iwater:\i 49,510 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than three times the size of Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,538 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBelize\j 250 km, \JGuatemala\j 962 km, US 3,326 km
\BCoastline:\b 9,330 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b varies from tropical to desert
\BTerrain:\b high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, and desert
\BNatural hazards:\b tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf and Caribbean coasts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b natural fresh \Jwater\j resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; \Jdesertification\j; serious air \Jpollution\j in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location on southern border of US
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 74 years
\Imale:\i 70.39 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.78 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.97 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Mexican(s)
\Iadjective:\i Mexican
\BEthnic groups:\b mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
\BReligions:\b nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%
\BLanguages:\b Spanish, various Mayan dialects
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 89.6%
\Imale:\i 91.8%
\Ifemale:\i 87.4% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i United Mexican States
\Iconventional short form:\i Mexico
\Ilocal long form:\i Estados Unidos Mexicanos
\Ilocal short form:\i Mexico
\BData code:\b MX
\BGovernment type:\b federal republic operating under a centralized government
\BNational capital:\b Mexico
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja \JCalifornia\j, Baja \JCalifornia\j Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, \JChihuahua\j, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima, Distrito Federal*, \JDurango\j, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, \JPuebla\j, \JQueretaro\j de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San Luis \JPotosi\j, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, \JVeracruz\j-Llave, \JYucatan\j, Zacatecas
\BIndependence:\b 16 September 1810 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
\BConstitution:\b 5 February 1917
\BLegal system:\b mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1 December 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1 December 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 21 August 1994 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon elected president; percent of vote - Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (PRI) 50.18%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 17.08%, Diego FERNANDEZ DE CEVALLOS (PAN) 26.69%, other 6.049%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats, expanded from 64 seats at the last election; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (500 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 21 August 1994 (next to be held 6 July 1997 for one-quarter of the seats); Chamber of Deputies - last held 24 August 1994 (next to be held 6 July 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party in expanded Senate - PRI 93, PRD 25, PAN 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRI 300, PAN 119, PRD 71, PT 10
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges are appointed by the president with consent of the Senate
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b (recognized parties) Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Humberto ROQUE Villanueva; National Action Party (PAN), Felipe CALDERON Hinojosa; Popular Socialist Party (PPS), Indalecio SAYAGO Herrera; Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Andres Manuel LOPEZ Obrador; Cardenist Front for the National Reconstruction Party (PFCRN), Rafael AGUILAR Talamantes; Democratic Forum Party (PFD), Pablo Emilio MADERO; Mexican Green Ecologist Party (PVEM), Jorge GONZALEZ Torres; Workers Party (PT), Alberto ANYA Gutierrez
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Roman \JCatholic Church\j; Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM); Confederation of Industrial Chambers (CONCAMIN); Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce (CONCANACO); National Peasant Confederation (CNC); Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT); Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants (CROC); Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers (CROM); Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX); National Chamber of Transformation Industries (CANACINTRA); Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations (COECE); Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services (FESEBES)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Jesus SILVA Herzog Flores
\Ichancery:\i 1911 \JPennsylvania\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 728-1600
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JAtlanta\j, \JChicago\j, \JDallas\j, \JDenver\j, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, Phoenix, \JSan Antonio\j, \JSan Diego\j, \JSan Francisco\j, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
\Iconsulate(s):\i Albuquerque, Austin, \JBoston\j, Brownsville (\JTexas\j), Calexico (\JCalifornia\j), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (\JTexas\j), \JDetroit\j, Eagle Pass (\JTexas\j), Fresno (\JCalifornia\j), Laredo, McAllen (\JTexas\j), Midland (\JTexas\j), Nogales (\JArizona\j), Oxnard (\JCalifornia\j), Philadelphia, Sacramento, St. Louis, \JSalt Lake City\j, San Bernardino, San Jose, Santa Ana, Seattle
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador James R. JONES
\Iembassy:\i Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, Distrito Federal
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087
\Itelephone:\i [52] (5) 211-0042
\IFAX:\i [52] (5) 511-9980, 208-3373
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Ciudad Juarez, \JGuadalajara\j, Monterrey, Tijuana
\Iconsulate(s):\i Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a \Jcactus\j with a snake in its beak) is centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. The Mexican economy enters 1997 in the midst of an economic recovery that began to pick up steam in mid-1996. After plummeting more than 6% in 1995 in the aftermath of the peso crisis, economic activity in Mexico grew by an estimated 5.1% in 1996. Many private forecasters who had scoffed at the ZEDILLO administration's 3% growth target for 1996 are now projecting economic expansion of 4-5% for 1997. Strong export growth continues to drive the economy; total exports were up roughly 16% in 1996 compared to 1995. By the end of 1996, however, Mexican government statistics showed that increased domestic consumption and investment spending were also beginning to contribute to the recovery. Despite these positive economic trends, structural problems and vulnerabilities remain. Low savings rates will keep Mexico dependent on foreign capital; national savings as a share of GDP plunged from a peak of 25% in 1983 to less than 14% in 1994. Additionally, \JMexico City\j is still struggling to bail out a banking sector burdened with bad debts. Mexico's international trade continues to be highly dependent on the US market. The US/Mexico trade balance has shifted over the last two years because of the peso's rapid \Jdevaluation\j in late 1994, which made Mexican exports much more attractive. In 1995 and 1996, the US ran trade deficits with Mexico, a large turnaround from 1994's trade surplus of about $1.3 billion.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $777.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.1% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $8,100 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i services 31.7%, agriculture, \Jforestry\j, hunting, and fishing 28%, commerce 14.6%, manufacturing 11.1%, construction 8.4%, transportation 4.7%, mining and quarrying 1.5%
\BUnemployment rate:\b 10% (1996 est.) plus considerable underemployment
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $73.8 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $74 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
\BIndustries:\b food and beverages, \Jtobacco\j, chemicals, iron and steel, \Jpetroleum\j, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 11% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 40.502 million kW (1995)
\Ipartners:\i US 80%, Canada 5.2%, \JJapan\j 1.8% (1996 est.)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $88.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.), includes in-bond industries
\Icommodities:\i metal-working machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, \Jaircraft\j, and \Jaircraft\j parts
\Inote:\i the new peso replaced the old peso on 1 January 1993; 1 new peso = 1,000 old pesos
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 11,890,868 (1993 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b highly developed system with extensive microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990
\Idomestic:\i adequate \Jtelephone\j service for business and government, but the population is poorly served; domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 120 \Jearth\j stations; extensive microwave radio relay network
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 5 Intelsat (4 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 \JPacific Ocean\j); launched Solidaridad I \Jsatellite\j in November 1993 and Solidaridad II in October 1994, giving Mexico improved access to \JSouth America\j, \JCentral America\j and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications; linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 679, FM 0, shortwave 22
\BRadios:\b 22.5 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 238
\BTelevisions:\b 13.1 million (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 20,567 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 20,477 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1994)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 249,520 km
\Ipaved:\i 93,071 km (including 5,920 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 156,449 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals
\Iships by type:\i cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 1, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 29, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 1,415 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,003
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 9
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 26
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 92
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 71
\Iunder 914 m:\i 805 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 412
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 50
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 362 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b National Defense (includes Army and Air Force), Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 24,518,142 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 17,857,361 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 1,062,640 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $1.56 billion (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.5% (1997 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis continues in spite of increased government eradication; major supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound \Jcocaine\j from \JSouth America\j; increasingly involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamines
#
"Micronesia, Federated States of (Atlas)",158,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, island group in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 6 55 N, 158 15 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 702 sq km
\Iland:\i 702 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (\JChuuk\j) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae
\BArea - comparative:\b four times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 6,112 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the \Jtyphoon\j belt with occasionally severe damage
\BTerrain:\b islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, \Jcoral\j atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, \JKosrae\j, and Truk
\BIndependence:\b 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
\BNational holiday:\b Proclamation of the Federated States of \JMicronesia\j, 10 May (1979)
\BConstitution:\b 10 May 1979
\BLegal system:\b based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. SALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term
\Ihead of government:\i President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. SALCAM (since 9 May 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president; he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note - because of the vacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left to become acting president, a new election to fill the position for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent of Congress vote - NA; Leo A. SALCAM elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four - one elected from each of state - to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population - to serve two-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 7 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b no formal parties
\BInternational organization participation:\b AsDB, ESCAP, \JG-7\j7, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Jesse B. MAREHALAU
\Ichancery:\i 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 223-4383
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 223-4391
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JHonolulu\j and Tamuning (\JGuam\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cheryl MARTIN
\Iembassy:\i address NA, Kolonia
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of \JMicronesia\j 96941
\Itelephone:\i [691] 320-2187
\IFAX:\i [691] 320-2186
\BFlag description:\b light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue, with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed \Jinfrastructure\j are major impediments to long-term growth.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $205 million (1994 est.)
\Inote:\i GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.4% (1994 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1994 est.)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1
\BRadios:\b 17,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 6
\BTelevisions:\b 1,290 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 235 km
\Ipaved:\i 41 km
\Iunpaved:\i 194 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 5 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 4 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Midway Islands (Atlas)",159,0,0,0
\I(territory of the US)\i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, \Jatoll\j in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-third of the way from \JHonolulu\j to Tokyo
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 28 13 N, 177 22 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 5.2 sq km
\Iland:\i 5.2 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Eastern Island and Sand Island
\BArea - comparative:\b about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 15 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
\BTerrain:\b low, nearly level
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 4 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, wildlife
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b a \Jcoral\j \Jatoll\j; closed to the public
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants
\Inote:\i there are 453 US military personnel (July 1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Midway Islands
\BData code:\b MQ
\BDependency status:\b unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered by the US Navy, under Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has been operationally closed since 10 September 1993 and is currently undergoing transfer of accountability and responsibility to the US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from Washington, DC
\BFlag description:\b the flag of the US is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is based on providing support services for remaining activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
\BElectricity - capacity:\b NA kW
\Inote:\i electricity supplied by the US military
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\Inote:\i electricity supplied by the US military
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 32 km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPipelines:\b 7.8 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Sand Island
\BAirports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Moldova (Atlas)",160,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 47 00 N, 29 00 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 33,700 sq km
\Iland:\i 33,700 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of Hawaii
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,389 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JRomania\j 450 km, \JUkraine\j 939 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b moderate winters, warm summers
\BTerrain:\b rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and \Jgroundwater\j; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\Inote:\i the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldavian
\BLanguages:\b Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish \Jdialect\j)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 96%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 94% (1989 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Moldova
\Iconventional short form:\i Moldova
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica Moldova
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\Iformer:\i Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
\BData code:\b MD
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Chisinau
\BAdministrative divisions:\b previously divided into 40 rayons; new districts possible under new constitution of 1994
\BIndependence:\b 27 August 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 27 August 1991
\BConstitution:\b new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j but accepts many UN and OSCE documents
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Petru LUCINSCHI (since 15 January 1997)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC (since 15 January 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Ion GUTU (since NA April 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 1996; runoff election 1 December 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament
\Ielection results:\i Petru LUCINSCHI ran against Mircea SNEGUR and was elected president; percent of vote - LUCINSCHI 54%, SNEGUR 46%; Prime Minister Ion CIUBU was appointed by the president 15 January 1997 and was elected by a parliamentary vote of 75-15 on 24 January 1997
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament (104 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 27 February 1994 (next to be held NA February 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDAM 56, Socialist/Yedinstvo Bloc 28, Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc 11, FPCDM 9; note - seats as of June-July 1995 were as follows: PDAM 45, PSM/UN 28, Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc 11, PRCM 11, FPCDM 9
\Inote:\i the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Christian Democratic Popular Front or FPCDM (formerly Moldovan Popular Front) [Iurie ROSCA, chairman]; Socialist Unity Faction or US of the Socialist Party of Moldova or PSM; Social Democratic Party of Moldova or PSDM [Anatol TARAN, chairman]; Agrarian Democratic Party of Moldova or PDAM [Dumitru MOTPAN, chairman]; Peasants and Intellectuals Bloc [Lidia ISTRATI, chairwoman]; Liberal Party of Modova or PLM [Mircea RUSU, chairman]; Socialist Party of Moldova or PSM [Valeriu SENIC and Victor MOREV, cochairmen]; Party of Rivival and Conciliation of Moldova or PRCM [Mircea SNEGUR, chairman]; Moldovan Party of Democratic Forces or PFDM [Valeriu MATEI, chairman]; Party for Social Progress or PPSM [Eugen SOBOR, chairman]; Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Civic Unity [Vladimir SOLONARI]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b The Ecology Movement of Moldova or EMM [Alecu RENITSA, chairman]; The Christian Democratic League of Women of Moldova or CDLWM [Lidia ISTRATI, chairwoman]; National Christian Party of Moldova or NCPM [V. NIKU, leader]; The Peoples Movement Gagauz Khalky or GKh [S. GULGAR, leader]; The Democratic Party of Gagauzia or DPG [G. SAVOSTIN, chairman]; The Alliance of Working People of Moldova or AWPM [G. POLOGOV, president]; Liberal Convention of Moldova (now the Liberal Party); Association of Victims of Repression [Alexander USATIUC]; Christian Democratic Youth Organization [Valeriu BARBA]; National Youth League [Valeriu STRELETS]; Union of Youth of Moldova [Petru GAVTON]
\BFlag description:\b same color scheme as \JRomania\j - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and \Jtobacco\j. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, \Jcoal\j, and \Jnatural gas\j, largely from \JRussia\j. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the \JSoviet Union\j in 1991. The Moldovan Government has recently been making progress on an ambitious economic reform agenda, and the IMF has called Moldova a model for the region. As part of its reform efforts, Moldova introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises and backed their steady privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. With the election of President LUCINSCHI in December 1996, it is unclear how rapidly the reforms will be pushed.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $10.8 billion (1996 estimate extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1996 est.)
\BDebt - external:\b $950.7 million (of which $240 million to \JRussia\j) (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\Inote:\i commitments, $1,335 million ($500 million disbursements), 1992-95
\BCurrency:\b the Moldovan leu (MLD) (plural lei) was introduced in late 1993
\BExchange rates:\b lei (MLD) per US$1 (end of period) - 4.6870 (January 1997), 4.6743 (1996), 4.4990 (1995), 4.2700 (1994), 3.6400 (1993), 0.4145 (1992); period average - 4.6121 (August 1996), 4.4958 (1995)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 600,000 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b telecommunication system not well developed; 215,000 unsatisfied requests for \Jtelephone\j service (1991 est.); in early 1997, Chisinau was considering privatizing its state-owned \Jtelephone\j company
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i international connections to other former Soviet republics by landline and microwave radio relay through \JUkraine\j and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 9, FM 5, shortwave NA (1994)
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2 (one national and one private) (1995)
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,328 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,259 km
\Ipaved:\i 10,690 km
\Iunpaved:\i 1,569 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 424 km (1994)
\BPipelines:\b \Jnatural gas\j 310 km (1992)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 26 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 8
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 3 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 18
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 5
\Iunder 914 m:\i 8 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,134,619 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 894,337 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 37,689 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 203 million lei (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b certain territory of Moldova and \JUkraine\j - including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina - are considered by \JBucharest\j as historically a part of \JRomania\j; this territory was incorporated into the former \JSoviet Union\j following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for \JCIS\j consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and \JRussia\j
#
"Monaco (Atlas)",161,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Europe, bordering the \JMediterranean Sea\j, on the southern coast of \JFrance\j, near the border with Italy
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 43 44 N, 7 24 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1.9 sq km
\Iland:\i 1.9 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4.4 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JFrance\j 4.4 km
\BCoastline:\b 4.1 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
\BTerrain:\b hilly, rugged, rocky
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JMediterranean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mont Agel 140 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (urban area)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b second smallest independent state in world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 31,892 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 17% (male 2,731; female 2,671)
\I15-64 years:\i 63% (male 9,856; female 10,392)
\I65 years and over:\i 20% (male 2,288; female 3,954) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.49% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 10.66 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 12.01 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 6.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BIndependence:\b 1419 (rule by the House of Grimaldi)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 19 November
\BConstitution:\b 17 December 1962
\BLegal system:\b based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre (born 14 March 1958)
\Ihead of government:\i Minister of State Michel LEVEQUE (since 3 February 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Government is under the authority of the prince
\Ielections:\i none; the prince is a hereditary monarch; minister of state appointed by the prince from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Council or Conseil National (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 24 and 31 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - National and Democratic Union 15, other 3
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National and Democratic Union or UND [Jean-Louis CAMPORA]
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b Monaco does not have an embassy in the US
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\Ihonorary consulate(s) general:\i \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, Los Angeles, \JNew Orleans\j, \JSan Francisco\j, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
\Ihonorary consulate(s):\i \JDallas\j, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in \JMarseille\j (\JFrance\j) is accredited to Monaco
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of \JIndonesia\j which is longer and the flag of \JPoland\j which is white (top) and red
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The Principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. About 55% of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on hotels, banks, and the industrial sector; about 25% of revenue comes from tourism. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $800 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1996 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 30,540 (1 January 1994)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 3.1% (1994)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $570.4 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $570.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 10,000 kW standby
\Inote:\i electricity imported from France
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BAgriculture - products:\b none
\BExports:\b $NA; full customs \Jintegration\j with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
\BImports:\b $NA; full customs \Jintegration\j with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
\BExchange rates:\b French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4169(January 1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915
\BNatural hazards:\b dust storms can occur in the spring; grassland fires
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources; policies of the former communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft \Jcoal\j and the concentration of factories in Ulaanbaatar have severely polluted the air; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 11 July (1921)
\BConstitution:\b 12 February 1992
\BLegal system:\b blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of law; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (since 3 September 1990)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Mendsaihan ENHSAIHAN (since 18 July 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural
\Ielections:\i president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held 19 May 1997); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural
\Ielection results:\i Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP and MSDP) reelected president; percent of vote - Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT 57.8%, Lodongiyn TUDEV (MPRP) NA%; Mendsaihan ENHSAIHAN elected prime minister; percent of State Great Hural vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 30 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - DUC 66%, MPRP 33%, MCP 1%; seats by party - DUC 50 (MNDP 34, MSDP 13, independents 3), MPRP 25, MCP 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but to date rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts, judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts for approval by the Great Hural
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), N. ENHBAYAR, general secretary; Democratic Union Coalition (DUC), Mendsaihan ENHSAIHAN, general secretary (includes Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP, M. ENHSAIHAN, chairman; Mongolian Social Democratic Party or MSDP, Radnaasumbereliyn GONCHIGDORJI, chairman; Green Party, leader NA; and Mongolian Democratic Party of Believers or MDPB, leader NA); Mongolian Conservative Party (MCP), leader NA; Democratic Power Coalition, D. BYAMBASUREN, chairman (includes Mongolian Democratic Renaissance Party or MDRP, BYAMBASUREN, chairman, and Mongolian People's Party or MPP, leader NA); Mongolian National Solidarity Party (MNSP), leader NA; Bourgeois Party/Capitalist Party, VARGALSAIHAN, chairman; United Heritage Party (UHP), B. JAMTSAI (includes United Party of Herdsman and Farmers, leader NA; Independence Party, leader NA; Traditional United Conservative Party, leader NA; and Mongolian United Private Property Owners Party, leader NA); Workers' Party, leader NA
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR
\Ichancery:\i 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 333-7117
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 298-9227
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Llewellyn HEDGBETH
\Iembassy:\i inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe Gol, Ulaanbaatar
\Imailing address:\i c/o American Embassy \JBeijing\j, Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002
\Itelephone:\i [976] (1) 329095, 329606
\IFAX:\i [976] (1) 320776
\BFlag description:\b three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red, centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, \Jsun\j, moon, \Jearth\j, \Jwater\j, and the yin-yang symbol)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The new government has embraced free-market economics, freezing spending, easing price controls, liberalizing domestic and international trade. \JMongolia\j's severe climate, scattered population, and wide expanses of unproductive land, however, have constrained economic development. Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of livestock. In past years extensive mineral resources had been developed with Soviet support; total Soviet assistance at its height amounted to 30% of GDP. The mining and processing of \Jcoal\j, copper, molybdenum, tin, \Jtungsten\j, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. The dramatic drop in the price of copper which accounts for half of the country's export earnings, has held back economic growth. The Mongolian leadership also has been soliciting support from international financial agencies and foreign investors. The economy, however, has still not recovered from the loss of Soviet aid. The country continues to suffer substantial economic hardships, with one-fourth of the population below the poverty line.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $5.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,060 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i much of the unpaved rural road system consists of rough cross-country tracks
\BWaterways:\b 397 km of principal routes (1988)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 34 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 8
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 7
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 26
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 3
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 5
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 10
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 5 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal Security Forces and Frontier
Guards), Air Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 659,173 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 430,482 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 27,723 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $22.8 million (1992)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1% (1992)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Montserrat (Atlas)",163,0,0,0
\I(dependent territory of the UK) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island in the \JCaribbean Sea\j, southeast of Puerto Rico
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 16 45 N, 62 12 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 100 sq km
\Iland:\i 100 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 40 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; little daily or seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Chances Peak 914 m
\BNatural resources:\b NEGL
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 20%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 10%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 40%
\Iother:\i 30% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills \Jvolcano\j occurred during 1996)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 12,800 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.23% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 14.47 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 9.85 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 11.87 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 75.62 years
\Imale:\i 73.85 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.42 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.86 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Montserratian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Montserratian
\BEthnic groups:\b black, white
\BReligions:\b Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
\BLanguages:\b English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 97%
\Imale:\i 97%
\Ifemale:\i 97% (1970 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Montserrat
\BData code:\b MH
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Plymouth
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's
\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)
\BConstitution:\b present constitution came into force 19 December 1989
\BLegal system:\b English \Jcommon law\j and statute law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Frank J. SAVAGE (since NA February 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Chief Minister Bertrand OSBORNE (since 13 November 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministries, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
\Ielections:\i the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister; note: as a result of the last election, a coalition party was formed between NPP, NDP, and one of the independent candidates
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held by NA 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Progressive Party (NPP), Reuben T. MEADE; Movement for National Reconstruction (MNR), Percival Austin BRAMBLE; People's Progressive Alliance (PPA), Bertrand OSBORNE
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BFlag description:\b blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy of this volcanic island is small and open, with economic activity centered on tourism and related services. Tourism accounts for roughly one-quarter of Montserrat's national income. The island's main export is electronic components which are mainly shipped to the US. The agriculture sector is small; cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, and onions are grown for the domestic market; additionally, some hot peppers and live plants are exported to the US and Europe. Volcanic activity in late 1995 led to the repeated evacuation of Montserrat's capital, Plymouth, and deep ash from the \Jvolcano\j destroyed much of the yearend crops. These disruptions, compounded by hurricanes, caused production in 1995 to drop precipitously. The likely slow recovery of tourism and the continued danger of an eruption dimmed the prospects for rapid recovery in 1996.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $55.3 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -2.9% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $4,360 (1995 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i community, social, and personal services 40.5%, construction 13.5%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 12.3%, manufacturing 10.5%, agriculture, \Jforestry\j, and fishing 8.8%, other 14.4% (1983 est.)
\Itotal value:\i $12.1 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
\Ipartners:\i US, Ireland
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $29.9 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
\Ipartners:\i NA
\BDebt - external:\b $10.2 million (December 1994)
\BEconomic aid:\b $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 3,000
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 6,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b 2,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 269 km
\Ipaved:\i 203 km
\Iunpaved:\i 66 km (1995)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Plymouth
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Police Force
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Morocco (Atlas)",164,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j and the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between \JAlgeria\j and Western Sahara
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 32 00 N, 5 00 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 446,550 sq km
\Iland:\i 446,300 sq km
\Iwater:\i 250 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,017.9 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAlgeria\j 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, \JSpain\j (\JCeuta\j) 6.3 km, \JSpain\j (Melilla) 9.6 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,835 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
\BTerrain:\b northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Sebkha Tah -55 m
\Ihighest point:\i Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jphosphates\j, iron ore, \Jmanganese\j, lead, zinc, fish, salt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 21%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 47%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 20%
\Iother:\i 11% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 12,580 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b land degradation/\Jdesertification\j (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); \Jwater\j supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil \Jpollution\j of coastal waters
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 40.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 70.08 years
\Imale:\i 68.04 years
\Ifemale:\i 72.21 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.47 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Moroccan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Moroccan
\BEthnic groups:\b Arab-\JBerber\j 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
\BReligions:\b Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic (official), \JBerber\j dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 43.7%
\Imale:\i 56.6%
\Ifemale:\i 31% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Kingdom of Morocco
\Iconventional short form:\i Morocco
\Ilocal long form:\i Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
\Ilocal short form:\i Al Maghrib
\BData code:\b MO
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Rabat
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 36 provinces and 5 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Assa-Zag, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, \JCasablanca\j*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Es Smara, Fes*, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech*, Meknes*, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit
\Inote:\i decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in March 1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization not yet available
\BIndependence:\b 2 March 1956 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King HASSAN II's accession to the throne)
\BConstitution:\b 10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996
\BLegal system:\b based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King MOHAMMED VI (since July 1999)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Abdellatif FILALI (since 29 May 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the king
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a hereditary monarch; prime minister appointed by the king
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Chamber of Representatives or Majlis Nawab (333 seats; 222 elected by popular vote, 111 indirectly elected by an electoral college made up of government, professional, and labor representatives; members serve six-year terms); note - bicameral legislature to be introduced in September 1997; members of the upper house will be indirectly elected to serve nine-year terms, with one-third of the members renewed every three years; members of the lower house will be directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms
\Ielections:\i popular elections last held 15 June 1993; indirect elections last held 17 September 1993 (next election will be for the new bicameral legislature with both indirect and popular elections scheduled to be held in September 1997)
\Ielection results:\i popular elections - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - USFP 48, IP 43, MP 33, RNI 28, UC 27, PND 14, MNP 14, PPS 6, PDI 3, SAP 2, PA 2, OADP 2; indirect elections - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC 27, MP 18, RNI 13, MNP 11, PND 10, IP 7, Party of Shura and Istiqlal 6, USFP 4, PPS 4, CDT 4, UTM 3, UGTM 2, SAP 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the king
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Iopposition:\i Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Abderrahman YOUSSFI; Istiqlal Party (IP), M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA; Organization of Democratic and Popular Action (OADP), Mohamed Ben SAID; Democratic Socialist Party, Issa al-OUARDIGHI \Ipro-government:\i Constitutional Union (UC), Abdelatif SEMLALI; Popular Movement (MP), Mohamed LAENSER; National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI; National Popular Movement (MNP), Mahjoubi AHARDANE; National Democratic Movement, Mohamed AARCHANE
\Iindependents:\i National Rally of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN; Democracy and Istiqlal Party (PDI), leader NA; Action Party (PA), Abdullah SENHAJI; Non-Obedience Candidates (SAP), leader NA
\Ilabor unions and community organizations (indirect elections only)
:\i Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), Nabir AMAOUI; General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM), Abderrazzak AFILAL; Moroccan Union of Workers (UTM), Mahjoub BENSEDIQ; Party of Shura and Istiqlal, Abdelwaheb MAASH; Labor Union Commissions, leader NA
\Ichancery:\i 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 265-0161
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Marc C. GINSBERG
\Iembassy:\i 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
\Imailing address:\i PSC 74, Box 003, APO AE 09718
\Itelephone:\i [212] (7) 76 22 65
\IFAX:\i [212] (7) 76 56 61
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Casablanca
\BFlag description:\b red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as \JSolomon's seal\j in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Morocco faces the typical problems of developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping \Jinflation\j within manageable bounds. Since the early 1980s the government has pursued an economic program toward these objectives with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. The dirham is now fully convertible for current account transactions; reforms of the financial sector have been implemented; and 43 state enterprises have been privatized. Drought conditions in three of the last four years have depressed activity in the key agricultural sector, holding down exports and contributing to a 7.5% contraction in real GDP in 1995. Favorable rainfall in 1996 nurtured a record wheat crop and contributed to the 9% overall growth. Servicing the large external debt, preparing the economy for freer trade with the European Union, and finding jobs for Morocco's youthful population remain long-term problems.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $97.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 9% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,260 (1996 est.)
\Idomestic:\i good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal centers are \JCasablanca\j and Rabat; secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan
\Iinternational:\i 5 submarine cables; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to \JGibraltar\j, \JSpain\j, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to \JAlgeria\j; participant in Medarabtel
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 0
\Istandard gauge:\i 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1003 km electrified; 246 km double track) (1994)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 60,513 km
\Ipaved:\i 30,438 km (including 113 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 30,075 km (1995 est.)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 362 km; \Jpetroleum\j products 491 km (abandoned); \Jnatural gas\j 241 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Agadir, El Jadida, \JCasablanca\j, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled \JCeuta\j and Melilla
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 7,779,077 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,927,589 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 336,969 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $1.38 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 4.1% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991; \JSpain\j controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of \JCeuta\j and Melilla which Morocco contests as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of \Jhashish\j; trafficking on the increase for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments of \Jhashish\j mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for \Jcocaine\j from \JSouth America\j destined for Western Europe
#
"Mozambique (Atlas)",165,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, bordering the \JMozambique\j Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 18 15 S, 35 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 801,590 sq km
\Iland:\i 784,090 sq km
\Iwater:\i 17,500 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,571 km
\Iborder countries:\i Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, \JSwaziland\j 105 km, \JTanzania\j 756 km, \JZambia\j 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,470 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical to subtropical
\BTerrain:\b mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Monte Binga 2,436 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jcoal\j, \Jtitanium\j, natural gas
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 4%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 56%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 18%
\Iother:\i 22% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 1,180 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b a long \Jcivil war\j and recurrent \Jdrought\j in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; \Jdesertification\j; \Jpollution\j of surface and coastal waters
\BIndependence:\b 25 June 1975 (from \JPortugal\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
\BConstitution:\b 30 November 1990
\BLegal system:\b based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November 1986); note - before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected president by FRELIMO's Central Committee 4 November 1986 (reelected by the Committee 30 July 1989)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since NA December 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 27 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO elected president; percent of vote - Joaquim CHISSANO 53.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 33.3%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on a secret ballot to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 27-29 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - Frelimo 44.33%, RENAMO 33.78%, Democratic Union 5.15%, other 16.74%; seats by party - Frelimo 129, RENAMO 112, Democratic Union 9
\Inote:\i the presidential and legislative elections took place as called for in the 1992 peace accords; RENAMO participated in the elections
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president and judges elected by the Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Front for the Liberation of \JMozambique\j or FRELIMO [Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO, chairman]; \JMozambique\j National Resistance or RENAMO [Afonso DHLAKAMA, president]; Democratic Union or DU [Antonio PALANGE, general secretary]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Marcos Geraldo NAMASHULUA
\Ichancery:\i Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 293-7146
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 835-0245
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Peter Michael McKINLEY
\Iembassy:\i Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 783, Maputo
\Itelephone:\i [258] (1) 492797
\IFAX:\i [258] (1) 490114
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b One of Africa's poorest countries, \JMozambique\j has failed to exploit the economic potential of its sizable agricultural, hydropower, and transportation resources. Agricultural output is at only 75% of its 1981 level, and grain has to be imported. Industry operates at only 20%-40% of capacity. Foreign assistance programs supply the foreign exchange required to pay for imports of goods and services. The peace accord, signed in October 1992, has improved \JMozambique\j's prospects. The restoration of electrical transmission lines to South Africa and the completion of a new transmission line to Zimbabwe (permitting the giant Cahora Bassa hydropower plant to export large amounts of electricity), proposed construction of a \Jnatural gas\j pipeline to South Africa, and reform of transportation services will greatly improve foreign exchange receipts. The \JMozambique\j and South African governments are developing the \JMaputo\j corridor, linking the port of \JMaputo\j with Witbank, South Africa. In the past few years, more than 500 state enterprises have been privatized, including the country's largest commercial bank and a number of sizable manufacturing firms. Other pending reform measures are the privatization of customs operations, the reform of tax collection, and the facilitation of private enterprise in the transportation, \Jenergy\j, and telecommunications sectors.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $12.2 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $670 (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i in 1993, 47% of the wage earners were employed in industry, 28% in transportation and communication; traditionally, a large number of Mozambicans work abroad
\BUnemployment rate:\b 50% (1989 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $252 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $607 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Militia
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 4,149,766 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,390,791 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $84 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 5.3% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b Southern African transit hub for South American \Jcocaine\j probably destined for the European and US markets; producer of \Jhashish\j and methaqualone
#
"Myanmar (Atlas)",166,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between \JBangladesh\j and Thailand
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 22 00 N, 98 00 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 678,500 sq km
\Iland:\i 657,740 sq km
\Iwater:\i 20,760 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,876 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBangladesh\j 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, \JThailand\j 1,800 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,930 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower \Jhumidity\j during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
\BTerrain:\b central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Andaman Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, timber, tin, \Jantimony\j, zinc, copper, \Jtungsten\j, lead, \Jcoal\j, some marble, \Jlimestone\j, precious stones, natural gas
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 15%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 1%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 49%
\Iother:\i 34% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 10,680 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; industrial \Jpollution\j of air, soil, and \Jwater\j; inadequate sanitation and \Jwater\j treatment contribute to disease
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
\BConstitution:\b 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
\BLegal system:\b does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i State Law and Order Restoration Council; military junta which assumed power 18 September 1988
\Ielections:\i none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation of the former prime minister
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NLD 82%; seats by party - NLD 396, NUP 10, other 79
\BJudicial branch:\b 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
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA, proregime), THAN AUNG, general secretary; National Unity Party (NUP, proregime), THA KYAW; National League for Democracy (NLD), AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary; and eight minor legal parties
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b National Coalition Government of the Union of \JBurma\j (NCGUB), headed by Dr. SEIN WIN - 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; Kachin Independence Army (KIA); United Wa State Army (UWSA); Karen National Union (KNU); several Shan factions, including the Mong Tai Army (MTA); All \JBurma\j Student Democratic Front (ABSDF)
\BFlag description:\b 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
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JBurma\j has a mixed economy with private activity dominant in agriculture, light industry, and transport, and with substantial state-controlled activity, mainly in \Jenergy\j, heavy industry, and the rice trade. Government policy in the last eight years, 1989-96, 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; and efforts continue to increase the efficiency of state enterprises. Published estimates of \JBurma\j's foreign trade are greatly understated because of the volume of black-market trade. A major ongoing problem is the failure to achieve monetary and fiscal stability. Although \JBurma\j remains a poor Asian country, its rich resources furnish the potential for substantial long-term increases in income, exports, and living standards.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $51.5 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,120 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 12,037,009
\Ifemales age 15-49:\i 11,846,381 (1997 est.)
\Inote:\i both sexes liable for military service
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 6,434,452 (1997 est.)
\Ifemales:\i 6,317,112 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 480,893
\Ifemales:\i 462,314 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $135 million (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b world's largest illicit producer of opium (2,560 metric tons in 1996 - a 9% increase over 1995) and a minor producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; surrender of drug warlord KHUN SA's Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was hailed by \JRangoon\j as a major counternarcotics success, but lack of serious government commitment and resources continue to hinder the overall antidrug effort; growing role in the production of methamphetamines for regional consumption
#
"Namibia (Atlas)",167,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, bordering the South \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between \JAngola\j and South Africa
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 22 00 S, 17 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 825,418 sq km
\Iland:\i 825,418 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than half the size of Alaska
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,824 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAngola\j 1,376 km, \JBotswana\j 1,360 km, South Africa 855 km, \JZambia\j 233 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,572 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
\BTerrain:\b mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; \JKalahari\j Desert in east
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 45.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 64.91 years
\Imale:\i 63.23 years
\Ifemale:\i 66.63 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.05 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Namibian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Namibian
\BEthnic groups:\b black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%
\Inote:\i about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
\BReligions:\b Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least, other Christian denominations 30%, native religions 10% to 20%
\BLanguages:\b English 7% (official), \JAfrikaans\j common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\BIndependence:\b 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
\BConstitution:\b ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
\BLegal system:\b based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote - 76%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i National Council - last held 30 November-3 December 1992 (next to be held by December 1998); National Assembly - last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
\Ielection results:\i National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 19, DTA 6, UDF 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 73.89%, DTA 20.78%, UDF 2.72%, DCN 0.83%, MAG 0.82%; seats by party - SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1
\Inote:\i the National Council is a purely advisory body
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam NUJOMA]; National Democratic Party for Justice or NDPFJ [Nbhwete NDJOBA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of \JNamibia\j or DTA [Mishake MUYONGO, president]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; Democratic Coalition of \JNamibia\j or DCN [Moses K. KATJIUONGUA]
\Imailing address:\i Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
\Itelephone:\i [264] (61) 221601
\IFAX:\i [264] (61) 229792
\BFlag description:\b a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left section and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 25% of GDP. \JNamibia\j is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make \JNamibia\j a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. \JNamibia\j also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and \Jtungsten\j. Half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood. \JNamibia\j must import some of its food.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,700 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b National Defense Force (Army), Police
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 392,228 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 233,336 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $64 million (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.1% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b quadripoint with \JBotswana\j, \JZambia\j, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with \JBotswana\j over uninhabited Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River remained unresolved in December 1995, and the parties agreed to refer the matter to the ICJ
#
"Nauru (Atlas)",168,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, island in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, south of the Marshall Islands
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 0 32 S, 166 55 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 21 sq km
\Iland:\i 21 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 30 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)
\BTerrain:\b sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised \Jcoral\j reefs with phosphate plateau in center
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b \JNauru\j is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the \JPacific Ocean\j - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French \JPolynesia\j; only 53 km south of Equator
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 10,390 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i NA years
\Imale:\i NA years
\Ifemale:\i NA years
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Nauruan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Nauruan
\BEthnic groups:\b Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
\BReligions:\b Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
\BLanguages:\b Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Nauru
\Iconventional short form:\i Nauru
\Iformer:\i Pleasant Island
\BData code:\b NR
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
\BInternational organization participation:\b AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), \JInterpol\j, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, \JUNESCO\j, UPU, WHO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b \JNauru\j does not have an embassy in the US
\Iconsulate(s):\i Agana (\JGuam\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to \JFiji\j is accredited to Nauru
\BFlag description:\b blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Revenues come from the export of \Jphosphates\j, the reserves of which are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World, but incomes probably will drop sharply in the future. Few other resources exist, so most necessities must be imported, including fresh \Jwater\j from \JAustralia\j. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from \Jphosphates\j are serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition. However, dividends from the trusts have declined sharply since 1990 and the government has been borrowing heavily from the trusts to finance fiscal deficits. In an effort to stem further escalation of fiscal problems, the FY96/97 budget calls for a freeze on government wages for two years, a reduction of over-staffed public service departments, drastic cutbacks in hiring new government staff, privatization of numerous government agencies, and closure of some overseas consulates.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $100 million (1993 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $10,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b adequate local and international radiotelephone communications provided via Australian facilities
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 4,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1 (1991 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3.9 km; note - used to haul \Jphosphates\j from the center of the island to processing facilities on the southwest coast
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 28 km
\Ipaved:\i 22 km
\Iunpaved:\i 6 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Nauru
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b no regular armed forces; Directorate of the \JNauru\j Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Navassa Island (Atlas)",169,0,0,0
\I(territory of the US) \i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island in the \JCaribbean Sea\j, about one-fourth of the way from \JHaiti\j to Jamaica
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 18 25 N, 75 02 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 5.2 sq km
\Iland:\i 5.2 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 8 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b marine, tropical
\BTerrain:\b raised \Jcoral\j and \Jlimestone\j plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location on southwest side 77 m
\BNatural resources:\b guano
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 10%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 90%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, \JCuba\j; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support \Jgoat\j herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\Inote:\i transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Navassa Island
\BData code:\b BQ
\BDependency status:\b unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the US Coast Guard; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a 46 meter tall lighthouse located on the southern side of the island; negotiations are currently underway between the Coast Guard, General Services Administration, and Department of Interior for transfer of administration of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island\BNational capital:\b none; administered from Washington, DC
\BFlag description:\b the flag of the US is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claimed by \JHaiti\j
#
"Nepal (Atlas)",170,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Asia, between China and India
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 28 00 N, 84 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 140,800 sq km
\Iland:\i 136,800 sq km
\Iwater:\i 4,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Arkansas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,926 km
\Iborder countries:\i China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
\BTerrain:\b Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged \JHimalayas\j in north
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Kanchan Kalan 70 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Everest 8,848 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jquartz\j, \Jwater\j, timber, hydropower potential, scenic beauty, small deposits of \Jlignite\j, copper, \Jcobalt\j, iron ore
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 17%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 15%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 42%
\Iother:\i 26% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 8,500 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, \Jdrought\j, and \Jfamine\j depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b the almost total dependence on wood for fuel and cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without replanting has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j (use of contaminated \Jwater\j presents human health risks)
\BReligions:\b Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981)
\Inote:\i only official Hindu state in the world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups
\BLanguages:\b Nepali (official), 20 other languages divided into numerous dialects
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 27.5%
\Imale:\i 40.9%
\Ifemale:\i 14% (1995 est.)
\BPeople - note:\b refugee issue over the presence in \JNepal\j of approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Kingdom of Nepal
\Iconventional short form:\i Nepal
\BData code:\b NP
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991
\BIndependence:\b 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
\BNational holiday:\b Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)
\BConstitution:\b 9 November 1990
\BLegal system:\b based on Hindu legal concepts and English \Jcommon law\j; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (succeeded to the throne 31 January 1972 following the death of his father King MAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, crowned king 24 February 1975); Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister \JSurya\j Bahadur THAPA (7 October 1997); note - In the third change of Government since elections in 1994, \JNepal\j's coalition of communists and monarchists collapses when Prime Minister, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, loses a no-confidence motion proposed by the main opposition Nepali Congress Party.
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the king on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a constitutional monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the king
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the \JHouse of Representatives\j, 10 by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 15 November 1994 (next to be held by 15 November 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), \Jchief justice\j is appointed by the king on recommendation of the Constitutional Council, the other judges are appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Judicial Council
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Communist Party of \JNepal\j/United Marxist-Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan ADHIKARI, party president; Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI, Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party president; National Democratic Party (NDP; also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP), \JSurya\j Bahadur THAPA; Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, Gajendra Narayan SINGH, president; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, party chair
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Bekh Bahadur THAPA
\Ichancery:\i 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 667-4550
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 667-5534
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Sandra L. VOGELGESANG
\Iembassy:\i Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [977] (1) 411179
\IFAX:\i [977] (1) 419963
\BFlag description:\b red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JNepal\j is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with about 60% of the population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for more than 40% of GDP. Industrial activity is limited, mainly involving the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, \Jtobacco\j, and grain. Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for about 80% of foreign exchange earnings in the past two years. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production is growing about 5% on average as compared with annual population growth of 2.5%. Since May 1991, the government has been moving forward with economic reforms particularly those that encourage trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify investment procedures. The government has also been cutting expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. The government made some progress in 1996, signing trade agreements with countries including India, and attracting substantial foreign investment in hydropower. Prospects for foreign trade and investment in areas besides hydropower and tourism will continue to remain poor because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, and its landlocked geographic location highly susceptible to natural disaster. The international community provides funding for more than 60% of \JNepal\j's development budget and more than 30% of total budgetary expenditures.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $26.5 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.9% (FY95/96 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1996 est.)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 88, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 690,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 9 (1996 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 45,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 101 km; note - all in Kosi close to Indian border
\Inarrow gauge:\i 101 km 0.762-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 7,550 km
\Ipaved:\i 3,126 km
\Iunpaved:\i 4,424 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 43 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 32
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 27 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 11
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 10 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 5,556,791 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,888,628 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 268,085 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $36 million (FY92/93)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.2% (FY92/93)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for heroin from Southeast Asia to the West
#
"Netherlands (Atlas)",171,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between \JBelgium\j and Germany
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 52 30 N, 5 45 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 37,330 sq km
\Iland:\i 33,920 sq km
\Iwater:\i 3,410 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,027 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBelgium\j 450 km, \JGermany\j 577 km
\BCoastline:\b 451 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
\BTerrain:\b mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
\BNatural hazards:\b the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and \Jnutrients\j such as nitrates and \Jphosphates\j; air \Jpollution\j from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Biodiversity
\BGeography - note:\b located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
\BNational holiday:\b Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
\BConstitution:\b 17 February 1983
\BLegal system:\b civil law system incorporating French penal theory; judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), Prince of Orange, son of Queen BEATRIX
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Hans DIJKSTAL (since 22 August 1994) and Hans VAN MIERLO (since 22 August 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a constitutional monarch; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the queen; vice prime ministers appointed by the queen
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i First Chamber - last held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 9 June 1999); Second Chamber - last held 3 May 1994 (next to be held in 1998)
\Ielection results:\i First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA;
Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - PvdA 24.3%, CDA 22.3%, VVD 20.4%, D'66 16.5%, other 16.5%; seats by party - PvdA 37, CDA 34, VVD 31, D'66 24, other 24
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or De Hoge Raad, justices are nominated for life by the crown from a list compiled by the Second Chamber of the States General
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Hans HELGERS]; Labor or PvdA [Wim KOK]; Liberal or VVD [Frits BOLKESTEIN]; Democrats '66 or D'66 [Hans VAN MIERLO]; a host of minor parties
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b large multinational firms; Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and Interchurch Peace Council or IKV
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Adriaan Pieter Roetert JACOBOVITS DE SZEGED
\Ichancery:\i 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 244-5300
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 362-3430
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Kirk Terry DORNBUSH
\Iembassy:\i Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ The Hague
\Imailing address:\i PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
\Itelephone:\i [31] (70) 310-9209
\IFAX:\i [31] (70) 361-4688
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Amsterdam
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however, through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs affecting most aspects of economic activity. Industrial activity features food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. Indeed, the Netherlands ranks third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and \JFrance\j. Sharp cuts in subsidy and social security spending have been accompanied by sustained growth in output and employment. The Dutch will almost certainly qualify for the first wave of countries entering the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $317.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $20,500 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i services 73%, manufacturing and construction 23%, agriculture 4% (1994)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 6.5% (November 1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $107.2 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $118.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
\BIndustries:\b agroindustries, metal and \Jengineering\j products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, \Jpetroleum\j, fishing, construction, microelectronics
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 2.9% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 18.65 million kW
\BElectricity - production:\b 78 billion kWh
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 5,140 kWh (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i many Dutch-owned ships are operating under the registry of Netherlands \JAntilles\j (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 28 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 25
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 9
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 6
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 6 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 4,160,723 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 3,642,218 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 95,006 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $8.2 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.1% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b important gateway for \Jcocaine\j, heroin, and \Jhashish\j entering Europe; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs
#
"Netherlands Antilles (Atlas)",172,0,0,0
Netherlands Antilles
\I(part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, two island groups in the \JCaribbean Sea\j - one includes Curacao and \JBonaire\j north of Venezuela and the other is east of the Virgin Islands
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 12 15 N, 68 45 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 960 sq km
\Iland:\i 960 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes \JBonaire\j, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
\BArea - comparative:\b more than five times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 10.2 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JGuadeloupe\j (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
\BCoastline:\b 364 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 12 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
\BTerrain:\b generally hilly, volcanic interiors
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Scenery 862 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jphosphates\j (Curacao only), salt (\JBonaire\j only)
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 10%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 90% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b Curacao and \JBonaire\j are south of Caribbean hurricane belt, so are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Whaling (extended from Netherlands)
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 211,093 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 24% (male 26,496; female 25,267)
\I15-64 years:\i 68% (male 70,087; female 73,300)
\I65 years and over:\i 8% (male 6,694; female 9,249) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.99% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 15.61 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.33 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -0.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 77.18 years
\Imale:\i 74.89 years
\Ifemale:\i 79.59 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.86 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Netherlands Antillean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Netherlands Antillean
\BEthnic groups:\b mixed black 85%, \JCarib\j Amerindian, white, East Asian
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist
\BLanguages:\b Dutch (official), Papiamento, a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English \Jdialect\j predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 98%
\Ifemale:\i 99% (1981 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Netherlands Antilles
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Nederlandse Antillen
\BData code:\b NT
\BDependency status:\b part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Willemstad
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
\Inote:\i each island has its own government
\BIndependence:\b none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
\BNational holiday:\b Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
\BConstitution:\b 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
\BLegal system:\b based on Dutch civil law system, with some English \Jcommon law\j influence
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen \JBEATRIX\j Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
\Ielections:\i the queen is a constitutional monarch; governor general appointed by the queen for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 31 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Miguel POURIER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral States or Staten (23 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 25 February 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAR 8, PNP 3, SPA 2, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, DP 1, WIPM 1, DP-St.E 1, DP-St.M 1, Nos Patria 1
\Inote:\i the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties
\BJudicial branch:\b Joint High Court of Justice
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b political parties are indigenous to each island
\IBonaire:\i Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), Rudy ELLIS; Democratic Party of Bonaire (PDB), Broertje JANJA
\ICuracao:\i Antillean Restructuring Party (PAR), Miguel POURIER; National People's Party (PNP), Maria LIBERIA-PETERS; New \JAntilles\j Movement (MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers' Liberation Front (FOL), Wilson (Papa) GODETT; Socialist Independent (SI), George HUECK and Nelson MONTE; Democratic Party of Curacao (DP), Augustin DIAZ; Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA \ISaba:\i Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Ray HASSELL; Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Steve HASSELL; Saba Unity Party, Carmen SIMMONDS \ISint Eustatius:\i Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E), Julian WOODLEY; Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM); St. Eustatius Alliance (SEA), Ingrid WHITFIELD \ISint Maarten:\i Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M), Sarah WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), Vance JAMES; Serious Alternative People's Party (SAPP) Julian ROLLOCKS
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 158, \JWillemstad\j, Curacao
\Itelephone:\i [599] (9) 461-3066
\IFAX:\i [599] (9) 461-6489
\BFlag description:\b white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band also centered; five white five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of \JBonaire\j, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Tourism, \Jpetroleum\j transshipment, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed \Jinfrastructure\j as compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela and the US being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate \Jwater\j supplies hamper the development of agriculture.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $2.04 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 0% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $9,800 (1996 est.)
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA; the Netherlands \JAntilles\j received a $97 million Dutch aid package in 1996, making it the Netherlands' second largest aid recipient behind India
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 91%
\Imale:\i 92%
\Ifemale:\i 90% (1976 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
\Iconventional short form:\i New Caledonia
\Ilocal long form:\i Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
\Ilocal short form:\i Nouvelle-Caledonie
\BData code:\b NC
\BDependency status:\b overseas territory of \JFrance\j since 1956
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Noumea
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
\BIndependence:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j; a referendum on independence will be held in 1998)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
\BConstitution:\b 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
\BLegal system:\b the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of \JFrance\j Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Dominque BUR (since NA August 1995)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the Territorial Congress Pierre FROGIER (since 31 July 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Consultative Committee
\Ielections:\i high commissioner appointed by the president of \JFrance\j on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Congress elected by the members of the congress
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 9 July 1995 (next to be held NA July 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPCR 22, FLNKS 12, UNCT 7, various left parties 7, various right parties 6
\Inote:\i New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPCR 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPCR 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique or RPCR (conservative) [Jacques LAFLEUR, president] - affiliated to \JFrance\j's Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (also called South Province Party); Melanesian proindependence Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front or FLNKS [Rock WAMYTAN]; Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE]; National Front or FN (extreme right) [Guy GEORGE]; Caledonie Demain or \JCD\j (right-wing) [Bernard MARANT]; Union Oceanienne or UO (conservative) [Michel HEMA]; Front de Developpement des Iles Loyautes or FDIL [Cono HAMU]; Union Caledonian or UC [Francois BURCK, president]; A New Caledonia for All or UNCT [Didier LEROUX]
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green, with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist side; the flag of \JFrance\j is used for official occasions
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports. In addition to nickel, financial support from \JFrance\j and tourism are key to the health of the economy.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.5 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1995 est.)
\BExchange rates:\b Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 98.48 (January 1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 38,748 (1993 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 77.27 years
\Imale:\i 74.16 years
\Ifemale:\i 80.56 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.96 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i New Zealander(s)
\Iadjective:\i New Zealand
\BEthnic groups:\b European 88%, \JMaori\j 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2%
\BReligions:\b Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Maori
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 99% (1980 est.)
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i New Zealand
\Iabbreviation:\i NZ
\BData code:\b NZ
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Wellington
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo, Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville \Inote:\i there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, \JGisborne\j, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*, Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central Otago, \JChristchurch\j*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, \JGisborne\j, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)
\BDependent areas:\b Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
\BIndependence:\b 26 September 1907 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)
\BConstitution:\b no formal, written constitution; consists of various documents, including certain acts of the UK and \JNew Zealand\j Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted
\BLegal system:\b based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Jenny SHIPLEY (since 8 December 1998)
\Icabinet:\i Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
\Inote:\i the government is a coalition of the National Party and the \JNew Zealand\j First Party
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral \JHouse of Representatives\j - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Not available
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court; Court of Appeal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Party (NP), James BOLGER; \JNew Zealand\j First Party (NZFP), Winston PETERS; \JNew Zealand\j Labor Party (NZLP, opposition), Helen CLARK; Alliance, Jim ANDERTON; Democratic Party, John WRIGHT; \JNew Zealand\j Liberal Party, Frank GROVER; Green Party, Jeanette FITZSIMONS and Rod DONALD; Mana Motuhake, Sandra LEE; United \JNew Zealand\j (UNZ), Clive MATTHEWSON; Conservative Party (formerly Right of Centre Party), Trevor ROGERS; Association of Consumers and Taxpayers, \JNew Zealand\j (ACT), Richard PREBBLE; Christian Democrats, Graeme LEE; Christian Heritage Party (CH), Rev. Graham CAPILL
\BInternational organization participation:\b ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, \JAustralia\j Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, \JInterpol\j, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Lionel John WOOD
\Ichancery:\i 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 328-4800
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles, New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001
\Itelephone:\i [64] (4) 472-2068
\IFAX:\i [64] (4) 472-3537
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Auckland
\BFlag description:\b blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring from an agrarian economy dependent on a concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, open, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Business confidence strengthened in 1994, and export demand picked up in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in 6.2% growth. Growth continued strong in 1995, but tailed off in 1996. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Per capita GDP now is up to the levels of the big West European economies.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $65.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.8% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $18,500 (1996 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 44.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 66.17 years
\Imale:\i 63.83 years
\Ifemale:\i 68.6 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.9 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Nicaraguan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Nicaraguan
\BEthnic groups:\b mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
\BLanguages:\b Spanish (official)
\Inote:\i English- and Amerindian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 65.7%
\Imale:\i 64.6%
\Ifemale:\i 66.6% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Nicaragua
\Iconventional short form:\i Nicaragua
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Nicaragua
\Ilocal short form:\i Nicaragua
\BData code:\b NU
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Managua
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, \JGranada\j, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, \JManagua\j, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva \JSegovia\j, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*
\BIndependence:\b 15 September 1821 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
\BConstitution:\b 9 January 1987
\BLegal system:\b civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
\BSuffrage:\b 16 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997)
\Ihead of government:\i President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note - in July 1995 the term of the office of the president was amended to five years
\Ielection results:\i Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (Nicaraguan Christian Path - CNN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (Nicaraguan Conservative Party - PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (National Project) 0.53%, others (18 other candidates) remaining 4.33%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance (ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) 36.55%, Nicaraguan Christian Road Party (PCCN) 3.73%, Nicaraguan Conservative Party (PCN) 2.12%, Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) 1.33%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected for a seven-year term by the National Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Iright:\i Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Road (PCCN), Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), NA; Independent Liberal Party for National Unity (PLIUN), Carlos GUERRA Gallardo; National Conservative Party (PNC), Adolfo CALERO, Noel VIDAURRE; Nationalist Liberal Party (PLN), Enrique SANCHEZ
\Icenter right:\i Neoliberal Party (PALI), Ricardo VEGA Garcia; Nicaraguan Resistance Party (PRN), Enrique QUINONEZ; Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO; National Project (PRONAL), Antonio LACAYO Oyanguren; Conservative Action Movement (MAC), Hernaldo ZUNIYA
\Icenter left:\i Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS), Sergio RAMIREZ; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Adolfo JARQUIN; Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ; Movement for Revolutionary Unity (MUR), NA; Central American Integrationist Party (PIAC), NA; Unity Alliance (AU), Alejandro SERRANO; Conservative Party of \JNicaragua\j (PCN), Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha; National Democratic Party (PND), Alfredo CESAR Aguirre; Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS Echaverry; UNO-96 Alliance, Alfredo CESAR Aguirre; Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Alfredo GUZMAN
\Ileft:\i Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b National Workers Front (FNT) is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista Workers' Central (CST); Farm Workers Association (ATC); Health Workers Federation (FETASALUD); National Union of Employees (UNE); National Association of Educators of \JNicaragua\j (ANDEN); Union of Journalists of \JNicaragua\j (UPN); Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations (CONAPRO); and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers (UNAG); Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT) is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions: Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS); Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A); Independent General Confederation of Labor (CGT-I); and Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS); Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN) is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is a confederation of business groups
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa
\Ichancery:\i 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 939-6570
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Luis GUTIERREZ
\Iembassy:\i Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua
\Imailing address:\i APO AA 34021
\Itelephone:\i [505] (2) 666010 through 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032 through 33
\IFAX:\i [505] (2) 669074
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of \JHonduras\j, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Nicaraguan economy, devastated during the 1980s by economic mismanagement and \Jcivil war\j, is beginning to rebound. Since March 1991, when President CHAMORRO launched an ambitious economic stabilization program, Nicaragua has reduced \Jinflation\j and obtained substantial economic aid from abroad. Annual \Jinflation\j fell from more than 750% in 1991 to less than 5% in 1992. After rising again to an estimated 20% in 1993, the annual \Jinflation\j rate dropped to roughly 11% in 1994-96. Economic growth rose sharply in 1995-96, thanks to surges in most export categories. The government's efforts to liberalize trade include a December 1995 decision to stop requiring exporters to bring their foreign exchange earnings into Nicaragua. On the debt front, the Nicaraguan Government launched a successful debt buyback program in 1995, purchasing 73% of its $1.373 billion commercial debt inherited from previous governments. Progress also occurred on reducing bilateral debt in 1996 as Nicaragua reached an agreement with \JRussia\j, reducing Nicaragua's debt by $3.3 billion. Debt reduction agreements with Paris Club creditors and rescheduling with Latin American creditors also took place. Unemployment remains a pressing problem, however, with roughly half the country's work force unemployed or underemployed.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,800 (1996 est.)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 45, FM 0, shortwave 3
\BRadios:\b 1.037 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 7 (1994 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 260,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 0 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 0 km 1.067-m gauge; note - part of the previous 376 km system was closed and dismantled in 1993 and, in 1994, the remainder was closed, the track and rolling stock being sold for scrap
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 17,146 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,715 km
\Iunpaved:\i 15,431 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 56 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Bluefields, \JCorinto\j, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 147 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 115
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 107 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 32
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 31 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,027,630 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 632,433 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 49,552 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $27.48 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.35% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b territorial disputes with \JColombia\j over the Archipelago de San Andres y \JProvidencia\j and Quita Sueno Bank; with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the disputants to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and \JNicaragua\j likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Honduras
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for \Jcocaine\j destined for the US
#
"Niger (Atlas)",176,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 16 00 N, 8 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1.267 million sq km
\Iland:\i 1,266,700 sq km
\Iwater:\i 300 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,697 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAlgeria\j 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, \JLibya\j 354 km, Mali 821 km, \JNigeria\j 1,497 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
\BTerrain:\b predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JNiger\j River 200 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mont Greboun 1,944 m
\BNatural resources:\b uranium, \Jcoal\j, iron ore, tin, phosphates
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 3%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 7%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 2%
\Iother:\i 88% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 660 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b recurring droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; \Jdesertification\j; wildlife populations (such as elephant, \Jhippopotamus\j, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 116 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 41.09 years
\Imale:\i 41.44 years
\Ifemale:\i 40.73 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 7.37 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Nigerien(s)
\Iadjective:\i Nigerien
\BEthnic groups:\b \JHausa\j 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 4,000 French expatriates
\BReligions:\b Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
\BLanguages:\b French (official), \JHausa\j, Djerma
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\BNational holiday:\b Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
\BConstitution:\b the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national referendum on 12 May 1996
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Military ruler Major Daouda Malam WANKE (follownig death of President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara April 1999); note - President is chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i Military ruler Major Daouda Malam WANKE (since April 1999); note - President is chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Amadou Boubacar CISSE (since 21 December 1996) was appointed by the president
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by President BARE
\Ielections:\i the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UNIRD 59, ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 8, UDPS-Amana 3, coalition of independents 3, MDP-Alkwali 1, UPDP-Shamuwa 4, DARAJA 3, PMT-Albarka 2
\BJudicial branch:\b State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Apel
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP-AUMUNCI [Issoufou BACHARD, chairman]; DARAJA [Ali TALBA, chairman]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; Movement for Development and Pan-Africanism or MDP-Alkwali [Mai Manga BOUCAR, chairman]; National Movement of the Development Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Tandja MAMADOU, chairman]; National Union of Independents for Democratic Revival or UNIRD [leader NA]; \JNiger\j Progressive Party-African Democratic Rally or PPN-RDA [Dori ABDOULAI]; \JNiger\j Social Democrat Party or PADN [Malam Adji WAZIRI]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya [Mahamadou ISSOUFOU]; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahia or ANDPS-Zaman Lahia [Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE]; PMT-Albarka; Union for Democracy and Social Progress-Amana or UDPS-Amana [Akoli DAOUEL]; Union of Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives-Shamuwa or UPDP-Shamuwa [Professor Andre' SALIFOU, chairman]; Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress-Sawaba or UFPDP-Sawaba [Djibo BAKARY, chairman]
\Ichancery:\i 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Charles O. CECIL (20 August 1996)
\Iembassy:\i Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 11201, Niamey
\Itelephone:\i [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64
\IFAX:\i [227] 73 31 67
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the \Jsun\j) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JNiger\j is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose recent GDP growth has barely matched the rapid growth of population. The economy is centered on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Terms of trade with \JNigeria\j, Niger's largest regional trade partner, have improved dramatically since the 50% \Jdevaluation\j of the African franc in January 1994; this \Jdevaluation\j boosted exports of livestock, peas, onions, and the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public investment and is strongly induced to adhere to structural adjustment programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank. The US terminated bilateral assistance to Niger after the coup of 1996. Other donors have reduced their aid.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $640 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 14,000 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b small system of wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area
\Idomestic:\i wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 3 \Jearth\j stations and 1 planned
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 15, FM 6, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 500,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 18 stations in a single network (1995)
\BTelevisions:\b 38,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 9,863 km
\Ipaved:\i 779 km
\Iunpaved:\i 9,084 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b \JNiger\j river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 23 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 11
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 6
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 11 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,983,377 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,069,743 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 95,217 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $32 million (FY92/93)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.3% (FY92/93)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b \JLibya\j claims about 19,400 sq km in northern \JNiger\j; demarcation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by \JCameroon\j, Chad, \JNiger\j, and \JNigeria\j
#
"Nigeria (Atlas)",177,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 10 00 N, 8 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 923,770 sq km
\Iland:\i 910,770 sq km
\Iwater:\i 13,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,047 km
\Iborder countries:\i Benin 773 km, \JCameroon\j 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, \JNiger\j 1,497 km
\BCoastline:\b 853 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 30 nm
\BClimate:\b varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
\BTerrain:\b southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, tin, columbite, iron ore, \Jcoal\j, \Jlimestone\j, lead, zinc, natural gas
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 33%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 3%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 44%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 12%
\Iother:\i 8% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 9,570 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil degradation; rapid deforestation; \Jdesertification\j; recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Whaling
\BReligions:\b Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), \JHausa\j, \JYoruba\j, Ibo, Fulani
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 57.1%
\Imale:\i 67.3%
\Ifemale:\i 47.3% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Federal Republic of Nigeria
\Iconventional short form:\i Nigeria
\BData code:\b NI
\BGovernment type:\b military government; \JNigeria\j has been ruled by one military regime after another since 31 December 1983; on 1 October 1995, the present military government announced it will turn power over to democratically elected civilian authorities in October 1998
\BNational capital:\b Abuja
\Inote:\i on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in Abuja
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, \JAbuja\j Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, \JNiger\j, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe
\Inote:\i the government has announced the creation of six additional states named Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nassarawa, and Zamfara as part of the process of transition to a civilian government
\BIndependence:\b 1 October 1960 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
\BConstitution:\b 1979 constitution still partially in force; plan for 1989 constitution to take effect in 1993 was not implemented
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j, Islamic law, and tribal law
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces and Defense Minister Gen. Sani ABACHA (since 17 November 1993); Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council Oladipo DIYA (since 17 November 1993); note - the chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces and Defense Minister Gen. Sani ABACHA (since 17 November 1993); Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council Oladipo DIYA (since 17 November 1993); note - the chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Federal Executive Council
\Ielections:\i none; Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council Gen. Sani ABACHA assumed power in a military coup 17 November 1993; the government's provisions for a return to civilian rule call for the election of a president by universal suffrage in the third quarter of 1998 (inaugeration planned for October 1998)
\BLegislative branch:\b National Assembly
\Inote:\i the National Assembly was suspended after the military takeover of 17 November 1993; in October 1995, the government announced a three-year program for transition to civilian rule; elections to the National Assembly are to take place in the second quarter of 1998
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Armed Forces Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b political party system, which was suspended after the military takeover of 17 November 1993, was reestablished by the Provisional Ruling Council on 30 September 1996 with the registration of five of 15 competing political parties; these were the United \JNigeria\j Congress Party or UNCP [Isa MOHAMMED, chairman]; National Center Party of \JNigeria\j or NCPN [Magaji ABDULLAH, chairman]; Grassroots Democratic Movement or GDM [Gambo LAWAR, chairman]; Comittee for National Consensus or CNC [Abel UBEKU, chairman]; Democratic Party of \JNigeria\j or DPN [Sale HASSAN, chairman]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Wakili Hassan ADAMU
\Ichancery:\i 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 986-8400
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Walter C. CARRINGTON
\Iembassy:\i 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 554, Lagos
\Itelephone:\i [234] (1) 261-0097
\IFAX:\i [234] (1) 261-0257
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management. Nigeria's unpopular military rulers have failed to make significant progress in diversifying the economy away from overdependence on the capital intensive oil sector which provides half of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 80% of budgetary revenues. Regime officials also appear divided on how to redress fundamental economic imbalances that result in troublesome \Jinflation\j and the discouragement of investors. The government's resistance to initiating greater transparency and accountability in managing the country's multibillion dollar oil earnings continues to limit economic growth and prevent an agreement with the IMF and bilateral creditors on debt relief. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. Agricultural production in 1996 suffered from severe shortages of \Jfertilizer\j.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $143.5 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,380 (1996 est.)
\Iships by type:\i bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 13, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 65 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 51
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 6
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 10
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 10
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 8
\Iunder 914 m:\i 17 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 12 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 24,465,233 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 14,015,140 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 1,209,386 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $243 million (1995 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b less than 1% (1995 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by \JCameroon\j, Chad, \JNiger\j, and \JNigeria\j; dispute with \JCameroon\j over land and maritime boundaries in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the ICJ
\BIllicit drugs:\b facilitates movement of heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and \JNorth America\j; increasingly a transit route for \Jcocaine\j from \JSouth America\j intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets
#
"Niue (Atlas)",178,0,0,0
\I(free association with \JNew Zealand\j)\i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, island in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, east of Tonga
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 19 02 S, 169 52 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 260 sq km
\Iland:\i 260 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 64 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
\BTerrain:\b steep \Jlimestone\j cliffs along coast, central plateau
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, arable land
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 19%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 8%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 4%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 19%
\Iother:\i 50% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b typhoons
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b traditional methods of burning brush and trees to clear land for agriculture
have threatened soil supplies which are not naturally very abundant
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b one of world's largest \Jcoral\j islands
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 1,708 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b -3.65% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b NA births/1,000 population
\BDeath rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 population
\BNet migration rate:\b NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 live births
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i NA years
\Imale:\i NA years
\Ifemale:\i NA years
\BTotal fertility rate:\b NA children born/woman
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Niuean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Niuean
\BEthnic groups:\b Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)
\BReligions:\b Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) 75% - a Protestant church closely related
to the London Missionary Society, Latter-Day Saints 10%, other 15% (mostly
Roman Catholic, \JJehovah\j's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)
\BLanguages:\b Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i NA
\Itotal population:\i 95%
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Niue
\BData code:\b NE
\BDependency status:\b in free association with \JNew Zealand\j; Niue fully responsible for internal
affairs; \JNew Zealand\j retains responsibility for external affairs
\Idomestic:\i single-line \Jtelephone\j system connects all villages on island
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1987 est.)
\BRadios:\b 1,000
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\Inote:\i there is cable television
\BTelevisions:\b 312 (1991 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 229 km
\Ipaved:\i 0 km
\Iunpaved:\i 229 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Police Force
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Norfolk Island (Atlas)",179,0,0,0
\I(territory of \JAustralia\j) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, island in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, east of Australia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 29 02 S, 167 57 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 34.6 sq km
\Iland:\i 34.6 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 32 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b subtropical, mild, little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Bates 319 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 25%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 75% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b typhoons (especially May to July)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 2,194 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b -0.68% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b NA births/1,000 population
\BDeath rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 population
\BNet migration rate:\b NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 live births
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i NA years
\Imale:\i NA years
\Ifemale:\i NA years
\BTotal fertility rate:\b NA children born/woman
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Norfolk Islander(s)
\Iadjective:\i Norfolk Islander(s)
\BEthnic groups:\b descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesians
\BReligions:\b Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in \JAustralia\j 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of Norfolk Island
\Iconventional short form:\i Norfolk Island
\BData code:\b NF
\BDependency status:\b territory of Australia
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Kingston (administrative center); Burnt Pine (commercial center)
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
\BConstitution:\b \JNorfolk Island\j Act of 1979
\BLegal system:\b based on the laws of \JAustralia\j, local ordinances and acts; English \Jcommon law\j applies in matters not covered by either Australian or \JNorfolk Island\j law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); the queen and \JAustralia\j are represented by Administrator Alan Gardner KERR (since NA April 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Assembly President and Chief Minister David Earnest BUFFETT (since NA 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Executive Council is made up of executive members of the Legislative Assembly
\Ielections:\i the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of \JAustralia\j; chief minister elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years; election last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998)
\Ielection results:\i David Earnest BUFFETT elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territory of \JAustralia\j)
\BFlag description:\b three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green \JNorfolk Island\j pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 29,000 in FY88/89. Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\Iinternational:\i radiotelephone service with Sydney (\JAustralia\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 2,000 (1991 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b 900 (1991 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 80 km
\Ipaved:\i 53 km
\Iunpaved:\i 27 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of Australia
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Northern Mariana Islands (Atlas)",180,0,0,0
\I(commonwealth in political union with the US)\i
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, islands in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 12 N, 145 45 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 477 sq km
\Iland:\i 477 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes 14 islands including Saipan, \JRota\j, and Tinian
\BArea - comparative:\b 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,482 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
\BTerrain:\b southern islands are \Jlimestone\j with level terraces and fringing \Jcoral\j reefs; northern islands are volcanic
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
\BNatural resources:\b arable land, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 21%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 19%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i NA%
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b contamination of \Jgroundwater\j on Saipan by raw sewage contributes to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of \Jendangered species\j conflicts with development
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 53,552 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BNet migration rate:\b 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i NA
\Imale:\i NA
\Ifemale:\i NA
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i NA
\Iadjective:\i NA
\BEthnic groups:\b Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
\BReligions:\b Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
\BLanguages:\b English, Chamorro, Carolinian
\Inote:\i 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 97%
\Imale:\i 97%
\Ifemale:\i 96% (1980 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
\Iconventional short form:\i Northern Mariana Islands
\BData code:\b CQ
\BDependency status:\b commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
\BGovernment type:\b commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
\BNational capital:\b Saipan
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none
\BIndependence:\b none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
\BNational holiday:\b Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
\BConstitution:\b Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
\BLegal system:\b based on US system except for customs, wages, \Jimmigration\j laws, and taxation
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Governor Froilan C. TENORIO (since NA January 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus C. BORJA (since NA January 1994)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Froilan C. TENORIO elected governor of Northern Mariana Islands; percent of vote - Froilan C. TENORIO (Democrat) 56%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997); \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held NA November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats); \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats)
\Inote:\i the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)
\BJudicial branch:\b Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court \BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, Benigno SABLAN, chairman
\BFlag description:\b blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided for \Jinfrastructure\j, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing major source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of \Jcattle\j ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale, mostly handicrafts, light manufacturing, and garment production.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $524 million (1994 est.)
\Inote:\i GDP numbers reflect US spending
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $10,500 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Norway (Atlas)",181,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, west of Sweden
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 62 00 N, 10 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 324,220 sq km
\Iland:\i 307,860 sq km
\Iwater:\i 16,360 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than New Mexico
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,515 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JFinland\j 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, \JRussia\j 167 km
\BCoastline:\b 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 10 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 4 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast
\BTerrain:\b glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; \Jarctic\j \Jtundra\j in north
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j; \Jacid rain\j damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air \Jpollution\j from vehicle emissions
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world; \JNorway\j and Turkey only \JNATO\j members having a land boundary with Russia
\BReligions:\b Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)
\BLanguages:\b Norwegian (official)
\Inote:\i small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 99% (1976 est.)
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Kingdom of Norway
\Iconventional short form:\i Norway
\Ilocal long form:\i Kongeriket Norge
\Ilocal short form:\i Norge
\BData code:\b NO
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Oslo
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 19 provinces (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
\BDependent areas:\b Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
\BIndependence:\b 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)
\BNational holiday:\b Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
\BConstitution:\b 17 May 1814, modified in 1884
\BLegal system:\b mixture of customary law, civil law system, and \Jcommon law\j traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Thorbjoern JAGLAND (since 25 October 1996)
\Icabinet:\i State Council appointed by the king with the approval of the Parliament
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a hereditary monarch; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the king with the approval of the Parliament
\BLegislative branch:\b modified unicameral Parliament or Storting which, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers (165 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 13 September 1993 (next to be held NA September 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - Labor 37.1%, Center Party 18.5%, Conservatives 15.6%, Christian People's 8.4%, Socialist Left 7.9%, Progress 6%, Left Party 3.6%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%; seats by party - Labor 67, Center Party 32, Conservatives 18, Christian People's 13, Socialist Left 13, Progress 10, Left Party 1, Red Electoral Alliance 1, unawarded 10
\Inote:\i for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house or Lagting
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Hoyesterett, justices appointed by the king
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Labor Party [Thorbjorn JAGLAND]; Conservative Party [Jan PETERSEN]; Center Party [Anne ENGER LAHNSTEIN]; Christian People's Party [Valgerd HAUGLAND]; Socialist Left [Erik SOLHEIM]; Norwegian Communist [Kare Andre NILSEN]; Progress Party [Carl I. HAGEN]; Liberal [Odd Einar DORUM]; Left Party; Red Electoral Alliance [Erling FOLKVORD]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Tom-Erik VRAALSON
\Ichancery:\i 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 333-6000
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 337-0870
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Houston, \JMinneapolis\j, New York, and San Francisco
\Iconsulate(s):\i Miami
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Thomas A. LOFTUS
\Iembassy:\i Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
\Imailing address:\i PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
\Itelephone:\i [47] 22 44 85 50
\IFAX:\i [47] 22 44 33 63
\BFlag description:\b red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JNorway\j is a prosperous bastion of welfare \Jcapitalism\j. The economy consists of a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital \Jpetroleum\j sector (through large-scale state enterprises), and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse resources. \JNorway\j maintains an extensive welfare system that helps propel public sector expenditures to more than 50% of GDP and results in one of the highest average tax levels in the world (46%). A small country with a high dependence on international trade, \JNorway\j is basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an abundance of small- and medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the major shipping nations. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - \Jpetroleum\j, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil sector. Only Saudi \JArabia\j exports more oil than \JNorway\j. \JNorway\j imports more than half its food needs. Economic growth, only 1.6% in 1993, has improved steadily over the past few years, resulting in a budget surplus in 1996. Oslo opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994. Despite their high per capita income - outstripped among major nations only by the US - and their generous welfare benefits, the Norwegians worry about that time in the 21st century when the oil and gas run out.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $114.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.8% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $26,200 (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 24,586 kWh (1995 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b oats, other grains; beef, milk; livestock output exceeds value of crops; among world's top 10 fishing nations; fish catch of 2.33 million metric tons in 1994
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $41.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i \Jpetroleum\j and \Jpetroleum\j products 43%, metals and products 11%, foodstuffs (mostly fish) 9%, chemicals and raw materials 25%, \Jnatural gas\j 6.0%, ships 5.4%
\Ipartners:\i EU 77.2% (UK 19.8%, \JGermany\j 12.7%, Netherlands 9.1%, \JFrance\j 7.8%, Sweden 9.8%), US 6.0% (1995)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $32.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and equipment and manufactured consumer goods 54%, chemicals and other industrial inputs 39%, foodstuffs 6%
\Ipartners:\i EU 71.0% (Sweden 15.4%, \JGermany\j 13.8%, UK 9.7%, Denmark 7.5%, Netherlands 4.4%), US 6.6% (1995)
\BTelephones:\b 2.39 million (1994 est.); 470,000 mobile phones in use in 1994
\BTelephone system:\b high-quality domestic and international \Jtelephone\j, telegraph, and telex services
\Idomestic:\i NA domestic \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations
\Iinternational:\i 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine cables; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions); note - \JNorway\j shares the Inmarsat \Jearth\j station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, \JFinland\j, \JIceland\j, and Sweden)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 46, FM 493 (350 private and 143 government), shortwave 0
\Inote:\i the government has created an internal register, the Norwegian International Ship register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 102 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 97
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 11
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 14
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 12
\Iunder 914 m:\i 59 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 5
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 5 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includes Coast Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,112,390 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 925,780 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 27,382 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $3.7 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.9% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b territorial claim in \JAntarctica\j (Queen Maud Land); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between \JNorway\j and Russia
\BIllicit drugs:\b minor transshipment point for drugs shipped via the \JCIS\j and Baltic states for the European market; increasing domestic consumption of cannabis and amphetamines
#
"Oman (Atlas)",182,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 21 00 N, 57 00 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 212,460 sq km
\Iland:\i 212,460 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Kansas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,374 km
\Iborder countries:\i Saudi \JArabia\j 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,092 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
\BTerrain:\b vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Arabian Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Jabal ash Sham 2,980 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, copper, \Jasbestos\j, some marble, \Jlimestone\j, \Jchromium\j, \Jgypsum\j, natural gas
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 5%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 95% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 580 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b rising soil \Jsalinity\j; beach \Jpollution\j from oil spills; very limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 70.8 years
\Imale:\i 68.84 years
\Ifemale:\i 72.85 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.02 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Omani(s)
\Iadjective:\i Omani
\BEthnic groups:\b Arab, \JBaluchi\j, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
\BReligions:\b Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
\BLanguages:\b Arabic (official), English, \JBaluchi\j, \JUrdu\j, Indian dialects
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i NA
\Itotal population:\i approaching 80%
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Sultanate of Oman
\Iconventional short form:\i Oman
\Ilocal long form:\i Saltanat Uman
\Ilocal short form:\i Uman
\BData code:\b MU
\BGovernment type:\b monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Muscat
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 6 regions (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat) and 2 governorates* (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah,
Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*
\BIndependence:\b 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 18 November (1940)
\BConstitution:\b none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral Omani council, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b none
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the sultan
\Ielections:\i none; the sultan is a hereditary monarch
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Consultative Council or Majlis ash-Shura (80 members; two appointed from each wilayat with a population over 30,000, one appointed from each of the other wilayats; members serve four-year terms; has advisory powers only)
\Inote:\i new basic law to be implemented in 1997, provides for an upper chamber - the Majlis ad-Dawla or State Council; also the Majlis ash-Shura will be expanded to 110 members; the resulting bicameral legislature will be known as the Omani Council
\BJudicial branch:\b none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system, administered by region
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered at the top of the vertical band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for 75% of export earnings and government revenues and for roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate of extraction. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the general population depends on imported food. The year 1996 was marked by higher oil production and prices. The government is encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign, as a prime force for further economic development.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $20.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $9,500 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Royal Oman Police)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 14 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 550,421 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 312,205 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $1.82 billion (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 13.7% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b no defined boundary with most of UAE, but Administrative Line in far north
#
"Pacific Ocean (Atlas)",183,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b body of \Jwater\j between \JAntarctica\j, Asia, \JAustralia\j, and the Western Hemisphere
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 0 00 N, 160 00 W
\BMap references:\b World
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 165.384 million sq km
\Inote:\i includes Bali Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Flores Sea, Gulf of \JAlaska\j, Gulf of Tonkin, Java Sea, Philippine Sea, Ross Sea, Savu Sea, Sea of \JJapan\j, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, \JTasman Sea\j, \JTimor\j Sea, and other tributary \Jwater\j bodies
\BArea - comparative:\b about 18 times the size of the US; the largest ocean (followed by the \JAtlantic Ocean\j, the Indian Ocean, and the \JArctic\j Ocean); covers about one-third of the global surface; larger than the total land area of the world
\BCoastline:\b 135,663 km
\BClimate:\b planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonal fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and \JCentral America\j; continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much less pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitude in the North \JPacific Ocean\j; the western Pacific is monsoonal - a rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian land mass back to the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast and East Asia from May to December
\BTerrain:\b surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a clockwise, warm-\Jwater\j gyre (broad circular system of currents) and in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-\Jwater\j gyre; in the northern Pacific, \Jsea ice\j forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, \Jsea ice\j from \JAntarctica\j reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Marianas Trench, which is the world's deepest
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Marianas Trench -10,924 m
\Ihighest point:\i sea level 0 m
\BNatural resources:\b oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish
\BNatural hazards:\b surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and \Jearthquake\j activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike \JCentral America\j and Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September); southern shipping lanes subject to icebergs from \JAntarctica\j; occasional El Nino phenomenon occurs off the coast of \JPeru\j, when the trade winds slacken and the warm Equatorial Countercurrent moves south, killing the plankton that is the primary food source for anchovies; consequently, the anchovies move to better feeding grounds, causing resident marine birds to starve by the thousands because of the loss of their food source; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May and in extreme south from May to October; persistent \Jfog\j in the northern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b endangered marine species include the \Jdugong\j, sea lion, sea \Jotter\j, seals, turtles, and whales; oil \Jpollution\j in Philippine Sea and South China Sea
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b the major choke points are the Bering Strait, \JPanama Canal\j, \JLuzon\j Strait, and the \JSingapore\j Strait; the Equator divides the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean; dotted with low \Jcoral\j islands and rugged volcanic islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean
\BGovernment\b
\BData code:\b none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes appendix
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The \JPacific Ocean\j is a major contributor to the world economy and particularly to those nations its waters directly touch. It provides low-cost sea transportation between East and West, extensive fishing grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and gravel for the construction industry. In 1985 over half (54%) of the world's fish catch came from the \JPacific Ocean\j, which is the only ocean where the fish catch has increased every year since 1978. Exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves is playing an ever-increasing role in the \Jenergy\j supplies of \JAustralia\j, NZ, China, US, and \JPeru\j. The high cost of recovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in world prices for oil since 1985, has slowed but not stopped new drillings.
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephone system:\b
\Iinternational:\i several submarine cables with network nodal points on \JGuam\j and Hawaii
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JBangkok\j (\JThailand\j), Hong Kong, Kao-hsiung (\JTaiwan\j), Los Angeles (US), Manila (\JPhilippines\j), Pusan (South Korea), \JSan Francisco\j (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), \JSingapore\j, Sydney (\JAustralia\j), Vladivostok (\JRussia\j), Wellington (NZ), \JYokohama\j (\JJapan\j)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
#
"Pakistan (Atlas)",184,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and \JIran\j and \JAfghanistan\j on the west
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 30 00 N, 70 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 803,940 sq km
\Iland:\i 778,720 sq km
\Iwater:\i 25,220 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 6,774 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAfghanistan\j 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, \JIran\j 909 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,046 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; \Jarctic\j in north
\BTerrain:\b flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable \Jwater\j; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 37.8%
\Imale:\i 50%
\Ifemale:\i 24.4% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Islamic Republic of Pakistan
\Iconventional short form:\i Pakistan
\Iformer:\i West Pakistan
\BData code:\b PK
\BGovernment type:\b federal republic
\BNational capital:\b Islamabad
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier, Punjab, Sindh
\Inote:\i the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
\BIndependence:\b 14 August 1947 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b \JPakistan\j Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of the republic)
\BConstitution:\b 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j with provisions to accommodate \JPakistan\j's stature as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Rafiq TARAR (1 January 1998)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF (since 17 February 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 13 November 1993 (next to be held no later than 14 October 1998); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the National Assembly; election last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
\Ielection results:\i Sardar Farooq LEGHARI elected president; percent of Parliament vote - NA; Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (87 seats; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms; one-third of the members up for election every two years; has advisory powers only) and the National Assembly (217 seats; 207 represent Muslims and 10 represent non-Muslims; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999); National Assembly - last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J 2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML/N 137, PPP 18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1, independents 21, minorities 10
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Igovernment:\i \JPakistan\j Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N), Nawaz SHARIF; Awami National Party (ANP), Ajmal Khan KHATTAK; Balochistan National Movement/Mengal Group (BNM/M), Sardar Akhtar MENGAL; Mohajir Quami Movement, Altaf faction (MQM/A), Altaf HUSSAIN; Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH); Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Akbar Khan BUGTI; \JPakistan\j People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto (PPP/SB), Ghinva BHUTTO; Baluch National Party (BNP), leader NA \Iopposition:\i \JPakistan\j People's Party (PPP), Benazir BHUTTO; \JPakistan\j Muslim League, Junejo faction (PML/J), Hamid Nasir CHATTHA; National People's Party (NPP), Ghulam Mustapha JATOI; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI; Balochistan National Movement/Hayee Group (BNM/H), Dr. HAYEE Baluch; Pakhtun Quami Party (PKQP), Mohammed AFZAL Khan \Ifrequently shifting:\i Mutaheda Deeni Mahaz (MDM), Maulana Sami-ul-HAQ, the MDM includes Jamiat Ulema-i-\JPakistan\j, Niazi faction (JUP/NI) and Sepah-i-Sahaba \JPakistan\j (SSP); Islami-Jamhoori-Mahaz (IJM-Islamic Democratic Front) includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman group (JUI/F); \JPakistan\j Muslim League, Functional Group (PML/F), Pir PAGARO; \JPakistan\j National Party (PNP); Milli Yakjheti Council (MYC) is an umbrella organization which includes Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain AHMED, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction (JUI/S), Tehrik-I-Jafria \JPakistan\j (TJP), Allama Sajid NAQVI, and Jamiat Ulema-i-\JPakistan\j, Noorani faction (JUP/NO)
\Inote:\i political alliances in \JPakistan\j can shift frequently
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b military remains important political force; ulema (\Jclergy\j), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
\Itelephone:\i [92] (51) 826161 through 826179
\IFAX:\i [92] (51) 214222
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JKarachi\j, Lahore
\Iconsulate(s):\i Peshawar
\BFlag description:\b green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JPakistan\j is a poor, highly populated Third World country struggling to make the difficult transition to the modern world of high technology and international markets. Even though GDP growth has remained strong, at roughly 5% annually, international confidence in Prime Minister Benazir BHUTTO's government declined in 1996. The IMF suspended a Standby Agreement in the spring; foreign investment declined; and the budget and trade deficits rose substantially. In October 1996, BHUTTO responded to IMF pressure to implement reforms, devaluing the rupee by about 8% and raising \Jpetroleum\j prices in an attempt to slow the drain on foreign exchange reserves. But Islamabad still failed to meet IMF revenue and borrowing targets. \JPakistan\j's interim government - in power since President LEGHARI sacked BHUTTO on 5 November 1996 - agreed to slash the budget deficit, push down bank borrowing, implement an agricultural tax; and speed up reforms in the financial sector; accordingly, the Standby Agreement was reinstated in December 1996 and a tranche of $80 million released; but \JPakistan\j fell out of compliance in February 1997. For the long run, \JPakistan\j must deal with serious problems of deteriorating \Jinfrastructure\j, low \Jliteracy\j levels, and persistent sectarian and political violence.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $296.5 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,300 (1996 est.)
\Ipartners:\i \JJapan\j, US, \JGermany\j, UK, Saudi \JArabia\j, \JMalaysia\j, South Korea
\BDebt - external:\b $28.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i $2.6 billion from all bilateral and multilateral sources (FY95/96)
\BCurrency:\b 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa
\BExchange rates:\b Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 40.120 (January 1997), 36.078 (1996), 31.643 (1995), 30.567 (1994), 28.1 (1993), 25.1 (1992); note - annual average of official rate; parallel market rate is higher
\BFiscal year:\b 1 July - 30 June
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 1.572 million (1993 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b the domestic system is mediocre, but adequate for government and business use, in part because major businesses have established their own private systems; since 1988, the government has promoted investment in the national telecommunications system on a priority basis; despite major improvements in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily available to the major portion of the population
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 2 Indian Ocean); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 26, FM 8, shortwave 11
\BRadios:\b 11.3 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 29
\BTelevisions:\b 2.08 million (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 8,163 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km double track)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 31,456,430 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 19,288,081 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 1,431,074 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $3.3 billion (FY96/97)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 5.3% (FY96/97)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b status of Kashmir with India; \Jwater\j-sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the Indus (Wular Barrage)
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of opium and \Jhashish\j for the international drug trade (produced 75 metric tons in 1996, down from 155 metric tons in 1995); major center for processing Afghan heroin and key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western markets
#
"Palau (Atlas)",185,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, group of islands in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, southeast of the Philippines
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 7 30 N, 134 30 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 458 sq km
\Iland:\i 458 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,519 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 12 nm
\Iextended fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b wet season May to November; hot and humid
\BTerrain:\b varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, \Jcoral\j islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine \Jecosystem\j from sand and \Jcoral\j dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Law of the Sea
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 17,240 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.66% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 21.04 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 71.01 years
\Imale:\i 69.14 years
\Ifemale:\i 73.02 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.71 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Palauan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Palauan
\BEthnic groups:\b Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races
\BReligions:\b Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day \JAdventists\j, \JJehovah\j's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)
\BLanguages:\b English (official in all of Palau's 16 states), Sonsorolese (official in the state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese (in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in the other 13 states)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 92%
\Imale:\i 93%
\Ifemale:\i 90% (1980 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Palau
\Iconventional short form:\i Palau
\Ilocal long form:\i Beluu er a Belau
\Ilocal short form:\i Belau
\Iformer:\i Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
\BData code:\b PS
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
\BNational capital:\b Koror
\Inote:\i a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern Babelthuap
\BAdministrative divisions:\b there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 16 states named Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel, \JKoror\j, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngerchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi
\BIndependence:\b 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
\BNational holiday:\b Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
\BConstitution:\b 1 January 1981
\BLegal system:\b based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president; percent of vote - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%; Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president; percent of vote - Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats - one from each state; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000); House of Delegates - last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Delegates - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Palau Nationalist Party, Polycarp BASILIUS
\BInternational organization participation:\b ESCAP, SPC, SPF, UN, WHO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim David A. ORRUKEM
\Ichancery:\i 2000 L Street NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 452-6814
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 452-6281
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila)
\Iembassy:\i address NA, Koror
\Imailing address:\i P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
\Itelephone:\i [680] 488-2920, 2990
\IFAX:\i [680] 488-2911
\BFlag description:\b light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The population, in effect, enjoys a per capita income of $5,000, twice that of the \JPhilippines\j and much of \JMicronesia\j. Long-run prospects for the tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific and the rapidly rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries. Reducing budgeted operating expenditures - which have increased 56% from 1989 to 1993 - will be the biggest challenge for the government over the next several years.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.)
\Inote:\i GDP numbers reflect US spending
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1994 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b NA
\Iby occupation:\i NA
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $21 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $57 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
\BIndustries:\b tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some commercial fishing and agriculture
\Icommodities:\i trochus (type of shellfish), \Jtuna\j, copra, handicrafts
\Ipartners:\i US, Japan
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $24.6 million (c.i.f., 1989)
\Icommodities:\i NA
\Ipartners:\i US
\BDebt - external:\b about $100 million (1989)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\Inote:\i the compact of "free association" with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, will provide Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities
\BCurrency:\b 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b US currency is used
\BFiscal year:\b 1 October - 30 September
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 1,500 (1988 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 9,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2
\BTelevisions:\b 1,600 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 61 km
\Ipaved:\i 36 km
\Iunpaved:\i 25 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Koror
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Palmyra Atoll (Atlas)",186,0,0,0
\I(territory of the US) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, \Jatoll\j in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 5 52 N, 162 06 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 11.9 sq km
\Iland:\i 11.9 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 14.5 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b equatorial, hot, and very rainy
\BTerrain:\b very low
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 2 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 100%
\Iother:\i 0%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and \Jbalsa\j-like trees up to 30 meters tall
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Palmyra Atoll
\BData code:\b LQ
\BDependency status:\b incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from Washington, DC
\BFlag description:\b the flag of the US is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BTransportation\b
\BHighways:\b much of the road and many causeways built during World War II are unserviceable and overgrown
\BPorts and harbors:\b West Lagoon
\BAirports:\b airstrip has been overgrown by vegetation and is no longer serviceable
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Panama (Atlas)",187,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Middle America, bordering both the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JPacific Ocean\j, between \JColombia\j and Costa Rica
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 9 00 N, 80 00 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 78,200 sq km
\Iland:\i 75,990 sq km
\Iwater:\i 2,210 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than South Carolina
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 555 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JColombia\j 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,490 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 200 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January),
short dry season (January to May)
\BTerrain:\b interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains;
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Marine Life Conservation
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and \JSouth America\j; controls \JPanama Canal\j that links North \JAtlantic Ocean\j via \JCaribbean Sea\j with North Pacific Ocean
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 74.28 years
\Imale:\i 71.55 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.1 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.6 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Panamanian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Panamanian
\BEthnic groups:\b mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West
Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
\BLanguages:\b Spanish (official), English 14%
\Inote:\i many Panamanians bilingual
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 90.8%
\Imale:\i 91.4%
\Ifemale:\i 90.2% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Panama
\Iconventional short form:\i Panama
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Panama
\Ilocal short form:\i Panama
\BData code:\b PM
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional republic
\BNational capital:\b Panama
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas
\BIndependence:\b 3 November 1903 (from \JColombia\j; became independent from \JSpain\j 28 November 1821)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
\BConstitution:\b 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla (since 1 September 1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999)
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 32, PS 4, \JPALA\j 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PL 2, PDC 1, UDI 1, MORENA 1
\Inote:\i legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior courts; three courts of appeal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Igoverning coalition:\i Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Liberal Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor Party (\JPALA\j), Carlos Lopez GUEVARA
\Iother parties:\i Solidarity Party (PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Ramon MORALES Quijano; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Ruben AROSEMENA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Papa Egoro Movement (MPE), Gloria YOUNG; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES; Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jacinto CARDENAS; National Renovation Movement (MORENA), Pedro VALLERINO
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO); National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP); Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE); National Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian Industrialists Society (SIP); Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama (CTRP)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Eduardo Gonzalez MORGAN
\Ichancery:\i 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 483-1407
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JAtlanta\j, Houston, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, \JSan Francisco\j, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador William John HUGHES
\Iembassy:\i Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
\Itelephone:\i [507] 227-1377
\IFAX:\i [507] 227-1964
\BFlag description:\b divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. Panama's former protectionist policies have taken their toll, and the economy has been sluggish the last two years, with GDP growth at 1.9% in 1995 and 1.5% in 1996. Although tourism and the \JPanama Canal\j posted growth in 1996, most sectors remained stagnant, and some, like the Colon Free Zone, banana and shrimp exports, and construction, were down from 1995. Although the PEREZ BALLADARES administration has advanced an economic reform program designed to liberalize the trade regime, attract foreign investment, privatize state-owned enterprises, institute fiscal reform, and encourage job-creation through labor code reform, the positive effects of this program have not yet been felt at the macroeconomic level. In 1996, the government concluded a Brady-type plan to restructure the country's commercial debt - one of the highest in the world in per capita terms - allowing it to reenter international financial markets. Panama also completed all requirements to join the World Trade Organization (WTrO) and is awaiting legislative ratification to become a full member.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $14 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,300 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i government and community services 31.8%, agriculture, hunting, and fishing 26.8%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16.4%, manufacturing and mining 9.4%, construction 3.2%, transportation and communications 6.2%, finance, insurance, and real estate 4.3%
\Inote:\i shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
\BUnemployment rate:\b 14% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $1.86 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $1.86 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
\BIndustries:\b construction, \Jpetroleum\j refining, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 0.4% (1995 est.)
\Ipartners:\i US 40%, EU, \JCentral America\j and Caribbean, Japan
\BDebt - external:\b $5.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $58 million (1993)
\BCurrency:\b 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
\BExchange rates:\b balboas (B) per US$1 - 1.000 (fixed rate)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 273,000 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b domestic and international facilities well developed
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i 1 coaxial submarine cable; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j); connected to the Central American Microwave System
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 564,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 23
\BTelevisions:\b 420,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 355 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 76 km 1.524-m gauge
\Inarrow gauge:\i 279 km 0.914-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 10,792 km
\Ipaved:\i 3,615 km
\Iunpaved:\i 7,177 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 130 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Vacamonte
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 76 countries among which are \JJapan\j 1,240, \JGreece\j 361, Hong Kong 301, South Korea 226, \JTaiwan\j 212, China 168, \JSingapore\j 132, US 127, \JSwitzerland\j 76, and UK 65 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 97 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 80
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 5
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 14
\Iunder 914 m:\i 59 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 17
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 17 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the National Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Technical Police; note - the Constitution prohibits armed forces
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 719,467 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 493,819 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $78 million (1995); note - for police and security forces
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b major \Jcocaine\j transshipment point and major drug money-laundering center; minor producer of coca leaf; active eradication program
#
"Papua New Guinea (Atlas)",188,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South \JPacific Ocean\j, east of Indonesia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 6 00 S, 147 00 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 462,840 sq km
\Iland:\i 452,860 sq km
\Iwater:\i 9,980 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 820 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JIndonesia\j 820 km
\BCoastline:\b 5,152 km
\BMaritime claims:\b measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
\BNatural hazards:\b active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; \Jpollution\j from mining projects
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant sects 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%
\BLanguages:\b English spoken by 1%-2%, \Jpidgin\j English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region
\Inote:\i 715 indigenous languages
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 72.2%
\Imale:\i 81%
\Ifemale:\i 62.7% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Independent State of Papua New Guinea
\Iconventional short form:\i Papua New Guinea
\Iabbreviation:\i PNG
\BData code:\b PP
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Port Moresby
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
\BIndependence:\b 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
\BConstitution:\b 16 September 1975
\BLegal system:\b based on English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Wiwa KOROWI (since 11 November 1991)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Sir Mekere MORAUTA (since July 1999)
\Icabinet:\i National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the National Executive Council; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to five years on the basis of majority support in National Parliament
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats - 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18; note - association with political parties is fluid
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, the \Jchief justice\j is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice, other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Chris HAIVETA; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Roy YAKI; People's Action Party (PAP), Ted DIRO; People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS; People's United Party (PUP), David UNASI; National Party (NP), Mathias IJAPE; United Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA; National Alliance (NA), Sir Michael SOMARE; Movement For Greater Autonomy, Stephen POKAWIN; Black Action Party (BAP), John WAIKO; League for National Advancement (LNA), Thomas PELIKA
\Ichancery:\i 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 745-3680
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 745-3679
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER
\Iembassy:\i Douglas Street, Port Moresby
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby
\Itelephone:\i [675] 321-1455
\IFAX:\i [675] 321-3423
\BFlag description:\b divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross \Jconstellation\j centered
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing an \Jinfrastructure\j. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. Budgetary support from \JAustralia\j and development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was successfully completed in 1996. A second phase structural adjustment loan will be negotiated in 1997. The structural adjustment program includes liberalization of trade and investment policies, sustainable development of the \Jforestry\j sector, improvement of government planning capacity and better delivery of public services. New gold and oil projects are under development and planned to begin production in 1997 and 1998 respectively.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $10.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1996 est.)
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $291 million (1993); $240 million bilateral aid from \JAustralia\j (FY96/97 est.); $4.1 million ODA from NZ (FY95/96)
\BCurrency:\b 1 kina (K) = 100 toea
\BExchange rates:\b kina (K) per US$1 - 0.7451 (December 1996), 0.7588 (1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367 (1992); note - the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 63,212 (1986 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services
\Idomestic:\i mostly radiotelephone
\Iinternational:\i submarine cables to \JAustralia\j and \JGuam\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JPacific Ocean\j); international radio communication service
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 31, FM 2, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 298,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b 10,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 19,400 km
\Ipaved:\i 660 km
\Iunpaved:\i 18,740 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 10,940 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
\BMilitary branches:\b Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,174,591 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 653,179 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $63 million (1997); note - includes $12 million to cover leftover 1996 expenditures
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Paracel Islands (Atlas)",189,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 16 30 N, 112 00 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i NA sq km
\Iland:\i NA sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b NA
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 518 km
\BMaritime claims:\b NA
\BClimate:\b tropical
\BTerrain:\b NA
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i South China Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b typhoons
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants
\Inote:\i there are scattered Chinese garrisons
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Paracel Islands
\BData code:\b PF
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (on Woody Island) (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b occupied by China
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b occupied by China, but claimed by \JTaiwan\j and Vietnam
#
"Paraguay (Atlas)",190,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Central \JSouth America\j, northeast of Argentina
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 23 00 S, 58 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 406,750 sq km
\Iland:\i 397,300 sq km
\Iwater:\i 9,450 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,920 km
\Iborder countries:\i Argentina 1,880 km, \JBolivia\j 750 km, \JBrazil\j 1,290 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b subtropical; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
\BTerrain:\b grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio \JParaguay\j; Gran Chaco region west of Rio \JParaguay\j mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i junction of Rio \JParaguay\j and Rio Parana 46 m
\Ihighest point:\i Cerro San Rafael 850 m
\BNatural resources:\b hydropower, timber, iron ore, \Jmanganese\j, limestone
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 6%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 55%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 32%
\Iother:\i 7% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 670 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-85); \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; lies between Argentina, \JBolivia\j, and Brazil
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 22.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 74.1 years
\Imale:\i 72.6 years
\Ifemale:\i 75.68 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 4.08 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Paraguayan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Paraguayan
\BEthnic groups:\b mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, white plus Amerindian 5%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations
\BLanguages:\b Spanish (official), Guarani
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 92.1%
\Imale:\i 93.5%
\Ifemale:\i 90.6% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Paraguay
\Iconventional short form:\i Paraguay
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica del Paraguay
\Ilocal short form:\i Paraguay
\BData code:\b PA
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Asuncion
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto \JParaguay\j, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
\BIndependence:\b 14 May 1811 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
\BConstitution:\b promulgated 20 June 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on Argentine codes, \JRoman law\j, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers nominated by the president
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Juan Carlos WASMOSY elected president; percent of vote - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Chamber of Senators - last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held 10 May 1998);
Chamber of Deputies - last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - \JColorado\j Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - \JColorado\j Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates (Consejo de la Magistratura)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JColorado\j Party, Luis Maria ARGANA, president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; National Encounter (EN), Carlos FILIZZOLA; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Miguel MONTANER; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Victor SANCHEZ Villagra; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo Richer
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Unitary Workers Central (CUT); Roman \JCatholic Church\j; National Workers Central (CNT); Paraguayan Workers Confederation (CPT)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Jorge G. PRIETO CONTI
\Ichancery:\i 2400 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 234-4508
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Miami and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Robert E. SERVICE
\Iembassy:\i 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
\Imailing address:\i Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
\Itelephone:\i [595] (21) 213-715
\IFAX:\i [595] (21) 213-728
\BFlag description:\b three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JParaguay\j has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods (\Jelectronics\j, whiskeys, perfumes, cigarettes, and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well as by the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. The formal sector is largely oriented toward services, but a large percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy has grown an average of 3% to 4% over the past five years. However, population has increased at 3% a year over the same period, leaving per capita income nearly stagnant. The WASMOSY government has continued to pursue its economic reform agenda - with mixed success - in close coordination with its partners in Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market). \JParaguay\j's ongoing \Jintegration\j into Mercosur offers potential for investment and growth. Although GDP grew by only about 1.5% in 1996, it is expected to grow at a higher rate in 1997.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $17.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,200 (1996 est.)
\Iships by type:\i cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 725 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 436
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 4
\Iunder 914 m:\i 427 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 289
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 22
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 267 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,380,775 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,001,316 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 61,382 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $94 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 0.6% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b short section of the boundary with \JBrazil\j, just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been precisely delimited
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transshipment country for Bolivian \Jcocaine\j headed for Europe and the US
#
"Peru (Atlas)",191,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western \JSouth America\j, bordering the South \JPacific Ocean\j, between \JChile\j and Ecuador
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 10 00 S, 76 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,285,220 sq km
\Iland:\i 1.28 million sq km
\Iwater:\i 5,220 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Alaska
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 6,940 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBolivia\j 900 km, \JBrazil\j 1,560 km, \JChile\j 160 km, \JColombia\j 2,900 km, \JEcuador\j 1,420 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,414 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 200 nm
\BClimate:\b varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west
\BTerrain:\b western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged \JAndes\j in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; \Jdesertification\j; air \Jpollution\j in Lima; \Jpollution\j of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 50 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 69.55 years
\Imale:\i 67.38 years
\Ifemale:\i 71.82 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.4 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Peruvian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Peruvian
\BEthnic groups:\b Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic
\BLanguages:\b Spanish (official), \JQuechua\j (official), Aymara
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 88.7%
\Imale:\i 94.5%
\Ifemale:\i 83% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Peru
\Iconventional short form:\i Peru
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica del Peru
\Ilocal short form:\i Peru
\BData code:\b PE
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Lima
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 24 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 constitutional province* (provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, \JArequipa\j, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
\Inote:\i the 1979 constitution mandated the creation of regions (regiones, singular - region) to function eventually as autonomous economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been constituted from 23 of the 24 departments - Amazonas (from Loreto), Andres Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), \JArequipa\j (from \JArequipa\j), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca (from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali); formation of another region has been delayed by the reluctance of the constitutional province of Callao to merge with the department of Lima; because of inadequate funding from the central government and organizational and political difficulties, the regions have yet to assume major responsibilities; the 1993 constitution retains the regions but limits their authority; the 1993 constitution also reaffirms the roles of departmental and municipal governments
\BIndependence:\b 28 July 1821 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
\BConstitution:\b 31 December 1993
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Inote:\i Prime Minister Alberto PANDOLFI Arbulu (since 3 April 1996) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i President FUJIMORI reelected; percent of vote - Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Democratic Constituent Congress or Congresso Constituyente Democratico (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, 11 other parties 33.9%; seats by party, when installed on 28 July 1995 - C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM 6, (CODE)-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovacion 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, MIA 1, FRENATRACA 1, FREPAP 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Change 90-New Majority (C90/NM), Alberto FUJIMORI; Union for \JPeru\j (UPP), Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR; American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), Agustin MANTILLA Campos; Independent Moralizing Front (FIM), Fernando OLIVERA Vega; Democratic Coordinator (CODE) - Pais Posible, Jose BARBA Caballero and Alejandro TOLEDO; Popular Action Party (AP), Juan DIAZ Leon; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Renovation Party, Rafael REY Rey; Civic Works Movement (OBRAS), Ricardo BELMONT; United Left (IU), Agustin HAYA de la TORRE; Independent Agrarian Movement (MIA), Rolando SALVATERRIE; \JPeru\j 2000-National Front of Workers and Peasants (FRENATRACA), Roger CACARES; Popular Agricultural Front (FREPAP), Ezequiel ATAUCUSI
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned); Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Nestor CERPA and Victor POLAY (imprisoned)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Ricardo V. LUNA Mendoza
\Ichancery:\i 1700 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 659-8124
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (\JNew Jersey\j), \JSan Francisco\j, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Dennis C. JETT
\Iembassy:\i Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031
\Itelephone:\i [51] (1) 434-3000
\IFAX:\i [51] (1) 434-3037
\BFlag description:\b three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a \Jllama\j, cinchona tree (the source of \Jquinine\j), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Peruvian economy has become increasingly market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. In the 1980s, the economy suffered from hyperinflation, declining per capita output, and mounting external debt. Peru was shut off from IMF and World Bank support in the mid-1980s because of its huge debt arrears. An austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government took office in July 1990 contributed to a third consecutive yearly contraction of economic activity, but the slide came to a halt late that year, and in 1991 output rose 2.4%. After a burst of inflation as the austerity program eliminated government price subsidies, monthly price increases eased to the single-digit level and by December 1991 dropped to the lowest increase since mid-1987. Lima obtained a financial rescue package from multilateral lenders in September 1991, although it faced $14 billion in arrears on its external debt. By working with the IMF and World Bank on new financial conditions and arrangements, the government succeeded in ending its arrears by March 1993. In 1992, GDP fell by 2.8%, in part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in a 30% drop in the fish catch, but the economy rebounded as strong foreign investment helped push growth to 7% in 1993, about 13% in 1994, and 6.8% in 1995. Growth slowed to about 2.8% in 1996 as the government adopted tight fiscal and monetary policy to reduce the current account deficit and meet its IMF targets. Capital inflows surged to record levels in early 1997 despite the MRTA hostage crisis.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $92 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.8% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 6,591,276 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,446,428 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 259,868 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $998 million (1996); note - may not include off-budget purchases related to military modernization program
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.9% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b three sections of the boundary with \JEcuador\j are in dispute
\BIllicit drugs:\b still world's largest \Jcoca\j leaf producer with some 94,400 hectares under cultivation in 1996, even though down 18% from 1995; source of supply for most of the world's \Jcoca\j paste and \Jcocaine\j base; most of \Jcocaine\j base is shipped to Colombian drug dealers for processing into \Jcocaine\j for the international drug market, but exports of finished \Jcocaine\j are increasing
#
"Philippines (Atlas)",192,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 00 N, 122 00 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 300,000 sq km
\Iland:\i 298,170 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,830 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Arizona
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 36,289 km
\BMaritime claims:\b measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
\Icontinental shelf:\i to depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i irregular \Jpolygon\j extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth
\BClimate:\b tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
\BNatural hazards:\b astride \Jtyphoon\j belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water \Jpollution\j in Manila; increasing \Jpollution\j of coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 35.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 66.13 years
\Imale:\i 63.35 years
\Ifemale:\i 69.05 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.62 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Filipino(s)
\Iadjective:\i Philippine
\BEthnic groups:\b Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
\BLanguages:\b Pilipino (official, based on Tagalog), English (official)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 94.6%
\Imale:\i 95%
\Ifemale:\i 94.3% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of the Philippines
\Iconventional short form:\i Philippines
\Ilocal long form:\i Republika ng Pilipinas
\Ilocal short form:\i Pilipinas
\BData code:\b RP
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Manila
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, \JMindoro\j Occidental, \JMindoro\j Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, \JPalawan\j, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur
\BIndependence:\b 4 July 1946 (from US)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from \JSpain\j)
\BConstitution:\b 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
\BLegal system:\b based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j,
with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 3 May 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 3 May 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held May 1998
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (204 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - an additional 50 members may be appointed by the president)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held May 1998;
House of Representatives - elections last held May 1998
\Ielection results:\i Not available
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, LDP), Edgardo ANGARA; People Power-National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas ng EDSA-NUCD or Lakas-NUCD), Raul MANGLAPUS, president, and Jose DE VENECIA, secretary general; Liberal Party (LP), Raul DAZA; National People's Coalition (NPC), Eduardo COJUANGCO; People's Reform Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO; New Society Movement (Kilusan Bagong Lipunan, KBL), Imelda MARCOS; Nacionalista Party (NP), Salvador H. LAUREL, president; Filipino Democratic Party (Partido Demokratikong Philipinas or PDP), Jose COJUANGCO, is part of the ruling coalition with the LDP
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow \Jsun\j with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Philippine economy, primarily a mixture of agriculture and light industry, continued its fourth year of recovery in 1996, led by growth in exports and investments. Officials have targeted 7.1%-7.8% growth for 1997 after achieving an estimated 5.5% growth in 1996. The government is continuing its economic reforms to enable the \JPhilippines\j to move closer to the development of the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving \Jinfrastructure\j, overhauling the tax system to bolster government revenues, and moving toward further deregulation and privatization of the economy.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $194.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,600 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate
\Idomestic:\i domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 11 \Jearth\j stations
\Iinternational:\i submarine cables to Hong Kong, \JGuam\j, \JSingapore\j, \JTaiwan\j, and \JJapan\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 \JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 261, FM 55, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 9.03 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 29
\BTelevisions:\b 7.6 million (1996)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 499 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 499 km 1.067-m gauge (1993)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 182,000 km (1994 est.)
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\Inote:\i probably less than 30,000 km are designated arterial roads and not all of these are all-\Jweather\j roads
\BWaterways:\b 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels
\BPipelines:\b \Jpetroleum\j products 357 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras Island, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; \JJapan\j owns 24 ships, Hong Kong 4, UK 2, Denmark 1, Netherlands 1, \JNorway\j 1, \JSingapore\j 1, and \JTaiwan\j 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 234 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 168
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 7
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 26
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 30
\Iunder 914 m:\i 103 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 66
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 63 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 19,231,427 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 13,574,133 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 782,064 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $1.3 billion (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 0.7% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, \JMalaysia\j, \JTaiwan\j, Vietnam, and possibly \JBrunei\j; claims Malaysian state of Sabah
\BIllicit drugs:\b exports locally-produced marijuana and \Jhashish\j to East Asia, the US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin and crystal methamphetamines
#
"Pitcairn Islands (Atlas)",193,0,0,0
\I(dependent territory of the UK)\i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, islands in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from \JPeru\j to New Zealand
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 25 04 S, 130 06 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 47 sq km
\Iland:\i 47 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 51 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 3 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
\BTerrain:\b rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
\BNatural resources:\b miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i NA%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i NA%
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b typhoons (especially November to March)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 54 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b -0.6% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b NA births/1,000 population
\BDeath rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 population
\BNet migration rate:\b NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 live births
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i NA years
\Imale:\i NA years
\Ifemale:\i NA years
\BTotal fertility rate:\b NA children born/woman
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Pitcairn Islander(s)
\Iadjective:\i Pitcairn Islander
\BEthnic groups:\b descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
\BReligions:\b Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Tahitian/English dialect
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
\Iconventional short form:\i Pitcairn Islands
\BData code:\b PC
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Adamstown
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)
\BConstitution:\b Local Government Ordinance of 1964
\BLegal system:\b local island by-laws
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal with three years residency
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High Commissioner to \JNew Zealand\j and Governor (non-resident) of the Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA August 1994); Commissioner (non-resident) G. D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liaison person between the governor and the Island Council)
\Ihead of government:\i Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since NA)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i the queen is a hereditary monarch; island magistrate elected by popular vote for a three-year term; last known election held NA December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1996)
\Ielection results:\i Jay WARREN re-elected island magistrate; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Island Council (10 seats, 6 popularly elected, 1 appointed by the 6 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor, and the Island Secretary; members serve one-year terms)
\Ielections:\i take place each December; last held NA December 1996 (next to be held NA December 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
\BJudicial branch:\b Island Court, island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b none
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b NA
\BInternational organization participation:\b SPC
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BFlag description:\b blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including \Jcitrus\j, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 14 able-bodied men (1993)
\Iby occupation:\i no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $729,884
\Iexpenditures:\i $878,119, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994/95 est.)
\BIndustries:\b postage stamps, handicrafts
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b NA kW
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BAgriculture - products:\b wide variety of fruits and vegetables
\BExports:\b $NA
\Icommodities:\i fruits, vegetables, curios
\Ipartners:\i NA
\BImports:\b $NA
\Icommodities:\i fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs
\Ipartners:\i NA
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000
\BCurrency:\b 1 \JNew Zealand\j dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
\BTelephone system:\b party line \Jtelephone\j service on the island
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i radiotelephone
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6.4 km
\Ipaved:\i 0 km
\Iunpaved:\i 6.4 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Bounty Bay
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b none
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Poland (Atlas)",194,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Central Europe, east of Germany
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 52 00 N, 20 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 312,683 sq km
\Iland:\i 304,510 sq km
\Iwater:\i 8,173 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than New Mexico
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,888 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBelarus\j 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, \JGermany\j 456 km, \JLithuania\j 91 km, \JRussia\j (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, \JSlovakia\j 444 km, \JUkraine\j 428 km
\BCoastline:\b 491 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i defined by international treaties
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
\Ihighest point:\i Rysy 2,499 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jcoal\j, sulfur, copper, \Jnatural gas\j, silver, lead, salt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 47%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 13%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 29%
\Iother:\i 10% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 1,000 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by postcommunist governments; air \Jpollution\j nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from \Jcoal\j-fired power plants, and the resulting \Jacid rain\j has caused forest damage; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes
\BIndependence:\b 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
\BNational holiday:\b Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
\BConstitution:\b interim "small constitution" came into effect in December 1992 supplementing the heavily amended constitution of 22 July 1952; referendum for a new constitution to be held 25 May 1997
\BLegal system:\b mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December 1995)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Wlodimierz CIMOSZEWICZ (since 7 February 1996), Deputy Prime Ministers Roman JAGIELINSKI (since 7 March 1995), Marek BELKA (since NA February 1997), and Miroslaw PIETRIEWICZ (since 7 February 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister appoints and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); prime minister and deputy prime ministers elected by the Sejm; election last held NA 1996 (next to be held September 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI elected president; percent of legislative vote, second round - Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%, Lech WALESA 48.3%; Wlodimierz CIMOSZEWICZ selected prime minister
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe consists of the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms) and the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held 14 September 1997); Sejm elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held 14 September 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - post-communist parties (PSL 34, SLD 37), post-Solidarity parties (UW 6, NSZZ 12, BBWR 2), non-communist, non-Solidarity (independents 7, unaffiliated 1, vacant 1); Sejm - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - post-communist parties (SLD 171, PSL 132), post-Solidarity parties (UW 74, UP 41, BBWR 16), non-communist, non-Solidarity (KPN 22)
\Inote:\i four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German parties
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of Judiciary
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Ipost-Communist:\i Democratic Left Alliance or SLD (Social Democracy of \JPoland\j) [Jozef OLEKSY]; Polish Peasant Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK]
\Ipost-Solidarity parties:\i Freedom Union or UW (Democratic Union and Liberal Democratic Congress merged to form Freedom Union) [Leszek BALCEROWICZ]; Christian-National Union or ZCHN [Marian PILKA]; Center Alliance Party or PC [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]; Peasant Alliance or PL [Gabriel JANOWSKI]; Solidarity Electoral Action or AWS [Marian KRZAKLEWSKI]; Union of Labor or UP [Ryszard BUGAJ]; Conservative Party or PK [Aleksander HALL]; Nonparty Reform Bloc or BBWR [Jacek LIPINSKI]; Nonparty Reform Block United for Elections or BBWR-SW [Jerzy GWIZDZ] \Inon-Communist, non-Solidarity:\i Movement for the Reconstruction of \JPoland\j or ROP [Jan OLSZEWSKI]; Confederation for an Independent \JPoland\j or KPN [Leszek MOCZULSKI]; German Minority or MN [Gerhardt BARTODZIEJ]; Union of Real Politics or UPR [Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b powerful Roman \JCatholic Church\j; Solidarity (trade union); All \JPoland\j Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union)
\Ichancery:\i 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 328-6271
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Los Angeles, and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Nicholas Andrew REY
\Iembassy:\i Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010
\Itelephone:\i [48] (2) 628-30-41
\IFAX:\i [48] (2) 628-82-98
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Krakow
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of \JIndonesia\j and Monaco which are red (top) and white
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b In 1996, \JPoland\j continued to make good progress in the difficult transition to a market economy. The transition began on 1 January 1990, when the new democratic government instituted shock therapy by decontrolling prices, slashing subsidies, and drastically reducing import barriers. Although real GDP fell sharply in 1990 and 1991, in 1992 \JPoland\j became the first country in the region to resume economic growth with a 2.6% increase. Growth advanced to 3.8% in 1993, 5.2% in 1994, 6.5% in 1995, and 6.0% in 1996. Most of the growth since 1991 has come from the booming private sector, which now accounts for more than 60% of GDP, attributable mostly to the creation of new private firms. Large-scale industry still remains largely in state hands. The trade and current account balances officially are in deficit but in fact both have comfortable surpluses because of large, unrecorded sales to cross-border visitors. The government has promised to extend privatization and social welfare reform and to maintain fiscal and monetary discipline. As for external debt, the burden was sharply reduced by reschedulings and write-offs of both private and official debt during 1991-95.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $246.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,400 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and transport equipment 32%, intermediate goods 20%, chemicals 15%, consumer goods 9%, food 9%, fuels 8% (1996 est.)
\Ipartners:\i \JGermany\j 27.5%, \JItaly\j 8.4%, \JRussia\j 6.8%, UK 5.3% (1994)
\BDebt - external:\b $45.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i Western governments and institutions pledged $22 billion in grants and loans during 1990-94, but much of the money has not been disbursed
\BCurrency:\b 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
\BExchange rates:\b zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 2.8158 (January 1997), 2.4250 (1995); note - a currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1 new zloty; 22,723 (1994), 18,115 (1993), 13,626 (1992)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 5 million (1994)
\BTelephone system:\b underdeveloped and outmoded system; government aims to have 10 million phones in service by the year 2000
\Idomestic:\i cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - NA Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions), and 1 Intersputnik (\JAtlantic Ocean\j Region)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 27, FM 27, shortwave 0
\Inote:\i \JPoland\j owns an additional 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,906 DWT operating under the registries of The \JBahamas\j, Cyprus, \JLiberia\j, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vanuatu (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 134 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 69
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 30
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 27
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 7 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 65
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 5
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 10
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 32
\Iunder 914 m:\i 18 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 10,321,399 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 8,030,056 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 327,862 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $3.46 billion (1997)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.3% (1997)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b major illicit producer of amphetamines for the international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe
#
"Portugal (Atlas)",195,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southwestern Europe, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, west of Spain
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 39 30 N, 8 00 W
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 92,391 sq km
\Iland:\i 91,951 sq km
\Iwater:\i 440 sq km
\Inote:\i includes \JAzores\j and Madeira Islands
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Indiana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,214 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JSpain\j 1,214 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,793 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
\BTerrain:\b mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Ponta do Pico in \JAzores\j 2,351 m
\BNatural hazards:\b \JAzores\j subject to severe earthquakes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil erosion; air \Jpollution\j caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j, especially in coastal areas
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 94
\BGeography - note:\b \JAzores\j and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 75.42 years
\Imale:\i 72.02 years
\Ifemale:\i 79.04 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.36 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Portuguese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Portuguese
\BEthnic groups:\b homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland, \JAzores\j, Madeira Islands; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other 2%
\BLanguages:\b Portuguese
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\BDependent areas:\b Macau (scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of China on 20 December 1999)
\BIndependence:\b 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
\BNational holiday:\b Day of \JPortugal\j, 10 June (1580)
\BConstitution:\b 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, and 5 November 1992
\BLegal system:\b civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Inote:\i there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 January 1996 (next to be held NA January 2001); following assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
\Ielection results:\i Jorge SAMPAIO elected president; percent of vote - Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist)
53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Conservative) 46.2%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 1 October 1995 (next to be held by NA October 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - PSD 34.0%, PS 43.8%, CDU 8.6%, CDS/PP 9.1%; seats by party - PSD 88, PS 112, CDU 15, CDS/PP 15
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica, judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Social Democratic Party or PSD [Marcelo Rebelo DE SOUSA]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Antonio GUTERRES]; Portuguese Communist Party or PCP [Carlos CARVALHAS]; Popular Party or PP [Manuel MONTEIRO], may have joined the CDS for the election; National Solidarity Party or PSN [Manuel SERGIO]; Center Democratic Party or CDS; United Democratic Coalition or CDU (communists)
\BFlag description:\b two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JPortugal\j's short-term economic fundamentals remain strong: the economy has grown by more than 2% during the past two years, with similar growth expected in 1997. The Socialist government's primary economic goal is to place \JPortugal\j in the first group of countries adopting the single European currency, and it has instituted a disciplined 1997 budget to bolster \JLisbon\j's chances. Portuguese government forecasts suggest that it is likely to meet partially the Maastricht monetary convergence criteria by lowering its budget deficit from 4% of GDP in 1996 to 2.9% in 1997, although the government predicts that government debt will be cut only to 68% of GDP, overshooting Maastricht's 60% target. Social programs - a priority for the Socialists - will still grow slightly faster than GDP in 1997, mandating strict budget discipline in other areas. As for the long run, \JPortugal\j is increasing its \Jinfrastructure\j spending - much of it in anticipation of hosting the world's International Exposition in 1998 - while working to modernize its capital plant and increase competitiveness in hopes of increasing \JPortugal\j's GDP, which remains below 65% of the EU's average GDP per capita.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $122.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $12,400 (1996 est.)
\Idomestic:\i generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables, open wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations
\Iinternational:\i 6 submarine cables; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (2 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to \JAzores\j; note - an \Jearth\j station for Inmarsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j Region) is planned
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 57, FM 66 (repeaters 22), shortwave 0
\Ibroad gauge:\i 2,761 km 1.668-m gauge (464 km electrified; 426 km double track)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 307 km 1.000-m gauge
\Inote:\i in 1994, \JPortugal\j had 3,520 km of track of which 464 km were electrified
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 68,732 km
\Ipaved:\i 59,110 km (including 587 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 9,622 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo capacity
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 22 km; \Jpetroleum\j products 58 km
\Inote:\i there is a 700 km \Jnatural gas\j pipeline which connects with one in \JSpain\j carrying Algerian \Jnatural gas\j which is to open in 1997; the secondary lines that will be 300 km long have not yet been built
\BPorts and harbors:\b Aveiro, \JFunchal\j (Madeira Islands), Horta (\JAzores\j), Leixoes, \JLisbon\j, Porto, Ponta Delgada (\JAzores\j), \JPraia\j da Vitoria (\JAzores\j), \JSetubal\j, Viana do Castelo
\Iships by type:\i bulk 9, cargo 47, chemical tanker 6, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 7, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 2
\Inote:\i \JPortugal\j has created a captive register on Madeira for Portuguese-owned ships; ships on the Madeira Register (MAR) will have taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience; \JPortugal\j owns an additional 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 322,887 DWT operating under the registries of Cyprus, \JLiberia\j, and Panama (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 67 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 66
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 5
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 8
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 18
\Iunder 914 m:\i 32 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Republican Guard, Fiscal Guard, Public Security Police
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,543,502 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,049,806 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 80,494 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $2.07 billion (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.9% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b sovereignty over \JTimor\j \JTimur\j (East \JTimor\j province) disputed with \JIndonesia\j and not recognized by the UN
\BIllicit drugs:\b important gateway country for Latin American \Jcocaine\j entering the European market; transshipment point for \Jhashish\j from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
#
"Puerto Rico (Atlas)",196,0,0,0
\I(commonwealth associated with the US) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, east of the Dominican Republic
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 18 15 N, 66 30 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 9,104 sq km
\Iland:\i 8,959 sq km
\Iwater:\i 145 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 501 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine, mild, little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
\BNatural resources:\b some copper and nickel, potential for onshore and offshore oil
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 4%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 5%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 26%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 16%
\Iother:\i 49% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 390 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b the recent \Jdrought\j has caused \Jwater\j levels in reservoirs to drop and prompted \Jwater\j rationing for more than one-half of the population
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the \JPanama Canal\j; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 74.49 years
\Imale:\i 70.04 years
\Ifemale:\i 79.22 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.08 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
\Iadjective:\i Puerto Rican
\BEthnic groups:\b Hispanic
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%
\BLanguages:\b Spanish, English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 89%
\Imale:\i 90%
\Ifemale:\i 88% (1980 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
\Iconventional short form:\i Puerto Rico
\BData code:\b RQ
\BDependency status:\b commonwealth associated with the US
\BGovernment type:\b commonwealth
\BNational capital:\b San Juan
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities
\BIndependence:\b none (commonwealth associated with the US)
\BNational holiday:\b US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
\BConstitution:\b ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
\BLegal system:\b based on Spanish civil code
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i governor of Puerto Rico elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor of Puerto Rico; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j (54 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000); \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1; \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1
\Inote:\i Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US \JHouse of Representatives\j; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO)
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate; Superior Courts, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate; Municipal Courts, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Republican Party of Puerto Rico, Luis FERRE; Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hector ACEVEDO; New Progressive Party (PNP), Pedro ROSSELLO; Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution; Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of Popular Resistance
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (commonwealth associated with the US)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (commonwealth associated with the US)
\BFlag description:\b five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the US flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 3.9 million tourists in 1993.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $31.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $8,200 (1996 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 73.56 years
\Imale:\i 71.06 years
\Ifemale:\i 76.18 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.57 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Qatari(s)
\Iadjective:\i Qatari
\BEthnic groups:\b Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
\BReligions:\b Muslim 95%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 79.4%
\Imale:\i 79.2%
\Ifemale:\i 79.9% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i State of Qatar
\Iconventional short form:\i Qatar
\Ilocal long form:\i Dawlat Qatar
\Ilocal short form:\i Qatar
\Inote:\i closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like ka-tar (rhymes with \Jguitar\j)
\BData code:\b QA
\BGovernment type:\b traditional monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Doha
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, Ash Shamal, Umm Salal
\BIndependence:\b 3 September 1971 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
\BConstitution:\b provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972
\BLegal system:\b discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
\BSuffrage:\b none
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the amir (selected crown prince by the amir 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the amir (since 30 October 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
\Ielections:\i none; the amir is an absolute monarch
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed by the amir)
\Inote:\i the constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every four years since
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador-designate Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI
\Ichancery:\i Suite 200, 4200 \JWisconsin\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 274-1600
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS
\Iembassy:\i 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the \Jtelevision\j station), Doha
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 2399, Doha; pouch address - AMEMB Doha, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-6130
\Itelephone:\i [974] 864701 through 864703
\IFAX:\i [974] 861669
\BFlag description:\b maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 23 years. Oil has given \JQatar\j a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. \JQatar\j's proved reserves of \Jnatural gas\j exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. Production and export of \Jnatural gas\j are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore \Jpetroleum\j and the diversification of the economy.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $21,300 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b modern system centered in Doha
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i tropospheric scatter to \JBahrain\j; microwave radio relay to Saudi \JArabia\j and UAE; submarine cable to \JBahrain\j and UAE; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 201,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 3 (1988 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 205,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,210 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,089 km
\Iunpaved:\i 121 km (1995 est.)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 235 km; \Jnatural gas\j 400 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 286,178 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 150,398 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 5,432 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $400 million (1996 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.5% (1996 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b territorial dispute with \JBahrain\j over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with \JBahrain\j; in 1996, agreed with Saudi \JArabia\j to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing
#
"Reunion (Atlas)",198,0,0,0
\I(overseas department of \JFrance\j) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 21 06 S, 55 36 E
\BMap references:\b World
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,510 sq km
\Iland:\i 2,500 sq km
\Iwater:\i 10 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Rhode Island
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 201 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical, but \Jtemperature\j moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
\BTerrain:\b mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, arable land
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 17%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 2%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 5%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 35%
\Iother:\i 41% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 60 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 75.08 years
\Imale:\i 72.03 years
\Ifemale:\i 78.29 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.69 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Reunionese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Reunionese
\BEthnic groups:\b French, African, \JMalagasy\j, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 94%, Hindu, \JIslam\j, Buddhist
\BLanguages:\b French (official), \JCreole\j widely used
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 79%
\Imale:\i 76%
\Ifemale:\i 80% (1982 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Department of Reunion
\Iconventional short form:\i Reunion
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Ile de la Reunion
\BData code:\b RE
\BDependency status:\b overseas department of France
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Saint-Denis
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons
\BIndependence:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
\BConstitution:\b 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
\BLegal system:\b French law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of \JFrance\j Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented
by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the General Council Christophe PAYET (since 4 April 1994) and President of the Regional Council Margarite SUDRE (since 25 June 1993)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i prefect appointed by the president of \JFrance\j on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils, who vote on party lines
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral General Council (47 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms)
\Ielections:\i General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Council - last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UPF 17, Free-Dom Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6
\Inote:\i Reunion elects 3 representatives to the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, FRA 1, independent 1; Reunion also elects 5 deputies to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held as a special election on 25 May - 1 June 1997); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 1, PCR 1, UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre' Maurice PIHOUEE]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Ibrahim DINDAN]; Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; \JFrance\j-Reunion Future or FRA [Andre THIEN AH KOON]; Socialist Party or PS [Jean-Claude FRUTEAU]; Social Democrats or CDS; Union for \JFrance\j or UPF (includes RPR and UDF); Free-DOM Movement [Marguerite SUDRE]; National Front (FN), Alix MOREL
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (overseas department of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JFrance\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third of the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments of the population, often approaching European standards, whereas indigenous groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from \JFrance\j.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $2.9 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.7% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1995 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 242,169 (1993)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)
\BTelephone system:\b adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis
\Idomestic:\i modern open wire and microwave radio relay network
\Iinternational:\i radiotelephone communication to \JComoros\j, \JFrance\j, Madagascar; new microwave route to \JMauritius\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 3, FM 13, shortwave 0
\BMilitary branches:\b French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 176,600 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 92,170 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 5,724 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Romania (Atlas)",199,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Europe, bordering the \JBlack Sea\j, between \JBulgaria\j and Ukraine
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 46 00 N, 25 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 237,500 sq km
\Iland:\i 230,340 sq km
\Iwater:\i 7,160 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Oregon
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,508 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBulgaria\j 608 km, \JHungary\j 443 km, Moldova 450 km, \JSerbia\j and Montenegro
476 km (all with \JSerbia\j), \JUkraine\j (north) 362 km, \JUkraine\j (south) 169 km
\BCoastline:\b 225 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and \Jfog\j; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
\BTerrain:\b central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JBlack Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Moldoveanu 2,544 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j (reserves declining), timber, \Jnatural gas\j, \Jcoal\j, iron ore, salt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 41%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 3%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 21%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 29%
\Iother:\i 6% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 31,020 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil erosion and degradation; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j; air \Jpollution\j in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
\BGeography - note:\b controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
\BIndependence:\b 1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day of \JRomania\j, 1 December (1990)
\BConstitution:\b 8 December 1991
\BLegal system:\b former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; is now based on the Constitution of \JFrance\j's Fifth Republic
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Emil CONSTANTINESCU (since 29 November 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Victor CIORBEA (since 12 December 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 3 November 1996, with runoff between the top two candidates held 17 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion ILIESCU 45.6%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (143 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (343 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); Chamber of Deputies - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - CDR 30.7%, PDSR 23.1%, USD 13.2%, UDMR 6.8%, PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.2%, others 17.5%; seats by party - CDR 53, PDSR 41, USD 23, UDMR 11, PRM 8, PUNR 7; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CDR 30.2%, PDSR 21.5%, USD 12.9%, UDMR 6.6% PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.4%, others 19.9%; seats by party - CDR 122, PDSR 91, USD 53, UDMR 25, PRM 19, PUNR 18, ethnic minorities 15
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed by the president on recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Democratic Party or DP [Petre ROMAN]; Romanian Social Democratic Party or PSDR [Sergiu CUNESCU]; Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR [Adrian NASTASE]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Mircea IONESCU-QUINTUS]; National Peasants' Christian and Democratic Party or PNTCD [Ion DIACONESCU]; Romanian National Unity Party or PUNR [Valeriu TABARA]; Socialist Labor Party or PSM [Ilie VERDET]; Agrarian Democratic Party of Romania or PDAR [Victor SURDU]; The Democratic Convention or CDR [Ion DIACONESCU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Civic Alliance Party or PAC [Nicolae MANOLESCU, chairman]; Liberal Party '93 or PL-93 [Dinu PATRICIU]; National Liberal Party-Democratic Convention or PNL-CD [Nicolae CERVENI]; Socialist Party or PS [Tudor MOHORA] \Inote:\i to increase their voting strength several of the above-mentioned parties united under umbrella organizations: PNTCD, PNL, and PNL-CD form the bulk of the Democratic Convention or CDR [Ion DIACONESCU]; PD and PSDR form the Union of Social Democrats or USD [Petre ROMAN]; and PAC and PL-93 form the National Liberal Alliance or ANL [Nicolae MANOLESCU]; PSM, PS, ANL, and numerous other small parties failed to gain representation in the most recent election
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b various human rights and professional associations
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Mircea Dan GEOANA
\Ichancery:\i 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 232-4748
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Alfred H. MOSES
\Iembassy:\i Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
\Imailing address:\i American Consulate General (\JBucharest\j), Unit 1315, APO AE 09213-1315
\Itelephone:\i [40] (1) 210 01 49, 210 40 42
\IFAX:\i [40] (1) 210 03 95
\Ibranch office:\i Cluj-Napoca
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flags of \JAndorra\j and Chad
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JRomania\j, one of the poorer countries in Central and Eastern Europe, began the transition from \JCommunism\j with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. Over the past seven years, economic restructuring has lagged behind most other countries in the region. Consequently, economic performance is declining, with slowing GDP growth, \Jballooning\j budget deficits, accelerating \Jinflation\j, a plunging exchange rate, and anemic foreign investment. Unemployment was low at about 6% at the end of 1996, but the rate will rise when restructuring gets underway. A new government elected in November 1996 promises to accelerate economic reform, restructuring, and privatization, introduce fiscal and monetary austerity, reduce the state's role in the economy, and open \JRomania\j to foreign investment. The government will tackle its formidable economic problems in two stages, with an emergency plan over the winter of 1996/97 to ensure social and political stability, followed by a radical structural reform program over its remaining three-and-one-half years aimed eventually at EU accession. At the same time, it wants to keep campaign promises to increase benefits to disadvantaged groups. \JBucharest\j hopes to receive financial and technical assistance from international financial institutions and western governments and negotiations over a new IMF standby agreement are underway. If reform stalls, however, \JRomania\j's bond rating - just below investment grade - could fall and needed capital from both public and private sources could quickly dry up. Rich agricultural and oil resources are strengths for the future.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $113.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.1% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,200 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i industry 28.8%, agriculture 36.4%, other 34.8% (1994)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 6.1% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $6 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $7.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
\BIndustries:\b mining, timber, construction materials, \Jmetallurgy\j, chemicals, machine building, food processing, \Jpetroleum\j production and refining
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 7% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 22.06 million kW (1994)
\Icommodities:\i fuels and minerals 25.1%, machinery and transport equipment 19.4%, food and agricultural goods 6.1%, chemicals 9.0%, other 40.4% (1995)
\BExchange rates:\b lei (L) per US$1 - 5,970 (January 1997), 3,085.39 (1996), 2,033.28 (1995), 1,655.09 (1994), 760.05 (1993), 307.95 (1992)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 2.6 million (1993 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i poor service; 89% of \Jtelephone\j network is automatic; trunk network is microwave radio relay; roughly 3,300 villages with no service (February 1990 est.)
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat; new digital international direct-dial exchanges are in \JBucharest\j (1993 est.)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
\Inote:\i in 1995, 135 local radio stations were registered
\BRadios:\b 4.64 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 436 cable TV stations, 66 local TV stations
\BTelevisions:\b 4.58 million (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 11,365 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 45 km 1.524-m gauge
\Istandard gauge:\i 10,893 km 1.435-m gauge (3,723 km electrified; 3,060 km double track)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 427 km 0.760-m gauge (1994)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 153,170 km
\Ipaved:\i 78,117 km (including 113 km of expressways)
\Inote:\i \JRomania\j owns an additional 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,025,108 DWT operating under the registries of The \JBahamas\j, \JBermuda\j, Cyprus, \JLiberia\j, Malta, and \JSyria\j (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 156 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 27
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 4
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 9
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 14 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 129
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 17
\Iunder 914 m:\i 108 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Paramilitary Forces, Civil Defense
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 5,884,704 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,955,267 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 201,752 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $650 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.5% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b dispute with \JUkraine\j over continental shelf of the \JBlack Sea\j under which significant gas and oil deposits may exist; agreed to two-year negotiating period, after which either party can refer dispute to the International Court of Justice
\BIllicit drugs:\b important transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American \Jcocaine\j bound for Western Europe
#
"Russia (Atlas)",200,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the \JArctic\j Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 60 00 N, 100 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 17,075,200 sq km
\Iland:\i 16,995,800 sq km
\Iwater:\i 79,400 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than 1.8 times the size of the US
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 19,917 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAzerbaijan\j 284 km, \JBelarus\j 959 km, China (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, \JEstonia\j 294 km, \JFinland\j 1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km, \JLatvia\j 217 km, \JLithuania\j (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, \JMongolia\j 3,441 km, \JNorway\j 167 km, \JPoland\j (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, \JUkraine\j 1,576 km
\BCoastline:\b 37,653 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European \JRussia\j; subarctic in \JSiberia\j to \Jtundra\j climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along \JBlack Sea\j coast to frigid in \JSiberia\j; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along \JArctic\j coast
\BTerrain:\b broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and \Jtundra\j in \JSiberia\j; uplands and mountains along southern border regions
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaspian Sea\j -28 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount El'brus 5,633 m
\BNatural resources:\b wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, \Jnatural gas\j, \Jcoal\j, and many strategic minerals, timber
\Inote:\i formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 8%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 4%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 46%
\Iother:\i 42% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 40,000 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b \Jpermafrost\j over much of \JSiberia\j is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from heavy industry, emissions of \Jcoal\j-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial and agricultural \Jpollution\j of inland waterways and sea coasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 49 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'), 21 autonomous republics* (avtonomnyk respublik, singular - avtonomnaya respublika), 10 autonomous okrugs**(avtonomnykh okrugov, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 6 krays*** (krayev, singular - kray), 2 federal cities (singular - gorod)****, and 1 autonomous oblast*****(avtonomnaya oblast'); Adygeya (Maykop)*, Aginskiy Buryatskiy (Aginskoye)**, Altay (Gorno-Altaysk)*, Altayskiy (Barnaul)***, Amurskaya (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'skaya, Astrakhanskaya, Bashkortostan (\JUfa\j)*, Belgorodskaya, Bryanskaya, Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude)*, \JChechnya\j (Groznyy)*, Chelyabinskaya, Chitinskaya, Chukotskiy (Anadyr')**, Chuvashiya (Cheboksary)*, Dagestan (Makhachkala)*, Evenkiyskiy (Tura)**, Ingushetiya (Nazran')*, Irkutskaya, Ivanovskaya, Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik)*, Kaliningradskaya, Kalmykiya (Elista)*, Kaluzkskaya, Kamchatskaya (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk)*, Kareliya (Petrozavodsk)*, Kemerovskaya, Khabarovskiy***, Khakasiya (Abakan)*, Khanty-Mansiyskiy (Khanty-Mansiysk)**, Kirovskaya, Komi (Syktyvkar)*, Koryakskiy (Palana)**, Kostromskaya, Krasnodarskiy***, Krasnoyarskiy***, Kurganskaya, Kurskaya, Leningradskaya, Lipetskaya, Magadanskaya, Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola)*, Mordoviya (Saransk)*, Moskovskaya, Moskva****, Murmanskaya, Nenetskiy (Nar'yan-Mar)**, Nizhegorodskaya, Novgorodskaya, Novosibirskaya, Omskaya, Orenburgskaya, Penzenskaya, Permskaya, Komi-Permyatskiy (Kudymkar)**, Primorskiy (Vladivostok)***, Pskovskaya, Rostovskaya, Ryazanskaya, Sakha (Yakutiya)*, Sakhalinskaya (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samarskaya, Sankt-Peterburg****, Saratovskaya, Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya (Vladikavkaz)*, Smolenskaya, Stavropol'skiy***, Sverdlovskaya (Yekaterinburg), Tambovskaya, Tatarstan (Kazan')*, Taymyrskiy (Dudinka)**, Tomskaya, Tul'skaya, Tverskaya, Tyumenskaya, Tyva (Kyzyl)*, Udmurtiya (\JIzhevsk\j)*, Ul'yanovskaya, Ust'-Ordynskiy Buryatskiy (Ust'-Ordynskiy)**, Vladimirskaya, Volgogradskaya, Vologodskaya, Voronezhskaya, Yamalo-Nenetskiy (Salekhard)**, Yaroslavskaya, Yevreyskaya*****; note - when using a place name with an adjectival ending 'skaya' or 'skiy', the word Oblast' or Avonomnyy Okrug or Kray should be added to the place name
\Inote:\i the autonomous republics of \JChechnya\j and Ingushetia were formerly the autonomous republic of Checheno-Ingushetia (the boundary between \JChechnya\j and Ingushetia has yet to be determined); the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg are federal cities; administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
\BIndependence:\b 24 August 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, June 12 (1990)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 12 December 1993
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Boris Nikolayevich YELTSIN (since 12 June 1991)
\Ihead of government:\i Premier and Chairman of the Russian Federation Government Sergei STEPASHIN. First Deputy Premiers and First Deputy Chairmen of the Government Anatoliy Borisovich CHUBAYS (since NA March 1997), Boris Y. NEMTSOV (since NA March 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Ministries of the Government or "Government" appointed by the president \Inote:\i there is also a Presidential Administration that drafts presidential edicts and provides staff and policy support to the entire executive branch; a Security Council that was originally established as a presidential advisory body in June 1991 with responsibility for managing individual and state security; a Defense Council and a Foreign Policy Council formed in July 1996 and October 1996 respectively
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 16 June 1996 with runoff election on 3 July 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000); note - no vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election is held, which must be within three months; premier and deputy premiers appointed by the president with the approval of the \JDuma\j \Ielection results:\i Boris Nikolayevich YELTSIN elected president; percent of vote in runoff - YELTSIN 54%, Gennadiy ZYUGANOV 40%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoe Sobranie consists of the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (178 seats, filled ex-officio by the top executive and legislative officials in each of the 89 federal administrative units - oblasts, krays, republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg; members serve four-year terms) and the State \JDuma\j or Gosudarstvennaya \JDuma\j (450 seats, half elected in single-member districts and half elected from national party lists; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i State \JDuma\j - last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA December 1999)
\Ielection results:\i State \JDuma\j - percent of vote received by parties clearing the 5% threshold entitling them to a proportional share of the 225 party list seats - Communist Party of the Russian Federation 22.3%, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 11.2%, Our Home Is Russia 10.1%, Yabloko Bloc 6.9%; seats by party - Communist Party of the Russian Federation 157, independents 78, Our Home Is Russia 55, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 51, Yabloko Bloc 45, Agrarian Party of Russia 20, Russia's Democratic Choice 9, Power To the People 9, Congress of Russian Communities 5, Forward, Russia! 3, Women of Russia 3, other parties 15
\BJudicial branch:\b Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president; Superior Court of Arbitration, judges are appointed by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Ipro-market democrats:\i Yabloko Bloc [Grigoriy YAVLINSKIY]; \JRussia\j's Democratic Choice Party [Yegor GAYDAR]; Forward, \JRussia\j! [Boris FEDOROV] \Icentrists/special interest parties:\i Our Home Is \JRussia\j [Viktor CHERNOMYRDIN]; Russian People's Republican Party [Aleksandr LEBED]; Congress of Russian Communities [Dmitriy ROGOZIN]; Women of Russia [Alevtina FEDULOVA and Yekaterina LAKHOVA]
\Ianti-market and/or ultranationalist:\i Communist Party of the Russian Federation [Gennadiy ZYUGANOV]; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia [Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY]; Agrarian Party [Mikhail LAPSHIN]; Power To the People [Nikolay RYZHKOV and Sergey BABURIN]; Russian Communist Workers' Party [Viktor ANPILOV and Viktor TYULKIN]
\Inote:\i some 269 political parties, blocs, and associations tried to gather enough signatures to run slates of candidates in the 17 December 1995 \JDuma\j elections; 43 succeeded
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Yuliy Mikhaylovich VORONTSOV
\Ichancery:\i 2650 \JWisconsin\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 298-5700 through 5704
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 298-5735
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York, \JSan Francisco\j, and Seattle
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John F. TEFFT
\Iembassy:\i Novinskiy Bul'var 19/23, Moscow
\Imailing address:\i APO AE 09721
\Itelephone:\i [7] (095) 252-24-51 through 59
\IFAX:\i [7] (095) 956-42-61
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JRussia\j, a vast country with a wealth of natural resources, a well-educated population, and a diverse, but declining, industrial base, continues to experience formidable difficulties in moving from its old centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. Most of 1996 was a lost year for economic reforms, with government officials focused in the first half of the year on President YEL'TSIN's reelection and then on his medical problems. The only major success was in the fight against \Jinflation\j, which fell from 131% in 1995 to 22% in 1996. \JRussia\j failed to make any progress in restructuring its social welfare programs to target the most needy - among whom are many of the old pensioners - or to pass needed tax reform. While approximately 75% of industry has now been privatized, the agricultural sector has undergone little reform since the break-up of the \JSoviet Union\j. Stockholder rights remain weak while crime and corruption are rampant in much of the economy. Many enterprises continue to operate without hard budget constraints, resulting in barter trade and increased inter-enterprise debts. According to official statistics, the Russian economy declined for the fifth straight year since the beginning of reforms, with GDP in 1996 falling by 6% and industrial output by 5%. The true size of the Russian economy remains controversial, however, with estimates of unreported economic activity ranging from 20%-50% of GDP. Indeed, according to Russian statistics, the Russian consumer has seen a small improvement in the last several years, with real average incomes growing by about 8% from early 1993 to late 1996. The share of the Russian population living below the poverty line is said to have dropped from one-third in early 1993 to one-fifth in late 1996. Few Russians lack basic necessities, and ownership of consumer goods such as VCRs and automobiles has increased markedly. The growth of wage and pension arrears slowed in the second half of 1996, and the government pledged to clear all budget-funded wage and pension arrears by the end of 1997. The government continued to be plagued with tax collection problems during 1996, forcing it to cut its planned spending by 18%. A crackdown on major tax debtors at the end of the year had only limited success. Spending by all levels of government remains high, between 40%-45% of GDP. The economy is continuing its \Jintegration\j into world markets. Russia's trade surplus, after adjustment for unreported "shuttle" trade, grew to a record $28.5 billion in 1996, according to official Russian statistics. Export growth, which slowed from 18% to 9%, was due mostly to increased raw material prices. After increasing by 15% in 1995, imports dipped by 2% in 1996 as Russian demand for Western consumer goods slackened. Russia is continuing to make progress in its WTrO negotiations; the government has made quick accession one of its major policy goals. The continued unsettled economic and political situation has discouraged foreign investment, which totaled only $6.5 billion in 1996, including $2.1 billion in direct investment; furthermore, capital flight continues to exceed in volume the inflow of foreign capital. The central bank estimates that $30 billion in US currency circulates in the Russian economy. In March 1997, YEL'TSIN signaled his intention to restart stalled economic reforms by reorganizing the cabinet, bringing in a new team of ministers with strong reform credentials.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $767 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated
from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,200 (1996 est.)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 9.3% (December 1996) (according to ILO definition) with considerable additional underemployment
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b complete range of mining and extractive industries producing \Jcoal\j, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance \Jaircraft\j and space vehicles; shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b -5% (1996)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 214.69 million kW (1994)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 5,114 kWh (1995 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b grain, sugar beets, \Jsunflower\j seed, vegetables, fruits (because of its northern location does not grow \Jcitrus\j, cotton, tea, and other warm climate products); meat, milk
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $88.3 billion (1996)
\Icommodities:\i \Jpetroleum\j and \Jpetroleum\j products, \Jnatural gas\j, wood and wood products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures
\Ipartners:\i Europe, \JNorth America\j, \JJapan\j, Third World countries
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $59.8 billion (1996)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, grain, sugar, semifinished metal products
\Ipartners:\i Europe, \JNorth America\j, \JJapan\j, Third World countries
\BDebt - external:\b $130 billion (yearend 1996)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $13 billion (1990-96)
\Inote:\i US commitments, including Ex-Im, $15 billion (1990-96); other countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1990-96), $125 billion
\BTelephone system:\b total pay phones for long distant calls 34,100; enlisting foreign help, by means of joint ventures, to speed up the modernization of its telecommunications system; in 1992, only 661,000 new telephones were installed compared with 855,000 in 1991, and in 1992 the number of unsatisfied applications for telephones reached 11,000,000; expanded access to international electronic mail service available via Sprint network; the inadequacy of Russian telecommunications is a severe handicap to the economy, especially with respect to international connections
\Idomestic:\i NMT-450 analog cellular \Jtelephone\j networks are operational and growing in Moscow and St. Petersburg; intercity fiber-optic cable installation remains limited
\Iinternational:\i international traffic is inadequately handled by a system of satellites, landlines, microwave radio relay, and outdated submarine cables; much of this traffic passes through the international gateway switch in Moscow which carries most of the international traffic for the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States; a new Russian Intersputnik satellite will link Moscow and St. Petersburg with \JRome\j from whence calls will be relayed to destinations in Europe and overseas; satellite \Jearth\j stations - NA Intelsat, 4 Intersputnik (2 \JAtlantic Ocean\j Region and 2 Indian Ocean Region), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (\JPacific Ocean\j Region), and NA Orbita
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there are about 1,050 (including AM, FM, and shortwave) radio broadcast stations throughout the country
\BRadios:\b 50 million (1993 est.)(radio receivers with multiple speaker systems
for program diffusion 74,300,000)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 7,183
\BTelevisions:\b 54.85 million (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 154,000 km; note - 87,000 km in common carrier service (38,000 km electrified); 67,000 km serve specific industries and are not available for common carrier use
\Ibroad gauge:\i 154,000 km 1.520-m gauge (1 January 1994)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 948,000 km (including 416,000 km which serve specific industries or farms and are not maintained by governmental highway maintenance departments)
\Ipaved:\i 336,000 km
\Iunpaved:\i 612,000 km (including 411,000 km of graveled or other forms of macadam surface and 201,000 km of unstabilized \Jearth\j) (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b total navigable routes in general use 101,000 km; routes with navigation guides serving the Russian River Fleet 95,900 km; routes with night navigational aids 60,400 km; man-made navigable routes 16,900 km (1 January 1994)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 48,000 km; \Jpetroleum\j products 15,000 km; \Jnatural gas\j 140,000 km (30 June 1993)
\Inote:\i \JRussia\j owns an additional 137 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,466,872 DWT operating under the registries of The \JBahamas\j, Cyprus, \JHonduras\j, \JLiberia\j, Malta, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, \JSingapore\j, and Vanuatu (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 2,517 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 630
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 54
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 202
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 108
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 115
\Iunder 914 m:\i 151 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,887
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 25
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 45
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 134
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 291
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1,392 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces, Strategic Rocket Forces
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 38,449,126 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 29,996,967 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 1,115,858 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\Inote:\i the Intelligence Community estimates that defense spending in \JRussia\j fell by about 10% in real terms in 1996, reducing Russian defense outlays to about one-sixth of peak Soviet levels in the late 1980s (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b inherited disputes from former USSR including sections of the boundary with China; islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan and the Habomai group occupied by the \JSoviet Union\j in 1945, administered by Russia, claimed by \JJapan\j; \JCaspian Sea\j boundaries are not yet determined among \JAzerbaijan\j, \JIran\j, Kazakstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan; potential dispute with \JUkraine\j over \JCrimea\j; Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical order agreement in December 1996, which Estonia is prepared to sign and ratify in January 1997; Estonia had claimed over 2,000 sq km of Russian territory in the Narva and Pechora regions - based on boundary established under the 1920 Peace Treaty of Tartu; based on the 1920 Treaty of Riga, \JLatvia\j had claimed the Abrene/Pytalovo section of the border ceded by the \JLatvian\j Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; has made no territorial claim in \JAntarctica\j (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation; dispute with \JLithuania\j over the position of the riparian and maritime boundary with Kaliningrad Oblast; Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between \JNorway\j and Russia
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; government has active eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian opiates and cannabis and Latin American \Jcocaine\j to Western Europe and the US
#
"Rwanda (Atlas)",201,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b following the outbreak of genocidal strife in \JRwanda\j in April 1994 between Tutsi and Hutu factions, more than 2 million refugees fled to neighboring \JBurundi\j, \JTanzania\j, Uganda and Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j, formerly Zaire; according to the UN High Commission on Refugees, in 1996 and early 1997 nearly 1,300,000 Hutus returned to \JRwanda\j; of these, 720,000 returned from Zaire, 480,000 from \JTanzania\j, 88,000 from \JBurundi\j, and 10,000 from Uganda
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 2 00 S, 30 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 26,340 sq km
\Iland:\i 24,950 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,390 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maryland
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 893 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBurundi\j 290 km, Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j 217 km, \JTanzania\j 217 km, \JUganda\j 169 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
\BTerrain:\b mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
\I65 years and over:\i 3% (male 88,556; female 125,560) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 8.24% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 38.73 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 21.06 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 64.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\Inote:\i following the outbreak of genocidal strife in \JRwanda\j in April 1994 between Tutsi and Hutu factions, more than 2 million refugees fled to neighboring \JBurundi\j, \JTanzania\j, Uganda, and Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j, formerly Zaire; according to the UN High Commission on Refugees, in 1996 and early 1997 nearly 1,300,000 Hutus returned to \JRwanda\j; of these 720,000 returned from Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j, 480,000 from \JTanzania\j, 88,000 from \JBurundi\j, and 10,000 from Uganda
\BIndependence:\b 1 July 1962 (from \JBelgium\j-administered UN trusteeship)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
\BConstitution:\b on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted a new constitution which included elements of the constitution of 18 June 1991 as well as provisions of the 1993 Arusha peace accord and the November 1994 multi-party protocol of understanding
\BLegal system:\b based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b NA years of age; universal adult
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Pasteur BIZIMUNGU (since 19 July 1994); Vice President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (since 19 July 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Celestin RWIGEMA (since 1 September 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i current president installed by force by the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front; normally the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; elections last held NA (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Transitional National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale de Transition (70 seats; members were predetermined by the Arusha peace accord to serve NA-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 26 December 1988 ( next to be held NA); note - the Transitional National Assembly is a power-sharing body established on 12 December 1994 following a multi-party protocol of understanding
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPF 19, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, PSR 2, PDI 2, other 2; note - the distribution of seats was predetermined
\BJudicial branch:\b Constitutional Court, consists of the Court of Cassation and the Council of State in joint session
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b significant parties include: Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Alexis KANYARENGWE, chairman]; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR; Liberal Party or PL; Democratic and Socialist Party or PSD; Christian Democratic Party or PDC; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI; Rwandan Socialist Party or PSR; National Movement for Democracy and Development or MRND, former ruling party
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b \JRwanda\j Patriotic Army or RPA, the RPF military wing [Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME, commander]; Rally for the Democracy and Return (RDR)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Theogene N. RUDASINGWA
\Ichancery:\i (temporary) Suites C1 and C2, 2141 \JWisconsin\j Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 232-2882
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 232-4544
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Robert GRIBBIN III
\Iembassy:\i Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 28, Kigali
\Itelephone:\i [250] 756 01 through 03, 721 26, 771 47
\IFAX:\i [250] 721 28
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of \JEthiopia\j; similar to the flag of Guinea, which has a plain yellow band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JRwanda\j is a poor African nation suffering bitterly from ethnic-based \Jcivil war\j. The agricultural sector dominates the economy; \Jcoffee\j and tea normally make up 80%-90% of exports. The amount of fertile land is limited, however, and deforestation and soil erosion continue to reduce the production potential. Manufacturing focuses mainly on the processing of agricultural products. A structural adjustment program with the World Bank began in October 1990. Ethnic-based insurgency since 1990 has devastated wide areas, especially in the north, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. A peace accord in mid-1993 temporarily ended most of the fighting, but resumption of large-scale civil warfare in April 1994 in the capital city Kigali and elsewhere took 500,000 lives in that year alone and severely damaged already poor economic prospects. Sketchy data suggest that GDP dropped 50% in 1994 and came back partially, by 25%, in 1995. Plentiful rains helped agriculture in 1996, and outside aid continued to support this desperately poor economy. The economy continues to suffer massively from failure to maintain the \Jinfrastructure\j, looting, neglect of important cash crops, and lack of health care facilities. Because of the accumulated damage to capital plant and the decline in public discipline, recovery of domestic production will proceed slowly.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $400 (1995 est.)
\Itotal value:\i $237.3 million (f.o.b.,1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i textiles, foodstuffs, machines and equipment, capital goods, steel, \Jpetroleum\j products, cement and construction material
\Ipartners:\i US, EU, \JKenya\j, Tanzania
\BDebt - external:\b $1 billion (December 1995)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\Inote:\i in October 1990 \JRwanda\j launched a Structural Adjustment Program with the IMF; since September 1991, the EU has given $46 million and the US $25 million in support of this program (1993)
\BTelephone system:\b \Jtelephone\j system does not provide service to the general public but is intended for business and government use
\Idomestic:\i the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay; the remainder of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone
\Iinternational:\i international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and \Jsatellite\j communications to more distant countries; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 630,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,000 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,000 km
\Iunpaved:\i 11,000 km (1997 est.)
\BWaterways:\b Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft
\BPorts and harbors:\b Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
\BAirports:\b 7 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Gendarmerie
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,806,832 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 920,343 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $112.5 million (1992)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 7% (1992)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Saint Helena (Atlas)",202,0,0,0
\I(dependent territory of the UK) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, island in the South \JAtlantic Ocean\j, west of \JAngola\j, about two-thirds of the way from \JSouth America\j to Africa
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 56 S, 5 42 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 410 sq km
\Iland:\i 410 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes \JAscension\j, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 60 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
\BTerrain:\b rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Queen Mary's Peak 2,060 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 6%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 6%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 6%
\Iother:\i 82% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial (his remains were taken to Paris in 1840); harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; \JAscension\j is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 7,036 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 20% (male 722; female 698)
\I15-64 years:\i 71% (male 2,621; female 2,396)
\I65 years and over:\i 9% (male 240; female 359) (1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.78% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 14.21 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 29.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 75.58 years
\Imale:\i 72.53 years
\Ifemale:\i 78.79 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.5 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Saint Helenian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Saint Helenian
\BEthnic groups:\b African descent, white
\BReligions:\b Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
\BLanguages:\b English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 20 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 97%
\Imale:\i 97%
\Ifemale:\i 98% (1987 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Saint Helena
\BData code:\b SH
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Jamestown
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; \JAscension\j*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*
\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10 June 1989 (second Saturday in June)
\BConstitution:\b 1 January 1989
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b NA years of age
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
\Ihead of government:\i Governor and Commander in Chief David Leslie SMALLMAN (since NA 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex-officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor is appointed by the queen
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the governor, 2 ex-officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held NA July 1993 (next to be held NA July 1997)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BFlag description:\b blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. The local population earns some income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,416 (1991 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i professional, technical, and related workers 8.7%, managerial, administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales people 8.1%, farmer, fishermen, etc. 5.4%, craftspersons, production process workers 14.7%, others 50.3% (1987)
\Inote:\i a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $11.2 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)
\BAgriculture - products:\b \Jmaize\j, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $704,000 (f.o.b., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, \Jtuna\j), handicrafts
\Ipartners:\i South Africa, UK
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $14.434 million (c.i.f., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i food, beverages, \Jtobacco\j, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials,
motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
\Ipartners:\i UK, South Africa
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 Saint Helenian pound (£S) = 100 pence
\BExchange rates:\b Saint Helenian pounds (£S) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 550
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i automatic network; HF radiotelephone to \JAscension\j, then into worldwide submarine cable and \Jsatellite\j networks
\Iinternational:\i major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South Africa, \JPortugal\j, and UK at \JAscension\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 2,500 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BCommunications - note:\b Gough Island has a meteorological station
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km (mainland 118 km, \JAscension\j NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA km)
\Ipaved:\i 180.7 km (mainland 98 km, \JAscension\j 80 km, Tristan da Cunha 2.70 km)
\Iunpaved:\i NA km (mainland 20 km, \JAscension\j NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA km)
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JGeorgetown\j (on \JAscension\j), Jamestown
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Saint Kitts and Nevis (Atlas)",203,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, islands in the \JCaribbean Sea\j, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 17 20 N, 62 45 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 269 sq km
\Iland:\i 269 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 135 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\BClimate:\b subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation; rainy season (May to November)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 18.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 67.22 years
\Imale:\i 64.18 years
\Ifemale:\i 70.44 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.49 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Kittsian, Nevisian
\BEthnic groups:\b black
\BReligions:\b Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
\BLanguages:\b English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 97%
\Imale:\i 97%
\Ifemale:\i 98% (1980 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
\Iconventional short form:\i Saint Kitts and Nevis
\Iformer:\i Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
\BData code:\b SC
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Basseterre
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point
\BIndependence:\b 19 September 1983 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
\BConstitution:\b 19 September 1983
\BLegal system:\b based on English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal adult
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995) and Deputy Prime
Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary 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; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral House of Assembly (14 seats, 11 popularly elected from single member constituencies; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 3 July 1995 (next to be held by July 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats by party - SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b People's Action Movement (PAM), Dr. Kennedy SIMMONDS; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS; Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Joseph PARRY; Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY
\Ichancery:\i 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 686-2636
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 686-5740
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; US interests are monitored by the embassy in \JBridgetown\j, Barbados
\BFlag description:\b divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have assumed larger roles. Most food is imported. The newly elected government has undertaken a program designed to revitalize the faltering sugar sector. It is also working to improve revenue collection in order to better fund social programs.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $235 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,700 (1996 est.)
\Ipartners:\i US 45%, Caricom nations 18.8%, UK 12.5%, Canada 4.2%, \JJapan\j 4.2%, (1994)
\BDebt - external:\b $45.3 million (1994 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 3,800 (1986 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin (\JGuadeloupe\j and Netherlands \JAntilles\j)
\Idomestic:\i interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone
\Iinternational:\i international calls are carried by radiotelephone to Antigua and Barbuda and from there switched to submarine cable or to Intelsat, or carried to Saint Martin (\JGuadeloupe\j and Netherlands \JAntilles\j) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 25,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 4
\BTelevisions:\b 9,500 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 58 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane plantations (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 310 km
\Ipaved:\i 132 km
\Iunpaved:\i 178 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Basseterre, Charlestown
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment points for South American drugs destined for the US
#
"Saint Lucia (Atlas)",204,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, island between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, north of Trinidad and Tobago
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 53 N, 60 68 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 620 sq km
\Iland:\i 610 sq km
\Iwater:\i 10 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 158 km
\BMaritime claims:\b 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August
\BTerrain:\b volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Gimie 950 m
\BNatural resources:\b forests, sandy beaches, minerals (\Jpumice\j), mineral springs, geothermal potential
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 8%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 21%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 5%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 13%
\Iother:\i 53% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 10 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b hurricanes and volcanic activity
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 150,630 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 35% (male 26,430; female 26,018)
\I15-64 years:\i 60% (male 44,117; female 45,922)
\I65 years and over:\i 5% (male 3,091; female 5,052) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.14% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 23.31 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.71 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -6.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 71.36 years
\Imale:\i 67.74 years
\Ifemale:\i 75.23 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.44 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Saint Lucian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Saint Lucian
\BEthnic groups:\b black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), French patois
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 67%
\Imale:\i 65%
\Ifemale:\i 69% (1980 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Saint Lucia
\BData code:\b ST
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Castries
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 11 quarters; Anse La Raye, \JCastries\j, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux Fort
\BIndependence:\b 22 February 1979 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
\BConstitution:\b 22 February 1979
\BLegal system:\b based on English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General William George MALLET (since 1 June 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Vaughn LEWIS (since 31 March 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary 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
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body, six appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i House of Assembly - last held 27 April 1992 (next to be held NA May 1997)
\Ielection results:\i House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6
\BJudicial branch:\b Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, \Jjurisdiction\j extends to \JAnguilla\j, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, \JGrenada\j, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b United Workers' Party (UWP), Vaughn LEWIS; Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Kenneth ANTHONY; Saint Lucia Freedom Party (SLFP), Martinus FRANCOIS
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS
\Ichancery:\i 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 364-6728
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the Ambassador to Saint Lucia resides in \JBridgetown\j (\JBarbados\j)
\BFlag description:\b blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Though foreign investment in manufacturing and information processing in recent years has increased Saint Lucia's industrial base, the economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. Indeed, the destructive effect of Tropical Storm Iris in mid-1995 caused the loss of 20% of the year's banana crop. Increased competition from Latin American bananas will probably further reduce market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its economy in coming years, e.g., by further expanding tourism, manufacturing, and construction.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $695 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $4,400 (1996 est.)
\Ipartners:\i UK 56%, US 22%, Caricom countries 19% (1991)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $270.5 million (f.o.b., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 21%, food and live animals, chemicals, fuels
\Ipartners:\i US 34%, Caricom countries 17%, UK 14%, \JJapan\j 7%, Canada 4% (1991)
\BDebt - external:\b $115 million (1996)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 26,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i system is automatically switched
\Iinternational:\i direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to \JBarbados\j; international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 104,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 3 ( two commercial stations and one cable)
\BTelevisions:\b 26,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 760 km
\Ipaved:\i 500 km
\Iunpaved:\i 260 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JCastries\j, Vieux Fort
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, Coast Guard
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $5 million (1991); note - for police forces
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2% (1991)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
#
"Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Atlas)",205,0,0,0
\I(territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern \JNorth America\j, islands in the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 46 50 N, 56 20 E
\BMap references:\b North America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 242 sq km
\Iland:\i 242 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
\BArea - comparative:\b 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 120 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b cold and wet, with much mist and \Jfog\j; spring and autumn are windy
\BTerrain:\b mostly barren rock
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, deepwater ports
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 13%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 4%
\Iother:\i 83% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b persistent \Jfog\j throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b vegetation scanty
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 6,862 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.76% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 12.63 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.59 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 9.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 76.64 years
\Imale:\i 75.07 years
\Ifemale:\i 78.53 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.62 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
\Iadjective:\i French
\BEthnic groups:\b Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 99%
\BLanguages:\b French
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 99%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 99% (1982 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
\Iconventional short form:\i Saint Pierre and Miquelon
\Ilocal long form:\i Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
\Ilocal short form:\i Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
\BData code:\b SB
\BDependency status:\b self-governing territorial collectivity of France
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Saint-Pierre
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j)
\Inote:\i there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by the US Government, but there are two communes - St. Pierre, Miquelon
\BIndependence:\b none (territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j; has been under French control since 1763)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
\BConstitution:\b 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
\BLegal system:\b French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of \JFrance\j Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Francois CARENCO (since NA)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the General Council Bernard LE SOAVEC (since NA 1996)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i prefect appointed by the president of \JFrance\j on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is elected by the members of the council
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats, 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
\Ielections:\i elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 15, other 4
\Inote:\i Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - UDF 73.78%; seats by party - UDF 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Socialist Party or PS; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territorial collectivity of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one on top of the other; the flag of \JFrance\j is used for official occasions
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over the years. In 1992, an \Jarbitration\j panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what \JFrance\j had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized by \JFrance\j. Imports come primarily from Canada and \JFrance\j.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $74 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1996 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,980 (1994)
\Iby occupation:\i NA
\BUnemployment rate:\b 9.3% (1995)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $28 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $28 million, including capital expenditures of $7.8 million (1992 est.)
\BIndustries:\b fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b NA kW
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BAgriculture - products:\b vegetables; \Jcattle\j, sheep, pigs; fish catch of 14,800 metric tons (1994)
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $5 million (f.o.b., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts
\Ipartners:\i US 58%, \JFrance\j 17%, UK 11%, Canada, \JPortugal\j (1990)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $70.2 million (c.i.f., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials
\Ipartners:\i Canada, \JFrance\j, US, Netherlands, UK
\Iinternational:\i radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; 1 \Jearth\j station in French domestic \Jsatellite\j system
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 3,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0 (programs from \JFrance\j, Canada, and the US are rebroadcast)
\BTelevisions:\b 2,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 114 km
\Ipaved:\i 69 km
\Iunpaved:\i 45 km (1994 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Saint Pierre
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and \JFrance\j; in 1992 an \Jarbitration\j panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone area of 12,348 sq km to settle the dispute
#
"Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Atlas)",206,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, islands in the \JCaribbean Sea\j, north of Trinidad and Tobago
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 15 N, 61 12 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 340 sq km
\Iland:\i 340 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b twice the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 84 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation; rainy season (May to November)
\BTerrain:\b volcanic, mountainous
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Soufriere 1,234 m
\BNatural resources:\b NEGL
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 10%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 18%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 5%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 36%
\Iother:\i 31% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 10 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b hurricanes; Soufriere \Jvolcano\j on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jpollution\j of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas \Jpollution\j is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 119,092 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 32% (male 19,208; female 18,571)
\I15-64 years:\i 63% (male 37,555; female 37,166)
\I65 years and over:\i 5% (male 2,719; female 3,873) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.62% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 19.07 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.35 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -7.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 73.22 years
\Imale:\i 71.71 years
\Ifemale:\i 74.78 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.01 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
\BEthnic groups:\b black, white, East Indian, \JCarib\j Amerindian
\BReligions:\b Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist
\BLanguages:\b English, French patois
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 96%
\Imale:\i 96%
\Ifemale:\i 96% (1970 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
\BData code:\b VC
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Kingstown
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
\BIndependence:\b 27 October 1979 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
\BConstitution:\b 27 October 1979
\BLegal system:\b based on English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General David JACK (since 29 September 1989)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister James Fitz-Allen MITCHELL (since 30 July 1984)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; members are elected by popular vote from single member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 21 February 1994 (next to be held by NA May 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 12, ULP 3
\BJudicial branch:\b Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b New Democratic Party (NDP), James F. MITCHELL; United People's Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS; National Reform Party (NRP), Joel MIGUEL; Unity Labor Party (ULP),Vincent BEACHE - formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party (SVLP) and the Movement for National Unity (MNU)
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Kingsley C.A. LAYNE
\Ichancery:\i 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 364-6730
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 364-6736
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines resides in \JBridgetown\j (\JBarbados\j) \BFlag description:\b three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of this lower middle income economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40% continue. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism sector has considerable potential for development over the next decade.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $259 million (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,190 (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - production:\b 61.6 million kWh (1993)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 480 kWh (1993)
\BAgriculture - products:\b bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of \Jcattle\j, sheep, pigs, goats; small fish catch used locally
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $55 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i bananas, eddoes and dasheen (\Jtaro\j), \Jarrowroot\j starch, tennis racquets
\Ipartners:\i Caricom countries 57%, UK 29%, US 9% (1994)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $122 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
\Ipartners:\i US 35%, Caricom countries 27%, UK 12% (1994)
\BDebt - external:\b $93 million (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 6,189 (1983 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i islandwide, fully automatic \Jtelephone\j system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines
\Iinternational:\i VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to \JBarbados\j; new SHF radiotelephone to \JGrenada\j and to Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat \Jearth\j station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 24 countries among which are \JCroatia\j 29, \JSlovenia\j 9, China 9, \JGreece\j 5, \JNorway\j 3, \JUkraine\j 3, UAE 3, \JGermany\j 2, \JRussia\j 2, \JSyria\j 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 6 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 4 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment points for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
#
"San Marino (Atlas)",207,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 43 46 N, 12 25 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 60 sq km
\Iland:\i 60 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 39 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JItaly\j 39 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
\BTerrain:\b rugged mountains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Fiume Ausa 55 m
\Ihighest point:\i Monte Titano 749 m
\BNatural resources:\b building stone
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 17%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 83% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 24,714 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 16% (male 1,993; female 1,992)
\I15-64 years:\i 68% (male 8,442; female 8,270)
\I65 years and over:\i 16% (male 1,683; female 2,334) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.76% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 10.68 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 7.97 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b 4.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 81.37 years
\Imale:\i 77.42 years
\Ifemale:\i 85.32 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.51 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Sammarinese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Sammarinese
\BEthnic groups:\b Sammarinese, Italian
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic
\BLanguages:\b Italian
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 10 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 96%
\Imale:\i 97%
\Ifemale:\i 95% (1976 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of San Marino
\Iconventional short form:\i San Marino
\Ilocal long form:\i Repubblica di San Marino
\Ilocal short form:\i San Marino
\BData code:\b SM
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b San Marino
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle
\BIndependence:\b 301 AD (by tradition)
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic, 3 September
\BConstitution:\b 8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i co-chiefs of state Captain Regent Piero Paolo GASPERONI and Captain Regent Pietro BUGLI (for the period 1 April-30 September 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i \JSecretary of State\j for Foreign and Political Affairs Gabriele GATTI (since NA July 1986)
\Icabinet:\i Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term
\Ielections:\i co-chiefs of state (captain regents) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held NA March 1996 (next to be held NA September 1996); \Jsecretary of state\j for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held NA 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Giancarlo VENTURINI and Maurizio RATTINI elected captain regents; percent of legislative vote - NA; Gabriele GATTI elected \Jsecretary of state\j for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA
\Inote:\i the popularly elected parliament (Great and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (Co-Chiefs of State) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Great and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State) which has ten other members, all selected by the Great and General Council; assisting the Captains Regent are three Secretaries of State - Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance - and several additional secretaries; the \JSecretary of State\j for Foreign Affairs has assumed many of the prerogatives of a prime minister
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Great and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 30 May 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - PDCS 41.4%, PSS 23.7%, PDP 18.6%, AP 7.7%, MD 5.3%, RC 3.3%; seats by party - PDCS 26, PSS 14, PDP 11, AP 4, MD 3, RC 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Christian Democratic Party or PDCS [Cesare GASPERONI, secretary general]; Democratic Progressive Party or PDP (formerly San Marino Communist Party or PSS) [Claudio FELICI, secretary general]; San Marino Socialist Party or PSS [Maurizio RATTINI, secretary general]; Democratic Movement or MD [Massimo TONTI]; Popular Alliance or AP [Tito MASI]; Communist Refoundation or RC [Paolo GIOVAGNOLI]
\BInternational organization participation:\b CE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, \JUNESCO\j, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b San Marino does not have an embassy in the US
\Ihonorary consulate(s) general:\i Washington and New York
\Ihonorary consulate(s):\i Detroit
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (\JItaly\j) is accredited to San Marino
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 1995 more than 3.3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking, wearing apparel, \Jelectronics\j, and \Jceramics\j. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of \JItaly\j, which supplies much of its food.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $408 million (1994 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.8% (1994 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $16,900 (1994 est.)
\BExports:\b trade data are included with the statistics for \JItaly\j; commodities: building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics
\BImports:\b trade data are included with the statistics for \JItaly\j; commodities: wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 Italian lire (Lit) = 100 centesimi; note - also mints its own coins
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 60.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 64.09 years
\Imale:\i 62.15 years
\Ifemale:\i 66.08 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 4.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Sao Tomean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Sao Tomean
\BEthnic groups:\b mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, \JMozambique\j, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist
\BLanguages:\b Portuguese (official)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 73%
\Imale:\i 85%
\Ifemale:\i 62% (1991 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
\Iconventional short form:\i Sao Tome and Principe
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
\BIndependence:\b 12 July 1975 (from \JPortugal\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
\BConstitution:\b approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
\BLegal system:\b based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Raul Wagner BRAGANCA NETO (since 20 November 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 June and 15 July 1996 (next to be held in 2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
\Ielection results:\i Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i parliament dissolved by President TROVOADA in July 1994; early elections held 2 October 1994 (next to be held October 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - MLSTP 49%, PCD-GR 25.5%, ADI 25.5%; seats by party - MLSTP 27, PCD-GR 14, ADI 14
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the National Peoples Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group or PCD-GR [Armindo AGUIAR, secretary general]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe or MLSTP [Francisco Fortunas PIRES]; Christian Democratic Front or FDC [Alphonse Dos SANTOS]; Democratic Opposition Coalition or CODO; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [Carlos NEVES]; other small parties
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos AUGUSTO Ferreira, located at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, \Jtelephone\j [1] (212) 697-4211
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to \JGabon\j is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on \Jcocoa\j since independence over 20 years ago. However, \Jcocoa\j production has substantially declined because of \Jdrought\j and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of \Jcocoa\j for export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a significant amount of food. Over the years, it has been unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies, but economic growth has remained sluggish.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $149 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.6% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1995 est.)
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the Persian Gulf and the \JRed Sea\j, north of Yemen
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 25 00 N, 45 00 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,960,582 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,960,582 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,415 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JIraq\j 814 km, Jordan 728 km, \JKuwait\j 222 km, Oman 676 km, \JQatar\j 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,640 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 18 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i not specified
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
\BTerrain:\b mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Persian Gulf 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, \Jnatural gas\j, iron ore, gold, copper
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 2%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 56%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 1%
\Iother:\i 41% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 4,350 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent sand and dust storms
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jdesertification\j; depletion of underground \Jwater\j resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent \Jwater\j bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater \Jdesalination\j facilities; coastal \Jpollution\j from oil spills
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and \JRed Sea\j provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 20,087,965 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i includes 5,164,790 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 43.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 69.51 years
\Imale:\i 67.72 years
\Ifemale:\i 71.4 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.41 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Saudi(s)
\Iadjective:\i Saudi or Saudi Arabian
\BEthnic groups:\b Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
\BReligions:\b Muslim 100%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 62.8%
\Imale:\i 71.5%
\Ifemale:\i 50.2% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
\Iconventional short form:\i Saudi Arabia
\Ilocal long form:\i Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
\Ilocal short form:\i Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
\BData code:\b SA
\BGovernment type:\b monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Riyadh
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 13 provinces (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat); Al Bahah, Al Hudud Ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Hail, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
\BIndependence:\b 23 September 1932 (unification)
\BNational holiday:\b Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
\BConstitution:\b none; governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law)
\BLegal system:\b based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b none
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers is appointed by the king and includes many royal family members
\Ielections:\i none; the king is an absolute monarch
\BLegislative branch:\b a consultative council (60 members and a chairman appointed by the king for four-year terms)
\BFlag description:\b green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Economic (as well as political) ties with the US are especially strong. The \Jpetroleum\j sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 35% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi \JArabia\j has the largest reserves of \Jpetroleum\j in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of \Jpetroleum\j, and plays a leading role in OPEC. For the 1990s the government intends to bring its budget, which has been in deficit since 1983, back into balance, and to encourage private economic activity. Roughly four million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. For over a decade, Saudi \JArabia\j's domestic and international outlays have outstripped its income, and the government has cut its foreign assistance and is beginning to rein in domestic programs. A substantial rise in oil prices was the key to a successful 1996. For 1997, the country looks to its policies of maintaining moderate fiscal reforms, restraining public spending, and encouraging non-oil exports.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $205.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $10,600 (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
\Ipartners:\i US 21%, UK 9%, \JGermany\j 8%, \JJapan\j 8%, \JSwitzerland\j 5%, \JFrance\j 5% (1995
est.)
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Idonor:\i pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon
\BCurrency:\b 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah
\BExchange rates:\b Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate since June 1986)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 1.46 million (1993)
\BTelephone system:\b modern system
\Idomestic:\i extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and fiber-optic cable systems
\Iinternational:\i microwave radio relay to \JBahrain\j, Jordan, \JKuwait\j, \JQatar\j, UAE, Yemen, and \JSudan\j; coaxial cable to \JKuwait\j and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, \JEgypt\j and \JBahrain\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 5 Intelsat (3 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 43, FM 13, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 5 million (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 80
\BTelevisions:\b 4.5 million (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,390 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)
\BMilitary branches:\b Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Forces, Public Security Force, Ministry of Interior Forces
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 5,498,492 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 3,057,533 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 176,060 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $13.3 billion (1996 budget)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 10% (1996); note - based on 1996 budget figure
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b large section of boundary with Yemen not defined; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi \JArabia\j; in 1996, agreed with \JQatar\j to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing
\BIllicit drugs:\b death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin and \Jcocaine\j
#
"Senegal (Atlas)",210,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between Guinea-\JBissau\j and Mauritania
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 14 00 N, 14 00 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 196,190 sq km
\Iland:\i 192,000 sq km
\Iwater:\i 4,190 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than South Dakota
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,640 km
\Iborder countries:\i The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-\JBissau\j 338 km, Mali 419 km, \JMauritania\j 813 km
\BCoastline:\b 531 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, \Jharmattan\j wind
\BTerrain:\b generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location in the Futa Jaldon foothills 581 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, \Jphosphates\j, iron ore
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; \Jdesertification\j; overfishing
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Marine Dumping
\BGeography - note:\b The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
\BIndependence:\b 4 April 1960 from \JFrance\j; complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 (The Gambia and \JSenegal\j signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
\BConstitution:\b 3 March 1963, revised 1991
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; \JSenegal\j has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Abdou DIOUF reelected president; percent of vote - Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - PS 70%, PDS 23%, other 7%; seats by party - PS 84, PDS 27, LD-MPT 3, AND/JEF-PADS 3, PIT 2, UDS-R 1
\BJudicial branch:\b under the terms of a reform of the judicial system implemented in 1992, the principal organs of the judiciary are as follows; Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cessation; Court of Appeals
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AND/JEF-PADS [Landing SAVANE, secretary-general]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP Garab-Gi [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Independent Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; Let Us Unite \JSenegal\j (coalition of African Party for Democracy and Socialism and National Democratic Rally); National Democratic Rally or RND [Madier DIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE]; Senegalese Democratic Union-Renewal or UDS-R [Mamadou Puritain FALL]; Socialist Party or PS [President Abdou DIOUF]; other small uninfluential parties
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b students; teachers; labor; Muslim Brotherhoods
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK
\Ichancery:\i 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 234-0540, 0541
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Dane Farnsworth SMITH, Jr. (5 August 1996)
\Iembassy:\i Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar
\Imailing address:\i B. P. 49, Dakar
\Itelephone:\i [221] 23 42 96, 23 34 24
\IFAX:\i [221] 22 29 91
\BFlag description:\b three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b In 1994 \JSenegal\j embarked on its most concerted structural adjustment effort yet to exploit the 50% \Jdevaluation\j of the currencies of the 14 Francophone African nations which took place on 12 January of that year. After years of foot-dragging, the government passed a liberalized labor code which should lower the cost of labor and improve the manufacturing sector's competitiveness. Inroads also have been made in closing tax loopholes, eliminating monopoly power in several sectors, and privatizing state-owned firms. At the same time, the government is holding the line on current fiscal expenditure under the watchful eyes of international organizations on which it depends for substantial support. The IMF, in mid-1995, announced that the government met most economic targets as called for in its Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility agreement and released the second $50 million tranche. The country's narrow tax and resource base, environmental degradation, and untamed growth of the population will continue to hold back improvement in living standards over the medium term. According to the draft budget, GDP will again rise by 5% in 1997.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $15.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police (Surete Nationale)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,938,693 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,012,181 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 94,397 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $81 million (1996 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.1% (1996 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b short section of boundary with The Gambia is indefinite
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving to Europe and \JNorth America\j; illicit cultivator of cannabis
#
"Serbia and Montenegro (Atlas)",211,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j have asserted the formation of a joint independent state, but this entity has not been formally recognized as a state by the US; the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation. Geography
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between \JAlbania\j and Bosnia and Herzegovina
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 44 00 N, 21 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 102,350 sq km (\JSerbia\j 88,412 sq km; \JMontenegro\j 13,938 sq km)
\Iland:\i 102,136 sq km (\JSerbia\j 88,412 sq km; \JMontenegro\j 13,724 sq km)
\Iwater:\i 214 sq km (\JSerbia\j 0 sq km; \JMontenegro\j 214 sq km)
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Kentucky (\JSerbia\j is slightly larger than Maine; \JMontenegro\j is slightly smaller than Connecticut)
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,246 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAlbania\j 287 km (114 km with \JSerbia\j, 173 km with \JMontenegro\j), Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km (312 km with \JSerbia\j, 215 km with \JMontenegro\j), \JBulgaria\j 318 km (with \JSerbia\j), \JCroatia\j (north) 241 km (with \JSerbia\j), \JCroatia\j (south) 25 km (with \JMontenegro\j), \JHungary\j 151 km (with \JSerbia\j), The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 221 km (with \JSerbia\j), \JRomania\j 476 km (with \JSerbia\j)
\Inote:\i the internal boundary between \JMontenegro\j and \JSerbia\j is 211 km
\BCoastline:\b 199 km (\JMontenegro\j 199 km, \JSerbia\j 0 km)
\BMaritime claims:\b NA
\BClimate:\b in the north, continental climate (cold winter and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion, continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland
\BTerrain:\b extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, \Jlimestone\j ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountain and hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands off the coast
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jpollution\j of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as \JKotor\j; air \Jpollution\j around \JBelgrade\j and other industrial cities; water \Jpollution\j from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast
\Iconventional short form:\i \JSerbia\j and Montenegro
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Srbija-Crna Gora
\Inote:\i \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j has self-proclaimed itself the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia," but the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation
\BIndependence:\b 11 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia formed as self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - SFRY)
\BNational holiday:\b St. Vitus Day, 28 June
\BConstitution:\b 27 April 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Zoran LILIC (since 25 June 1993); note - Slobodan MILOSEVIC is president of \JSerbia\j (since 9 December 1990); Momir BULATOVIC is president of \JMontenegro\j (since 23 December 1990)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Radoje KONTIC (since 29 December 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Jovan ZEBIC (since NA March 1993), Uros KLIKOVAC (since 15 September 1994), and Nikola SAINOVIC (since 15 September 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Federal Executive Council
\Ielections:\i president elected by the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); prime minister nominated by the president
\Ielection results:\i Zoran LILIC elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Federal Assembly or Savezna Skupstina consists of the Chamber of Republics or Vece Republika (40 seats, 20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin; members distributed on the basis of party representation in the republican assemblies to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Citizens or Vece Gradjana (138 seats, 108 Serbian with half elected by \Jconstituency\j majorities and half by proportional representation, 30 Montenegrin with six elected by \Jconstituency\j and 24 proportionally; members serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Chamber of Republics - last held 24 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); Chamber of Citizens - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Chamber of Republics - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - seats are filled on a proportional basis to reflect the composition of the legislatures of the republics of \JMontenegro\j and \JSerbia\j; Chamber of Citizens - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SPS/JUL/ND 64, Zajedno 22, DPSCG 20, SRS 16, NS 8, SVM 3, other 5; note - Zajedno coalition includes SPO, DS, GSS
\BJudicial branch:\b Federal Court or Savezni Sud, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly; Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Serbian Socialist Party or SPS (former Communist Party) [Slobodan MILOSEVIC]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ]; Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC, president]; Democratic Party or DS [Zoran DJINDJIC]; Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party of Socialists of \JMontenegro\j or DPSCG [Momir BULATOVIC, president]; People's Party of \JMontenegro\j or NS [Milan PAROSKI]; Liberal Alliance of \JMontenegro\j [Slavko PEROVIC]; Democratic Community of Vojvodina Hungarians or DZVM [Sandor PALL]; League of Communists-Movement for Yugoslavia or SK-PJ [Dragan ATANASOVSKI]; Democratic Alliance of \JKosovo\j or LDK [Dr. Ibrahim RUGOVA, president]; Party of Democratic Action or SDA [Sulejman UGLJANIN]; Civic Alliance of Serbia or GSS [Vesna PESIC, chairman]; Socialist Party of \JMontenegro\j or SP [leader NA]; Yugoslav United Left or JUL [Mirjana MARKOVIC (MILOSEVIC's wife)]; New Democracy or ND [Dusan MIHAJLOVIC]; Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b NA
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b the US and \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j do not maintain full diplomatic relations; the Embassy of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continues to function in the US
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Nebojsa VUJOVIC
\Ichancery:\i 2410 \JCalifornia\j St. NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 462-6566
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US and \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j do not maintain full diplomatic relations
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission Richard M. MILES
\Iembassy:\i Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade
\Imailing address:\i American Embassy, \JBelgrade\j, United States Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5070
\Itelephone:\i [381] (11) 645655
\IFAX:\i [381] (11) 645332
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The swift collapse of the Yugoslav federation in 1991 has been followed by highly destructive warfare, the destabilization of republic boundaries, and the breakup of important interrepublic trade flows. Output in \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j dropped by half in 1992-93. Like the other former Yugoslav republics, it had depended on its sister republics for large amounts of \Jenergy\j and manufactures. Wide differences in climate, mineral resources, and levels of technology among the republics accentuated this interdependence, as did the communist practice of concentrating much industrial output in a small number of giant plants. The breakup of many of the trade links, the sharp drop in output as industrial plants lost suppliers and markets, and the destruction of physical assets in the fighting all have contributed to the economic difficulties of the republics. One singular factor in the economic situation of \JSerbia\j and \JMontenegro\j is the continuation in office of a communist government that is primarily interested in political and military mastery, not economic reform. Hyperinflation ended with the establishment of a new currency unit in June 1993; prices were relatively stable in 1995. Reliable statistics are hard to come by; the GDP estimate is extremely rough. The economic boom anticipated by the government after the suspension of UN sanctions in December 1995 failed to materialize in 1996 and early 1997, exacerbating the regime's financial problems.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $21 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,900 (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i Montenegrin ships operate under the flags of Malta, Panama, and Cyprus; the Serbian ship operates under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; no ships remain under Yugoslav flag (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b People's Army (includes Ground Forces with internal and border troops, Naval Forces, and Air and Air Defense Forces), Civil Defense
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b \JMontenegro\j - 19; \JSerbia\j - NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b \JMontenegro\j - 150,933 (1997 est.); \JSerbia\j - 2,191,041 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b \JMontenegro\j - 5,518; \JSerbia\j - NA (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 6.5 billion dinars (1995 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 24% (1995 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b disputes with Bosnia and Herzegovina over Serbian populated areas; \JAlbanian\j majority in \JKosovo\j seeks independence from Serbian republic; Eastern Slavonia, which was held by ethnic Serbs during the ethnic conflict, is currently being overseen by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia; reintegration of Eastern Slavonia into \JCroatia\j will occur in 1997; Serbia and \JMontenegro\j is disputing \JCroatia\j's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern \JCroatia\j because it controls the entrance to \JKotor\j Bay in \JMontenegro\j; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP)
\BIllicit drugs:\b major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route
#
"Seychelles (Atlas)",212,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 4 35 S, 55 40 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 455 sq km
\Iland:\i 455 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 491 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
\BTerrain:\b Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are
coral, flat, elevated reefs
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Morne Seychellois 905 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, copra, \Jcinnamon\j trees
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 2%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 13%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 11%
\Iother:\i 74% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b lies outside the \Jcyclone\j belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b water supply depends on catchments to collect rain water
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 69.57 years
\Imale:\i 64.81 years
\Ifemale:\i 74.47 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.06 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Seychellois (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Seychelles
\BEthnic groups:\b Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), French (official), Creole
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 58%
\Imale:\i 56%
\Ifemale:\i 60% (1971 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Seychelles
\Iconventional short form:\i Seychelles
\BData code:\b SE
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Victoria
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe Island), Grand' Anse (on Praslin Island), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka
\BIndependence:\b 29 June 1976 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of new constitution)
\BConstitution:\b 18 June 1993
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j, French civil law, and customary law
\BSuffrage:\b 17 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President \JFrance\j Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President \JFrance\j Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i President \JFrance\j Albert RENE reelected; percent of vote - \JFrance\j Albert RENE (SPPF) 59.5%, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 36.72%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (33 seats, 22 popularly elected by direct vote, 11 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 9 percent of the vote; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%; seats by party (elected) - SPPF 21, DP 1; seats by party (awarded) - SPPF 6, DP 4, UO 1 \Inote:\i the 11 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal; Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b ruling party - \JSeychelles\j People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE]; Democratic Party or DP [Sir James MANCHAM]; United Opposition or UO [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] - a coalition of the following parties: \JSeychelles\j Party or PS [Wavel RAMKALAWAN], \JSeychelles\j Democratic Movement or MSPD[Jacques HONDOUL], and \JSeychelles\j Liberal Party or SLP [Ogilvie BERLOUIS]; New Democratic Party [Christopher GILL (former member of DP)]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b trade unions; Roman Catholic Church
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Claude MOREL
\Ichancery:\i (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of \JSeychelles\j to the United Nations, 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017
\Itelephone:\i [1] (212) 972-1785
\IFAX:\i [1] (212) 972-1786
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i the ambassador to \JMauritius\j is accredited to the Seychelles
\BFlag description:\b five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has grown to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level, led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war. Although the industry has rebounded, the government recognizes the continuing need for upgrading the sector in the face of stiff international competition.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $450 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.1% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1995 est.)
\Idomestic:\i radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago
\Iinternational:\i direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 35,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2 (in a government network)
\BTelevisions:\b 6,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 270 km
\Ipaved:\i 170 km
\Iunpaved:\i 100 km (1995 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Victoria
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 14 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 5
\Iunder 914 m:\i 6 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 21,860 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 11,030 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $13.7 million (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claims Tromelin Island
#
"Sierra Leone (Atlas)",213,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between Guinea and Liberia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 8 30 N, 11 30 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 71,740 sq km
\Iland:\i 71,620 sq km
\Iwater:\i 120 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than South Carolina
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 958 km
\Iborder countries:\i Guinea 652 km, \JLiberia\j 306 km
\BCoastline:\b 402 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 200 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
\BTerrain:\b coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
\BNatural resources:\b diamonds, \Jtitanium\j ore, \Jbauxite\j, iron ore, gold, chromite
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 7%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 31%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 28%
\Iother:\i 33% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 290 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b dry, sand-laden \Jharmattan\j winds blow from the Sahara (November to May); sandstorms, dust storms
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of \Jcattle\j grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; \Jcivil war\j depleting natural resources; overfishing
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Environmental Modification
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 132.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 48.02 years
\Imale:\i 45.06 years
\Ifemale:\i 51.07 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.29 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Sierra Leonean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Sierra Leonean
\BEthnic groups:\b 13 native African tribes 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 39%), \JCreole\j,
European, Lebanese, and Asian 1%
\BReligions:\b Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
\BLanguages:\b English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (the language of the re-settled ex-slave population of the \JFreetown\j area and is lingua franca)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write in English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
\Itotal population:\i 31.4%
\Imale:\i 45.4%
\Ifemale:\i 18.2% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Sierra Leone
\Iconventional short form:\i Sierra Leone
\BData code:\b SL
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional democracy
\BNational capital:\b Freetown
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
\BIndependence:\b 27 April 1961 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Republic Day, 27 April (1961)
\BConstitution:\b 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times
\BLegal system:\b based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (inaugurated 29 March 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (inaugurated 29 March 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the \JHouse of Representatives\j; the cabinet is responsible to the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note - president's tenure of office is limited to 2 five-year terms
\Ielection results:\i Ahmad Tejan KABBAH elected president; percent of popular vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral \JHouse of Representatives\j (80 seats, 68 elected, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve NA-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held NA February 1996 (next to be held NA)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SLPP 27, UNPP 17, PDP 12, APC 5, NUP 4, DCP 3; note - first elections since the former \JHouse of Representatives\j was shut down by the military coup of 29 April 1992
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b 15 parties registered for the February 1996 elections; National Peoples Party or NPP [Andrew TURAY]; Democratic Center Party or DCP [Abu KOROMA]; Peoples Progressive Party or PPP [Edward KAMARA, chairman]; Coalition for Progress Party or CPP [Geredine WILLIAMS-SARHO]; National Unity Movement or NUM; United National Peoples Party or UNPP; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Thaimu BANGURA, chairman]; All Peoples Congress or APC [S. A. T. KOROMA, chairman]; National Republican Party or NRP; Social Democratic Party or SDP; Peoples National Convention or PNC [I. B. KARGBO, chairman]; National Unity Party or NUP [A. O. D. GEORGE, chairman]; Sierra Leone Peoples Party or SLPP [Paul DUNBAR, chairman]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA; National Alliance for Democracy Party or NADP
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador John Ernest LEIGH
\Ichancery:\i 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 483-1793
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador John L. HIRSCH
\Iembassy:\i Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [232] (22) 226481 through 226485
\IFAX:\i [232] (22) 225471
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Sierra Leone has substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social \Jinfrastructure\j is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. Agriculture employs about two-thirds of the working population, with subsistence agriculture dominating the sector. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. The mining of diamonds, \Jbauxite\j, and rutile is the major source of hard currency. The government has worked hard to meet its IMF- and World Bank-mandated stabilization targets, holding down fiscal deficits and retiring much of its domestic debt, but at a steep cost in terms of forgone capital investments and social spending. Moreover, the economic \Jinfrastructure\j has nearly collapsed due to neglect and war-related disruptions in the mining and agricultural export sectors. The continuing \Jcivil war\j in \JLiberia\j has led to a large influx of refugees, who place additional burdens on Sierra Leone's fragile economy.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $980 (1996 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 78.15 years
\Imale:\i 75.14 years
\Ifemale:\i 81.4 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.46 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Singaporean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Singapore
\BEthnic groups:\b Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%
\BReligions:\b Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist
\BLanguages:\b Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 91.1%
\Imale:\i 95.9%
\Ifemale:\i 86.3% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Singapore
\Iconventional short form:\i Singapore
\BData code:\b SN
\BGovernment type:\b republic within Commonwealth
\BNational capital:\b Singapore
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none
\BIndependence:\b 9 August 1965 (from \JMalaysia\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 9 August (1965)
\BConstitution:\b 3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of \JSingapore\j Constitution)
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1999); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i ONG Teng Cheong elected president in the country's first popular election for president; percent of vote - ONG Teng Cheong 59%, CHUA Kim Yeow 41%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 2 January 1997 (next to be held by 2002)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - PAP 65% (in contested constituencies), other 35%; seats by party - PAP 81, WP 1, SPP 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, \Jchief justice\j is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the \Jchief justice\j; Court of Appeals
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Igovernment:\i People's Action Party (PAP), GOH Chok Tong, secretary general
\Iopposition:\i \JSingapore\j Democratic Party (SDP), CHEE Soon Juan; Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM; National Solidarity Party (NSP), C. K. TAN; \JSingapore\j People's Party (SPP), CHIAM See Tong
\Ichancery:\i 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 537-3100
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 537-0876
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Timothy A. CHORBA
\Iembassy:\i 27 Napier Road, \JSingapore\j 258508
\Imailing address:\i FPO AP 96534
\Itelephone:\i [65] 476-9100
\IFAX:\i [65] 476-9340
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JSingapore\j has an open economy with strong service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from its entrepot history. A slump in global demand for \Jelectronics\j slowed \JSingapore\j's export growth in 1996, and as a result, real GDP grew 6.5%, down from 8.9% in 1995. The government predicts growth will be in the 5%-7% range in 1997. Rising labor costs continue to be a threat to \JSingapore\j's competitiveness, and the government's strategy to address this problem includes increasing productivity, improving \Jinfrastructure\j, and encouraging higher value-added industries. In applied technology, per capita output, investment, and labor discipline, \JSingapore\j has key attributes of a developed country.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $72.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6.5% (1996)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $21,200 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b good domestic facilities; good international service
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i submarine cables to \JMalaysia\j (\JSabah\j and Peninsular \JMalaysia\j), \JIndonesia\j, and the \JPhilippines\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 \JPacific Ocean\j), and 1 Inmarsat (\JPacific Ocean\j region)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 4 (1996)
\BTelevisions:\b 1.05 million (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 38.6 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge
\Inote:\i there is a 67 km mass transit system with 42 stations
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,972 km
\Ipaved:\i 2,892 km (including 132 km of expressways)
\Iships by type:\i bulk 122, cargo 123, chemical tanker 24, combination bulk 8, combination ore/oil 6, container 115, liquefied gas tanker 23, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 259, refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 24 \Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 24 countries among which are \JJapan\j 42, Denmark 33, Hong Kong 26, \JGermany\j 22, \JThailand\j 17, Sweden 15, \JBelgium\j 11, China 10, US 10, and \JIndonesia\j 8; \JSingapore\j also owns an additional 220 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,289,213 DWT that operate under the registries of The \JBahamas\j, Cyprus, Hong Kong, \JHonduras\j, \JLiberia\j, Malta, \JMalaysia\j, Panama, \JThailand\j, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vanuatu (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 8 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 8
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,034,380 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 756,649 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $3.64 billion (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 5.2% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b two islands in dispute with Malaysia
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a money-laundering center
#
"Slovakia (Atlas)",215,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Central Europe, south of Poland
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 48 40 N, 19 30 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 48,845 sq km
\Iland:\i 48,800 sq km
\Iwater:\i 45 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about twice the size of New Hampshire
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,355 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAustria\j 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, \JHungary\j 515 km, \JPoland\j 444 km, \JUkraine\j 90 km
\BTerrain:\b rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Bodrok River 94 m
\Ihighest point:\i Gerlachovka 2,655 m
\BNatural resources:\b brown \Jcoal\j and \Jlignite\j; small amounts of iron ore, copper and \Jmanganese\j ore; salt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 31%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 3%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 17%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 41%
\Iother:\i 8% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 800 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; \Jacid rain\j damaging forests
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 72.91 years
\Imale:\i 69.11 years
\Ifemale:\i 76.9 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.34 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Slovak(s)
\Iadjective:\i Slovak
\BEthnic groups:\b Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.7%, Gypsy 1.5% (the 1992 \Jcensus\j figures underreport the Gypsy/\JRomany\j community, which could reach 500,000 or more), Czech 1%, Ruthenian 0.3%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.3%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5%
\Inote:\i an article in the Slovakian press mentions there are 8 departments named Bratislava, Banska Bystrica, \JKosice\j, Nitra, Presov, Trnava, Trencin, and Zilina
\BIndependence:\b 1 January 1993 (from \JCzechoslovakia\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Slovak Constitution Day, 1 September (1992); Anniversary of Slovak National Uprising, 29 August (1944)
\BConstitution:\b ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993
\BLegal system:\b civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Michal KOVAC (since 8 February 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Vladimir MECIAR (since 12 December 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by National Council for a five-year term; election last held 8 February 1993 (next to be held March 1998); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
\Ielection results:\i Michal KOVAC elected president; percent of parliamentary vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovensky Repubiky (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 30 September-1 October 1994 (next to be held by October 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - HZDS 35%, SDL 10.4%, Hungarian coalition (Hungarian Christian Democrats, Hungarian Civic Party, Coexistence) 10.2%, KDH 10.1%, DU 8.6%, ZRS 7.3%, SNS 5.4%; seats by party - governing coalition 83 (HZDS 61, ZRS 13, SNS 9), opposition 67 (SDL 18, Hungarian coalition 17, KDH 17, DU 15)
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Parliament
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Movement for a Democratic \JSlovakia\j or HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR, chairman]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Jozef MIGAS, chairman]; Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement or MKDH [Vojtech BUGAR]; Hungarian Civic Party or MOS [Laszlo A. NAGY, president]; Coexistence [Miklos DURAY, chairman]; Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Jan CARNOGURSKY, chairman]; Democratic Union or DU [Jozef MORAVCIK, chairman]; Association of Slovak Workers or ZRS [Jan LUPTAK, chairman]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA, chairman]; Slovak Green Alternative or SZA [Zora LAZAROVA, chairwoman]; Farmers' Party of \JSlovakia\j or RSS [Pavel DELINGA, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of \JSlovakia\j or SSDS [Jaroslav WOLF, chairman]; Party of Greens in \JSlovakia\j or SZS [Jozef POKORNY, chaiman]; Democratic Party or DS [Jan LANGOS, chairman]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Party of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen of \JSlovakia\j; Christian Social Union; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG; Association of Employers of \JSlovakia\j; Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Branislav LICHARDUS
\Ichancery:\i (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 \JWisconsin\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 965-5160
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 965-5166
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Ralph R. JOHNSON
\Iembassy:\i Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [42] (7) 533-0861, 533-3338
\IFAX:\i [42] (7) 533-5439
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Since the establishment of the Slovak Republic on 1 January 1993, \JSlovakia\j has continued the difficult transformation from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented economy. Macroeconomic performance improved steadily in 1994-96, but privatization progressed only in fits and starts. Strong export performance boosted GDP growth to 4.8% in 1994 after a four-year decline. GDP surged to 7.4% growth in 1995 and should be only slightly less in 1996, the fastest growth in Central and Eastern Europe. Unemployment fell to about 12% in 1996 and \Jinflation\j dropped from 26% in 1993 to 5.5% in 1996, the lowest in the region. Foreign debt of $4.6 billion also is the lowest in the region and the second lowest per capita. Private activity now makes up roughly two-thirds of GDP. Positive international financial performance has led Standard &\Jamp\j; Poor's to raise its rating of the National Bank of \JSlovakia\j's foreign currency debt to just one step below investment grade. Although Slovak economic performance continues to be impressive, many warning signs of possible danger ahead have been raised. Aggregate demand has surged in the form of increased personal and government consumption. At the same time that the budget deficit is growing, the money supply has been rapidly increasing, which could apply upward pressure on \Jinflation\j. The trade and current account deficits both are mounting as imports soar and exports sag. Perhaps most troubling, \JSlovakia\j continues to have difficulty attracting foreign investment because of perceived political problems and halting progress on restructuring and privatization. The government projects 6.4% growth in 1997 and 5% in 1998. Continuing economic recovery in western Europe should boost exports and production, but \JSlovakia\j's image with foreign creditors and investors could suffer setbacks in 1997 if progress on privatization and restructuring stalls.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $42.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8.0%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 12% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $5.3 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
\BIndustries:\b metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, and nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and \Jceramics\j; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; \Jrubber\j products
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 2.8% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 7.12 million kW (1994)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Reserve Force (Home Guards)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,462,052 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,118,955 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 48,245 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $423 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.7% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Gabcikovo Dam dispute with \JHungary\j; unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property
\BIllicit drugs:\b minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and \Jhashish\j bound for Western Europe
#
"Slovenia (Atlas)",216,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between \JAustria\j and Croatia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 46 00 N, 15 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 20,256 sq km
\Iland:\i 20,256 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than New Jersey
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,334 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAustria\j 330 km, \JCroatia\j 670 km, \JItaly\j 232 km, \JHungary\j 102 km
\BCoastline:\b 46.6 km
\BMaritime claims:\b NA
\BClimate:\b Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
\BTerrain:\b a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an \Jalpine\j mountain region adjacent to \JItaly\j, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; \Jpollution\j of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air \Jpollution\j (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 74.93 years
\Imale:\i 71.24 years
\Ifemale:\i 78.84 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Slovene(s)
\Iadjective:\i Slovenian
\BEthnic groups:\b Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 70.8% (including 2% Uniate), Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, other 27.2%
\BLanguages:\b Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i NA
\Itotal population:\i 99%
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Slovenia
\Iconventional short form:\i Slovenia
\Ilocal long form:\i Republika Slovenije
\Ilocal short form:\i Slovenija
\BData code:\b SI
\BGovernment type:\b emerging democracy
\BNational capital:\b Ljubljana
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 136 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities* (obcine mestne, singular - obcina mestna) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Bled, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova-Tisina, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik-Trnovska Vas, Divaca, Dobrepolje, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grosuplje, Hodos Salovci, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola, Jesenice, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Koper*, Kozje, Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava, Litija, \JLjubljana\j*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Maribor*, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podvelka-Ribnica, Postojna, Preddvor, Ptuj*, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne-Prevalje, Ribnica, Rogasevci, Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Semic, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki, Sostanj, Starse Store, Sveti Jurij, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velike Lasce, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice Vojnik, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Ziri, Zrece
\BIndependence:\b 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
\BNational holiday:\b National Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to become prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly; election last held NA November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Milan KUCAN elected president; percent of vote - 63.9%; Janez DRNOVSEK elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 51%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats, 40 are directly elected and 50 are selected on a proportional basis; note - the numbers of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i National Assembly - last held 10 November 1996 (next to be held Fall 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - LDS 27.01%, SLS 19.38%, SDS 16.13%, SKD 9.62%, ZLDS 9.03%, DeSUS 4.32%, SNS 3.22%; seats by party - LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 10, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1; note - seating as of January 1997 is as follows: LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 9, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1, independents 1
\Inote:\i the National Council or Drzavni Svet is an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws and ask to review any National Assembly decisions; in the election of 6 December 1992, 40 members were elected to represent local, professional, and socioeconomic interests (next election to be held in the fall of 1997)
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Assembly on recommendation of the Judicial Council; Constitutional Court, judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and nominated by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Liberal Democratic or LDS [Janez DRNOVSEK, chairman]; Slovene Christian Democrats or SKD [Lozje PETERLE, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of \JSlovenia\j or SDS [Janez JANSA, chairman]; Slovene People's Party or SLS [Marjan PODOBNIK, chairman]; United List (former Communists and allies) or ZLSD [Janez KOCIJANCIC, chairman]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC, chairman]; Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of \JSlovenia\j or DeSUS [Joze GLOBACNIK]
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center, beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an inverted triangle which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JSlovenia\j appears to be making a solid economic recovery, fulfilling the promise it showed at the time of Yugoslavia's breakup. Its per capita GDP is now the highest in Central and Eastern Europe and comparable to the levels in the poorer West European countries. \JSlovenia\j has benefited from strong ties to Western Europe and suffered comparatively small physical damage during Yugoslavia's breakup. The beginning was difficult, however. Real GDP fell 15% in 1991-92, while \Jinflation\j soared to 200% in 1992. The turning point came in 1993, when real GDP grew 1%, unemployment leveled off, and \Jinflation\j slowed dramatically. In 1994, real GDP rose 5.5%, tapering off to an estimated 3.5% in 1995 and an estimated 3% in 1996. The government gets good marks from foreign observers for fiscal policy - the budget deficit has not exceeded 1% of GDP in any year since 1991, and the current account balance has remained in surplus throughout the transition period, with the exception of 1995-96. The Slovene privatization program, which began in 1994, involves about 1,400 firms, but less than half have been privatized. Growth in the near term depends largely on economic revitalization in Western Europe which buys 70% of \JSlovenia\j's exports. \JSlovenia\j itself must press on with privatization, restructuring, the encouragement of foreign investment, and the maintenance of a stable tolar.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $24 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $12,300 (1996 est.)
\Iexpenditures:\i $8.53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.) \BIndustries:\b ferrous \Jmetallurgy\j and rolling mill products, aluminum reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, \Jelectronics\j (including military \Jelectronics\j), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b -1% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 2.361 million kW (1994)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 0
\Inote:\i there are more than 20 regional and local radio broadcast stations
\BRadios:\b 596,100 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 7
\Inote:\i there are more than 20 local cable \Jtelevision\j broadcast stations
\BTelevisions:\b 454,400 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,201 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 499 km) (1994)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14,760 km
\Ipaved:\i 11,808 km (including 218 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 2,952 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b NA
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 290 km; \Jnatural gas\j 305 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Izola, Koper, Piran
\BMerchant marine:\b
\Itotal:\i 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 217,629 GRT/389,779 DWT (controlled by Slovenian owners)
\Iships by type:\i bulk 9, cargo 5
\Inote:\i ships operate under the flags of Antigua and Barbuda, \JLiberia\j, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and \JSingapore\j; no ships remain under the Slovenian flag (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 14 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 10
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 5 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Slovene Defense Forces
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 531,797 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 423,918 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 15,572 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $298 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.5% to 1.7% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b maritime border dispute with \JCroatia\j over direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; the border issue is currently under negotiation; \JItaly\j is negotiating with \JSlovenia\j over property and minority rights issues dating from World War II
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe and for precursor chemicals
#
"Solomon Islands (Atlas)",217,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, group of islands in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, east of Papua New Guinea
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 8 00 S, 159 00 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 28,450 sq km
\Iland:\i 27,540 sq km
\Iwater:\i 910 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maryland
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 5,313 km
\BMaritime claims:\b measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical monsoon; few extremes of \Jtemperature\j and weather
\BTerrain:\b mostly rugged mountains with some low \Jcoral\j atolls
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 24.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 71.45 years
\Imale:\i 68.96 years
\Ifemale:\i 74.07 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.27 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Solomon Islander(s)
\Iadjective:\i Solomon Islander
\BEthnic groups:\b Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
\BReligions:\b Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other Protestant 5%, traditional beliefs 4%
\BLanguages:\b Melanesian \Jpidgin\j in much of the country is lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2% of population
\Inote:\i 120 indigenous languages
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Solomon Islands
\Iformer:\i British Solomon Islands
\BData code:\b BP
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Honiara
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, \JGuadalcanal\j, \JHoniara\j*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western
\Inote:\i there may be two new provinces of Choiseul (Lauru) and Rennell\Bellona and the administrative unit of \JHoniara\j may have been abolished
\BIndependence:\b 7 July 1978 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
\BConstitution:\b 7 July 1978
\BLegal system:\b common law
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA (since 10 June 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 7 November 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Francis SAEMALA (since NA February 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament \Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen on the advice of Parliament for up to five years; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Parliament (47 seats; members elected from single member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 26 May 1993 (next to be held 6 August 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GNUR 21, PAP 7, NAPSI 5, SILP 4, UP 4, independents 6
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Unity and Reconciliation Group (GNUR), Solomon MAMALONI; People's Alliance Party (PAP); National Action Party (NAPSI), leader NA; Solomon Islands Labor Party (SILP), leader NA; United Party (UP), leader NA; Nationalist Front for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKU; Christian Fellowship, leader NA
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Stephen Rex HOROI (represents the country as both the Permanent Representative to the UN and the ambassador to the US)
\Ichancery:\i Permanent Mission of the Solomon Islands to the UN, 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800, New York, NY 10017
\Itelephone:\i [1] (212) 599-6193
\IFAX:\i [1] (212) 661-8925
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands \BFlag description:\b divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The bulk of the population depend on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and \Jforestry\j for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured goods and \Jpetroleum\j products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. The Government of the Solomon Islands is nearing financial insolvency. In mid-1995 the central bank suspended interest and principal payments on government bonds and treasury bills held by financial institutions and the general public. The government so far has taken no steps to restrain expenditure or address the deficit, which is expected to be considerably higher than the $20 million forecasted in the 1996 budget.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,000 (1996 est.)
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 38,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b 2,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,100 km
\Ipaved:\i 32 km
\Iunpaved:\i 2,068 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation roads) (1995 est.)\BPorts and harbors:\b Aola Bay, \JHoniara\j, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 29 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 19
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 17 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 10
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 9 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b no regular military forces; Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Somalia (Atlas)",218,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 10 00 N, 49 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 637,660 sq km
\Iland:\i 627,340 sq km
\Iwater:\i 10,320 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,366 km
\Iborder countries:\i Djibouti 58 km, \JEthiopia\j 1,626 km, \JKenya\j 682 km
\BCoastline:\b 3,025 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iterritorial sea:\i 200 nm
\BClimate:\b principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Shimbiris 2,450 m
\BNatural resources:\b uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, \Jgypsum\j, \Jbauxite\j, copper, salt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 2%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 69%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 26%
\Iother:\i 3% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 1,800 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jfamine\j; use of contaminated \Jwater\j contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through \JRed Sea\j and Suez Canal
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 6,590,325 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i this estimate was derived from an official \Jcensus\j taken in 1987 by the Somali Government with the cooperation of the UN and the US Bureau of the Census; population estimates are updated year by year between \Jcensus\j years by factoring growth rates into them and by taking account of refugee movements and of losses due to \Jfamine\j; lower estimates of \JSomalia\j's population in mid-1996 (on the order of 6.0 million to 6.5 million) have been made by aid and relief agencies, based on the number of persons being fed; population counting in \JSomalia\j is complicated by the large numbers of nomads and by refugee movements in response to \Jfamine\j and clan warfare
\BIndependence:\b 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)
\BNational holiday:\b NA
\BConstitution:\b 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b \JSomalia\j has no functioning government; the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political situation is one of anarchy, marked by interclan fighting and random banditry
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral People's Assembly or Golaha Shacbiga
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b the United Somali Congress or USC ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party or SRSP, headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b \JSomalia\j does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in \JSomalia\j; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in \JNairobi\j at Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mail address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, \JNairobi\j; APO AE 09831; \Jtelephone\j: [254] (2) 334141; FAX [254] (2) 340838
\BFlag description:\b light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, \JSomalia\j has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the \Jcivil war\j. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, \Jsorghum\j, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. The greatly increased political turmoil of 1991-93 resulted in a substantial drop in agricultural output, with widespread \Jfamine\j. In 1994 economic conditions stabilized in the countryside, followed in 1995 by slight improvements. However, ongoing civil strife in \JMogadishu\j and outlying areas is interfering with any substantial recovery.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $3.6 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $500 (1995 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i 65.5%
\Iindustry:\i 8.7%
\Iservices:\i 25.8% (1990 est.)
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29%
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, \Jpetroleum\j refining (mostly shut down)
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 144,000 kW prior to the \Jcivil war\j, but now largely shut down due to war damage; some localities operate their own generating plants, providing limited municipal power; note - UN and relief organizations use their own portable power systems
\BElectricity - production:\b 60 million kWh (1991)
(January 1996 est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 9,000 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the \Jcivil war\j factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems
\Idomestic:\i recently, local cellular \Jtelephone\j systems have been established in \JMogadishu\j and in several other population centers
\Iinternational:\i international connections are available from \JMogadishu\j by satellite
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there are at least five radio broadcast stations of NA type)
\BRadios:\b 350,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0 (\JSomalia\j's only TV station was demolished during the civil strife, sometime in 1991)
\Iships by type:\i cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 47 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 11
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 3
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 4 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 36
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 4
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 13
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 19 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b NA; note - no functioning central government military forces; clan militias continue to battle for control of key economic or political prizes
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b
\Imales:\i 1,615,598 years of age (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,408,639 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 901,827 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b most of the southern half of the boundary with \JEthiopia\j is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with \JEthiopia\j over the Ogaden
#
"South Africa (Atlas)",219,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 29 00 S, 24 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,219,912 sq km
\Iland:\i 1,219,912 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,750 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBotswana\j 1,840 km, \JLesotho\j 909 km, \JMozambique\j 491 km, \JNamibia\j 855 km, \JSwaziland\j 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,798 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
\BTerrain:\b vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive \Jwater\j conservation and control measures; growth in \Jwater\j usage threatens to outpace supply; \Jpollution\j of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air \Jpollution\j resulting in \Jacid rain\j; soil erosion; desertification
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 53.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 56.29 years
\Imale:\i 54.4 years
\Ifemale:\i 58.23 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i South African(s)
\Iadjective:\i South African
\BEthnic groups:\b black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
\BReligions:\b Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds, about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), traditional and animistic 28.5%
\BLanguages:\b 11 official languages, including \JAfrikaans\j, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, \JVenda\j, Xhosa, Zulu
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 81.8%
\Imale:\i 81.9%
\Ifemale:\i 81.7% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of South Africa
\Iconventional short form:\i South Africa
\Iabbreviation:\i RSA
\BData code:\b SF
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b \JPretoria\j (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial)
\BNational holiday:\b Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
\BConstitution:\b 10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3 February 1997; it is being implemented in phases
\BLegal system:\b based on Roman-Dutch law and English \Jcommon law\j; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Thabo MBEKI (since June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Thabo MBEKI (since June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president and deputy executive presidents elected by the National Assembly; election last held April 1999)
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral parliament consisting of the National Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, ten members elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has special powers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities); note - following the implementation of the new constitution on 3 February 1997 the former Senate was disbanded and replaced by the National Council of Provinces with essentially no change in membership and party affiliations, although the new institution's responsibilities have been changed somewhat by the new constitution
\Ielections:\i National Assembly and Senate - last held April 1999); note - the Senate was disbanded and replaced by the National Council of Provinces on 6 February 1997
\Ielection results:\i National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF 2.2%, DP 1.7%, PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%, other 0.9%; seats by party - ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC 5, ACDP 2; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP 3
\BJudicial branch:\b Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate Courts
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b African National Congress or ANC [Nelson MANDELA, president]; National Party or NP [Frederik W. DE KLERK, president]; Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president]; African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE, president]; Democratic Party or DP [Tony LEON, president]; Freedom Front or FF [Constand VILJOEN, president]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Stanley MOGOBA, president]
\Inote:\i in addition to these seven parties which received seats in the National Assembly, 11 other parties won votes in the national elections in April 1994
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b South African National Civics Organization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, national president]; Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [John GOMONO, president]; note - both SANCO and COSATU, as well as the South African Communist Party, are in a formal alliance with the ANC
\BFlag description:\b two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes
\Inote:\i prior to 26 April 1994, the flag was actually four flags in one - three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old \JTransvaal\j Republic adjoining on the other side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Despite the efforts of South Africa's first majority-run government, income inequality remains among the world's most extreme. Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment, lack of job skills, and bleak living conditions. The main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports. Economic developments for the remainder of the 1990s will be driven largely by the new government's attempts to improve black living standards, to set the country on a steady export-led growth path, and to cut back the enormous numbers of unemployed. The economy in recent years has absorbed less than 5% of the more than 300,000 workers entering the labor force annually. Local economists estimate that the economy must grow at least 5% in real terms annually to absorb all of the new entrants, much less reduce the accumulated total.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $227 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $5,400 (1996 est.)
\Itotal:\i 14.2 million economically active (1996)
\Iby occupation:\i services 35%, agriculture 30%, industry 20%, mining 9%, other 6%
\BUnemployment rate:\b 34% (1996 est.); note - an additional 11% of the workforce is underemployed
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $30.5 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $38 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6 billion (FY94/95 est.)
\BIndustries:\b mining (world's largest producer of \Jplatinum\j, gold, \Jchromium\j), \Jautomobile\j assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemical, \Jfertilizer\j, foodstuffs
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 34.57 million kW (1994)
\Inote:\i current aid pledges include US $600 million over three years, 1994-96; UK $150 million over three years; \JAustralia\j $21 million over three years; \JJapan\j $1.3 billion over two years ending in 1996; EU $833 million over five years
\BTelephone system:\b the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa
\Idomestic:\i consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, and radiotelephone communication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, \JJohannesburg\j, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria
\Iinternational:\i 1 submarine cable; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 \JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 14, FM 286, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 12.1 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 67 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 3.45 million (1990 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 21,431 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 20,995 km 1.067-m gauge (9,087 km electrified); 436 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 182,329 km
\Ipaved:\i 55,428 km (including 2,040 km of expressways)
\Iships by type:\i container 6, oil tanker 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 662 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 351
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 10
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 4
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 43
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 74
\Iunder 914 m:\i 220 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 311
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 33
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 278 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b South African National Defense Force or SANDF (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police Service or SAPS
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 10,972,813 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 6,672,760 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 435,972 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $2.9 billion (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.2% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b \JSwaziland\j has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment center for heroin and \Jcocaine\j; \Jcocaine\j consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana
#
"South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands",220,0,0,0
\I(dependent territory of the UK) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern \JSouth America\j, islands in the South \JAtlantic Ocean\j, east of
the tip of South America
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 54 30 S, 37 00 W
\BMap references:\b Antarctic Region
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,066 sq km
\Iland:\i 4,066 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Rhode Island
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b NA km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
\BTerrain:\b most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, \Jglacier\j-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Paget 2,915 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and \Jlichen\j)
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing \Jweather\j conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good \Janchorage\j; \Jreindeer\j, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous population
\Inote:\i there is a small military garrison on South Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
\Iconventional short form:\i none
\BData code:\b SX
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK; administered by a civil commissioner based in the Falkland Islands
\BNational capital:\b none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
\BFlag description:\b the flag of the UK is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and \Jkrill\j. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK.
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $291,777
\Iexpenditures:\i $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b NA kW
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Grytviken
\BAirports:\b none
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
#
"Spain (Atlas)",221,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, \JMediterranean Sea\j, and North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, southwest of France
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 40 00 N, 4 00 W
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 504,750 sq km
\Iland:\i 499,400 sq km
\Iwater:\i 5,350 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - \JCeuta\j, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,919.1 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAndorra\j 65 km, \JFrance\j 623 km, \JGibraltar\j 1.2 km, \JPortugal\j 1,214 km, Morocco (\JCeuta\j) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
\BCoastline:\b 4,964 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm (applies only to the \JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
\BTerrain:\b large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; \JPyrenees\j in north
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Pico de Teide on Canary Islands 3,718 m
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jpollution\j of the \JMediterranean Sea\j from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; \Jwater\j quality and quantity nationwide; air \Jpollution\j; deforestation; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 96%
\Imale:\i 98%
\Ifemale:\i 94% (1986 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Kingdom of Spain
\Iconventional short form:\i Spain
\Ilocal short form:\i Espana
\BData code:\b SP
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Madrid
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencian, Extremadura, \JGalicia\j, Islas Baleares, La \JRioja\j, Madrid, \JMurcia\j, Navarra, Pais Vasco \Inote:\i there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco (\JCeuta\j, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera) with administrative status unknown
\BIndependence:\b 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 12 October
\BConstitution:\b 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
\BLegal system:\b civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the Government Jose Maria AZNAR (since 5 May 1996); First Vice President Francisco ALVAREZ-CASCOS FERNANDEZ (since 5 May 1996) and Second Vice President (and Minister of Economy and Finance) Rodrigo RATO FIGAREDO (since 5 May 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers designated by the president
\Inote:\i there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government
\Ielections:\i the king is a hereditary monarch; president proposed by the king and elected by the National Assembly following legislative elections; election last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Jose Maria AZNAR elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly or Las \JCortes\j Generales consists of the Senate or Senado (256 seats; 208 members are directly elected by popular vote and the other 48 were appointed by the regional legislatures to serve four-year terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; members are elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000); Congress of Deputies - last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PP 132, PSOE 96, CiU 11, PNV 6, IU 2, others 9; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PP 38.9%, PSOE 37.5%, IU 10.7%, CiU 4.6%; seats by party - PP 156, PSOE 141, IU 21, CiU 16, other 16
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Iprincipal national parties, from right to left:\i Popular Party or PP [Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez]; Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez, secretary general]; Spanish Communist Party or PCE [Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez]; United Left or IU (a coalition of parties including the PCE and other small parties) [Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez]
\Ichief regional parties:\i Convergence and Union or CiU [Jordi PUJOL, secretary general] (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of \JCatalonia\j or CDC [Pere ESTEVE] and the Democratic Union of \JCatalonia\j or UDC [Josep Antoni DURAN LLEIDA]); Basque Nationalist Party or PNV [Xabier ARZALLUS Antia and Jose Antonio ARDANZA]; Canarian Coalition or CC (a coalition of five parties)
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b on the extreme left, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty or ETA and the First of October Antifascist Resistance Group or GRAPO use \Jterrorism\j to oppose the government; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); Workers Confederation or CC.OO; the Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO; business and landowning interests; the \JCatholic Church\j; Opus Dei; university students
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Antonio de OYARZABAL MARCHESI
\Ichancery:\i 2375 \JPennsylvania\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 833-5670
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York,
San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Richard N. GARDNER
\Iembassy:\i Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
\Imailing address:\i APO AE 09642
\Itelephone:\i [34] (1) 587-2200
\IFAX:\i [34] (1) 587-2303
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Barcelona
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and \JCeuta\j) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JSpain\j's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP three-fourths that of the four leading West European economies. Its center-right government has staked much on gaining admission to the first group of countries to implement the European single currency by developing an austere 1997 budget - including a wage freeze for public-sector employees - in hopes of meeting the Maastricht monetary convergence criteria. The government slashed spending by $1.6 billion in mid-1996 to ensure that \JSpain\j's deficit did not exceed its target of 4.4% of GDP for the year; the government forecasts a deficit of 3% for 1997. The AZNAR administration advocates liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy, and has introduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment, nevertheless, remains the highest in the EU at about 22%, but the government, for political reasons, has made only limited progress in changing labor laws or reforming pension schemes, which are key to the sustainability of \JSpain\j's economic advances.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $593 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $15,300 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i services 62%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 29%, agriculture
9% (1996)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 22% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $113 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $139 billion, including capital expenditures of $15 billion (1995)
\BIndustries:\b textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 39.58 million kW (1994)
\BTelephone system:\b generally adequate, modern facilities
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i 22 coaxial submarine cables; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat, NA Inmarsat, and NA Marecs; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 190, FM 406 (repeaters 134), shortwave 0
\Ibroad gauge:\i 12,139 km 1.668-m gauge (6,510 km electrified; 2,295 km double track)
\Istandard gauge:\i 488 km 1.435-m gauge (488 km electrified)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 1,716 km (privately owned: 1,669 km 1.000-m gauge, 489 km electrified; 28 km 0.914-m gauge, 28 km electrified; government owned: 19 km 1.000-m gauge, all electrified)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 343,197 km
\Ipaved:\i 339,765 km (including 7,747 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 3,432 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 1,045 km, but of minor economic importance
\BPorts and harbors:\b Aviles, \JBarcelona\j, \JBilbao\j, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, \JCeuta\j, \JHuelva\j, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Gijon, Santa Cruz de \JTenerife\j (Canary Islands), Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, Coastal Civil Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 10,387,353 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 8,381,141 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 333,758 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $6.3 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.4% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b \JGibraltar\j question with UK; \JSpain\j controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of \JCeuta\j and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
\BIllicit drugs:\b key European gateway country for Latin American \Jcocaine\j and North African \Jhashish\j entering the European market; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
#
"Spratly Islands (Atlas)",222,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 8 38 N, 111 55 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i less than 5 sq km
\Iland:\i less than 5 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes 100 or so islets, \Jcoral\j reefs, and sea mounts scattered over
the South China Sea
\BArea - comparative:\b NA
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 926 km
\BMaritime claims:\b NA
\BClimate:\b tropical
\BTerrain:\b flat
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i South China Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, \Jguano\j, undetermined oil and \Jnatural gas\j potential
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and \Jcoral\j reefs
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants
\Inote:\i there are scattered garrisons
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Spratly Islands
\BData code:\b PG
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
\BIndustries:\b none
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 4 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, \JMalaysia\j, the \JPhilippines\j, \JTaiwan\j, and Vietnam
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, \JTaiwan\j, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by \JMalaysia\j and the \JPhilippines\j; in 1984, \JBrunei\j established an exclusive economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island
#
"Sri Lanka (Atlas)",223,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 7 00 N, 81 00 E
\BMap references:\b Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 65,610 sq km
\Iland:\i 64,740 sq km
\Iwater:\i 870 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than West Virginia
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,340 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
\BTerrain:\b mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jlimestone\j, \Jgraphite\j, mineral sands, gems, \Jphosphates\j, clay
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 14%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 15%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 7%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 32%
\Iother:\i 32% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 5,500 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b occasional cyclones and tornadoes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased \Jpollution\j; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Marine Life Conservation
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 18,721,178 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1996, 63,068 were housed in refugee camps in south India, another 30,000-40,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought political asylum in the West
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 72.42 years
\Imale:\i 69.75 years
\Ifemale:\i 75.23 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.15 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Sri Lankan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Sri Lankan
\BEthnic groups:\b \JSinhalese\j 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%
\BReligions:\b Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%
\BLanguages:\b Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%
\Inote:\i English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the population
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 90.2%
\Imale:\i 93.4%
\Ifemale:\i 87.2% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
\Iconventional short form:\i Sri Lanka
\Iformer:\i Ceylon
\BData code:\b CE
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Colombo
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
\BIndependence:\b 4 February 1948 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 16 August 1978
\BLegal system:\b a highly complex mixture of English \Jcommon law\j, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, \JSinhalese\j, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime minister; in \JSri Lanka\j the president is considered to be both the chief of state and the head of the government, this is in contrast to the more common practice of dividing the roles between the president and the prime minister when both offices exist
\Ihead of government:\i President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime minister; in \JSri Lanka\j the president is considered to be both the chief of state and the head of the government, this is in contrast to the more common practice of dividing the roles between the president and the prime minister when both offices exist
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 9 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA elected president; percent of vote - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (People's Alliance) 62%, Srima DISSANAYAKE (United National Party) 37%, other 1%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of a modified proportional representation system to serve six-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 16 August 1994 (next to be held by August 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - PA 49.0%, UNP 44.0%, SLMC 1.8%, TULF 1.7%, SLPF 1.1%, EPDP 0.3%, UPF 0.3%, PLOTE 0.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party - PA 105, UNP 94, EPDP 9, SLMC 7, TULF 5, PLOTE 3, SLPF 1, UPF 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission; Court of Appeals
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), C. G. Kumar PONNAMBALAM; Ceylon Workers Congress (CLDC), S. THONDAMAN; Communist Party, K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/\JBeijing\j (CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic People's Liberation Front (DPLF), leader NA; Democratic United National Front (DUNF), G. M. PREMACHANDRA; Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas DEVANANDA; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRL), Suresh PREMACHANDRAN; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS), Shankar RAJI; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP, or Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. DE SILVA; Liberal Party (LP), Chanaka AMARATUNGA; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama Samaja Party), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; People's Alliance (PA), Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Dharmalingam SIDARTHAN; People's United Front (MEP, or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; \JSri Lanka\j Freedom Party (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; \JSri Lanka\j Muslim Congress (SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF; \JSri Lanka\j People's Party (SLMP, or \JSri Lanka\j Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA; \JSri Lanka\j Progressive Front (SLPF), leader NA; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), leader NA; Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), M. SIVASITHAMBARAM; United National Party (UNP), Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA; Upcountry People's Front (UPF), leader NA; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in either parliament or provincial councils \Inote:\i the United Socialist Alliance (USA), which was formed in 1987 and included the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B, was defunct as of 1993, following the formation of the People's Alliance Party (PA)
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; other radical chauvinist \JSinhalese\j groups; Buddhist \Jclergy\j; \JSinhalese\j Buddhist lay groups; labor unions
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Geetha DE SILVA
\Ichancery:\i 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 232-7181
\Iconsulate(s):\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador A. Peter BURLEIGH
\Iembassy:\i 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 106, Colombo
\Itelephone:\i [94] (1) 448007
\IFAX:\i [94] (1) 437345, 446013
\BFlag description:\b yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Industry - dominated by the fast-growing apparel industry - has surpassed agriculture as the main source of export earnings. The economy has been plagued by high rates of unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth accelerated in 1991-95 as domestic conditions began to improve and conditions for foreign investment brightened. In 1996, however, a \Jdrought\j, slow economic reform, and \Jcivil war\j exacted a heavy economic toll. Insufficient monsoon rains caused power cuts that hurt industrial and agricultural production, and the stepped-up Tamil insurgency reduced foreign investment and tourism - two key sources of foreign exchange. Meanwhile, Colombo's counterinsurgency efforts caused defense expenditures to overshoot budget targets by 42%. In 1997, agricultural production should recover from the effects of last year's \Jdrought\j, but industry will still be hampered by high real interest rates, slow improvement in foreign investment inflows, and stalled progress on privatization. The government's main challenge this year will be to curb defense and social welfare spending to cut the budget deficit as a percentage of GDP in half by 1998, as stipulated in its deficit reduction program.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $69.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,760 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 5,066,744 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 3,946,315 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 184,619 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $736 million (1997)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 5.7% (1997)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Sudan (Atlas)",224,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Africa, bordering the \JRed Sea\j, between \JEgypt\j and Eritrea
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 00 N, 30 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,505,810 sq km
\Iland:\i 2.376 million sq km
\Iwater:\i 129,810 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 7,687 km
\Iborder countries:\i Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j 628 km, \JEgypt\j 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, \JEthiopia\j 1,606 km, \JKenya\j 232 km, \JLibya\j 383 km, \JUganda\j 435 km
\BCoastline:\b 853 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 18 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October)
\BTerrain:\b generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JRed Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Kinyeti 3,187 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j; small reserves of iron ore, copper, \Jchromium\j ore, zinc, \Jtungsten\j, mica, silver, gold
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 5%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 46%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 19%
\Iother:\i 30% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 19,460 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b dust storms
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b inadequate supplies of potable \Jwater\j; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 74.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 55.54 years
\Imale:\i 54.6 years
\Ifemale:\i 56.53 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.79 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Sudanese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Sudanese
\BEthnic groups:\b black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
\BReligions:\b Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in south and \JKhartoum\j)
\BLanguages:\b Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
\Inote:\i program of Arabization in process
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 46.1%
\Imale:\i 57.7%
\Ifemale:\i 34.6% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of the Sudan
\Iconventional short form:\i Sudan
\Ilocal long form:\i Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
\Ilocal short form:\i As-Sudan
\Iformer:\i Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
\BData code:\b SU
\BGovernment type:\b transitional - previously ruling military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new constitution to be drafted by the National Assembly
\BNational capital:\b Khartoum
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 26 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or wilayah*); A'ali an Nil, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrat, Al Jazirah, Al Khartum, Al Qadarif, Al Wahdah, An Nil al Abyad, An Nil al Azraq, Ash Shamaliyah*, Bahr al Jabal, Gharb al Istiwa'iyah, Gharb Bahr al Ghazal, Gharb Darfur, Gharb Kurdufan, Janub Darfur, Janub Kurdufan, Junqali, Kassala, Nahr an Nil, Shamal Bahr al Ghazal, Shamal Darfur, Shamal Kurdufan, Sharq al Istiwa'iyah, Sinnar, Warab
\BIndependence:\b 1 January 1956 (from \JEgypt\j and UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
\BConstitution:\b 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution to be drafted following national elections held in March 1996
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b NA years of age; universal, but noncompulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October 1993), Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October 1993), Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president; note - President al-BASHIR's government is dominated by members of \JSudan\j's National Islamic Front, a fundamentalist political organization formed from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABI dominates much of \JKhartoum\j's overall domestic and foreign policies; President al-BASHIR named a new cabinet on 20 April 1996 which includes members of the National Islamic Front, serving and retired military offficers, and civilian technocrats
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
\Ielection results:\i Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR elected president; percent of vote - Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR 75.7%; note - about forty other candidates ran for president
\Inote:\i al-BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October 1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved to the president and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), \JSudan\j's appointed legislative body, which has since been replaced by the National Assembly which was elected in March 1996
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (400 seats; 275 elected by popular vote, 125 elected by a supraassembly of interest groups known as the National Congress; members serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i NA; the March 1996 elections were held on a nonparty basis; parties are banned in the new National Assembly
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b none; banned following 30 June 1989 coup
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b National Islamic Front, Hasan al-TURABI
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador \JMahdi\j Ibrahim MOHAMED
\Ichancery:\i 2210 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 338-8565 through 8570
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 667-2406
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b operations in \JKhartoum\j were suspended in February 1996; Ambassador to \JSudan\j Timothy M. CARNEY and several members of the mission have relocated to \JNairobi\j, \JKenya\j and operate out of the US Embassy there; the embassy is located at the corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; \Jtelephone\j: [254] (2) 334141; FAX: [254] (2) 340838
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JSudan\j is buffeted by \Jcivil war\j, chronic political instability, adverse \Jweather\j, high \Jinflation\j, a drop in remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. Agriculture employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has kept per capita income at low levels. A large foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring \JSudan\j noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund. After \JSudan\j backtracked on promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF threatened to expel \JSudan\j from the Fund. To avoid expulsion, \JKhartoum\j agreed to make payments on its arrears to the Fund, liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies, measures it has partially implemented. The government's continued prosecution of the \Jcivil war\j and its growing international isolation continued to inhibit growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy during 1996. Hyperinflation has raised consumer prices above the reach of most. Popular unrest erupted several times in 1996 in reaction to unpopular government economic decisions.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $26.6 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $860 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i the market rate is a unified exchange rate determined by a committee of local bankers, without official intervention, and is quoted uniformly by all commercial banks
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\Inote:\i prior to July 1995, \JSudan\j had a fiscal year that began on 1 July and ended on 30 June; as a transition to their new fiscal year, a six-month budget was implemented for 1 July - 31 December 1995; the new calendar year (1 January - 31 December) fiscal year became effective 1 January 1996
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 77,215 (1983 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern standards
\Idomestic:\i consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 14 \Jearth\j stations
\Iships by type:\i cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 56 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 20
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 9
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 8 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 36
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 12
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 24 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force Militia
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 7,437,363 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,576,117 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 341,516 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b administrative boundary with \JKenya\j does not coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with \JEgypt\j does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km
#
"Suriname (Atlas)",225,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern \JSouth America\j, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between French Guiana and Guyana
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 4 00 N, 56 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 163,270 sq km
\Iland:\i 161,470 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,800 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Georgia
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,707 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBrazil\j 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, \JGuyana\j 600 km
\BCoastline:\b 386 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; moderated by trade winds
\BTerrain:\b mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
\Ihighest point:\i Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m
\BNatural resources:\b timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, \Jbauxite\j, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, \Jplatinum\j, gold
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 96%
\Iother:\i 4% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 600 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation as timber is cut for export
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Climate Change, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of the lack of development; relatively small population most of which lives along the coast
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 70.32 years
\Imale:\i 67.78 years
\Ifemale:\i 72.99 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.64 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Surinamer(s)
\Iadjective:\i Surinamese
\BEthnic groups:\b Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, \JCreole\j (mixed white and black) 31%, \JJavanese\j 15.3%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, white 1%, other 1.1%
\BReligions:\b Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
\BLanguages:\b Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Hindustani (a \Jdialect\j of \JHindi\j), Javanese
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\BIndependence:\b 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
\BConstitution:\b ratified 30 September 1987
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
\Inote:\i Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant power
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff election held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
\Ielection results:\i Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of legislative vote NA; National Assembly failed to elect president; results reflect the People's Assembly votes - Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 438, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 407
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, DA'91 4, Pendawa Lima 4, Alliance 3
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, justices nominated for life
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b The New Front (NF), a coalition of three parties (NPS, VHP, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred DERBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), a coalition of two parties (AF, and BEP) formed in January 1991, Winston JESSURUN; Alternative Forum (AF), Rick VAN RAVENSWAY; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Paul SOMOHARDJO; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The Progressive Development Alliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), Frank PLAYFAIR; Democratic Party (DP), Frank PLAYFAIR; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation of Land Workers PVF), Jwan SITAL; Party for Renewal and Democracy (BVD), Atta MUNGRA; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative (OPDA), Joginder RAMKHILAWAN
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO; General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), George TIRINI
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cicyl G. ALWART
\Ichancery:\i Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 244-5878
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Miami
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS
\Iembassy:\i Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
\Itelephone:\i [597] 472900, 477881, 476459
\IFAX:\i [597] 420800
\BFlag description:\b five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is dominated by the \Jbauxite\j industry, which accounts for upwards of 15% of GDP and more than 65% of export earnings. Following a dismal year in 1994 which saw the value of the Surinamese currency plummet by about 80%, \Jinflation\j rise to more than 600%, and national output fall for the fifth consecutive year, nearly all economic indicators improved in 1995-96. The government unified the exchange rate and maintained a fairly tight monetary policy. Inflation apparently has been eliminated, and tax revenues have increased sufficiently to erase the budget deficit. The release of substantial development aid from the Netherlands - which had been held up due to the government's failure to initiate economic reforms - also has helped buoy the economy. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued implementation of economic restructuring. The new government elected in the fall of 1996 has sent mixed signals about commitment to these reforms.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.4 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,150 (1996 est.)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 1
\BRadios:\b 290,256 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 6 (1987 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 59,598 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 166 km (single track)
\Istandard gauge:\i 80 km 1.435-m gauge
\Inarrow gauge:\i 86 km 1.000-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,470 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,162 km
\Iunpaved:\i 3,308 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways
\BPorts and harbors:\b Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen
\Iships by type:\i cargo 1, container 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 38 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 32
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 31 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 6 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements), Civil Police
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 121,618 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 71,811 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa Rivier); claims area in \JGuyana\j between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for South American drugs destined mostly for Europe
#
"Svalbard (Atlas)",226,0,0,0
\I(territory of \JNorway\j) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Europe, islands between the \JArctic\j Ocean, Barents Sea, \JGreenland\j Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 78 00 N, 20 00 E
\BMap references:\b \JArctic\j Region
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 62,049 sq km
\Iland:\i 62,049 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than West Virginia
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 3,587 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm unilaterally claimed by \JNorway\j but not recognized by Russia
\Iterritorial sea:\i 4 nm
\BClimate:\b \Jarctic\j, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping \Jwater\j open and navigable most of the year
\BTerrain:\b wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JArctic\j Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Newtontoppen 1,717 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jcoal\j, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b ice floes often block up the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for \Jcoal\j export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b northernmost part of the Kingdom of \JNorway\j; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 2,624 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b -3.81% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b NA births/1,000 population
\BDeath rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 population
\BNet migration rate:\b NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 live births
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i NA years
\Imale:\i NA years
\Ifemale:\i NA years
\BTotal fertility rate:\b NA children born/woman
\BEthnic groups:\b Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other NEGL% (1994)
\BLanguages:\b Russian, Norwegian
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)
\BData code:\b SV
\BDependency status:\b territory of Norway; administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Longyearbyen
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of \JNorway\j)
\BNational holiday:\b NA
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King HARALD V of \JNorway\j (since 17 January 1991)
\Ihead of government:\i Governor Ann-Krisitin OLSEN (since NA) and Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a hereditary monarch; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JNorway\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish \Jcoal\j companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned \Jcoal\j company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local \Jinfrastructure\j. There is also some trapping of seal, \Jpolar bear\j, fox, and \Jwalrus\j.
\BLabor force:\b NA
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $11.6 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $11.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 of NA type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0
\Inote:\i there are five meteorological/radio stations
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 4 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between \JNorway\j and \JRussia\j
#
"Swaziland (Atlas)",227,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, between \JMozambique\j and South Africa
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 26 30 S, 31 30 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 17,360 sq km
\Iland:\i 17,200 sq km
\Iwater:\i 160 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than New Jersey
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 535 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JMozambique\j 105 km, South Africa 430 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b varies from tropical to near temperate
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Great Usutu River 21 m
\Ihighest point:\i Emlembe 1,862 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jasbestos\j, \Jcoal\j, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 11%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 62%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 7%
\Iother:\i 20% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 670 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b limited supplies of potable \Jwater\j; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
\BNational holiday:\b Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
\BConstitution:\b none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally presented to the people
\BLegal system:\b based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b NA; note - no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the 65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since 9 August 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by the king
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a hereditary monarch; prime minister appointed by the king
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body, consists of the Senate (20 seats, 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 10 appointed by the king; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats, 10 appointed by the king and 55 elected by secret, popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i House of Assembly - last held 26 September and 11 October 1993 (next
to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i House of Assembly - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each \Jconstituency\j and for each \Jconstituency\j the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court, judges are appointed by the king; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the king
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\Inote:\i political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding large public gatherings
\Iillegal parties:\i Peoples' United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU]; \JSwaziland\j Youth Congress or SWAYOCO (included in PUDEMO); \JSwaziland\j Communist Party or SWACOPA [Mphandlana SHONGWE]; \JSwaziland\j Liberation Front or FROLISA; Convention for Full Democracy in \JSwaziland\j or COFUDESWA [Sabelo DLAMINI]; \JSwaziland\j National Front or SWANAFRO; Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party or NGWASOREP; \JSwaziland\j Democratic Alliance (represents key opposition parties) [Jerry NXUMALO]; \JSwaziland\j Federation of Trade Unions or SFTU [Jan SITHOLE]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA
\Ichancery:\i Suite 3M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 362-6683, 6685
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 244-8059
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Allen McKEE
\Iembassy:\i Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
\Itelephone:\i [268] 46441 through 46445
\IFAX:\i [268] 45959
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b This small landlocked economy is based largely on subsistence agriculture, which occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing features a number of agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health concerns have cut world demand for \Jasbestos\j. Exports of soft drink concentrate, sugar and wood pulp are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with \JMozambique\j, \JSwaziland\j is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives nearly 90% of its imports and to which it sends more than half of its exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement domestically earned income by as much as 20%. The government is trying to improve the \Jatmosphere\j for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and \Jdrought\j persist as problems for the future.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.9% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1996 est.)
\Ipartners:\i South Africa 58%, EU 20%, \JMozambique\j 6% (1994)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $831 million (f.o.b., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, \Jpetroleum\j products, foodstuffs, chemicals
\Ipartners:\i South Africa 88%, \JJapan\j, UK, US (FY94/95)
\BDebt - external:\b $175 million (1995 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 4.6410 (January 1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992); note - the Swazi emalangeni are at par with the South African rand
\BFiscal year:\b 1 April - 31 March
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 30,364 (1993 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 129,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 10
\BTelevisions:\b 12,500 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use
\Inarrow gauge:\i 297 km 1.067-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,885 km
\Ipaved:\i 814 km
\Iunpaved:\i 2,071 km (1994 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 17 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 11
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 10 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 6 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Umbutfo \JSwaziland\j Defense Force (Army), Royal \JSwaziland\j Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 228,109 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 131,872 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $22 million (FY93/94)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b \JSwaziland\j has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom
#
"Sweden (Atlas)",228,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and \JSkagerrak\j, between \JFinland\j and Norway
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 62 00 N, 15 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 449,964 sq km
\Iland:\i 410,928 sq km
\Iwater:\i 39,036 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,205 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JFinland\j 586 km, \JNorway\j 1,619 km
\BCoastline:\b 3,218 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i agreed boundaries or midlines
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
\BClimate:\b temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy
summers; subarctic in north
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
\BIndependence:\b 6 June 1523, Gustav VASA was elected king; 6 June 1809, a constitutional monarchy was established
\BNational holiday:\b Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
\BConstitution:\b 1 January 1975
\BLegal system:\b civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the king (born 14 July 1977)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
\Ielections:\i the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister elected by the Parliament; election last held NA March 1996 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Goran PERSSON elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 18 September 1994 (next to be held NA September 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 45.4%, Moderate Party (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals 7.2%, Left Party 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New Democracy Party 1.2%; seats by party - Social Democrats 162, Moderate Party (Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26, Left Party 22, Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note - the New Democracy Party did not receive a seat because parties require a minimum of 4.0% of votes for a seat in parliament
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen, judges are appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Social Democratic Party [Goran PERSSON]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Carl BILDT]; Liberal People's Party [Maria LEISSNER]; Center Party [Olof JOHANSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [Alf SVENSSON]; New Democracy Party [Vivianne FRANZEN]; Left Party or VP (Communist) [Gudrun SCHYMAN]; Communist Workers' Party [Rolf HAGEL]; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Carl Henrik Sihver LILJEGREN
\Ichancery:\i 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 467-2600
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 467-2699
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Thomas L. SIEBERT
\Iembassy:\i Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [46] (8) 783 53 00
\IFAX:\i [46] (8) 661 19 64
\BFlag description:\b blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Aided by peace and \Jneutrality\j for the whole twentieth century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech \Jcapitalism\j and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the \Jengineering\j sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. In recent years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by budgetary difficulties, \Jinflation\j, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in the economy, the government adopted an adjustment program in November 1994 that aims to eliminate the government budget deficit and to stabilize the debt to GDP ratio. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $184.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $20,800 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, agriculture, fishing, and \Jforestry\j 3.2% (1991)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 8% (September 1996) plus about 6% in training programs
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $109.4 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $146.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96)
\BIndustries:\b iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and \Jtelephone\j parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 2% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 35.46 million kW (1994)
\Icommodities:\i machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, \Jpetroleum\j and \Jpetroleum\j products
\Ipartners:\i EU 59.1% (\JGermany\j 13.2%, UK 10.2%, Denmark 6.9%, \JFrance\j 5.1%), \JNorway\j 8.1%, \JFinland\j 4.8%, US 8.0% (1994)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $64.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i machinery, \Jpetroleum\j and \Jpetroleum\j products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing
\Ipartners:\i EU 62.6% (\JGermany\j 18.4%, UK 9.5%, Denmark 6.6%, \JFrance\j 5.5%), \JFinland\j 6.3%, \JNorway\j 6.1%, US 8.5% (1994)
\BFiscal year:\b 1 January - 31 December (Sweden changed its fiscal year from 1 July - 30 June in 1995)
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 13 million (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b excellent domestic and international facilities; automatic system
\Idomestic:\i coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay network carries some additional \Jtelephone\j channels
\Iinternational:\i 5 submarine coaxial cables; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat \Jearth\j station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, \JFinland\j, \JIceland\j, and \JNorway\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0
\BMilitary branches:\b Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,101,889 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,839,158 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 51,314 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $5.8 billion (FY94/95)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.5% (FY94/95)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b minor transshipment point for and consumer of \Jnarcotics\j shipped via the \JCIS\j and Baltic states; increasing consumer of European amphetamines
#
"Switzerland (Atlas)",229,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Central Europe, east of France
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 47 00 N, 8 00 E
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 41,290 sq km
\Iland:\i 39,770 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,520 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,852 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAustria\j 164 km, \JFrance\j 573 km, \JItaly\j 740 km, \JLiechtenstein\j 41 km, \JGermany\j 334 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Lake Maggiore 195 m
\Ihighest point:\i Dufourspitze 4,634 m
\BNatural resources:\b hydropower potential, timber, salt
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; \Jacid rain\j; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern \JFrance\j and northern \JItaly\j, contains the highest elevations in Europe
\Ilocal short form:\i Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera (Italian)
\BData code:\b SZ
\BGovernment type:\b federal republic
\BNational capital:\b Bern
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, \JBasel\j-Landschaft, \JBasel\j-Stadt, \JBern\j, \JFribourg\j, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, \JZug\j, Zurich
\BIndependence:\b 1 August 1291
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
\BConstitution:\b 29 May 1874
\BLegal system:\b civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Ruth DREIFUSS (since December 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Ruth DREIFUSS (since December 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Federal Council or German - Bundesrat, French - Conseil Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale elected by the Federal Assembly from among its own members for a four-year term
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year terms that run concurrently
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Federal Assembly or German - Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee Federale, Italian - Assemblea Federale consists of the Council of States or German - Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats, Italian - Consiglio degli Stati (46 seats; members are elected two from each canton and one from each half canton to serve four-year terms) and the National Council or German - Nationalrat, French - Conseil National, Italian - Consiglio Nazionale (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Council of States - last held throughout 1995 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 20 October 1995 (next to be held NA October 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 17, PDC 16, UDC 5, PSS 5, LPS 2, LdU 1; National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 45, PSS 55, PDC 34, UDC 29, Greens 10, LPS 7, FPS 6, LdU/EVP 5, SD 3, PdAdS 3, Ticino League 2, EDU 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Federal Supreme Court, judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Franz STEINEGGER, president]; Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Peter BODENMANN, president]; Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Anton COTTIER, president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica da Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Verena DIENER, president]; Freedom Party or FPS [Roland BORER]; Liberal Party (Liberale Partei der Schweiz or LPS, Parti Liberal Suisse or PLS, Partito Liberale Svizzero or PLS) [Francois Jeanneset, president]; Alliance of Independents' Party (Landesring der Unabhaengigen or LdU, Alliance des Independants or AdI) [Daniel ANDRES, president]; Ticino League (Lega dei Ticinesi) [Giuliano BIGNASCA, president]; and other minor parties including Swiss Democratic Party (Schweizer Demokraten or SD, Democrates Suisses or DS, Democratici Svizzeri or DS), Workers' Party (Parti Suisse du Travail or PST, Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz or PdAdS, Partito Svizzero del Lavoro or PSdL), Evangelical People's Party (Evangelische Volkspartei der Schweiz or EVP, Parti Evangelique Suisse or PEV, Partito Evangelico Svizzero or PEV), and the Union of Federal Democrats (Eidgenossisch-Demokratische Union or EDU, Union Democratique Federale or UDF, Unione Democratica Federale or UDF); note - see elections
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Alfred DEFAGO (since April 1997)
\Ichancery:\i 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 745-7900
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 387-2564
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JAtlanta\j, \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (\JAmerican Samoa\j), and San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Madeleine May KUNIN (since 8 August 1996)
\Iembassy:\i Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [41] (31) 357 70 11
\IFAX:\i [41] (31) 357 73 44
\BFlag description:\b \Jred square\j with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JSwitzerland\j, a fundamentally prosperous and stable modern economy with a per capita GDP roughly 10% above that of the big West European economies, is experiencing continued economic difficulties. GDP has dropped for five consecutive quarters, unemployment is reaching record levels, and the fiscal deficit is again above 3% of GDP. In 1997, growth may reach barely 0.6%; a recovery is not likely before mid to late 1997. Weak domestic consumer demand is partly at fault; declining real disposable income is combining with a reluctance to reduce saving rates in the face of an uncertain employment outlook. \JSwitzerland\j's leading sectors, including financial services, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and special-purpose machines, will therefore be more reliant on export markets at the same time they are being squeezed by the strong franc. Consequently, growth in machinery and equipment investment, for example, is expected to taper off. On the other side, import growth in 1997 also is likely to be lower than the 1995 rate of 6.6%, but higher than 1996's expected 1.9%.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $161.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -0.75% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $22,600 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air Force and Antiaircraft Command, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,889,213 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,617,691 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 41,038 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $3.74 billion (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.4% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American \Jcocaine\j and Southwest Asian heroin
#
"Syria (Atlas)",230,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between \JLebanon\j and Turkey
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 35 00 N, 38 00 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 185,180 sq km
\Iland:\i 184,050 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,130 sq km
\Inote:\i includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than North Dakota
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,253 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JIraq\j 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, \JLebanon\j 375 km, Turkey 822 km
\BCoastline:\b 193 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 41 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 35 nm
\BClimate:\b mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold \Jweather\j with snow or sleet periodically hitting Damascus
\BTerrain:\b primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i unnamed location near Lake \JTiberias\j -200 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Hermon 2,814 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, \Jphosphates\j, chrome and \Jmanganese\j ores, \Jasphalt\j, iron ore, \Jrock salt\j, marble, gypsum
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 28%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 4%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 43%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 3%
\Iother:\i 22% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 9,060 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b dust storms, sandstorms
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; \Jdesertification\j; water \Jpollution\j from dumping of raw sewage and wastes from \Jpetroleum\j refining; inadequate supplies of potable water
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 38.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 67.44 years
\Imale:\i 66.21 years
\Ifemale:\i 68.74 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.73 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Syrian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Syrian
\BEthnic groups:\b Arab 90.3%, \JKurds\j, Armenians, and other 9.7%
\BReligions:\b Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and \JAleppo\j)
\BLanguages:\b Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, \JAramaic\j, Circassian, French widely understood
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 70.8%
\Imale:\i 85.7%
\Ifemale:\i 55.8% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Syrian Arab Republic
\Iconventional short form:\i Syria
\Ilocal long form:\i Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
\Ilocal short form:\i Suriyah
\Iformer:\i United Arab Republic (with \JEgypt\j)
\BData code:\b SY
\BGovernment type:\b republic under military regime since March 1963
\BNational capital:\b Damascus
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
\BIndependence:\b 17 April 1946 (from \JLeague of Nations\j mandate under French administration)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 17 April (1946)
\BConstitution:\b 13 March 1973
\BLegal system:\b based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971); note - President ASAD seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers 22 February 1971, and was confirmed as president in the 12 March 1971 national elections; Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984), Rifaat al-ASAD (since 11 March 1984), and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November 1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984), Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1998); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 24-25 August 1994 (next to be held NA 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - National Progressive Front 167, independents 83
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president; High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b
\INational Progressive Front includes:\i the ruling Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party, Hafiz al-ASAD, president of the republic, secretary general of the party, and chairman of the National Progressive Front; Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), 'Abd al-Ghani KANNUT; Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Jamal ATASSI; Syrian Communist Party (SCP), Yusuf FAYSAL; Arab Socialist Unionist Party, Safwan QUDSI; Democratic Socialist Union Party, Ahmad al-ASAD
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence; Communist party ineffective; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of \JIraq\j, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of \JEgypt\j, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Sheltered from the pressures of the international marketplace for almost three decades, \JSyria\j's predominantly statist economy is on a weak footing because of Damascus's failure to implement extensive economic reform. After an economic rebound in the early 1990s in the wake of the Persian Gulf war, economic growth has slowed as the traditionally volatile economy has once again slumped. Current account and budget deficits and \Jinflation\j are increasing. The dominant agricultural sector remains underdeveloped, with roughly 80% of agricultural land still dependent on rain-fed sources. Although \JSyria\j has sufficient \Jwater\j supplies in the aggregate at normal levels of precipitation, the great distance between major \Jwater\j supplies and population centers poses serious distribution problems, and the \Jwater\j problem is exacerbated by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j. Unemployment remains a nagging problem because about 60% of the population is under the age of 20, ensuring a steady flow of job seekers into the already tight labor market. Private investment is critical to the modernization of the agricultural, \Jenergy\j, and export sectors, particularly because Damascus is saddled with a heavy foreign debt. Oil production is leveling off, and the efforts of the nonoil sector to penetrate international markets have fallen short. \JSyria\j's inadequate \Jinfrastructure\j, outmoded technological base, and weak educational system hamper competition with neighbors such as Jordan and Israel. The dominant public sector continues to be plagued by labor, financial, and management problems, and much of the private sector is hobbled by a shortage of capital. The economic benefits of any peace treaty with Israel will depend in large part on the pace of economic reform.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $98.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.2% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,300 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 3,742,851 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 2,095,933 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 170,328 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $875 million (1994 est.); note - based on official budget data that understate actual spending
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 8% (1994 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; dispute with upstream riparian Turkey over Turkish \Jwater\j development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern \JLebanon\j since October 1976
\BIllicit drugs:\b a transit point for Lebanese and Turkish refined \Jcocaine\j going to Europe and heroin and \Jhashish\j bound for regional and Western markets
#
"Taiwan (Atlas)",231,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and \JTaiwan\j Strait, north of the \JPhilippines\j, off the southeastern coast of China
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 23 30 N, 121 00 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 35,980 sq km
\Iland:\i 32,260 sq km
\Iwater:\i 3,720 sq km
\Inote:\i includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maryland and \JDelaware\j combined
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,448 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
\BTerrain:\b eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i South China Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Yu Shan 3,997 m
\BNatural resources:\b small deposits of \Jcoal\j, \Jnatural gas\j, \Jlimestone\j, marble, and asbestos
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 24%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 5%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 55%
\Iother:\i 15%
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b earthquakes and typhoons
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from industrial emissions, raw sewage; air \Jpollution\j; contamination of drinking \Jwater\j supplies; trade in \Jendangered species\j; low-level radioactive waste disposal
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Marine Life Conservation
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 77.04 years
\Imale:\i 73.81 years
\Ifemale:\i 80.52 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.77 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Chinese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Chinese
\BEthnic groups:\b Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
\BReligions:\b mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
\BLanguages:\b Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), \JHakka\j dialects
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 86%
\Imale:\i 93%
\Ifemale:\i 79% (1980 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Taiwan
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i T'ai-wan
\BData code:\b TW
\BGovernment type:\b multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly elected president
\BNational capital:\b Taipei
\BAdministrative divisions:\b since in the past the authorities claimed to be the government of all China, the central administrative divisions include the provinces of Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu) and \JTaiwan\j (the island of \JTaiwan\j and the Pescadores islands); note - the more commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of \JTaiwan\j Province - 16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un
\Inote:\i \JTaiwan\j uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of the Revolution)
\BConstitution:\b 1 January 1947, amended in 1992, presently undergoing revision
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 20 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President LI Teng-hui (succeeded to the presidency following the death of President CHIANG Ching-kuo 13 January 1988, elected by the National Assembly 21 March 1990, elected by popular vote in the first-ever direct elections for president 23 March 1996); Vice President LIEN Chan (since 20 May 1996); note - LIEN Chan serves as both vice president and premier
\Ihead of government:\i Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN Chan (since 23 February
1993) and Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993); note - LIEN Chan serves as both vice president and premier
\Icabinet:\i Executive Yuan appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 23 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier
\Ielection results:\i LI Teng-hui elected president; percent of vote - LI Teng-hui 54%, PENG Ming-min 21%, LIN Yang-kang 15%, and CHEN Li-an 10%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Yuan (164 seats - 128 elected by popular vote, 36 indirectly elected on the basis of proportional representation; members serve three-year terms; note - national conference agreed to change the term to four years, pending ratification by the National Assembly) and unicameral National Assembly (334 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Legislative Yuan - last held 2 December 1995 (next to be held NA December 1998); National Assembly - last held 23 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - KMT 46%, DPP 33%, CNP 13%, independents 8%; seats by party - KMT 85, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 4; note - since the election, there has been a change in the distribution of seats, the new distribution is as follows - KMT 83, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 6; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - KMT 55%, DPP 30%, CNP 14%, other 1%; seats by party - KMT 183, DPP 99, CNP 46, other 6
\BJudicial branch:\b Judicial Yuan, justices appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), HSU Hsin-Liang, chairman; Chinese New Party (CNP), CHEN Kuei-Miao; Labor Party (LP), leader NA; \JTaiwan\j Independence Party (TAIP), leader NA
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b \JTaiwan\j independence movement, various environmental groups
\Inote:\i debate on \JTaiwan\j independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on \JTaiwan\j; political liberalization and the increased representation of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party in \JTaiwan\j's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; advocates of \JTaiwan\j independence, including within the DPP, oppose the ruling party's traditional stand that the island will eventually reunify with mainland China; goals of the \JTaiwan\j independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on \JTaiwan\j and entering the UN; other organizations supporting \JTaiwan\j independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for \JTaiwan\j Nation Building
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 12 other US cities
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of \JTaiwan\j are maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in \JTaiwan\j (AIT), which has offices in Taipei at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, \Jtelephone\j [886] (2) 709-2000, FAX [886] (2) 702-7675, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road, \Jtelephone\j [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, FAX [886] (7) 223-8237, and the American Trade Center at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, \Jtelephone\j [886] (2) 720-1550, FAX [886] 757-7162
\BFlag description:\b red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white \Jsun\j with 12 triangular rays
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JTaiwan\j has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable guidance of investment and foreign trade by government officials and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 9% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are low. Agriculture contributes less than 4% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being moved off-shore and replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. \JTaiwan\j has become a major investor in China, \JThailand\j, \JIndonesia\j, the \JPhilippines\j, \JMalaysia\j, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $315 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.7% (1996)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $14,700 (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 5,270 kWh (1995 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish catch increasing, reached 1.4 million metric tons in 1988
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $116 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and electrical equipment 46.3%, textile products 13.5%, basic metals and articles 8.8%, chemicals 6.7% (1996 est.)
\Ipartners:\i US 27.6%, Hong Kong 21.7%, EU countries 15.2%, \JJapan\j 10.5% (1994 est.)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $102.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
\Icommodities:\i machinery and electrical equipment 35.5%, chemicals 10.9%, basic metals and articles 10.3%, minerals 9.2% (1996 est.)
\Ipartners:\i \JJapan\j 30.1%, US 21.7%, EU countries 17.6% (1993 est.)
\BDebt - external:\b $600 million (1995 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 New \JTaiwan\j dollar (NT$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b New \JTaiwan\j dollars per US$1 - 27.5 (1996), 27.4 (1995), 26.2 (1994), 26.6 (1993), 25.4 (1992)
\BFiscal year:\b 1 July - 30 June
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 9,391,304 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i extensive microwave radio relay trunk system on east and west coasts
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 \JPacific Ocean\j and 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables to \JJapan\j (\JOkinawa\j), \JPhilippines\j, \JGuam\j, \JSingapore\j, Hong Kong, \JIndonesia\j, \JAustralia\j, \JMiddle East\j, and Western Europe
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 91, FM 23, shortwave 0
\Itotal:\i 4,600 km (498 km electrified); note - 1,108 km belongs to the \JTaiwan\j Railway Administration and the remaining 3,492 km is dedicated to industrial use
\Inarrow gauge:\i 4,600 km 1.067-m
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 19,584 km
\Ipaved:\i 17,124 km (including 387 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 2,460 km
\BPipelines:\b \Jpetroleum\j products 615 km; \Jnatural gas\j 97 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 19 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 6,394,422 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,927,346 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 207,332 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $11.5 billion (FY96/97)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.6% (FY96/97)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, \JMalaysia\j, \JPhilippines\j, Vietnam, and possibly \JBrunei\j; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan
\BIllicit drugs:\b considered an important heroin transit point; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamines and heroin
#
"Tajikistan (Atlas)",232,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b Tajikistan has experienced three changes of government since it gained independence in September 1991. The current president, Emomali RAHMONOV, was elected in November 1994, yet has been in power since 1992. The country is suffering through its fourth year of a civil conflict, with no clear end in sight. Underlying the conflict are deeply rooted regional and clan-based animosities that pit a government consisting of people primarily from the Kulob (Kulyab), Khujand (Leninabad), and Hisor (Hissar) regions against a secular and Islamic-led opposition from the Gharm, Gorno-Badakhshan, and Qurghonteppa (Kurgan-Tyube) regions. Government and opposition representatives have held periodic rounds of UN-mediated peace talks and agreed in September 1994 to a cease-fire which has been periodically extended. Russian-led peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and Russian-commanded border guards are stationed along the Tajikistani-Afghan border.
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Central Asia, west of China
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 39 00 N, 71 00 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 143,100 sq km
\Iland:\i 142,700 sq km
\Iwater:\i 400 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Wisconsin
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,651 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAfghanistan\j 1,206 km, China 414 km, \JKyrgyzstan\j 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
\BTerrain:\b Pamirs and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Syrdariya 300 m
\Ihighest point:\i Qullai Kommunizm 7,495 m
\BNatural resources:\b significant hydropower potential, some \Jpetroleum\j, uranium, mercury, brown \Jcoal\j, lead, zinc, \Jantimony\j, tungsten
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 6%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 25%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 4%
\Iother:\i 65% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 6,390 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil \Jsalinity\j; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides; part of the basin of the shrinking Aral Sea suffers from severe overutilization of available \Jwater\j for irrigation and associated pollution
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 109.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 64.68 years
\Imale:\i 61.55 years
\Ifemale:\i 67.97 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.58 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Tajikistani(s)
\Iadjective:\i Tajikistani
\BEthnic groups:\b Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6%
\BReligions:\b Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
\BLanguages:\b Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 97% (1989 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Tajikistan
\Iconventional short form:\i Tajikistan
\Ilocal long form:\i Jumhurii Tojikistan
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\Iformer:\i Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
\BData code:\b TI
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Dushanbe
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 2 oblasts (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and one autonomous oblast* (viloyati avtonomii); Viloyati Avtonomii Badakhshoni Kuni* (Khorugh - formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa - formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Leninobod (Khujand - formerly Leninabad)
\Inote:\i the administrative center name follows in parentheses
\BIndependence:\b 9 September 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 9 September (1991)
\BConstitution:\b new constitution adopted 6 November 1994
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Emomali RAHMONOV (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Assembly chairman since NA November 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Yahyo AZIMOV (since 8 February 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president who proposes them to the Supreme Assembly for approval
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 November 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Emomali RAHMONOV elected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMONOV 58%, Abdumalik ABDULLAJANOV 40%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli (181 seats; members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 26 February and 12 March 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; estimated seats by party - Communist Party and affiliates 100, People's Party 10, Party of People's Unity 6, Party of Economic and Political Renewal 1, other 64
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b People's Party of Tajikistan [Abdumajid DOSTIYEV]; National Revival Bloc [Abdumalik ABDULLOJONOV]; Tajik Communist Party [Shodi SHABDOLOV]; Democratic Party [Jumaboy NIYAZOV, chairman]; Islamic Renaissance Party or IRP [Mohammed Sharif HIMMATZODA, chairman]; Rebirth (Rastokhez) [Takhir ABDUZHABOROV]; Lali Badakhshan Society [Atobek AMIRBEK]; Tajikistan Party of Economic and Political Renewal or TPEPR; Citizenship, Patriotism, Unity Party [Bobokhon MAHMADOV]; Adolatho "Justice" Party [Abdurahmon KARIMOV, chairman]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Tajikistan Opposition Movement based in northern \JAfghanistan\j [Seyed Abdullah NURI, chairman]
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b Tajikistan does not have an embassy in the US, but has a mission at the UN: address - 136 East 67th Street, New York, NY 10021, \Jtelephone\j - [1] (212) 472-7645, FAX - [1] (212) 628-0252; permanent representative to the UN is Rashid ALIMOV
\BFlag description:\b three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven five-pointed gold stars is located in the center of the white stripe
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Tajikistan had the next-to-lowest per capita GDP in the former USSR, the highest rate of population growth, an extremely low standard of living, and rampant \Jinflation\j. Agriculture dominates the economy, with cotton being the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and \Jtungsten\j. Industry is limited to a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The Tajik economy has been gravely weakened by four years of civil conflict and by the loss of subsidies from Moscow and of markets for its products, which has left Tajikistan dependent on \JRussia\j and Uzbekistan and on international humanitarian assistance for much of its basic subsistence needs. Moreover, constant political turmoil and the continued dominance by former communist officials have impeded the introduction of meaningful economic reforms. The regime made initial efforts to stabilize the economy and promote reform in 1996.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $5.4 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -17% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $920 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture and \Jforestry\j 52%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 17%, services 31% (1995)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 2.4% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers and unregistered unemployed people (December 1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b -20% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 4.44 million kW (1994)
\BTelephone system:\b poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not reached by the national network
\Idomestic:\i cable and microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other \JCIS\j republics, and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; \JDushanbe\j linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in \JAnkara\j (Turkey); \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Orbita and 2 Intelsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b 1 state-owned radio broadcast station
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1
\Inote:\i 1 Intelsat \Jearth\j station provides TV receive-only service from Turkey
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 480 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines (1990)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 32,752 km
\Ipaved:\i 21,119 km (note - these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-\Jweather\j gravel surfaced)
\Iunpaved:\i 11,633 km (1992 est.)
\BPipelines:\b \Jnatural gas\j 400 km (1992)
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 59 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 14
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 5
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 7
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 45
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 9
\Iunder 914 m:\i 36 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air Force, Presidential National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,393,416 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,143,159 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 60,832 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 180 billion rubles (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.4% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b boundary with China in dispute; territorial dispute with \JKyrgyzstan\j on northern boundary in Isfara Valley area; foreign support to Islamic fighters based in northern \JAfghanistan\j in Tajikistan's civil war
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to \JRussia\j and Western Europe
#
"Tanzania (Atlas)",233,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between \JKenya\j and Mozambique
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 6 00 S, 35 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 945,090 sq km
\Iland:\i 886,040 sq km
\Iwater:\i 59,050 sq km
\Inote:\i includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than twice the size of California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,402 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBurundi\j 451 km, \JKenya\j 769 km, Malawi 475 km, \JMozambique\j 756 km, \JRwanda\j 217 km, \JUganda\j 396 km, \JZambia\j 338 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,424 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
\BTerrain:\b plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
\BNatural hazards:\b the tsetse fly; flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil degradation; deforestation; \Jdesertification\j; destruction of \Jcoral\j reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification
\BGeography - note:\b \JKilimanjaro\j is highest point in Africa
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 104.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 41.71 years
\Imale:\i 40.34 years
\Ifemale:\i 43.13 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.58 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Tanzanian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Tanzanian
\BEthnic groups:\b mainland - native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab)
\Inote:\i Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African
\BReligions:\b mainland - Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20%
\Inote:\i Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
\BLanguages:\b Kiswahili or \JSwahili\j (official), Kiunguju (name for \JSwahili\j in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
\Inote:\i Kiswahili (\JSwahili\j) is the mother tongue of Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal \JTanzania\j; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources, including Arabic and English, and it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (\JSwahili\j), English, or Arabic
\Itotal population:\i 67.8%
\Imale:\i 79.4%
\Ifemale:\i 56.8% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i United Republic of Tanzania
\Iconventional short form:\i Tanzania
\Iformer:\i United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
\BData code:\b TZ
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Dar es Salaam
\Inote:\i some government offices have been transferred to \JDodoma\j, which is planned
as the new national capital by the end of the 1990s
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, \JDodoma\j, Iringa, Kigoma, \JKilimanjaro\j, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, \JTanga\j, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi
\BIndependence:\b 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of \JTanzania\j 29 October 1964
\BNational holiday:\b Union Day, 26 April (1964)
\BConstitution:\b 25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 22 November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 22 November 1995); note the president is both chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 22 November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 22 November 1995); note the president is both chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - Benjamin William MKAPA 62%, MREMA 28%, LIPUMBA 6%, CHEYO 4%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats, 232 directly elected; members serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CCM 186, opposition parties 46; note - of the 42 seats which are not elected, some are filled by presidential appointment and others are designated by law for specific officials
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal; High Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Benjamin William MKAPA]; Civic United Front or CUF [Seif Sharif HAMAD]; National Convention for Construction and Reform or NCCR [Lyatonga (Augustine) MREMA]; Union for Multiparty Democracy or UMD [Abdullah FUNDIKIRA]; Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo or CHADEMA [Edwin I. M. MTEI, chairman]; Democratic Party (unregistered) [Reverend MTIKLA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI
\Ichancery:\i 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 939-6125
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 797-7408
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador J. Brady ANDERSON
\Iembassy:\i 36 Laibon Road (off Bagamoyo Road), Dar es Salaam
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
\Itelephone:\i [255] (51) 66010 through 66015
\IFAX:\i [255] (51) 66701
\BFlag description:\b divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JTanzania\j is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 57% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry accounts for 17% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production and financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate \JTanzania\j's deteriorated economic \Jinfrastructure\j. Growth in 1991-96 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $18.9 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.5% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $650 (1995 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b fair system operating below capacity
\Idomestic:\i open wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 12, FM 4, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 640,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 3 (1995 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 45,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,569 km (1995)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge
\Inote:\i the \JTanzania\j-\JZambia\j Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi in \JZambia\j (of which 969 km are in \JTanzania\j and 891 km are in \JZambia\j) is not a part of \JTanzania\j Railways Corporation; because of the difference in gauge, this system does not connect to \JTanzania\j Railways
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 88,000 km
\Ipaved:\i 3,696 km
\Iunpaved:\i 84,304 km (1994 est.)
\BWaterways:\b Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 982 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Lindi, Mkoani, Mtwara, Musoma, Mwanza, \JTanga\j, Wete, Zanzibar
\BMilitary branches:\b Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF (includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 6,630,336 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 3,842,624 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $69 million (FY94/95)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b dispute with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j-\JTanzania\j-\JZambia\j tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j-\JZambia\j boundary has been settled
\BIllicit drugs:\b growing role in transshipment of Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American \Jcocaine\j destined for European and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for Southern Africa
#
"Thailand (Atlas)",234,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of \JThailand\j, southeast of Burma
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 00 N, 100 00 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 514,000 sq km
\Iland:\i 511,770 sq km
\Iwater:\i 2,230 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,863 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBurma\j 1,800 km, \JCambodia\j 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, \JMalaysia\j 506 km
\BCoastline:\b 3,219 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
\BTerrain:\b central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
\BNatural hazards:\b land subsidence in \JBangkok\j area resulting from the depletion of the \Jwater\j table; droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j from vehicle emissions; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 32.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 68.8 years
\Imale:\i 65.12 years
\Ifemale:\i 72.66 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.86 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Thai (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Thai
\BEthnic groups:\b Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
\BReligions:\b \JBuddhism\j 95%, Muslim 3.8%, \JChristianity\j 0.5%, \JHinduism\j 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)
\BLanguages:\b Thai, English the secondary language of the elite, ethnic and regional dialects
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 93.8%
\Imale:\i 96%
\Ifemale:\i 91.6% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Kingdom of Thailand
\Iconventional short form:\i Thailand
\BData code:\b TH
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional monarchy
\BNational capital:\b Bangkok
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon (\JBangkok\j), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, \JSurat\j Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
\BIndependence:\b 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
\BNational holiday:\b Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)
\BConstitution:\b new constitution approved 7 December 1991; amended 10 June 1992; new constitution currently being drafted with completion expected by the end of 1997
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system, with influences of \Jcommon law\j; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946); Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut (since 25 November 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers
\Inote:\i there is also a Privy Council
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister designated from among the members of the \JHouse of Representatives\j; following elections in the \JHouse of Representatives\j, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats usually becomes prime minister
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (a 270-member appointed body; members serve six-year terms) and the \JHouse of Representatives\j or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (393 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 17 November 1996 (next scheduled to be held by 17 November 2000, but may be held earlier as Prime Minister CHAWALIT has promised to hold elections after the draft of the new constitution is complete and that is scheduled for the end of 1997)
\Ielection results:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NAP 125, DP 123, NDP 52, TNP 39, SAP 20, TCP 18, SP 8, LDP 4, MP 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the king
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Thai Nation Party (TNP or Chat Thai Party), BANHAN Sinlapa-acha; Democratic Party (DP or Prachathipat Party), CHUAN Likphai; New Aspiration Party (NAP or Khwamwang Mai), Gen. CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut; National Development Party (NDP or Chat Phattana), CHATCHAI Chunhawan; Phalang \JDharma\j Party (PDP or Phalang Tham), SUDARAT Keyuraphan; Social Action Party (SAP or Kitsangkhom Party), MONTRI Phongphanit; Thai Citizen's Party (TCP or Prachakon Thai), SAMAK Sunthonwet; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Seri Tham), PHINIT Charusombat; Solidarity Party (SP or Ekkaphap Party), UTHAI Phimchaichon; Mass Party (MP or Muanchon), Pol. Cpt. CHALOEM Yubamrung
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram
\Ichancery:\i 1024 \JWisconsin\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 944-3600
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 944-3611
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Los Angeles, and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador William H. ITOH
\Iembassy:\i 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok
\Imailing address:\i APO AP 96546
\Itelephone:\i [66] (2) 205-4000
\IFAX:\i [66] (2) 254-2990
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Chiang Mai
\BFlag description:\b five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b One of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, \JThailand\j depends on exports of manufactures - including high-technology goods - and the development of the service sector to fuel the country's rapid growth, averaging 9% since 1989. Most of \JThailand\j's recent imports have been for capital equipment and raw materials, although imports of consumer goods are beginning to rise. \JThailand\j's 35% domestic savings rate is a key source of capital for the economy, and the country is also benefiting from rising investment from abroad. Prime Minister CHAWALIT's government - \JThailand\j's seventh government in six years - will continue \JBangkok\j's probusiness policies and reemphasize \JBangkok\j's traditional fiscal austerity. CHAWALIT is beginning to address \JThailand\j's serious \Jinfrastructure\j bottlenecks, especially in the transport and telecommunications sectors. Over the longer term, \JBangkok\j must produce more college graduates with technical training and upgrade workers' skills to continue its rapid economic development.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $455.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6.7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $7,700 (1996 est.)
\Iexpenditures:\i $28.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $6.1 billion (FY94/95)
\BIndustries:\b tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, \Jtobacco\j, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest \Jtungsten\j producer and third-largest tin producer
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 13.3% (1995 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 15.84 million kW (1994)
\BTelephone system:\b service to general public inadequate; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic \Jsatellite\j system being developed
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 \JPacific Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 10.75 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 11 (in government-controlled network)
\BTelevisions:\b 3.3 million (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,623 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 56,903 km
\Ipaved:\i 52,806 km
\Iunpaved:\i 4,097 km (1993 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft
\BPipelines:\b \Jpetroleum\j products 67 km; \Jnatural gas\j 350 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JBangkok\j, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 17,076,040 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 10,315,765 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 591,094 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $4 billion (FY94/95)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.5% (FY94/95)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam; parts of border with \JCambodia\j in dispute; maritime boundary with \JCambodia\j not clearly defined
\BIllicit drugs:\b a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; major illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international drug market from \JBurma\j and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; rapidly growing role in \Jamphetamine\j production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamines and heroin
#
"The Bahamas (Atlas)",235,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, chain of islands in the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, southeast of Florida
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 24 15 N, 76 00 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 13,940 sq km
\Iland:\i 10,070 sq km
\Iwater:\i 3,870 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Connecticut
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 3,542 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation (measured from the archipelagic straight baselines)
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
\BTerrain:\b long, flat \Jcoral\j formations with some low rounded hills
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write but definition of \Jliteracy\j not available
\Itotal population:\i 98.2%
\Imale:\i 98.5%
\Ifemale:\i 98% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Commonwealth of The Bahamas
\Iconventional short form:\i The Bahamas
\BData code:\b BF
\BGovernment type:\b commonwealth
\BNational capital:\b Nassau
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nicholls Town and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, \JSan Salvador\j and Rum Cay
\BIndependence:\b 10 July 1973 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 10 July (1973)
\BConstitution:\b 10 July 1973
\BLegal system:\b based on English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Orville TURNQUEST (since 2 January 1995)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Frank WATSON (since December 1994)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for a five-year term) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 14 March 1997 (next to be held by March 2002)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FNM 34, PLP 6
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]; Free National Movement
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Arlington Griffith BUTLER
\Ichancery:\i 2220 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 319-2660
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 319-2668
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Miami and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Sidney WILLIAMS
\Iembassy:\i Queen Street, Nassau
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; American Embassy, Nassau, P.O. Box 9009, Miami, FL 33159; Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370 (pouch) \Itelephone:\i [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206
\IFAX:\i [1] (242) 328-7838
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The \JBahamas\j is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs 40% of the archipelago's labor force. A slowdown in the expansion of the tourism sector - especially stopover travel from Europe - led to a reduction in the country's GDP growth rate in 1995, down to an estimated 2% from 3.5% in 1994. The construction sector benefited from hotel rehabilitation and the government's ongoing housing development program. Earnings from exports of vegetable and \Jcitrus\j production have been decreasing since 1993 but were expected to increase in 1996 due to storm damage to crops in \JFlorida\j. Overall growth prospects in the short run will depend heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector and continued income growth in the US, which accounts for the majority of tourist visits.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $4.8 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $18,700 (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 46 countries among which are \JNorway\j 157, \JGreece\j 146, UK 128, US 69, Denmark 51, Sweden 34, \JFinland\j 32, \JBelgium\j 29, \JJapan\j 27, and Monaco 27; \JBahamas\j owns 10 additional ships
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 256,379 DWT that operate under Panamanian and Cypriot registry (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 54 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 47
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 15
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 12
\Iunder 914 m:\i 17 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 7
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 7 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Royal \JBahamas\j Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal \JBahamas\j Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $20 million (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.8% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for \Jcocaine\j and marijuana bound for US and Europe; banking industry vulnerable to money-laundering
#
"The Gambia (Atlas)",236,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Western Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j and Senegal
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 28 N, 16 34 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 11,300 sq km
\Iland:\i 10,000 sq km
\Iwater:\i 1,300 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 740 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JSenegal\j 740 km
\BCoastline:\b 80 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 18 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i not specified
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
\BTerrain:\b flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 53 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 18%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 9%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 28%
\Iother:\i 45% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 150 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; \Jdesertification\j; \Jwater\j-borne diseases prevalent
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling \Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b almost an enclave of \JSenegal\j; smallest country on the continent of Africa
\BReligions:\b Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Mandinka, \JWolof\j, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 38.6%
\Imale:\i 52.8%
\Ifemale:\i 24.9% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of The Gambia
\Iconventional short form:\i The Gambia
\BData code:\b GA
\BGovernment type:\b republic under multiparty democratic rule
\BNational capital:\b Banjul
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western
\BIndependence:\b 18 February 1965 (from UK); note - The Gambia and \JSenegal\j signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
\BConstitution:\b 24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and published in March 1996; approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; rewritten and reestablished in January 1997
\BLegal system:\b based on a composite of English \Jcommon law\j, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October 1996); Vice President Isaton Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President
Isaton Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet is appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 26 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote - President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.5%, Ousinou DARBOE 35.8%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly; 49 seats (45 elected, 4 appointed by the president)
\Ielections:\i last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be held NA)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 33, UDP 7, NRP 2, PDOIS 1, independents 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]; note - in August 1996 the government banned the following from participation in the elections of 1996: People's Progressive Party or PPP [former President Dawda K. JAWARA (in exile)], and two opposition parties - the National Convention Party or NCP [former vice president Sheriff DIBBA (in exile)] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP [Hassan Musa CAMARA]
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but the 50% \Jdevaluation\j of the CFA franc in January 1994 made Senegalese goods more competitive and hurt the reexport trade. The Gambia has benefited from a rebound in tourism in 1996 after its decline in response to the military's takeover in July 1994. Short-run economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid and on government willingness to reduce intervention in market processes. \BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1995 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b hot, dry \Jharmattan\j wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; recent droughts affecting agriculture
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\Inote:\i the 21 units may have become second-order administrative divisions with the imposition of a new first-order level of five prefectures (singular - prefecture) named De La Kara, Des Plateaux, Des Savanes, Du Centre, and Maritime
\BIndependence:\b 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
\BConstitution:\b multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
\BLegal system:\b French-based court system
\BSuffrage:\b NA years of age; universal adult
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April 1967)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Kwassi KLUTSE (since September 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 25 August 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Gnassingbe EYADEMA elected president; percent of vote - Gnassingbe EYADEMA 96.5%; note - all major opposition parties boycotted the election
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 6 and 20 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CAR 36, RPT 35, UTD 7, UJD 2, CFN 1
\Inote:\i as a result of a byelection in August 1996, ordered by the Supreme Court for three seats of the Action Committee for Renewal and the Togolese Union for Democracy, representation in the National Assembly changed to RPT 38, CAR 34, UDT 6, UJD 2, and CFN 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA]; Coordination des Forces Nouvelles or CFN [Joseph KOFFIGOH]; Togolese Union for Democracy or UTD [Edem KODJO]; Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yao AGBOYIBOR]; Union for Democracy and Solidarity or UDS [Antoine FOLLY]; Pan-African Sociodemocrats Group or GSP, an alliance of three radical parties: CDPA, PDR, and PSP; Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA [Leopold GNININVI]; Party for Democracy and Renewal or PDR [Zarifou AYEVA]; Pan-African Social Party or PSP [Francis AGBAGLI]; Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO (in exile)]; Union of Justice and Democracy or UJD [Lal TAXPANDJAN] \Inote:\i Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President EYADEMA, was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was legalized 12 April 1991
\BFlag description:\b five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a \Jred square\j in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for more than 60% of the labor force. Cocoa, \Jcoffee\j, and cotton together generate about 30% of export earnings. \JTogo\j is self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs when harvests are normal. In the industrial sector, phosphate mining is by far the most important activity, although it has suffered from the collapse of world phosphate prices and increased foreign competition. \JTogo\j serves as a regional commercial and trade center. The government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has stalled. Political unrest, including private and public sector strikes throughout 1992 and 1993, has jeopardized the reform program, shrunk the tax base, and disrupted vital economic activity. Although strikes had ended in 1994, political unrest and lack of funds prevented the government from taking advantage of the 50% currency \Jdevaluation\j of 12 January 1994. Resumption of World Bank and IMF flows will depend on implementation of several controversial moves toward privatization and on downsizing the military, on which the regime depends to stay in power.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $4.45 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $970 (1996 est.)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 795,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 3 (relays 2)
\BTelevisions:\b 24,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 525 km (1995)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 525 km 1.000-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 7,519 km
\Ipaved:\i 2,376 km
\Iunpaved:\i 5,143 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 50 km Mono river
\BPorts and harbors:\b Kpeme, Lome
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 8 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 4 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,016,251 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 533,292 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $48 million (1993)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.9% (1993)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transit hub for Nigerian heroin and \Jcocaine\j traffickers
#
"Tokelau (Atlas)",238,0,0,0
\I(territory of \JNew Zealand\j) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, group of islands in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 9 00 S, 172 00 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 10 sq km
\Iland:\i 10 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 101 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
\BTerrain:\b \Jcoral\j atolls enclosing large lagoons
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 5 m
\BNatural resources:\b NEGL
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b lies in Pacific \Jtyphoon\j belt
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 1,463 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b -1.35% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b NA births/1,000 population
\BDeath rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 population
\BNet migration rate:\b NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b NA deaths/1,000 live births
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i NA years
\Imale:\i NA years
\Ifemale:\i NA years
\BTotal fertility rate:\b NA children born/woman
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Tokelauan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Tokelauan
\BEthnic groups:\b Polynesian
\BReligions:\b Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%
\Inote:\i on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of \JSamoa\j; on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church predominant
\BLanguages:\b Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Tokelau
\BData code:\b TL
\BDependency status:\b territory of New Zealand
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b none; each \Jatoll\j has its own administrative center
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (territory of \JNew Zealand\j)
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of \JNew Zealand\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over \JNew Zealand\j)
\BConstitution:\b administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970
\BLegal system:\b British and local statutes
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); the queen and \JNew Zealand\j are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Official Secretary Brian LAWRENCE (since NA)
\Icabinet:\i the Council of Faipule, consisting of the elected leaders from each \Jatoll\j, functions as a cabinet
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral General Fono (45 seats - 15 from each of the three atolls; members chosen by each atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega who meet together twice a year)
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court in Niue; Supreme Court in New Zealand
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b none
\BInternational organization participation:\b SPC, WHO (associate)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territory of \JNew Zealand\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territory of \JNew Zealand\j)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JNew Zealand\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Tokelau's small size, isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people must rely on aid from \JNew Zealand\j to maintain public services, annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in \JNew Zealand\j.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.5 million (1993 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1993 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b NA
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $430,830
\Iexpenditures:\i $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.)
\Idomestic:\i radiotelephone service between islands
\Iinternational:\i radiotelephone service to Western Samoa
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
\Inote:\i each \Jatoll\j has a radio broadcast station of NA type that broadcasts shipping and \Jweather\j reports
\BRadios:\b 1,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b none; lagoon landings by amphibious \Jaircraft\j from Western Samoa
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Tonga (Atlas)",239,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, archipelago in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 20 00 S, 175 00 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 748 sq km
\Iland:\i 718 sq km
\Iwater:\i 30 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b four times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 419 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
\BTerrain:\b most islands have \Jlimestone\j base formed from uplifted \Jcoral\j formation; others have \Jlimestone\j overlying volcanic base
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish, fertile soil
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 24%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 43%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 6%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 11%
\Iother:\i 16% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to \Jcoral\j reefs from \Jstarfish\j and indiscriminate \Jcoral\j and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 107,335 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.81% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 26.95 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 6.14 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 39.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 69.3 years
\Imale:\i 67.29 years
\Ifemale:\i 71.7 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.7 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Tongan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Tongan
\BEthnic groups:\b Polynesian, Europeans about 300
\BReligions:\b Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
\BLanguages:\b Tongan, English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write a simple message in Tongan or English
\BAdministrative divisions:\b three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
\BIndependence:\b 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)
\BNational holiday:\b Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
\BConstitution:\b 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
\BLegal system:\b based on English law
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the king
\Inote:\i there is also a Privy Council that consists of the king and the Cabinet
\Ielections:\i none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the king
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 24-25 January 1996 (next to be held NA January 1999)
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king; Privy Council with the addition of the \Jchief justice\j of the Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b \JTonga\j People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b \JTonga\j does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i San Francisco
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to \JFiji\j is accredited to Tonga
\BFlag description:\b red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 36% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from \JNew Zealand\j. The industrial sector accounts for only 13% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The economy continued to grow in 1993-95 largely because of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large construction projects, but contracted in 1995-96. The government is now turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit. Current proposals include selling Tongan citizenship and passports to foreigners, leasing its seven equatorial \Jsatellite\j spots, and setting up a joint venture gas production facility with South Korea.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $228 million (FY95/96 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -1.9% (FY95/96 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,140 (FY95/96 est.)
\Iships by type:\i cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 6 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b \JTonga\j Defense Services (includes, Royal Tongan Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Maritime Force, Police); note - a new Air Wing which will be subordinate to the Defense Ministry is being developed
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Trinidad and Tobago (Atlas)",240,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, islands between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, northeast of Venezuela
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 11 00 N, 61 00 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,130 sq km
\Iland:\i 5,130 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Delaware
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 362 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; rainy season (June to December)
\BTerrain:\b mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
\BNatural hazards:\b outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil \Jpollution\j of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 19.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 70.36 years
\Imale:\i 67.92 years
\Ifemale:\i 72.88 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.13 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
\Iadjective:\i Trinidadian, Tobagonian
\BEthnic groups:\b black 43%, East Indian (a local term - primarily immigrants from northern India) 40%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%, other Protestant 14%, Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), \JHindi\j, French, Spanish
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 97.9%
\Imale:\i 98.8%
\Ifemale:\i 97% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
\Iconventional short form:\i Trinidad and Tobago
\BData code:\b TD
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Port-of-Spain
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-\JSpain\j*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria
\BIndependence:\b 31 August 1962 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
\BConstitution:\b 1 August 1976
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 19 March 1997)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
\Ielections:\i president elected by an electoral college that consists of the members of the Senate and \JHouse of Representatives\j for a five-year term; election last held NA February 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed from among the members of Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the \JHouse of Representatives\j is usually appointed prime minister
\Ielection results:\i Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 69%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of five years) and a \JHouse of Representatives\j (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) \Ielections:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 6 November 1995 (next to be held by December 2000)
\Ielection results:\i \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote - PNM 52%, UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats by party - PNM 17, UNC 17, NAR 2; the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR
\Inote:\i Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 15 members serving four-year terms
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b People's National Movement (PNM), Patrick MANNING; United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY; National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), A. N. R. ROBINSON; Movement for Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH; National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA; National Development Party (NDP), Carson CHARLES; Movement for Unity and Progress (MUP), Hulsie BHAGGAN
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Corinne Averille McKNIGHT
\Ichancery:\i 1708 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 467-6490
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 785-3130
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Brian J. DONNELLY
\Iembassy:\i 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
\Itelephone:\i [1] (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176
\IFAX:\i [1] (809) 628-5462
\BFlag description:\b red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Successful economic reforms implemented in 1995 are expected to bring an average growth rate of 2% over the next three years, and foreign investment and trade are flourishing. Unemployment - a main cause of the country's socio-economic problems - is high, but has decreased to its lowest point in five years. The country enjoys a healthy trade surplus of $500 million, yet its heavy dependence on oil and petrochemical prices makes its trade balance vulnerable to sudden shifts. Furthermore, Caricom, Trinidad and Tobago's main market, is saturated, provoking some countries to establish non-tariff trade barriers.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $17.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.1% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $13,500 (1996 est.)
\Iships by type:\i cargo 1, oil tanker 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 6 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 5
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 312,628 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 223,418 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $83 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe and producer of cannabis
#
"Tromelin Island (Atlas)",241,0,0,0
Tromelin Island
\I(possession of \JFrance\j) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 52 S, 54 25 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 1 sq km
\Iland:\i 1 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 3.7 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 12 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical
\BTerrain:\b sandy
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Indian Ocean 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 7 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (scattered bushes)
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b uninhabited
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Tromelin Island
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Ile Tromelin
\BData code:\b TE
\BDependency status:\b possession of \JFrance\j; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
\BFlag description:\b the flag of \JFrance\j is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b no economic activity
\BCommunications\b
\BCommunications - note:\b important meteorological station
\BTransportation\b
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; offshore \Janchorage\j only
\BAirports:\b 1
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claimed by Madagascar, \JMauritius\j, and Seychelles
#
"Tunisia (Atlas)",242,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Africa, bordering the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between \JAlgeria\j and Libya
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 34 00 N, 9 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 163,610 sq km
\Iland:\i 155,360 sq km
\Iwater:\i 8,250 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Georgia
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,424 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAlgeria\j 965 km, \JLibya\j 459 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,148 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
\BTerrain:\b mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
\Ihighest point:\i Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, \Jphosphates\j, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 19%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 13%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 20%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 4%
\Iother:\i 44% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 3,850 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from raw sewage; limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Marine Life Conservation
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location in central Mediterranean
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 20 March (1956)
\BConstitution:\b 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
\BLegal system:\b based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
\BSuffrage:\b 20 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September 1989)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected without opposition; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (163 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%, others 1.3%; seats by party - RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9; note - the government changed the electoral code to guarantee that the opposition won seats
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (RCD), President BEN ALI (official ruling party); Movement of Democratic Socialists (MDS), Ismail BOULAHIA; five other political parties are legal, including the Communist Party
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Mohamed Azouz ENNIFAR
\Ichancery:\i 1515 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 862-1850
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Mary Ann CASEY
\Iembassy:\i 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 \JTunis\j-Belvedere
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [216] (1) 782-566
\IFAX:\i [216] (1) 789-719
\BFlag description:\b red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JTunisia\j has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, \Jenergy\j, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Detailed governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization of trade and commerce, simplification of the tax structure, and a cautious approach to debt. Real growth has averaged 4.5% in 1991-96, and \Jinflation\j has been moderate. Growth in tourism and increased trade have been key elements in this solid record. Agricultural production accounted for a major portion of growth in GDP in 1996, growth having been adversely affected by \Jdrought\j in 1995. Further privatization, the attraction of increased foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $43.3 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7.1% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $4,800 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b the system is above the African average; key centers are \JSfax\j, \JSousse\j, Bizerte, and Tunis
\Idomestic:\i trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i 5 submarine cables; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j) and 1 Arabsat with back-up control station; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to \JAlgeria\j and \JLibya\j; participant in Medarabtel
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 7, FM 8, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 1,693,527 (1991 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 19
\BTelevisions:\b 670,000 (1992 est.)
\BCommunications - note:\b \JInternet\j access is permitted but is licensed through a government agency
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,260 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 492 km 1.435-m gauge
\Inarrow gauge:\i 1,758 km 1.000-m gauge
\Idual gauge:\i 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (1993 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,464,973 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,411,804 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 94,868 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $535 million (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.8% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b maritime boundary dispute with \JLibya\j; land boundary dispute with \JAlgeria\j settled in 1993; Malta and \JTunisia\j are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
#
"Turkey (Atlas)",243,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the \JBlack Sea\j, between \JBulgaria\j and Georgia, and bordering the \JAegean Sea\j and the \JMediterranean Sea\j, between \JGreece\j and Syria
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 39 00 N, 35 00 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 780,580 sq km
\Iland:\i 770,760 sq km
\Iwater:\i 9,820 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,627 km
\Iborder countries:\i Armenia 268 km, \JAzerbaijan\j 9 km, \JBulgaria\j 240 km, Georgia 252 km, \JGreece\j 206 km, \JIran\j 499 km, \JIraq\j 331 km, \JSyria\j 822 km
\BCoastline:\b 7,200 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i in \JBlack Sea\j only - to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR
\Iterritorial sea:\i 6 nm in the \JAegean Sea\j,; 12 nm in the \JBlack Sea\j and in the Mediterranean Sea
\BClimate:\b temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central plateau (Anatolia)
\BNatural hazards:\b very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of \JMarmara\j to Lake Van
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air \Jpollution\j, particularly in urban areas; deforestation
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, \JBiodiversity\j, Desertification, Environmental Modification
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of \JMarmara\j, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas
\Inote:\i Karabuk, Kilis, and Yalova are three new Turkish provinces mentioned in the 24 December 1995 election results; the Turkish press has mentioned another province called Osmaniye
\BIndependence:\b 29 October 1923 (successor state to the \JOttoman Empire\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic, 29 October (1923)
\BConstitution:\b 7 November 1982
\BLegal system:\b derived from various continental legal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Bulent ECEVIT (since January 1999)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister
\Inote:\i there is also a National Security Council that serves as an advisory body to the president and the cabinet
\Ielections:\i president elected by the National Assembly for a seven-year term; election last held 16 May 1993 (next to be held NA 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Suleyman DEMIREL elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 54%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - RP 21.38%, DYP 19.18%, ANAP 19.65%, DSP 14.64%, CHP 10.71%, independent 0.48%; seats by party - RP 158, DYP 135, ANAP 133, DSP 75, CHP 49; note - seats held by various parties are subject to change due to defections, creation of new parties, and ouster or death of sitting deputies; current seats by party are as follows: RP 160, DYP 120, ANAP 127, DSP 68, CHP 49, BBP 7, DTP 7, independents 10, vacant 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president; Court of Appeals, judges are elected by the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b True Path Party or DYP [Tansu CILLER]; Motherland Party or ANAP [Mesut YILMAZ]; Welfare Party or RP [Necmettin ERBAKAN]; Democratic Left Party or DSP [Bulent ECEVIT]; Nationalist Action Party or MHP [Tugrul TURKES]; New Party or YP [Yusuf Bozkurt OZAL]; Republican People's Party or CHP [Deniz BAYKAL]; Workers' Party or IP [Dogu PERINCEK]; Nation Party or MP [Aykut EDIBALI]; Democrat Party or DP [Murat UZMAN]; Grand Unity Party or BBP [Muhsin YAZICIOGLU]; Rebirth Party or YDP [Hasan Celal GUZEL]; People's Democracy Party or HADEP [Murat BOZLAK]; Main Path Party or ANAYOL [Gurcan BASER]; Democratic Target Party or DHP [Abdulkadir Yasar TURK]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Besim TIBUK]; New Democracy Movement or YDH [Huseyin ERGUN]; Labor Party or EP [Abdullah Levent TUZER]; Democracy and Peace Party or DBP [Refik KARAKOC]; Freedom and Solidarity Party or ODP [Ufuk URAS]; Peace Party or BP [Mehmet ETI]; Democratic Mass Party or DKP [Serafettin ELCI]; Democrat Turkey Party or DTP [Husamettin CINDORUK]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Turkish Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is [Bayram MERAL]; Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [Ridvan BUDAK]; Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [Salim USLU]; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association or TUSIAD [Muharrem KAYHAN]; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [Fuat MIRAS]; Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions or TISK [Refik BAYDUR]; Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association or MUSIAD [Erol YARAR]
\Ichancery:\i 1714 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 659-8200
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JChicago\j, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Marc GROSSMAN
\Iembassy:\i 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara
\Imailing address:\i PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
\Itelephone:\i [90] (312) 468-6110
\IFAX:\i [90] (312) 467-0019
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Istanbul
\Iconsulate(s):\i Adana
\BFlag description:\b red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with traditional village agriculture and crafts. The economy has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. The current economic situation is marked by strong growth coupled with worsening imbalances. Real GDP expanded by about 7% in 1996 but \Jinflation\j rose to 80%, the current account deficit reached about 3% of GDP, and the public sector fiscal deficit probably topped 10% of GDP, leading to speculation that the country could be headed toward a repeat of its 1994 financial crisis. To some extent, \JAnkara\j is caught in a vicious circle because half of all central government revenue in 1996 went to pay interest on the national debt. The government that took office in July 1996 - an unusual coalition of Prime Minister ERBAKAN's Islamic Welfare Party and Deputy Prime Minister CILLER's conservative True Path Party - is trying to solve the fiscal problem by greatly accelerating Turkey's privatization program. It has proposed a balanced budget for 1997, although this is widely regarded as over optimistic because it is based on earning more privatization revenue in one year than Turkey has earned over the last decade. \JAnkara\j is trying to increase trade with other countries in the region but most of Turkey's trade is still with OECD countries. Despite the implementation in January 1996 of a customs union with the EU, foreign direct investment in the country totaled only about half a billion dollars, perhaps because potential investors were concerned about the prospects for economic stability.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $379.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,100 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i Turkey owns an additional 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 163,512 DWT operating under the registries of The \JBahamas\j, Malta, and Panama (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 104 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 94
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 16
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 20
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 13
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 17
\Iunder 914 m:\i 28 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 10
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 8 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry), Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 20 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 17,352,876 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 10,553,157 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 649,336 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $4.3 billion (1996); note - figures do not include about $7 billion for the government's counterinsurgency effort
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.5% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b complex maritime, air and territorial disputes with \JGreece\j in \JAegean Sea\j; Cyprus question with \JGreece\j; Hatay question with \JSyria\j; dispute with downstream riparians (\JSyria\j and \JIraq\j) over \Jwater\j development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
\BIllicit drugs:\b major transit route for Southwest Asian heroin and \Jhashish\j to Western Europe and the US via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking organizations operate out of \JIstanbul\j; laboratories to convert imported \Jmorphine\j base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey as well as near \JIstanbul\j; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
#
"Turkmenistan (Atlas)",244,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Central Asia, bordering the \JCaspian Sea\j, between \JIran\j and Kazakstan
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 40 00 N, 60 00 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 488,100 sq km
\Iland:\i 488,100 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,736 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAfghanistan\j 744 km, \JIran\j 992 km, Kazakstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km
\Inote:\i Turkmenistan borders the \JCaspian Sea\j (1,768 km)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b subtropical desert
\BTerrain:\b flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with \JIran\j; borders \JCaspian Sea\j in west
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Sarygamysh Koli -110 m
\Ihighest point:\i Ayrybaba 3,139 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, \Jnatural gas\j, \Jcoal\j, sulfur, salt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 3%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 63%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 8%
\Iother:\i 26% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 13,000 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b contamination of soil and \Jgroundwater\j with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salinization, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; \JCaspian Sea\j \Jpollution\j; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 72.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 61.51 years
\Imale:\i 57.88 years
\Ifemale:\i 65.31 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.31 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Turkmen(s)
\Iadjective:\i Turkmen
\BEthnic groups:\b Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazak 2%, other 5.1% (1995)
\BReligions:\b Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
\BLanguages:\b Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 97% (1989 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Turkmenistan
\Ilocal long form:\i none
\Ilocal short form:\i Turkmenistan
\Iformer:\i Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
\BData code:\b TX
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Ashgabat
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 5 welayatlar (singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty
\Inote:\i administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
\BIndependence:\b 27 October 1991 (from the \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 18 May 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct presidential election occurred); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), Babamurad BAZAROV (since NA), Dadebaya ANNAGELDIYEV (since NA), Orazgeldy AYDOGDYYEV (since NA), Hudaayguly HALYKOV (since NA), Aleksandr DADONOV (since NA), Pirkuly ODEYEV (since NA), Rejep SAPAROV (since NA), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA), Batyr SARJAYEV (since NA), Ilaman SHYKHYYEV (since NA)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Inote:\i NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recently on 26 October 1995 at the annual elders meeting, to be "president for life," but he has declined, saying the status would require an amendment to the constitution
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002; note - extension of President NIYAZOV's term for an additional five years overwhelmingly approved - 99.9% of total vote in favor - by national referendum held 15 January 1994); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers are appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Saparmurad NIYAZOV elected president without opposition; percent of vote - Saparmurad NIYAZOV 99.5%
\BLegislative branch:\b under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council or Halk Maslahaty (more than 100 seats, some of which are popularly elected and some are appointed; meets infrequently) and a unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i People's Council - no elections; Assembly - last held 11 December 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 45, other 5; note - all 50 preapproved by President NIYAZOV
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Democratic Party of Turkmenistan [Saparmurat NIYAZOV]; Party for Democratic Development [Durdymurat HOJA-MUHAMEDOV, chairman]; Agzybirlik [Nurberdy NURMAMEDOV, cochairman, Hubayberdi HALLIYEV, cochairman]
\Inote:\i formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries
\Ichancery:\i 2207 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 588-1500
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 588-0697
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Michael W. COTTER
\Iembassy:\i 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat
\Imailing address:\i use embassy street address
\Itelephone:\i [9] (9312) 35-00-45, 35-00-46, 35-00-42, Tie Line [8] 962-0000
\IFAX:\i [9] (9312) 51-13-05
\BFlag description:\b green field, including a vertical stripe on the hoist side, with a claret vertical stripe in between containing five white, black, and orange carpet guls (an asymmetrical design used in producing rugs) associated with five different tribes; a white crescent and five white stars in the upper left corner to the right of the carpet guls
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Turkmenistan is largely desert country with nomadic \Jcattle\j raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases, and huge gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton, making it the world's tenth largest producer. It also possesses the world's fifth largest reserves of \Jnatural gas\j and substantial oil resources. Until the end of 1993, Turkmenistan had experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states because its economy received a boost from higher prices for oil and gas and a sharp increase in hard currency earnings. In 1994, \JRussia\j's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and mounting debts of its major customers in the former USSR for gas deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in industrial production and caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. The economy recovered slightly in 1996, but high \Jinflation\j continued. Furthermore, with an authoritarian ex-communist regime in power and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its inefficient economy. In 1996, the government set in place a stabilization program aimed at a unified and market-based exchange rate, allocation of government credits by auction, and strict limits on budget deficits. Privatization goals remain limited. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export channels through \JIran\j and Turkey to Europe, but these will take many years to realize.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $11.8 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 0.1% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,840 (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i government established a unified rate in mid-January 1996
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\BTelephone system:\b poorly developed
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other \JCIS\j republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new \Jtelephone\j link from Ashgabat to \JIran\j has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b 1 state-owned radio broadcast station of NA type
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1 state-run
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,187 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 2,187 km 1.520-m gauge (1996 est.)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 23,000 km
\Ipaved:\i 18,300 km (note - these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-\Jweather\j gravel surfaced
\Iunpaved:\i 4,700 km (1990 est.)
\BWaterways:\b the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 250 km; \Jnatural gas\j 4,400 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnowodsk)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air and Air Defense, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,052,184 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 856,380 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 42,948 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 4.5 billion manats (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b \JCaspian Sea\j boundaries are not yet determined among \JAzerbaijan\j, \JIran\j, Kazakstan, \JRussia\j, and Turkmenistan
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited illicit cultivator of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to \JRussia\j and Western Europe; also a transshipment point for acetic \Janhydride\j destined for \JAfghanistan\j
#
"Turks and Caicos Islands (Atlas)",245,0,0,0
\I(dependent territory of the UK) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, two island groups in the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, southeast of The Bahamas
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 21 45 N, 71 35 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 430 sq km
\Iland:\i 430 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 389 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
\BTerrain:\b low, flat \Jlimestone\j; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Blue Hills 49 m
\BNatural resources:\b spiny lobster, conch
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 2%
\Ipermanent crops:\i NA%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 98% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent hurricanes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has ever attended school
\Itotal population:\i 98%
\Imale:\i 99%
\Ifemale:\i 98% (1970 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Turks and Caicos Islands
\BData code:\b TK
\BDependency status:\b dependent territory of the UK
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Grand Turk
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BIndependence:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
\BConstitution:\b introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, restored and revised 5 March 1988
\BLegal system:\b based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from \JJamaica\j and The Bahamas
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996)
\Ihead of government:\i Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)
\Icabinet:\i Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve three-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA December 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Progressive National Party (PNP), Washington MISICK; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Derek H. TAYLOR; United Democratic Party (UDP), Wendal SWANN \BInternational organization participation:\b Caricom (associate), CDB, \JInterpol\j (subbureau) \BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (dependent territory of the UK)
\BFlag description:\b blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a \Jconch\j shell, lobster, and cactus
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most food for domestic consumption is imported; there is some subsistence farming - mainly corn, \Jcassava\j, \Jcitrus\j, and beans - on the Caicos Islands. The tourism sector expanded in 1995, posting a 10% increase in the first quarter as compared to the same period in 1994. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1995, accounting for upward of 70% of arrivals or about 60,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts as the Islands rely on imports for nearly all consumption and capital goods.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $84.5 million (1993 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2% (1993 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,400 (1993 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,848 (1990 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries; some subsistence agriculture
\BUnemployment rate:\b 12% (1992)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $31.9 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $30.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 7,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b \Jtelevision\j programs are available from a cable network, and broadcasts from the \JBahamas\j can be received in the islands
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 121 km
\Ipaved:\i 24 km
\Iunpaved:\i 97 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Grand Turk, Providenciales
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 7 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 5
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 3
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the UK
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for South American \Jnarcotics\j destined for the US
#
"Tuvalu (Atlas)",246,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, island group consisting of nine \Jcoral\j atolls in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 8 00 S, 178 00 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 26 sq km
\Iland:\i 26 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 24 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
\BTerrain:\b very low-lying and narrow \Jcoral\j atolls
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 5 m
\BNatural resources:\b fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100% (1993 est.)
\Inote:\i \JTuvalu\j's nine \Jcoral\j atolls have enough soil to grow coconuts and support subsistence agriculture
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b severe tropical storms are rare
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b since there are no streams or rivers and \Jgroundwater\j is not potable, all water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities; beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to \Jcoral\j reefs from the spread of the crown of thorns starfish
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 26.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 63.61 years
\Imale:\i 62.44 years
\Ifemale:\i 64.84 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.11 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Tuvaluan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Tuvaluan
\BEthnic groups:\b Polynesian 96%
\BReligions:\b Church of \JTuvalu\j (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
\BLanguages:\b Tuvaluan, English
\BLiteracy:\b NA; note - education is free and compulsory from ages 6 through 13
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Tuvalu
\Iformer:\i Ellice Islands
\BData code:\b TV
\BGovernment type:\b democracy; began debating republic status in 1992
\BNational capital:\b Funafuti
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none
\BIndependence:\b 1 October 1978 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
\BConstitution:\b 1 October 1978
\BLegal system:\b NA
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Manuella TULAGA (since NA June 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 23 December 1996) and Deputy Prime Minister Ionatana IONATANA (since 23 December 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members of Parliament; election last held NA December 1996 (next to be held by NA 1997)
\Ielection results:\i Bikenibeu PAENIU elected prime minister; percent of Parliament vote - NA; Ionatana IONATANA elected deputy prime minister; percent of Parliament vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono (12 seats - two from each island with more than 1,000 inhabitants, one from all the other inhabited islands; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 25 November 1993 (next to be held by NA 1997)
\BJudicial branch:\b High Court; note - a \Jchief justice\j visits twice a year to preside over sessions of the High Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b none
\BInternational organization participation:\b AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, \JUNESCO\j, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b \JTuvalu\j does not have an embassy in the US
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to \JFiji\j is accredited to Tuvalu
\BFlag description:\b light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JTuvalu\j consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine \Jcoral\j atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic activities. The islands are too small and too remote for development of a large-scale tourist industry. Government revenues largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. About 1,000 Tuvaluans work in \JNauru\j in the phosphate mining industry. \JNauru\j has begun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as phosphate resources decline, which will present additional problems for Tuvalu's already stretched economy. Substantial income is received annually from an international trust fund established in 1987 by \JAustralia\j, NZ, and the UK and supported also by \JJapan\j and South Korea. In an effort to reduce its dependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some government functions and personnel cuts of up to 7%.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $7.8 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 8.7% (1995)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $800 (1995 est.)
\Inote:\i people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those working abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $4.3 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
\BIndustries:\b fishing, tourism, copra
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 2,600 kW (1995)
\BElectricity - production:\b 3 million kWh (1995)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BAgriculture - products:\b coconuts; fish
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $165,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
\Icommodities:\i copra
\Ipartners:\i \JFiji\j, \JAustralia\j, NZ
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $4.4 million (c.i.f., 1989)
\Icommodities:\i food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods
\Ipartners:\i \JFiji\j, \JAustralia\j, NZ
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $1.725 million from \JAustralia\j (FY96/97 est.); $1.7 million from NZ (FY95/96)
\BCurrency:\b 1 Tuvaluan dollar ($T) or 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.2835 (January 1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 130 (1983 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i radiotelephone communications between islands
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\Iships by type:\i cargo 7, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b no regular military forces; Police Force (consists of full-time personnel 45, part-time personnel 16)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Uganda (Atlas)",247,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 1 00 N, 32 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 236,040 sq km
\Iland:\i 199,710 sq km
\Iwater:\i 36,330 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Oregon
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,698 km
\Iborder countries:\i Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j 765 km, \JKenya\j 933 km, \JRwanda\j 169 km, \JSudan\j 435 km, \JTanzania\j 396 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
\BTerrain:\b mostly plateau with rim of mountains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Lake Albert 621 m
\Ihighest point:\i Margherita (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
\BNatural resources:\b copper, \Jcobalt\j, \Jlimestone\j, salt
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 25%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 9%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 9%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 28%
\Iother:\i 29% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 90 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching is widespread
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Environmental Modification
\I65 years and over:\i 2% (male 234,351; female 239,114) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 2.14% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 45.08 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 20.98 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\Inote:\i \JUganda\j is host to refugees from a number of neighboring countries, including \JSudan\j, \JRwanda\j, and Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j, formerly Zaire; probably in excess of 100,000 southern Sudanese fled to \JUganda\j during the past year; many of the 10,000 Rwandans who took refuge in \JUganda\j have returned home
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
\BConstitution:\b 8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution that had been proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved on promulgation of the constitution in October 1995
\BLegal system:\b in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on English \Jcommon law\j and customary law and reinstituted a normal judicial system; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 29 January 1986); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 29 January 1986); Prime Minister Kintu MUSOKE (since 18 November 1994) note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; the prime minister assists the president in the supervision of the cabinet
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote; election last held 9 May 1996 (next to be held by 31 May 2001); note - first popular election for president since independence in 1962; prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 74%, Paul Kawanga SSEMOGERERE 24%, Muhammad MAYANJA 2%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (276 members serve five-year terms; 214 directly elected by universal suffrage, but 62 are nominated by legally established special interest groups and approved by the president - women 39, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 3)
\Ielections:\i elections to the National Assembly (formerly the National Resistance Council) took place on 27 June 1996 (next election to be held in 2001);
\Ielection results:\i NA; note - election campaigning by party was not permitted
\BJudicial branch:\b Court of Appeal; High Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b only one political organization, the National Resistance Movement or NRM [Dr. Samson KISEKKA, chairman] is recognized; note - this is the party of President MUSEVENI; the president maintains that the NRM is not a political party, but a movement which claims the loyalty of all Ugandans
\Inote:\i of the political parties which exist but are prohibited from sponsoring candidates, the most important are the Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [Milton OBOTE], Democratic Party or DP [Paul SSEMOGERERE], and Conservative Party or CP [Joshua S. MAYANJA-NKANGI]; the new constitution confirms the suspension of political party activity until 2000
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Edith Grace SSEMPALA
\Ichancery:\i 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 726-1727
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador E. Michael SOUTHWICK
\Iembassy:\i Parliament Avenue, Kampala
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
\Itelephone:\i [256] (41) 259792, 259793, 259795
\IFAX:\i [256] (41) 259794
\BFlag description:\b six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b \JUganda\j has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and \Jcobalt\j. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee is the major export crop and accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986 the government - with the support of foreign countries and international agencies - has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of \Jpetroleum\j products, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes are especially aimed at dampening \Jinflation\j and boosting production and export earnings. In 1990-94, the economy turned in a solid performance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation of \Jinfrastructure\j, improved incentives for production and exports, and gradually improving domestic security. The economy again prospered in 1995 with rapid growth, low \Jinflation\j, growing foreign investment, a trimmed bureaucracy, and the continued return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $16.8 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 7.1% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $900 (1995 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $56 million (FY93/94)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.7% (FY93/94)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Ukraine (Atlas)",248,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Eastern Europe, bordering the \JBlack Sea\j, between \JPoland\j and Russia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 49 00 N, 32 00 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 603,700 sq km
\Iland:\i 603,700 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,558 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBelarus\j 891 km, \JHungary\j 103 km, Moldova 939 km, \JPoland\j 428 km, \JRomania\j (southwest) 169 km, \JRomania\j (west) 362 km, \JRussia\j 1,576 km, \JSlovakia\j 90 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,782 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the \JBlack Sea\j to cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the country, hot in the south
\BTerrain:\b most of \JUkraine\j consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, mountains
being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b inadequate supplies of potable \Jwater\j; air and \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
\BGeography - note:\b strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe
\Inote:\i oblasts have the administrative center name following in parentheses
\BIndependence:\b 1 December 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 24 August (1991)
\BConstitution:\b adopted 28 June 1996
\BLegal system:\b based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Leonid D. KUCHMA (since 19 July 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Pavlo LAZARENKO (since NA May 1996), First Deputy Prime Minister Vasyl DURDYNETS (since NA July 1996), and three deputy prime ministers
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council
\Inote:\i there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council, but significantly revamped and strengthened under President KUCHMA; the NSDC includes the president, prime minister, ministers of defense, internal affairs, foreign relations, and chairman of the security service; the NSC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president; a Presidential Administration that helps draft presidential edicts and provides policy support to the president; and a Council of Regions that serves as an advisory body created by President KUCHMA in September 1994 that includes the \JKiev\j and Sevastopol City Supreme Councils and the chairmen of Oblast
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council
\Ielection results:\i Leonid D. KUCHMA elected president; percent of vote - Leonid KUCHMA 52.15%, Leonid KRAVCHUK 45.06%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; members are elected by popular vote from one-member districts by complex procedures to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 27 March 1994 with repeat elections continuing through December 1998 to fill empty seats (next to be held NA March 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Communists 91, Rukh 22, Agrarians 18, Socialists 15, Republicans 11, Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists 5, Labor 5, Party of Democratic Revival 4, Democrats 2, Social Democrats 2, Civil Congress 2, Conservative Republicans 1, Party of Economic Revival of \JCrimea\j 1, Christian Democrats 1, independents 225; note - most recent repeat election held in April 1996 filling 422 of 450 seats as follows: independents 238, Communist 95, Rukh 22, Agrarians 18, Socialist 15, Republicans 11, Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists 5, Labor 5, Party of Democratic Revival 4, Democratic Party of \JUkraine\j 2, Social Democrats 2, Civil Congress 2, Conservative Republicans 1, Party of Economic Revival of \JCrimea\j 1, Christian Democrats 1, vacant 28 (in February 1997 there were 35 vacant seats)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Green Party of \JUkraine\j [Vitaliy KONONOV, leader]; Liberal Party of \JUkraine\j; Liberal Democratic Party of \JUkraine\j [Volodymyr KLYMCHUK, chairman]; Democratic Party of \JUkraine\j [Volodymyr Oleksandrovych YAVORIVSKIY, chairman]; People's Party of \JUkraine\j; Peasants' Party of \JUkraine\j; Party of Democratic Rebirth or Revival of \JUkraine\j [Volodymyr FILENKO, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of \JUkraine\j [Vasyl ONOPENKO, chairman]; Socialist Party of \JUkraine\j [Oleksandr MOROZ, chairman]; Ukrainian Christian Democratic Party [Vitaliy ZHURAVSKYY, chairman]; Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party [Stepan KHMARA, chairman]; Ukrainian Labor Party [Valentyn LANDYK, chairman]; Ukrainian Party of Justice [Yuriy ZUBKO, chairman]; Ukrainian Peasants' Democratic Party [Serhiy PLACHINDA, chairman]; Ukrainian Republican Party [Bondan YAROSHPSKYY, chairman]; Ukrainian National Conservative Party; Ukrainian People's Movement for Restructuring or Rukh [Vyacheslav CHORNOVIL, chairman]; Ukrainian Communist Party [Petr SYMONENKO]; Agrarian Party; Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists [Slava STESTKO]; Civil Congress [O. BAZYLUK]; Party of Economic Revival of \JCrimea\j; Progressive Socialist Party of \JUkraine\j [Nataliya VITRENKO and Volodymyr MARCHENKO, leaders]; People's Democratic Party [Anatoliy MATVIYENKO, chairman]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b New \JUkraine\j (Nova Ukrayina); Congress of National Democratic Forces
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grainfields under a blue sky
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b After \JRussia\j, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former \JSoviet Union\j, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied equipment and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the former USSR. Shortly after the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output in 1992-96 fell precipitously to less than half the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed \Jinflation\j to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Since his election in July 1994, President KUCHMA has pushed a comprehensive economic reform program, maintained financial discipline, and tried to remove almost all remaining controls over prices and foreign trade. Implementation of KUCHMA's economic agenda is encountering considerable resistance from parliament, entrenched bureaucrats, and industrial interests. However, if KUCHMA succeeds in implementing aggressive market reforms during 1997, the economy should reverse its downward trend, with real growth occurring by late 1997 and into 1998.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $161.1 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated
from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -10% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $3,170 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i industry and construction 33%, agriculture and \Jforestry\j 21%, health, education, and culture 16%, trade and distribution 7%, transport and communication 7%, other 16% (1992)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 1% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers (December 1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b \Jcoal\j, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food-processing (especially sugar)
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b -5.1% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 54.24 million kW (1994)
\BCurrency:\b on 2 September 1996, \JUkraine\j introduced the long-awaited hryvnia (plural hryvni) as its national currency, replacing the karbovanets (in circulation since 12 November 1992) at a rate of 100,000 karbovantsi to 1 hryvnia
\BTelephone system:\b system is unsatisfactory both for business and for personal use; 3.56 million applications for telephones had not been satisfied as of January 1991; electronic mail services have been established in \JKiev\j, Odessa, and Luhans'k by Sprint
\Idomestic:\i an NMT-450 analog cellular \Jtelephone\j network operates in \JKiev\j (Kyyiv) and allows direct dialing of international calls through \JKiev\j's digital exchange
\Iinternational:\i calls to other \JCIS\j countries are carried by landline or microwave radio relay; calls to 167 other countries are carried by \Jsatellite\j or by the 150 leased lines through the Moscow international gateway switch; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - NA Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions), and NA Intersputnik
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b 2 radio broadcast stations of NA type
\BRadios:\b 15 million (1990)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b at least 2
\BTelevisions:\b 17.3 million (1992)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 23,350 km
\Ibroad gauge:\i 23,350 km 1.524-m gauge (8,600 km electrified)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 172,257 km
\Ipaved:\i 163,300 km (including 1,875 km of expressways); note - these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-\Jweather\j gravel surfaced
\Iunpaved:\i 8,957 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 4,400 km navigable waterways, of which 1,672 km were on the Pryp''yat' and Dnistr (1990)
\Inote:\i \JUkraine\j owns an additional 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,283,735 DWT operating under the registries of The \JBahamas\j, Cyprus, \JLiberia\j, Malta, Panama, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 706 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 163
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 14
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 55
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 34
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 57 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 543
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 7
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 7
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 16
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 37
\Iunder 914 m:\i 476 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Internal Troops, National Guard, Border Troops
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 12,408,912 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 9,720,351 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 366,086 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 1.35 billion hryvni (Ukrainian Government's forecast for 1996); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b less than 2% (Ukrainian Government's forecast for 1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b dispute with \JRomania\j over continental shelf of the \JBlack Sea\j under which significant gas and oil deposits may exist; agreed to two-year negotiating period, after which either party can refer dispute to the International Court of Justice; potential dispute with \JRussia\j over \JCrimea\j; has made no territorial claim in \JAntarctica\j (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for \JCIS\j consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs to Western Europe and \JRussia\j
#
"United Arab Emirates (Atlas)",249,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 24 00 N, 54 00 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 82,880 sq km
\Iland:\i 82,880 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Maine
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 867 km
\Iborder countries:\i Oman 410 km, Saudi \JArabia\j 457 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,318 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b desert; cooler in eastern mountains
\BTerrain:\b flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Persian Gulf 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, natural gas
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 2%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 98% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 50 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b frequent sand and dust storms
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by \Jdesalination\j plants; \Jdesertification\j; beach \Jpollution\j from oil spills
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write but definition of \Jliteracy\j not available
\Itotal population:\i 79.2%
\Imale:\i 78.9%
\Ifemale:\i 79.8% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i United Arab Emirates
\Iconventional short form:\i none
\Ilocal long form:\i Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\Iformer:\i Trucial States
\Iabbreviation:\i UAE
\BData code:\b TC
\BGovernment type:\b federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
\BNational capital:\b Abu Dhabi
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), '\JAjman\j, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (\JSharjah\j), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
\BIndependence:\b 2 December 1971 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 2 December (1971)
\BConstitution:\b 2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)
\BLegal system:\b federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ras al Khaymah have joined the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts
\BSuffrage:\b none
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 6 August 1966) and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai) and Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Inote:\i there is also a Supreme Council of Rulers which is composed of the seven emirate rulers; the council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation, Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power; meets four times a year
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected by the Supreme Council of Rulers (a group of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held NA October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan reelected president; percent of Supreme Council of Rulers vote - NA, but believed to be unanimous; MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum elected vice president; percent of Supreme Council of Rulers vote - NA, but believed to be unanimous
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Federal National Council or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states to serve two-year terms)
\Ielections:\i none
\Inote:\i reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto
\BJudicial branch:\b Union Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI
\Ichancery:\i Suite 600, 3000 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 338-6500
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador David C. LITT
\Iembassy:\i Al-\JSudan\j Street, Abu Dhabi
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch); note - work week is Saturday through Wednesday
\Itelephone:\i [971] (2) 436691, 436692
\IFAX:\i [971] (2) 435441
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Dubai
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest incomes per capita and with a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 33% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, crude oil reserves should last for over 100 years. The UAE Government is encouraging increased privatization within the economy, and industrial development is expected to pick up in 1997.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $72.9 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $23,800 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b modern system consisting of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
\Idomestic:\i microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to \JQatar\j, \JBahrain\j, India, and \JPakistan\j; tropospheric scatter to \JBahrain\j; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 8, FM 3, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 545,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 12
\BTelevisions:\b 170,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,750 km
\Ipaved:\i 4,750 km
\Iunpaved:\i 0 km (1995 est.)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 830 km; \Jnatural gas\j, including \Jnatural gas\j liquids, 870 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b '\JAjman\j, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn
\Iships by type:\i bulk 3, cargo 18, chemical tanker 3, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 22, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 36 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 27
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 9
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 10 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 9
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 7 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Federal Police Force)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 790,838 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 424,962 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 20,584 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $1.59 billion (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 4.3% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b location and status of boundary with Saudi \JArabia\j is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative Line in far north; claims two islands in the Persian Gulf occupied by \JIran\j: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by \JIran\j) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by \JIran\j); claims island in the Persian Gulf jointly administered with \JIran\j (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by \JIran\j) - over which \JIran\j has taken steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has garnered significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting these Iranian actions
\BIllicit drugs:\b growing role as heroin transshipment and money-laundering center due to its proximity to southwest Asian producing countries and the bustling \Jfree trade\j zone in Dubai
#
"United Kingdom (Atlas)",250,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j and the North Sea, northwest of France
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 54 00 N, 2 00 W
\BMap references:\b Europe
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 244,820 sq km
\Iland:\i 241,590 sq km
\Iwater:\i 3,230 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Oregon
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 360 km
\Iborder countries:\i Ireland 360 km
\BCoastline:\b 12,429 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
\BTerrain:\b mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants contribute to air \Jpollution\j; some rivers polluted by agricultural wastes and coastal waters polluted because of large-scale disposal of sewage at sea
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from \JFrance\j and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 77.25 years
\Imale:\i 74.67 years
\Ifemale:\i 79.96 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 1.65 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Briton(s), British (collective plural)
\Iadjective:\i British
\BEthnic groups:\b English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%
\BReligions:\b Anglican 27 million, Roman Catholic 9 million, Muslim 1 million, Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 400,000, Hindu 350,000, Jewish 300,000 (1991 est.)
\Inote:\i the UK does not include a question on religion in its census
\BLanguages:\b English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of \JGaelic\j (about 60,000 in Scotland)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
\Itotal population:\i 99% (1978 est.)
\Imale:\i NA%
\Ifemale:\i NA%
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i United Kingdom of \JGreat Britain\j and Northern Ireland
\Iconventional short form:\i United Kingdom
\Iabbreviation:\i UK
\BData code:\b UK
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional monarchy
\BNational capital:\b London
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties, 26 districts, 9 regions, and 3 islands areas; England - 39 counties, 7 metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford, Berkshire, Buckingham, Cambridge, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derby, Devon, \JDorset\j, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, \JGloucester\j, Greater London*, Greater Manchester*, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, \JHertford\j, \JHumberside\j, \JIsle of Wight\j, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln, \JMerseyside\j*, Norfolk, Northampton, \JNorthumberland\j, North Yorkshire, \JNottingham\j, Oxford, Shropshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire*, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and Wear*, Warwick, West Midlands*, West Sussex, West Yorkshire*, Wiltshire; Northern Ireland - 26 districts; Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, \JBelfast\j, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, \JLondonderry\j, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane; Scotland - 9 regions, 3 islands areas*; Borders, Central, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Grampian, Highland, Lothian, Orkney*, Shetland*, Strathclyde, \JTayside\j, Western Isles*; Wales - 8 counties; Clwyd, Dyfed, \JGwent\j, \JGwynedd\j, Mid Glamorgan, Powys, South Glamorgan, West Glamorgan
\BDependent areas:\b \JAnguilla\j, \JBermuda\j, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, \JCayman\j Islands, Falkland Islands, \JGibraltar\j, \JGuernsey\j, Hong Kong (scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of China on 1 July 1997), Jersey, \JIsle of Man\j, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
\BIndependence:\b 1 January 1801 (United Kingdom established)
\BNational holiday:\b Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)
\BConstitution:\b unwritten; partly statutes, partly \Jcommon law\j and practice
\BLegal system:\b \Jcommon law\j tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Tony BLAIR (since 2 May 1997)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
\Ielections:\i none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; prime minister is the leader of the majority party in the \JHouse of Commons\j and must have the consent of the monarch
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Parliament consists of \JHouse of Lords\j (1,200 seats; four-fifths of the members are hereditary peers, two archbishops, 24 other senior bishops, serving and retired Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, other life peers, Scottish peers) and \JHouse of Commons\j (659 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i \JHouse of Lords\j - no elections; \JHouse of Commons\j - last held 1 May 1997 (next to be held by NA May 2002)
\Ielection results:\i \JHouse of Commons\j - percent of vote by party - Labor 44.5%, Conservative 31%, Liberal Democratic 17%, other 7.5%; seats by party - Labor 418, Conservative 165, Liberal Democratic 46, other 30
\BJudicial branch:\b \JHouse of Lords\j, several Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Conservative and Unionist Party [John MAJOR]; Labor Party [Anthony (Tony) Blair]; Liberal Democrats or LD [Jeremy (Paddy) ASHDOWN]; Scottish National Party [Alex SALMOND]; Welsh National Party (Plaid Cymru) [Dafydd Iwan WIGLEY]; Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [David TRIMBLE]; Democratic Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Rev. Ian PAISLEY]; Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [John HUME]; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Gerry ADAMS]; Alliance Party (Northern Ireland) [Lord ALDERDICE]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Trades Union Congress; Confederation of British Industry; National Farmers' Union; Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
\BFlag description:\b blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); known as the Union Flag or Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including dependencies, Commonwealth countries, and others
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The UK is one of the world's great trading powers and financial centers, and its essentially capitalistic economy ranks among the four largest in Western Europe. Over the past 17 years the ruling Tories have greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with only about 1% of the labor force. The UK has large \Jcoal\j, \Jnatural gas\j, and oil reserves; primary \Jenergy\j production accounts for 12% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance, now employing only 25% of the work force. The economy registered 3.9% GDP growth in 1994, the best rate for six years, but slipped back to 2.7% in 1995 and 2.4% in 1996. Exports and manufacturing output have been the primary engines of growth. Unemployment is gradually falling. Inflation is a comfortable 2.6%. A major economic policy question for the UK in the late 1990s is the terms on which it participates in the financial and economic \Jintegration\j of Europe.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.19 trillion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $20,400 (1996 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i services 62.8%, manufacturing and construction 25.0%, government 9.1%, \Jenergy\j 1.9%, agriculture 1.2% (June 1992)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 6.7% (December 1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $421.5 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $474.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)
\BIndustries:\b production machinery including machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, \Jaircraft\j, motor vehicles and parts, \Jelectronics\j and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, \Jcoal\j, \Jpetroleum\j, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 1% (1996 est.)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 66.15 million kW (1994)
\BTelephone system:\b technologically advanced domestic and international system
\Idomestic:\i equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems \Iinternational:\i 40 coaxial submarine cables; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 10 Intelsat (7 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 225, FM 525 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0
\Ibroad gauge:\i 434 km 1.600-m gauge (190 km double track); note - all 1.600-m gauge track, of which 357 km is in common carrier use, is in Northern Ireland
\Istandard gauge:\i 16,892 km 1.435-m gauge (4,928 km electrified; 12,591 km double or multiple track); note - 16,532 km of 1.435-m routes are in common carrier service; the remaining 360 km are operated by a total of 40 tourist or other private companies
\Inarrow gauge:\i 235 km 0.260-m, 0.311-m, 0.381-m, 0.600-m, 0.610-m, 0.686-m, 0.760-m, 0.762-m, 0.800-m, 0.825-m, 0.914-m and 1.067-m gauges; note - these short, narrow-gage lines are operated by a total of 25 tourist and other private firms (1995)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 388,831 km (1994 est.)
\Ipaved:\i NA km (including 3,284 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BWaterways:\b 3,200 km under British Waterways Board
\BPipelines:\b crude oil (almost all insignificant) 933 km; \Jpetroleum\j products 2,993 km; \Jnatural gas\j 12,800 km
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 13,829,704 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 11,527,058 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $35.1 billion (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.1% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Northern Ireland question with Ireland; \JGibraltar\j question with \JSpain\j; Argentina claims Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); Argentina claims South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; \JMauritius\j claims island of Diego Garcia in British Indian Ocean Territory; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, \JIceland\j, and Ireland (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area); territorial claim in \JAntarctica\j (British Antarctic Territory)
\BIllicit drugs:\b gateway country for Latin American \Jcocaine\j entering the European market; producer of synthetic drugs, precursor chemicals; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center
#
"United States (Atlas)",251,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JNorth America\j, bordering both the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j and the North \JPacific Ocean\j, between Canada and Mexico
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 38 00 N, 97 00 W
\BMap references:\b North America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 9,629,091 sq km
\Iland:\i 9,158,960 sq km
\Iwater:\i 470,131 sq km
\Inote:\i includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
\BArea - comparative:\b about one-half the size of \JRussia\j; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about one-half the size of \JSouth America\j (or slightly larger than \JBrazil\j); slightly larger than China; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,248 km
\Iborder countries:\i Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with \JAlaska\j), \JCuba\j 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 km
\Inote:\i Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba
\BCoastline:\b 19,924 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 12 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i not specified
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and \JFlorida\j and \Jarctic\j in \JAlaska\j, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
\BTerrain:\b vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in \JAlaska\j; rugged, volcanic \Jtopography\j in Hawaii
\BNatural hazards:\b tsunamis, volcanoes, and \Jearthquake\j activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic coast; tornadoes in the midwest; mud slides in \JCalifornia\j; forest fires in the west; flooding; \Jpermafrost\j in northern \JAlaska\j is a major impediment to development
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j resulting in \Jacid rain\j in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of \Jfossil\j fuels; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, \JBiodiversity\j, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
\BGeography - note:\b world's third-largest country (after \JRussia\j and Canada)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 6.55 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 76.04 years
\Imale:\i 72.75 years
\Ifemale:\i 79.49 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.06 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i American(s)
\Iadjective:\i American
\BEthnic groups:\b white 83.4%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Amerindian 0.8% (1992)
\BReligions:\b Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)
\BLanguages:\b English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 97%
\Imale:\i 97%
\Ifemale:\i 97% (1979 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i United States of America
\Iconventional short form:\i United States
\Iabbreviation:\i US or USA
\BData code:\b US
\BGovernment type:\b federal republic; strong democratic tradition
\BNational capital:\b Washington, DC
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 50 states and 1 district*; \JAlabama\j, \JAlaska\j, \JArizona\j, \JArkansas\j, \JCalifornia\j, \JColorado\j, Connecticut, \JDelaware\j, District of Columbia*, \JFlorida\j, Georgia, Hawaii, \JIdaho\j, Illinois, \JIndiana\j, \JIowa\j, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, \JMassachusetts\j, \JMichigan\j, \JMinnesota\j, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, \JNebraska\j, Nevada, New Hampshire, \JNew Jersey\j, New Mexico, New York, \JNorth Carolina\j, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, \JPennsylvania\j, \JRhode Island\j, South Carolina, South Dakota, \JTennessee\j, \JTexas\j, \JUtah\j, \JVermont\j, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, \JWisconsin\j, Wyoming
\BDependent areas:\b \JAmerican Samoa\j, Baker Island, \JGuam\j, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
\Inote:\i from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the \JPacific Islands\j, but recently entered into a new political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated States of \JMicronesia\j signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the \JMarshall Islands\j signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986)
\BIndependence:\b 4 July 1776 (from England)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
\BConstitution:\b 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ \Jjurisdiction\j, with reservations
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state; president and vice president serve four-year terms; election last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
\Ielection results:\i William Jefferson CLINTON elected president; percent of popular vote - William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party) 49.2%, Bob DOLE (Republican Party) 40.7%, Ross PEROT (Reform Party) 8.4%, other 1.7%
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Congress consists of Senate (100 seats, one-third are renewed every two years; two members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and \JHouse of Representatives\j (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 2 November 1998); \JHouse of Representatives\j - last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 2 November 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 55, Democratic Party 45; \JHouse of Representatives\j - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 227, Democratic Party 205, independent 1, vacant 2
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, justices are appointed for life by the president with confirmation by the Senate
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Republican Party, Jim NICHOLSON, national committee chairman; Democratic Party, Steve GROSSMAN, national committee chairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significance
\BFlag description:\b thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including \JChile\j, \JLiberia\j, \JMalaysia\j, and Puerto Rico
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $28,600, the largest among major industrial nations. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and government buys needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and \JJapan\j in decisions to expand capital plant, lay off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. In all economic sectors, US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers, and medical, aerospace, and military equipment, although their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. The years 1994-96 witnessed moderate gains in real output, low \Jinflation\j rates, and a drop in unemployment below 6%. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic \Jinfrastructure\j, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizable budget and trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The outlook for 1997 is for continued moderate growth, low \Jinflation\j, and about the same level of unemployment.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $7.61 trillion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $28,600 (1996 est.)
\Itotal:\i 133.943 million (includes unemployed) (1996)
\Iby occupation:\i managerial and professional 28.8%, technical, sales and administrative support 29.7%, services 13.6%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 25.1%, farming, \Jforestry\j, and fishing 2.8%
\BUnemployment rate:\b 5.4% (1996)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $1.351 trillion
\Iexpenditures:\i $1.514 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
\BIndustries:\b leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; \Jpetroleum\j, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, \Jelectronics\j, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 3.1% (1996)
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 702.7 million kW (1995)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b 11,636 kWh (1994 est.)
\BAgriculture - products:\b wheat, other grains, corn, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $584.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products
\Ipartners:\i Canada 22%, Western Europe 21%, \JJapan\j 11%, Mexico 8% (1995)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $771 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
\Icommodities:\i crude oil and refined \Jpetroleum\j products, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages
\Ipartners:\i Canada, 20%, Western Europe 18%, \JJapan\j 16.5%, Mexico 8% (1995)
\BDebt - external:\b $862 billion (1995 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Idonor:\i ODA, $9.721 billion (1993)
\BCurrency:\b 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b British pounds (£) per US$ - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$ - 1.3486 (January 1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992); French francs (F) per US$ - 5.4169 (January 1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992); Italian lire (Lit) per US$ - 1,568.1 (January 1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992); Japanese yen (¥) per US$ - 118.02 (January 1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992); German deutsche marks (DM) per US$ - 1.6043 (January 1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992)
\BFiscal year:\b 1 October - 30 September
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 182.558 million (1987 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites
\Iinternational:\i 24 ocean cable systems in use; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 61 Intelsat (45 \JAtlantic Ocean\j and 16 \JPacific Ocean\j) (1990 est.), 5 Intersputnik (\JAtlantic Ocean\j region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and \JAtlantic Ocean\j regions)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4,987, FM 4,932, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 540.5 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 1,092 (in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems)
\BTelevisions:\b 215 million (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)
\Istandard gauge:\i 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6,261,154 km
\Ipaved:\i 3,759,516 km (including 88,500 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 2,501,638 km (1995 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes
\BPipelines:\b \Jpetroleum\j products 276,000 km; \Jnatural gas\j 331,000 km (1991)
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JAnchorage\j, Baltimore, \JBoston\j, Charleston, \JChicago\j, Duluth, Hampton Roads, \JHonolulu\j, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon), Prudhoe Bay, \JSan Francisco\j, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo
\Iships by type:\i bulk 15, cargo 22, chemical tanker 16, intermodal 119, liquefied gas tanker 14, passenger-cargo 3, tanker 104, tanker tug-barge 12
\Inote:\i in addition, there are 193 government-owned vessels (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 13,396 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 11,677
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 180
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 201
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1,217
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2,354
\Iunder 914 m:\i 7,725 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,719
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 7
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 152
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 1,559 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 103 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force
\Inote:\i the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 69,414,007 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 1,864,580 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $267.2 billion (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.4% (1997 est.)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island); US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from \JCuba\j and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; \JHaiti\j claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in \JAntarctica\j (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation; Republic of \JMarshall Islands\j claims Wake Island
\BIllicit drugs:\b consumer of \Jcocaine\j shipped from \JColombia\j through Mexico and the Caribbean;
consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasingly methamphetamines from Mexico; consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamines; drug money-laundering center
#
"Uruguay (Atlas)",252,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern \JSouth America\j, bordering the South \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between Argentina and Brazil
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 33 00 S, 56 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 176,220 sq km
\Iland:\i 173,620 sq km
\Iwater:\i 2,600 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Washington State
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,564 km
\Iborder countries:\i Argentina 579 km, \JBrazil\j 985 km
\BCoastline:\b 660 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\BClimate:\b warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
\BTerrain:\b mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Cerro Catedral 514 m
\BNatural resources:\b fertile soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 7%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 77%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 5%
\Iother:\i 11% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 1,400 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as \Jweather\j barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in \Jweather\j fronts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b substantial \Jpollution\j from Brazilian industry along border; one-fifth of country affected by \Jacid rain\j generated by Brazil; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 75.23 years
\Imale:\i 72.09 years
\Ifemale:\i 78.55 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.3 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Uruguayan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Uruguayan
\BEthnic groups:\b white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, specifically, the Charrua, which are practically nonexistent and make up probably less than 1%
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 66% (less than one-half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%
\BLanguages:\b Spanish, Portunon, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 97.3%
\Imale:\i 96.9%
\Ifemale:\i 97.7% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Oriental Republic of Uruguay
\Iconventional short form:\i Uruguay
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica Oriental del Uruguay
\Ilocal short form:\i Uruguay
\BData code:\b UY
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Montevideo
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, \JFlorida\j, Lavalleja, Maldonado, \JMontevideo\j, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
\BIndependence:\b 25 August 1828 (from \JBrazil\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 25 August (1828)
\BConstitution:\b 27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; constitutional reforms approved by \Jplebiscite\j 7 January 1997
\BLegal system:\b based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government as well as the Senate president
\Ihead of government:\i President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government as well as the Senate president
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Julio Maria SANGUINETTI elected president; percent of vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Chamber of Senators - last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999)
\Ielection results:\i Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - \JColorado\j 36%, Blanco 34%, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%; seats by party - \JColorado\j 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New Sector 1; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - \JColorado\j 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector 5%; seats by party - \JColorado\j 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New Sector 5
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National (Blanco) Party, Alberto VOLONTE Berro; Herrerista faction of the Blanco Party, Luis LACALLE; \JColorado\j Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, Tabare VAZQUEZ (as of 22 December 1996); New Sector Coalition, Rafael MICHELINI; Party for the Government by the People (PGP), Hugo BATALLA; Progressive Encounter (Encuentro Progresista), Tabare VAZQUEZ
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ
\Ichancery:\i 2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 331-8147
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Thomas J. DODD
\Iembassy:\i Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
\Imailing address:\i APO AA 34035
\Itelephone:\i [598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77
\IFAX:\i [598] (2) 48 86 11
\BFlag description:\b nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow \Jsun\j bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development has been restrained in recent years by high - though declining - \Jinflation\j and extensive government regulation. The SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and fiscal policies are aimed at continuing to reduce \Jinflation\j, at 24.3% at yearend 1996; other priorities include extensive reform of the social security system and increased investment in education. Uruguay recovered from recession in 1996 - partly due to the recovery in Argentina - and ended the year with a nearly 5% rise in GDP. Uruguayan trade continued to expand and the potential for new markets continued to open through the negotiations of Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) with neighboring countries and the European Union (EU). The economy is expected to continue growing at a healthy rate in 1997 along with other regional economies.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $26 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 4.9% (1996)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air Force, \JGrenadier\j Guards, Coracero Guard, Police
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 792,365 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 643,137 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $256 million (1994)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.5% (1994)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b two short sections of the boundary with \JBrazil\j are in dispute - Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River
#
"Uzbekistan (Atlas)",253,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 41 00 N, 64 00 E
\BMap references:\b Commonwealth of Independent States
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 447,400 sq km
\Iland:\i 425,400 sq km
\Iwater:\i 22,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 6,221 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAfghanistan\j 137 km, Kazakstan 2,203 km, \JKyrgyzstan\j 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km
\Inote:\i Uzbekistan borders the Aral Sea (420 km)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (doubly landlocked)
\BClimate:\b mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
\BTerrain:\b mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya and Syr Darya; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and \JKyrgyzstan\j; shrinking Aral Sea in west
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
\Ihighest point:\i Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jnatural gas\j, \Jpetroleum\j, \Jcoal\j, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, \Jtungsten\j, molybdenum
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 9%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 46%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 3%
\Iother:\i 41% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 40,000 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to \Jdesertification\j; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salinization; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 70.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 64.31 years
\Imale:\i 60.69 years
\Ifemale:\i 68.11 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.92 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Uzbekistani(s)
\Iadjective:\i Uzbekistani
\BEthnic groups:\b Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazak 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
\BReligions:\b Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
\BLanguages:\b Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 97%
\Imale:\i 98%
\Ifemale:\i 96% (1989 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Uzbekistan
\Iconventional short form:\i Uzbekistan
\Ilocal long form:\i Uzbekiston Respublikasi
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\Iformer:\i Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
\BData code:\b UZ
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Tashkent (Toshkent)
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati
\Inote:\i administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
\BIndependence:\b 31 August 1991 (from \JSoviet Union\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
\BConstitution:\b new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
\BLegal system:\b \Jevolution\j of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Utkur SULTONOV (since December 1995); First Deputy Prime Minister Ismoil JURABEKOV (since NA); First Deputy Prime Minister for Agriculture Qobiljon OBIDOV (since NA); Deputy Prime Ministers Viktor CHIZHEN (since NA), Bakhtiyor HAMIDOV (since NA), Kayim HAQQULOV (since NA), Dilbar GHOLOMOVA (since NA), Alisher AZIZKHOJAYEV (since NA), Mirabror USMONOV (since NA), Murat SHARIFKHOJAYEV (since NA), Rustam YUNUSOV (since NA)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA 2000; note - extension of President KARIMOV's term for an additional four years overwhelmingly approved - 99.6% of total vote in favor - by national referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Islom KARIMOV elected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12, other 31; note - final runoffs were held 22 January 1995; seating was as follows: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120
\Inote:\i all parties in parliament support President KARIMOV
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b People's Democratic Party or PDP (formerly Communist Party) [Islom A. KARIMOV, chairman]; Fatherland Progress Party or FPP [Anwar YULDASHEV, chairman]; Social Democratic Party [Anvar JORABAYEV, chairman]
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b Birlik (Unity) People's Movement or BPM [Ibrahim BURIYEV, chairman]; Islamic Rebirth Party or IRP [Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party was banned 9 December 1992
\Inote:\i UTAYEV or IRP is either in prison or in exile
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It was one of the poorest areas of the former \JSoviet Union\j with more than 60% of its population living in overpopulated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's third largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and \Jnatural gas\j, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Faced with high rates of \Jinflation\j, however, the government stepped up the pace of reform in mid-1994, by introducing tighter monetary policies, expanding privatization, slightly reducing the role of the state in the economy, and improving the environment for foreign investors. Nevertheless, the state continues to be a dominating influence in the economy, and reforms have so far failed to bring about much-needed structural changes. The IMF suspended Uzbekistan's $185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 because of governmental steps that made impossible fulfillment of Fund conditions.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $57 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 1.6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,430 (1996 est.)
\Ipartners:\i \JRussia\j, \JUkraine\j, Eastern Europe, Western Europe
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $3.2 billion (1996)
\Icommodities:\i grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other foods
\Ipartners:\i principally other FSU, Czech Republic, Western Europe
\BDebt - external:\b $1.285 billion (of which $510 million to \JRussia\j)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $71 million (1993)
\Inote:\i commitments, $2,915 million ($135 million in disbursements) (1992-95)
\BCurrency:\b introduced provisional som-coupons 10 November 1993 which circulated parallel to the Russian rubles; became the sole legal currency 31 January
1994; was replaced in July 1994 by the som currency
\BExchange rates:\b Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1 - 51.1 (January 1997), 35.8 (end December
1995), 25 (yearend 1994)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 1.458 million (1995 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b poorly developed
\Idomestic:\i NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent
\Iinternational:\i linked by landline or microwave radio relay with \JCIS\j member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to \JTokyo\j and \JAnkara\j give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - NA Orbita and NA Intelsat
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there is at least one state-owned
broadcast station of NA type
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2 national, many local
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines
\Ibroad gauge:\i 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 80,000 km
\Ipaved:\i 69,760 km (note - these roads are said to be hard surfaced, meaning
that some are paved and some are all-\Jweather\j gravel surfaced)
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 5,833,862 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,748,539 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 239,978 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b 164 million soms (1993); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.7% (1993)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
\BIllicit drugs:\b limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy; mostly for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to \JRussia\j and Western Europe
#
"Vanuatu (Atlas)",254,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, group of islands in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 16 00 S, 167 00 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 14,760 sq km
\Iland:\i 14,760 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes more than 80 islands
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Connecticut
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,528 km
\BMaritime claims:\b measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
\BTerrain:\b mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Tabwemasana 1,877 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jmanganese\j, hardwood forests, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 2%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 10%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 2%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 75%
\Iother:\i 11% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of \Jwater\j; deforestation
\BIndependence:\b 30 July 1980 (from \JFrance\j and UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
\BConstitution:\b 30 July 1980
\BLegal system:\b unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Rialuth Serge VOHOR (since 30 September 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 25 October 1996)
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament
\Ielections:\i president elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 2 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 30 September 1996 (next to be held NA November 1999); note - the general legislative elections in November 1995 did not give a majority to any of the political parties; since the election, there have been three changes of government - all of which have been coalitions formed by Parliamentary vote; Rialuth Serge VOHOR was prime minister from November 1995 until he resigned 7 February 1996 when faced with a no-confidence vote in Parliament; Maxime Carlot KORMAN was then elected prime minister and served until he was ousted in a no-confidence motion on 30 September 1996; VOHOR was then elected prime minister for a second time
\Ielection results:\i Jean Marie LEYE elected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA; Serge VOHOR elected prime minister by a Parliamentary vote of 28 to 22
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Parliament (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 30 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1999)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 17, VP 14, NUP 9, MPP 5, TU 2, Na-Griamel Movement 1, Friend Melanesian Party 1, independent 1; note - political party associations are fluid; there have been three changes of government since the November 1995 elections
\Inote:\i the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, \Jchief justice\j is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge VOHOR; National United Party (NUP), Walter LINI; Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; Tan Union (TU), Vincent BOULEKONE; Na-Griamel Movement, Frankie STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, Albert RAUUTIA
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
\BFlag description:\b two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the other mainstays of the economy, with 43,000 visitors in 1992. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known \Jpetroleum\j deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $219 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2% (1995)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,230 (1995 est.)
\Iships by type:\i bulk 32, cargo 30, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 1, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 5, oil tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 13, vehicle carrier 8
\Inote:\i a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 17 countries among which are \JJapan\j 31, India 10, \JGreece\j 7, Netherlands 7, US 7, Hong Kong 6, Canada 4, \JFrance\j 4, \JAustralia\j 2, and \JSingapore\j 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 30 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 19
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 17 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 11
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 10 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia
#
"Venezuela (Atlas)",255,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern \JSouth America\j, bordering the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between \JColombia\j and Guyana
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 8 00 N, 66 00 W
\BMap references:\b South America
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 912,050 sq km
\Iland:\i 882,050 sq km
\Iwater:\i 30,000 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly more than twice the size of California
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,993 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBrazil\j 2,200 km, \JColombia\j 2,050 km, \JGuyana\j 743 km
\BCoastline:\b 2,800 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 15 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
\BTerrain:\b \JAndes\j Mountains and \JMaracaibo\j Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, \Jnatural gas\j, iron ore, gold, \Jbauxite\j, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 4%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 20%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 34%
\Iother:\i 41% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b subject to floods, rockslides, mud slides; periodic droughts
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b sewage \Jpollution\j of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban \Jpollution\j of Lago de \JMaracaibo\j; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial \Jpollution\j, especially along the Caribbean coast
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 28.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 72.37 years
\Imale:\i 69.4 years
\Ifemale:\i 75.58 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.78 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Venezuelan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Venezuelan
\BEthnic groups:\b mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Amerindian 2%
\BReligions:\b nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%
\BLanguages:\b Spanish (official), native dialects spoken by about 200,000 Amerindians in the remote interior
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 91.1%
\Imale:\i 91.8%
\Ifemale:\i 90.3% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Venezuela
\Iconventional short form:\i Venezuela
\Ilocal long form:\i Republica de Venezuela
\Ilocal short form:\i Venezuela
\BData code:\b VE
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Caracas
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 22 states (estados, singular - estado),1 federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia \Inote:\i the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
\BIndependence:\b 5 July 1811 (from \JSpain\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
\BConstitution:\b 23 January 1961
\BLegal system:\b based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Hugo CHAVEZ (since December 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Hugo CHAVEZ (since December 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1998)
\BLegislative branch:\b bicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica consists of the Senate or Senado (53 seats, two from each state and the Federal District, and retired presidents; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (203 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i Senate - last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1998); Chamber of Deputies - last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AD 18, COPEI 15, Causa R 9, MAS 5, National Convergence 6; note - three former presidents (2 from AD, 1 from COPEI) hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - AD 27.9%, COPEI 26.9%, MAS 12.4%, National Convergence 12.9%, Causa R 19.9%; seats by party - AD 55, COPEI 53, MAS 24, National Convergence 26, Causa R 40, other 5
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b National Convergence (Convergencia), Jose Miguel UZCATEGUI, president, Juan Jose CALDERA, national coordinator; Social Christian Party (COPEI), Luis HERRERA Campins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general; Democratic Action (AD), Pedro PARIS Montesinos, president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general; Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), Gustavo MARQUEZ, president, and Enrique OCHOA Antich, secretary general; Radical Cause (La Causa R), Lucas MATHEUS, secretary general
\BPolitical pressure groups and leaders:\b FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers (CTV, labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS groups
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Pedro Luis ECHEVERRIA
\Ichancery:\i 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 342-2214
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 342-6820
\Iconsulate(s) general:\i \JBoston\j, \JChicago\j, Houston, Miami, \JNew Orleans\j, New York, \JSan Francisco\j, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador John Francis MAISTO
\Iembassy:\i Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, \JCaracas\j 1060
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 62291, \JCaracas\j 1060-A; APO AA 34037
\Itelephone:\i [58] (2) 977-2011
\IFAX:\i [58] (2) 977-0843
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The \Jpetroleum\j sector dominates the economy, accounting for roughly 25% of GDP, 70% of export earnings, and 50% of central government revenues. It is likely to become even more important as the state \Jpetroleum\j company plans to double its production over the next ten years. The non-\Jpetroleum\j sectors have been contracting, however, with GDP shrinking by 1.6% during 1996. Realizing the failure of interventionist policies, the CALDERA administration embarked on a comprehensive reform program and successfully negotiated a $1.4 billion stand-by agreement with the IMF. The state eliminated price and exchange controls, reduced the long-standing subsidy on \Jgasoline\j, and revitalized its stalled privatization program. Foreign investors reacted positively and the \JCaracas\j stock exchange ended 1996 as the world's best performing stock market. The influx of foreign investment and a windfall of oil revenues resulting from higher-than-expected international oil prices raised Venezuela's reserves to over $15 billion. As a result, Venezuela used only the first tranche of the IMF credit - $400 million. The currency depreciated sharply following the exchange liberalization, and caused an inflationary burst that led to a 103% yearly rate of inflation, the highest in Venezuelan history. The bolivar has since strengthened and inflation fell near the end of the year. The macroeconomic adjustments should take hold in 1997, and the economy is expected to grow by 4% or more. Increased salary demands by public and private sector workers, however, threaten a renewal of inflationary pressures.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $197 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -1.6% (1996)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $9,000 (1996 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, \JMaracaibo\j, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon
\BMilitary branches:\b National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 5,997,099 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 4,333,497 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 238,650 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $902 million (1996)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.4% (1996)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claims all of \JGuyana\j west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary dispute with \JColombia\j in the Gulf of Venezuela
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of cannabis, opium, and \Jcoca\j leaf for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of \Jcocaine\j and heroin transit the country from \JColombia\j; important money-laundering hub; active aerial eradication program primarily targeting opium
#
"Vietnam (Atlas)",256,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of \JThailand\j, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, between China and Cambodia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 16 00 N, 106 00 E
\BMap references:\b Southeast Asia
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 329,560 sq km
\Iland:\i 325,360 sq km
\Iwater:\i 4,200 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than New Mexico
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 4,639 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JCambodia\j 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
\BCoastline:\b 3,444 km (excludes islands)
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)
\BTerrain:\b low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i South China Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Ngoc Linh 3,143 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jphosphates\j, \Jcoal\j, \Jmanganese\j, \Jbauxite\j, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 17%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 4%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 1%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 30%
\Iother:\i 48% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 18,600 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j and overfishing threaten marine life populations; \Jgroundwater\j contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in \JHanoi\j and Ho Chi Minh City\j
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 37.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 67.38 years
\Imale:\i 65.03 years
\Ifemale:\i 69.86 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.6 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Vietnamese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Vietnamese
\BEthnic groups:\b Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Tai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham
\BReligions:\b Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, \JIslam\j, Protestant, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao
\BLanguages:\b Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French, Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 93.7%
\Imale:\i 96.5%
\Ifemale:\i 91.2% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Socialist Republic of Vietnam
\Iconventional short form:\i Vietnam
\Ilocal long form:\i Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
\Ilocal short form:\i Viet Nam
\Iabbreviation:\i SRV
\BData code:\b VM
\BGovernment type:\b Communist state
\BNational capital:\b Hanoi
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 50 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lac, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Bac, Ha Giang, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ho Chi Minh*, Hoa Binh, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Song Be, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phu, Yen Bai \Inote:\i eight existing provinces (Bac Thai, Ha Bac, Hai Hung, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Song Be, and Vinh Phu) may have been abolished and from their territory 15 new provinces and one new municipality* (Bac Can, Bac Giang, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Ca Mau, Da Nang City*, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Nam Dinh, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Thai Nguyen, and Vinh Phuc) may have been created
\BIndependence:\b 2 September 1945 (from \JFrance\j)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
\BConstitution:\b 15 April 1992
\BLegal system:\b based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991); First Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 10 August 1991); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen KHANH (since NA February 1987) and Tran Duc LUONG (since NA February 1987)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly
\Ielections:\i president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a five-year term; election last held 23 September 1992 (next to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative elections in July 1997); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister
\Ielection results:\i Le Duc ANH elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (395 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 19 July 1992 (next to be held 20 July 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - CPV or CPV-approved 100%; seats by party - CPV or CPV-approved 395
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme People's Court, \Jchief justice\j is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b only party - Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), DO MUOI, general secretary
\Ichancery:\i 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 501
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 861-0737
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 861-0917
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Douglas "Pete" Peterson
\Iembassy:\i 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
\Imailing address:\i PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
\Itelephone:\i [84] (4) 8431500
\IFAX:\i [84] (4) 8350484 or 8431510
\BFlag description:\b red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Vietnam is a poor, densely populated country that has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally planned economy. Substantial progress has been achieved over the past 10 years in moving forward from an extremely low starting point. Economic growth continued at a strong pace during 1996 with industrial output rising by 14% and real GDP expanding by 9.4%. Foreign direct investment rose to an estimated $2.3 billion for the year, up by about 30% from 1995. These positive numbers, however, masked some major difficulties that are emerging in economic performance. Many domestic industries, including \Jcoal\j, cement, steel, and paper, reported large stockpiles of inventory and tough competition from more efficient foreign producers. Vietnam's trade deficit widened to $4 billion in 1996, up over 80% from a year ago. While disbursements of aid and foreign direct investment have risen, they are not large enough to finance the rapid increase in imports and it is widely believed that Vietnam may be using short-term trade credits to bridge the gap - a risky strategy that could result in a foreign exchange crunch during 1997. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities continue to move very slowly toward implementing the structural reforms needed to revitalize the economy and produce more competitive, export-driven industries. Privatization of state enterprises remains bogged down in political controversy, while the country's dynamic private sector is denied both financing and access to markets. Reform of the banking sector is proceeding slowly, raising concerns that the country will be unable to tap sufficient domestic savings to maintain current high levels of growth. Administrative and legal barriers are also causing costly delays for foreign investors and are raising similar doubts about Vietnam's ability to maintain the inflow of foreign capital. Ideological bias in favor of state intervention and control of the economy is slowing progress toward a more liberalized investment environment.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $108.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 9.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,470 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b while Vietnam's telecommunication sector lags far behind other countries in Southeast Asia, \JHanoi\j has made considerable progress since 1991 in upgrading the system; Vietnam has digitized all provincial switch boards, while fiber-optic and microwave transmission systems have been extended from \JHanoi\j, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City to all provinces; the density of \Jtelephone\j receivers nationwide doubled from 1993 to 1995, but is still far behind other countries in the region; Vietnam's telecommunications strategy aims to increase \Jtelephone\j density to 30 per 1,000 inhabitants by the year 2000 and authorities estimate that approximately $2.7 billion will be spent on telecommunications upgrades through the end of the decade
\Iships by type:\i bulk 5, cargo 100, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
\Inote:\i Vietnam owns an additional 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 107,592 DWT operating under the registries of The \JBahamas\j, \JHonduras\j, Malta, Panama, and Vanuatu (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 48 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 36
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 8
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 5
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 13
\Iunder 914 m:\i 7 (1994 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 5
\Iunder 914 m:\i 5 (1994 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 17 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 19,172,473 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 12,123,118 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 802,154 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $544 million (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.7% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b maritime boundary with \JCambodia\j not defined; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea with China, \JMalaysia\j, \JPhilippines\j, \JTaiwan\j, and possibly \JBrunei\j; unresolved maritime boundary with \JThailand\j; maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands in the South China Sea occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and \JTaiwan\j; offshore islands and sections of boundary with \JCambodia\j are in dispute
\BIllicit drugs:\b key growing areas in Vietnam cultivated 3,150 hectares of poppy in 1996, producing 25 tons of opium; opium producer and increasingly important transit point for Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and Europe; growing opium addiction; possible small-scale heroin production
#
"Virgin Islands (Atlas)",257,0,0,0
\I(territory of the US) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Caribbean, islands between the \JCaribbean Sea\j and the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, east of Puerto Rico
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 18 20 N, 64 50 W
\BMap references:\b \JCentral America\j and the Caribbean
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 352 sq km
\Iland:\i 349 sq km
\Iwater:\i 3 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b twice the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 188 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low \Jhumidity\j, little seasonal \Jtemperature\j variation; rainy season May to November
\BTerrain:\b mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JCaribbean Sea\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Crown Mountain 474 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jsun\j, sand, sea, surf
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 15%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 6%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 26%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 6%
\Iother:\i 47% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and earthquakes
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b lack of natural freshwater resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the \JPanama Canal\j; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 97,240 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 0.18% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 16.72 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -9.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 75.29 years
\Imale:\i 73.6 years
\Ifemale:\i 77.2 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.18 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Virgin Islander(s)
\Iadjective:\i Virgin Islander
\BEthnic groups:\b black 80%, white 15%, other 5%
\BReligions:\b Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Spanish, Creole
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Virgin Islands of the United States
\Iconventional short form:\i Virgin Islands
\Iformer:\i Danish West Indies
\BData code:\b VQ
\BDependency status:\b organized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Office
of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Charlotte Amalie
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (territory of the US)
\BNational holiday:\b Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
\BConstitution:\b Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
\BLegal system:\b based on US laws
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
\Ihead of government:\i Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January 1995) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995)
\Icabinet:\i NA
\Ielections:\i governor and lieutenant governor of the Virgin Islands elected by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998)
\Ielection results:\i Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER elected governor of the Virgin Islands; percent of vote - Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 54.7%, former Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 6, Democrats 5, Republicans 2, Independent Citizens Movement 2
\Inote:\i the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US \JHouse of Representatives\j; elections last held 19 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Dr. Donna GREEN (ICM) 51.5%, Victor O. FRAZER (independent) 48.5%
\BJudicial branch:\b US District Court, handles civil matters over $200,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases; judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court, handles civil matters of unlimited cash amount; felonies, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases; judges appointed by the governor
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin C. BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS
\BInternational organization participation:\b ECLAC (associate), IOC
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (territory of the US)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (territory of the US)
\BFlag description:\b white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The number of US tourists in the first five months of 1996 was down by 55% from the same period in 1995, the lingering result of the fierce hurricanes of 1995. Unemployment rose sharply in 1996. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, \Jelectronics\j, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest \Jpetroleum\j refineries is at Saint Croix. A major economic problem at the beginning of 1997 was the more than $1 billion in governmental arrears, in income tax refunds, payments to vendors, and overdue wages.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1987 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $12,500 (1987 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 47,443 (1990 est.)
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture, industry, services, other (1990 est.)
\BUnemployment rate:\b 6.2% (March 1994)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $364.4 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
\Icommodities:\i crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
\Ipartners:\i US, Puerto Rico
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
\BExchange rates:\b US currency is used
\BFiscal year:\b 1 October - 30 September
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 60,000 (1990 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
\Iinternational:\i submarine cable and \Jsatellite\j communications; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)
\BRadios:\b 105,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 4 (1988 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 65,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 856 km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 2
\Inote:\i international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 2
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"Wake Island (Atlas)",258,0,0,0
\I(territory of the US) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, island in the North \JPacific Ocean\j, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 19 17 N, 166 36 E
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 6.5 sq km
\Iland:\i 6.5 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 19.3 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical
\BTerrain:\b \Jatoll\j of three \Jcoral\j islands built up on an underwater \Jvolcano\j; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 6 m
\BNatural resources:\b none
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 0%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 0%
\Iother:\i 100%
\BIrrigated land:\b 0 sq km (1993)
\BNatural hazards:\b occasional typhoons
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b strategic location in the North \JPacific Ocean\j; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b no indigenous inhabitants
\Inote:\i there are 302 US military and contract personnel (July 1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Wake Island
\BData code:\b WQ
\BDependency status:\b unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the US Army and Strategic Defense Command since 1 October 1994
\BNational capital:\b none; administered from Washington, DC
\BIndependence:\b none (territory of the US)
\BFlag description:\b the flag of the US is used
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
\BElectricity - capacity:\b NA kW
\Inote:\i electricity supplied by the US military
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\Inote:\i electricity supplied by the US military
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\BTelephone system:\b \Jsatellite\j communications; 1 DSN circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
\Inote:\i Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\Inote:\i Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) \Jtelevision\j service provided by satellite
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
\BMerchant marine:\b none
\BAirports:\b 1
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BTransportation - note:\b formerly an important commercial \Javiation\j base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, as well as the US Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for missile launches
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of the US
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claimed by the Republic of the \JMarshall Islands\j
#
"Wallis and Futuna (Atlas)",259,0,0,0
\I(overseas territory of \JFrance\j) \i
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, islands in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 18 S, 176 12 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 274 sq km
\Iland:\i 274 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
\BArea - comparative:\b 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 129 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% \Jhumidity\j); average \Jtemperature\j 26.6 degrees C
\BTerrain:\b volcanic origin; low hills
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Singavi 765 m
\BNatural resources:\b NEGL
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 5%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 20%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i NA%
\Iforests and woodland:\i NA%
\Iother:\i 75% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh \Jwater\j resources
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i NA
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i NA
\BGeography - note:\b both island groups have fringing reefs
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 14,817 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 1.08% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 23.7 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -7.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 22.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 73.29 years
\Imale:\i 72.7 years
\Ifemale:\i 73.9 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.89 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
\Iadjective:\i Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 50%
\Imale:\i 50%
\Ifemale:\i 50% (1969 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
\Iconventional short form:\i Wallis and Futuna
\Ilocal long form:\i Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
\Ilocal short form:\i Wallis et Futuna
\BData code:\b WF
\BDependency status:\b overseas territory of France
\BGovernment type:\b NA
\BNational capital:\b Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo
\BIndependence:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j)
\BConstitution:\b 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
\BLegal system:\b French legal system
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President of \JFrance\j Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented
by High Administrator Claude PIERRET (since NA)
\Ihead of government:\i President of the Territorial Assembly Keleto LAKALAKA (since NA)
\Icabinet:\i Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly
\Inote:\i there are three traditional kings with limited powers
\Ielections:\i high administrator appointed by the president of \JFrance\j on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 9, Taumu'a Lelei 11
\Inote:\i Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held by 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1
\BJudicial branch:\b none; justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Rally for the Republic or RPR; Union Populaire Locale or UPL; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF; Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG; Taumu'a Lelei
\BDiplomatic representation in the US:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j)
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b none (overseas territory of \JFrance\j)
\BFlag description:\b a large white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background; the flag of \JFrance\j outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of \JFrance\j is used for official occasions
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to \JJapan\j and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna imports food - particularly sugar, rice, and beef - fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1995 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b NA
\Iby occupation:\i agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $17 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $17 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
\Ipartners:\i \JFrance\j, \JAustralia\j, New Zealand
\BDebt - external:\b $NA
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
\BExchange rates:\b Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 98.48 (January 1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 340 (1985 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
\Ipaved:\i 16 km (all on Ile Uvea)
\Iunpaved:\i 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
\BMilitary - note:\b defense is the responsibility of France
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"West Bank (Atlas)",260,0,0,0
\BIntroduction\b
\BCurrent issues:\b 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. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996. 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 has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 \JCairo\j 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 DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations which began on 5 May 1996.
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, west of Jordan
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 32 00 N, 35 15 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,860 sq km
\Iland:\i 5,640 sq km
\Iwater:\i 220 sq km
\Inote:\i includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East \JJerusalem\j and \JJerusalem\j No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Delaware
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 404 km
\Iborder countries:\i Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b temperate, \Jtemperature\j and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
\BTerrain:\b mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren
in east
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Dead Sea -408 m
\Ihighest point:\i Tall Asur 1,022 m
\BNatural resources:\b NEGL
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 27%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 32%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 1%
\Iother:\i 40%
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b NA
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b NA
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 203 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 26 in East \JJerusalem\j (August 1996 est.)
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 1,495,683 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i in addition, there are 136,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 72.11 years
\Imale:\i 70.43 years
\Ifemale:\i 73.88 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 5.06 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i NA
\Iadjective:\i NA
\BEthnic groups:\b Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
\BReligions:\b Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%
\BLanguages:\b Arabic, \JHebrew\j (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i West Bank
\BData code:\b WE
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by tight Israeli security restrictions. Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable investment have been discouraged by a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli policies. Capital investment consists largely of residential housing, not productive assets that would enable local Palestinian firms to compete with Israeli industry. GDP has been substantially supplemented by remittances of workers employed in Israel. Such transfers from the Persian Gulf states dropped after \JIraq\j invaded \JKuwait\j in August 1990. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, many Palestinians have returned to the West Bank, increasing unemployment, and export revenues have dropped because of the decline of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. An estimated 147,000 people were in refugee camps in 1996.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -1% to -2% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,600 (1996 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i 33%
\Iindustry:\i 25%
\Iservices:\i 42% (1995 est., includes Gaza Strip)
\Iby occupation:\i construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry 14.5%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9% (1991)
\Inote:\i excluding Israeli settlers
\BUnemployment rate:\b 35% to 40% (1996 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $684 million
\Iexpenditures:\i $779 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996)
\Inote:\i includes Gaza Strip
\BIndustries:\b generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b NA kW
\Inote:\i most electricity imported from Israel; East \JJerusalem\j Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East \JJerusalem\j and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants
\BElectricity - production:\b NA kWh
\Inote:\i most electricity imported from Israel; East \JJerusalem\j Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East \JJerusalem\j and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BAgriculture - products:\b olives, \Jcitrus\j and other fruits, vegetables; beef, dairy products
\BExports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $235 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) (includes Gaza Strip)
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\Inote:\i 3.1% of Palestinian households have telephones
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\Inote:\i Israeli company BEZEK is responsible for communication services in the West Bank
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA; note - 82% of Palestinian households have radios (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 0
\Inote:\i 1 broadcast station is planned for Jericho
\BTelevisions:\b NA; note - 54% of Palestinian households have televisions (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\Inote:\i small road network; Israelis have developed many highways to service Jewish settlements
\BPorts and harbors:\b none
\BAirports:\b 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b NA
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b 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
#
"Western Sahara (Atlas)",261,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Northern Africa, bordering the North \JAtlantic Ocean\j, between \JMauritania\j and Morocco
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 24 30 N, 13 00 W
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 266,000 sq km
\Iland:\i 266,000 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b about the size of Colorado
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,046 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAlgeria\j 42 km, \JMauritania\j 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,110 km
\BMaritime claims:\b contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
\BClimate:\b hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce \Jfog\j and heavy dew
\BTerrain:\b mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Sebjet Tah -55 m
\Ihighest point:\i unnamed location 463 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jphosphates\j, iron ore
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 19%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 24%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 47%
\Iother:\i 10% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread \Jharmattan\j haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b sparse \Jwater\j and arable land
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i none of the selected agreements
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 228,138 (July 1997 est.)
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i NA
\I15-64 years:\i NA
\I65 years and over:\i NA
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 2.43% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 46.14 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 17.53 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -4.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BSex ratio:\b
\Iat birth:\i NA male(s)/female
\Iunder 15 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I15-64 years:\i NA male(s)/female
\I65 years and over:\i NA male(s)/female
\Itotal population:\i NA male(s)/female
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 142.75 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 47.71 years
\Imale:\i 46.66 years
\Ifemale:\i 49.09 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.8 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
\Iadjective:\i Sahrawian, Sahraouian
\BEthnic groups:\b Arab, Berber
\BReligions:\b Muslim
\BLanguages:\b Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
\BLiteracy:\b NA
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i none
\Iconventional short form:\i Western Sahara
\BData code:\b WI
\BGovernment type:\b legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); territory partitioned between Morocco and \JMauritania\j in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; \JMauritania\j, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991
\BNational capital:\b none
\BAdministrative divisions:\b none (under de facto control of Morocco)
\BSuffrage:\b none; a UN sponsored voter identification campaign has yet to be completed
\BEconomy - overview:\b Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Incomes and standards of living are substantially below the Moroccan level.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b NA%
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $NA
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i 40%-45% (1996 est.)
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b NA%
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 12,000
\Iby occupation:\i animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
\BUnemployment rate:\b NA%
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $NA
\Iexpenditures:\i $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
\BIndustries:\b phosphate mining, handicrafts
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b NA%
\BElectricity - capacity:\b 56,000 kW (1995)
\BElectricity - production:\b 85 million kWh (1995)
\BElectricity - consumption per capita:\b NA kWh
\BAgriculture - products:\b fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by the nomads)
\BExports:\b $NA
\Icommodities:\i \Jphosphates\j 62%
\Ipartners:\i Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
\BImports:\b $NA
\Icommodities:\i fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
\Ipartners:\i Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
\Iinternational:\i tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and \Jsatellite\j; \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j) linked to Rabat, Morocco
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 2
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6,200 km
\Ipaved:\i 1,350 km
\Iunpaved:\i 4,850 km (1991 est.)
\BPorts and harbors:\b Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, El Aaiun
\BAirports:\b 12 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\Iunder 914 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 6
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 5 (1996 est.)
\BHeliports:\b 1 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b NA
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991
#
"Western Samoa (Atlas)",262,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JOceania\j, group of islands in the South \JPacific Ocean\j, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 13 35 S, 172 20 W
\BMap references:\b Oceania
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,860 sq km
\Iland:\i 2,850 sq km
\Iwater:\i 10 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly smaller than Rhode Island
\BLand boundaries:\b 0 km
\BCoastline:\b 403 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
\BTerrain:\b narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JPacific Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
\BNatural resources:\b hardwood forests, fish
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 19%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 24%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 0%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 47%
\Iother:\i 10%
\BIrrigated land:\b NA sq km
\BNatural hazards:\b occasional typhoons; active volcanism
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b soil erosion
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 219,509 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i other estimates range as low as 162,000
\BAge structure:\b
\I0-14 years:\i 40% (male 44,281; female 42,876)
\I15-64 years:\i 56% (male 64,433; female 59,006)
\I65 years and over:\i 4% (male 4,225; female 4,688) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 2.34% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 30.4 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 5.63 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 33 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 69.09 years
\Imale:\i 66.7 years
\Ifemale:\i 71.6 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.82 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Western Samoan(s)
\Iadjective:\i Western Samoan
\BEthnic groups:\b Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
\BReligions:\b Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
\BLanguages:\b Samoan (Polynesian), English
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 97%
\Imale:\i 97%
\Ifemale:\i 97% (1971 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Independent State of Western Samoa
\Iconventional short form:\i Western Samoa
\BData code:\b WS
\BGovernment type:\b constitutional monarchy under native chief
\BIndependence:\b 1 January 1962 (from \JNew Zealand\j-administered UN trusteeship)
\BNational holiday:\b National Day, 1 June (1962)
\BConstitution:\b 1 January 1962
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 21 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988); Deputy Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi (since NA 1992)
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice
\Ielections:\i upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 26 April 1996 (next to be held 26 April 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - HRPP 45.17%, SNDP 27.1%, independents 23.7%; seats by party - HRPP 25, SNDP 13, independents 11
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti Alesana, chairman; Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman; Samoan Progressive Conservative Party, LEOTA Ituau Ale; Samoa All People's Party
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
\Ichancery:\i 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800D, New York, NY 10017
\Itelephone:\i [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197
\IFAX:\i [1] (212) 599-0797
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to \JNew Zealand\j and Western \JSamoa\j, resides in Wellington, \JNew Zealand\j)
\Iembassy:\i 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
\Imailing address:\i P.O. Box 3430, Apia
\Itelephone:\i [685] 21631
\IFAX:\i [685] 22030
\BFlag description:\b red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy of Western \JSamoa\j has traditionally been dependent on development aid, private family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. Increasingly, tourism is becoming a significant source of revenue, earning approximately $34 million in 1995. While registering an overall economic improvement in 1995, however, the country continues to struggle with a series of natural disasters from the early 1990s which wiped out the nation's \Jinfrastructure\j as well as its then-major export crop, \Jtaro\j root. Agriculture continues to be a key source of wealth for \JApia\j, employing more than one-half of the labor force, and furnishing 90% of exports. The bulk of these export earnings comes from the sale of coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. Family remittances also play a key role in economic viability for the island nation - in 1995, remittances totaled $34.9 million, four times export earnings. The economy did well in 1996, supported by a steady flow of foreign aid and remittances.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $415 million (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6.7% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,900 (1995 est.)
\BMilitary branches:\b no regular armed services; Western \JSamoa\j Police Force
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i NA
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i NA
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b none
#
"World (Atlas)",263,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BMap references:\b World, Time Zones
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 510.072 million sq km
\Iland:\i 148.94 million sq km
\Iwater:\i 361.132 million sq km
\Inote:\i 70.8% of the world's surface is \Jwater\j, 29.2% is land
\BArea - comparative:\b land area about 15 times the size of the US
\BLand boundaries:\b the land boundaries in the world total 251,480.24 km (not counting shared boundaries twice)
\BCoastline:\b 356,000 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 24 nm claimed by most but can vary
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200-m depth claimed by most or to depth of exploitation, others claim 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive fishing zone:\i 200 nm claimed by most but can vary
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm claimed by most but can vary
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm claimed by most but can vary
\Inote:\i boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm; 43 nations and other areas that are landlocked include \JAfghanistan\j, \JAndorra\j, Armenia, \JAustria\j, \JAzerbaijan\j, \JBelarus\j, \JBhutan\j, \JBolivia\j, \JBotswana\j, Burkina Faso, \JBurundi\j, Central African Republic, Chad, Czech Republic, \JEthiopia\j, Holy See (\JVatican City\j), \JHungary\j, Kazakstan, \JKyrgyzstan\j, Laos, \JLesotho\j, \JLiechtenstein\j, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, \JMongolia\j, \JNepal\j, \JNiger\j, \JParaguay\j, \JRwanda\j, San Marino, \JSlovakia\j, \JSwaziland\j, \JSwitzerland\j, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, \JUganda\j, Uzbekistan, West Bank, \JZambia\j, Zimbabwe \BClimate:\b two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather narrow temperate zones from a wide equatorial band of tropical to subtropical climates
\BTerrain:\b the greatest ocean depth is the Marianas Trench at 10,924 m in the Pacific Ocean
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Dead Sea -408 m
\Ihighest point:\i Mount Everest 8,848 m
\BNatural resources:\b the rapid using up of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the \Jextinction\j of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air and \Jwater\j quality (especially in Eastern Europe and the former USSR) pose serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are only beginning to address
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 10%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 1%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 26%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 32%
\Iother:\i 31% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 2,481,250 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b large areas subject to severe \Jweather\j (tropical cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, \Jpollution\j (air, \Jwater\j, \Jacid rain\j, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, \Jdesertification\j), loss of wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b selected international environmental agreements are included under the Environment - international agreements entry for each country and in the Selected International Environmental Agreements appendix
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 59 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 63 years
\Imale:\i 61 years
\Ifemale:\i 64 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 2.9 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BData code:\b none; there is no FIPS 10-4 country code for the World, so the Factbook uses the "W" data code from DIAM 65-18 "Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features," Data Standard No. 3, March 1984, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency; see the Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes appendix
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 266 nations, dependent areas, other, and miscellaneous entries
\BLegal system:\b varies by individual country; 186 (not including Yugoslavia) are parties to the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ or World Court)
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Real global output - gross world product (GWP) - rose an estimated 3.6% in 1996, with the newly industrializing Third World countries again setting the pace. And once more, results varied widely among regions and countries. Average growth of 2.3% in the GDP of industrialized countries (55% of GWP in 1996) and average growth of 6.5% in the GDP of less developed countries (39% of GWP) were partly offset by a 2% drop in the GDP of the former USSR/Eastern Europe area (only 6% of GWP). With the notable exception of \JJapan\j at 3%, unemployment was typically 6%-12% in the industrial world. The US accounted for 21% of GWP in 1996; Western Europe accounted for 20%; and \JJapan\j accounted for 8%. These are the three "economic superpowers" presumably destined to compete for mastery in international markets on into the 21st century. As for the less developed countries: China, India, and the Four Dragons - South Korea, \JTaiwan\j, Hong Kong, and \JSingapore\j - once again posted records of 5% growth or better; however, many other countries, especially in Africa, continued to suffer from \Jdrought\j, rapid population growth, \Jinflation\j, and civil strife. Central Europe and the 15 successor states to the USSR generally made progress in moving toward "market-friendly" economies, but output in \JRussia\j and \JUkraine\j continued to fall. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology. Internally, the central government in a number of cases is losing control over resources as separatist regional movements - typically based on \Jethnicity\j - gain momentum, e.g., in the successor states of the former \JSoviet Union\j, in the former Yugoslavia, in India, and in Canada. In Western Europe, governments face the difficult political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. The addition of nearly 100 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of \Jpollution\j, \Jdesertification\j, underemployment, epidemics, and \Jfamine\j. Because of their own internal problems, the industrialized countries have inadequate resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from the economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. (For specific economic developments in each country, see the individual country entries.)
\BGDP:\b GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power parity - $35.8 trillion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 3.6% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $6,200 (1996 est.)
\BGDP - composition by sector:\b
\Iagriculture:\i NA%
\Iindustry:\i NA%
\Iservices:\i NA%
\BInflation rate - consumer price index:\b all countries 25%; developed countries 2% to 4% typically; developing countries 10% to 60% typically (1996 est.)
\Inote:\i national \Jinflation\j rates vary widely in individual cases, from stable prices in \JJapan\j to hyperinflation in a number of Third World countries
\BLabor force:\b
\Itotal:\i 2.24 billion (1992)
\Iby occupation:\i NA
\BUnemployment rate:\b 30% combined unemployment and underemployment in many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 6%-12% unemployment (1996 est.)
\BIndustries:\b dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating already grim environmental problems
\BIndustrial production growth rate:\b 5% (1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
\Ipartners:\i in value, about 75% of imports by the developed countries
\BDebt - external:\b $2 trillion for less developed countries (1996 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b worldwide traditional foreign aid $50 billion (1995 est.)
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b NA
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i NA
\Iinternational:\i NA
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
\BRadios:\b NA
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b NA
\BTelevisions:\b NA
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,201,337 km includes about 190,000 to 195,000 km of electrified routes of which 147,760 km are in Europe, 24,509 km in the Far East, 11,050 km in Africa, 4,223 km in \JSouth America\j, and 4,160 km in \JNorth America\j; note - fastest speed in daily service is 300 km/hr attained by \JFrance\j's Societe Nationale des Chemins-de-Fer Francais (SNCF) Le Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV) - Atlantique line
\Ibroad gauge:\i 251,153 km
\Istandard gauge:\i 710,754 km
\Inarrow gauge:\i 239,430 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i NA km
\Ipaved:\i NA km
\Iunpaved:\i NA km
\BPorts and harbors:\b \JChiba\j, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, \JMarseille\j, Mina' al Ahmadi (\JKuwait\j), \JNew Orleans\j, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama
\BMilitary branches:\b ground, maritime, and air forces at all levels of technology
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b aggregate real expenditure on arms worldwide in 1996 remained at about the 1995 level, about three-quarters of a trillion dollars in money terms (1996 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b roughly 2% of gross world product (1996 est.)
#
"Yemen (Atlas)",264,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b \JMiddle East\j, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and \JRed Sea\j, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 00 N, 48 00 E
\BMap references:\b Middle East
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 527,970 sq km
\Iland:\i 527,970 sq km
\Iwater:\i 0 sq km
\Inote:\i includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 1,746 km
\Iborder countries:\i Oman 288 km, Saudi \JArabia\j 1,458 km
\BCoastline:\b 1,906 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Icontiguous zone:\i 18 nm in the North; 24 nm in the South
\Icontinental shelf:\i 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i 200 nm
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
\BTerrain:\b narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i Arabian Sea 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jpetroleum\j, fish, \Jrock salt\j, marble, small deposits of \Jcoal\j, gold, lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 3%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 30%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 4%
\Iother:\i 63% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 3,600 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b sandstorms and dust storms in summer
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b very limited natural fresh \Jwater\j resources; inadequate supplies of potable \Jwater\j; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BGeography - note:\b controls Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the \JRed Sea\j and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes
\BPeople\b
\BPopulation:\b 13,972,477 (July 1997 est.)
\Inote:\i other estimates range as high as 16.6 million
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 68.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 60.31 years
\Imale:\i 58.9 years
\Ifemale:\i 61.78 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 7.18 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Yemeni(s)
\Iadjective:\i Yemeni
\BEthnic groups:\b predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in western coastal locations; South Asians in southern regions; small European communities in major metropolitan areas
\BReligions:\b Muslim including Sha'fi (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu
\BLanguages:\b Arabic
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write
\Itotal population:\i 38%
\Imale:\i 53%
\Ifemale:\i 26% (1990 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Yemen
\Iconventional short form:\i Yemen
\Ilocal long form:\i Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
\Ilocal short form:\i Al Yaman
\BData code:\b YM
\BGovernment type:\b republic
\BNational capital:\b Sanaa
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 17 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, Aden, Al Bayda, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramaut, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Ta'izz
\Inote:\i there may be a new governorate for the capital city of Sanaa
\BIndependence:\b 22 May 1990 Republic of Yemen was established on 22 May 1990 with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic {Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen} and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen {Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen}; previously North Yemen had become independent on NA November 1918 (from the \JOttoman Empire\j) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)
\BConstitution:\b 16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994
\BLegal system:\b based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English \Jcommon law\j, and local tribal customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Lt. Gen. Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the merger of North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab Mansur al-HADI (since NA October 1994)
\Ihead of government:\i Prime Minister Abd al-Aziz ABD AL-GHANI (since NA October 1994); Deputy Prime Ministers Abd al-Wahhab al-ANISI (since NA October 1994), Dr. Abd al-Karim Ali al-IRYANI (since NA October 1994), Dr. Muhammad Said al-ATTAR (since NA October 1994), and Abd al-Qadir al-BA JAMAL (since NA October 1994) \Icabinet:\i Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by the \JHouse of Representatives\j for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of \JHouse of Representatives\j vote - NA
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral \JHouse of Representatives\j (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 27 April 1997 (next to be held NA April 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GPC 189, Islaah 52, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, Baath Party 2, independents 54, election pending
1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b there are over 12 political parties active in Yemen, some of the more important are: General People's Congress (GPC), President Ali Abdallah SALIH; Yemeni Reform Grouping or Islaah, Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR; Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP), Ali Salih UBAYD; Nasserite Unionist Party, leader NA; Baath Party, leader NA
\Inote:\i following the May-July 1994 \Jcivil war\j, President SALIH's General People's Congress and Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR's Yemeni Reform Grouping, or Islaah, formed a coalition government, but it is unclear whether this coalition will continue in light of the GPC's landslide victory in the April 1997 legislative election; the YSP, a loyal opposition party, boycotted the April 1997 legislative election
\Ichancery:\i Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 965-4760, 4761
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 337-2017
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador David G. NEWTON
\Iembassy:\i Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa
\Itelephone:\i [967] (1) 238843 through 238852
\IFAX:\i [967] (1) 251563
\BFlag description:\b three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of \JSyria\j which has two green stars and of \JIraq\j which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of \JEgypt\j which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The northern city Sanaa is the political capital of a united Yemen, and the southern city Aden, with its refinery and port facilities, is the economic and commercial capital. Future economic development depends heavily on Western-assisted development of the country's moderate oil resources. Former South Yemen's willingness to merge stemmed partly from the steady decline in Soviet economic support. The low level of domestic industry and agriculture has made northern Yemen dependent on imports for practically all of its essential needs. Once self-sufficient in food production, northern Yemen has become a major importer. Land once used for export crops - cotton, fruit, and vegetables - has been turned over to growing a shrub called qat, whose leaves are chewed for their stimulant effect by Yemenis and which has no significant export market. Economic growth in former South Yemen has been constrained by a lack of incentives, partly stemming from centralized control over production decisions, investment allocation, and import choices. Yemen's GDP has been supplemented by remittances from Yemenis working abroad and by foreign aid. Since the Gulf crisis, however, remittances have dropped substantially. Floods in June 1996 caused the loss of much valuable topsoil in the agricultural sector, increasing the need for imports of foodstuffs. Oil production and GDP as a whole are expected to increase moderately in 1997.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $39.1 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 2.8% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,900 (1996 est.)
\BLabor force:\b no reliable estimates exist, most people are employed in agriculture and herding or as expatriate laborers; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-half of the labor force
\BUnemployment rate:\b 30% (1995 est.)
\BBudget:\b
\Irevenues:\i $3 billion
\Iexpenditures:\i $3.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
\BIndustries:\b crude oil production and \Jpetroleum\j refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement
\Icommodities:\i crude oil, cotton, \Jcoffee\j, hides, vegetables, dried and salted fish
\Ipartners:\i China 23%, South Korea 19%, \JJapan\j 12%, \JSingapore\j 10%, \JBrazil\j 9%, \JThailand\j 7% (1995)
\BImports:\b
\Itotal value:\i $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
\Icommodities:\i textiles and other manufactured consumer goods, \Jpetroleum\j products, sugar, grain, flour, other foodstuffs, cement, machinery, chemicals
\Ipartners:\i UAE 14%, Saudi \JArabia\j 10%, US 8%, \JMalaysia\j 6%, UK 5% (1995)
\BDebt - external:\b $8 billion (1996)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $148 million (1993)
\BCurrency:\b Yemeni rial (YRl) (new currency)
\BExchange rates:\b Yemeni rials (YRl) per US$1 - 50.04 (new official fixed rate), 40.839 (1995), 12.010 (official fixed rate 1992-94); 490 (market rate, December 1994)
\Inote:\i on 29 March 1995 the official rate was changed from 12.01 Yemeni rials to 50.04 Yemeni rials per US dollar
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 131,655 (1992 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network
\Idomestic:\i the network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, and tropospheric scatter
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j), 1 Intersputnik (\JAtlantic Ocean\j region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi \JArabia\j and Djibouti
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 325,000 (1993 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 10
\BTelevisions:\b 100,000 (1993 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b 0 km
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 51,392 km
\Ipaved:\i 4,831 km
\Iunpaved:\i 46,561 km (1992 est.)
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 644 km; \Jpetroleum\j products 32 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla, Mocha, Nishtun
\Iships by type:\i cargo 1, oil tanker 2 (1996 est.)
\BAirports:\b 42 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 12
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 6
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\Iunder 914 m:\i 3 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 30
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 2
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 10
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 8
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 10 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Police)
\BMilitary manpower - military age:\b 18 years of age
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 3,109,553 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,753,779 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - reaching military age annually:\b
\Imales:\i 148,864 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $NA
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b NA%
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b a large section of boundary with Saudi \JArabia\j is not defined; a dispute with Eritrea over sovereignty of the Hanish Islands in the southern \JRed Sea\j has been submitted to \Jarbitration\j under the auspices of the International Court of Justice
#
"Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) (Atlas)",265,0,0,0
\BGeography:\b
\BLocation:\b Central Africa, northeast of Angola
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 0 00 N, 25 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,345,410 sq km
\Iland:\i 2,267,600 sq km
\Iwater:\i 77,810 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly less than one-fourth the size of US
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 10,271 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAngola\j 2,511 km, \JBurundi\j 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the \JCongo\j 2,410 km, \JRwanda\j 217 km, \JSudan\j 628 km, \JUganda\j 765 km, \JZambia\j 1,930 km
\BCoastline:\b 37 km
\BMaritime claims:\b
\Iexclusive economic zone:\i boundaries with neighbors
\Iterritorial sea:\i 12 nm
\BClimate:\b tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October
\BTerrain:\b vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i \JAtlantic Ocean\j 0 m
\Ihighest point:\i Margherita Peak (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
\BNatural hazards:\b periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b poaching threatens wildlife populations; \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j; deforestation; refugees who arrived in mid-1994 were responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching in the eastern part of the country (most of those refugees were repatriated in November and December 1996)
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands \Isigned, but not ratified:\i Desertification, Environmental Modification, Tropical Timber 94
\BGeography - note:\b straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower \JCongo\j river and is only outlet to South \JAtlantic Ocean\j; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands
\I65 years and over:\i 3% (male 541,435; female 708,549) (July 1997 est.)
\BPopulation growth rate:\b 2.34% (1997 est.)
\BBirth rate:\b 47.66 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BDeath rate:\b 16.61 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\BNet migration rate:\b -7.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
\Inote:\i in 1994, about a million refugees fled into Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j, formerly Zaire, to escape the fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis in \JRwanda\j and \JBurundi\j; the outbreak of widespread fighting between rebels and government forces in October 1996 spurred about 720,000 refugees to return to \JRwanda\j in late 1996 and early 1997; additionally, Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j is host to about 100,000 Angolan, and about 100,000 Sudanese refugees
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 105.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 47.03 years
\Imale:\i 45.16 years
\Ifemale:\i 48.95 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 6.58 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Congolese (singular and plural)
\Iadjective:\i Congolese or Congo
\BEthnic groups:\b over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, \JKongo\j (all Bantu), and the \JMangbetu\j-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population
\BReligions:\b Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%
\BLanguages:\b French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a \Jdialect\j of Kiswahili or \JSwahili\j), Kikongo, Tshiluba
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write in French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
\Itotal population:\i 77.3%
\Imale:\i 86.6%
\Ifemale:\i 67.7% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Democratic Republic of the Congo
\Iconventional short form:\i none
\Ilocal long form:\i Republique Democratique du Congo
\Ilocal short form:\i none
\Iformer:\i Belgian \JCongo\j, \JCongo\j/Leopoldville, \JCongo\j/\JKinshasa\j, Zaire
\BData code:\b CG
\BGovernment type:\b republic with a strong presidential system
\BNational holiday:\b Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965)
\BConstitution:\b 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978, amended April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994; new draft constitution approved by Transitional Parliament in October 1996, subject to ratification by popular referendum scheduled for February 1997; draft constitution provides for multiparty elections by July 1997
\BLegal system:\b based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Gen. Laurent-DESIRE KABILA (since 17 May 1997); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i Gen. Laurent-DESIRE KABILA (since 17 May 1997); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i National Executive Council normally appointed by mutual agreement of the president and the prime minister; note - Gen. KABILA's cabinet was appointed by him and has no prime minister
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 29 July 1984 (next was to be held in May 1997); prime minister elected by the High Council of the Republic; note - the term of the former government expired in 1991, elections were not held, and MOBUTU continued in office until his government was militarily defeated by Gen. Laurent-DESIRE KABILA on 17 May 1997
\Ielection results:\i MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without opposition
\Inote:\i Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was president from 24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 17 May 1997 when his government was overturned in a coup by Gen. Laurent-DESIRE KABILA, who immediately assumed sole governing authority
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral parliament consisting of the combined High Council of the
Republic and the Parliament of the Transition (739 seats)
\Ielections:\i the country's first multi-party presidential and legislative elections had been scheduled for May 1997 but were not held; instead the MOBUTO government was overthrown and control of the governing apparatus was seized by Gen. Laurent-DESIRE KABILA
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b sole legal party until January 1991 - Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR; other parties include Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFER; Unified Lumumbast Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union of Independent Democrats or UDI [Leon KENGO wa Dondo]
\Ichief of mission:\i Charge d'Affaires ad interim Etienne B. J. K. MUKENDI
\Ichancery:\i 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 686-3631
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Daniel H. SIMPSON
\Iembassy:\i 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
\Imailing address:\i Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
\Itelephone:\i [243] (12) 21533 through 21535
\IFAX:\i [243] (88) 43805, ext. 2308 or 43467
\BFlag description:\b light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoist side
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b The economy of Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j has continued to disintegrate, although former Prime Minister KENGO had had some success in slowing the rate of economic decline. While meaningful economic figures are difficult to come by, the high rate of \Jinflation\j, chronic large government deficits, and plunging mineral production have made it one of the world's poorest countries. Most formal transactions are conducted in hard currency as indigenous bank notes have lost almost all value, and a barter economy now flourishes in all but the largest cities. During the bitter civil strive of 1996-97 most individuals and families have hung on grimly through subsistence farming and petty trade. The new KABILA government will be hard pressed to meet its financial obligations to the IMF or to put in place the financial measures advocated by it. Improved political stability would boost the country's long-term potential to effectively exploit its vast mineral and agricultural resources.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $16.5 billion (1995 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b -0.7% (1995 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $400 (1995 est.)
\Icommodities:\i consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
\Ipartners:\i \JBelgium\j, South Africa, US, \JFrance\j, \JGermany\j, \JItaly\j, \JJapan\j, UK
\BDebt - external:\b $13.8 billion (1995 est.)
\BEconomic aid:\b
\Irecipient:\i ODA, $NA
\BCurrency:\b 1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta
\BExchange rates:\b new zaires (Z) per US$1 - 83,764 (October 1996), 7,024 (1995), 1,194 (1994), 3 (1993); zaire (Z) per US$1 - 645,549 (1992)
\Inote:\i on 22 October 1993 the new zaire, equal to 3,000,000 old zaires, was introduced
\BFiscal year:\b calendar year
\BCommunications\b
\BTelephones:\b 34,000 (1991 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b
\Idomestic:\i barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic \Jsatellite\j system with 14 \Jearth\j stations
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 10, FM 4, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 3.87 million (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 18
\BTelevisions:\b 55,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,138 km (1995); note - severely reduced trackage in use because of civil strife
\Inarrow gauge:\i 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 145,000 km
\Ipaved:\i 2,500 km
\Iunpaved:\i 142,500 km (1993 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 15,000 km including the \JCongo\j, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, paramilitary Civil Guard, Special Presidential Division
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 10,232,612 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 5,213,941 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $46 million (1990)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 1.5% (1990)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j-\JTanzania\j-\JZambia\j tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j-\JZambia\j boundary has been settled; long section with Republic of the \JCongo\j along the \JCongo\j river is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made)
\BIllicit drugs:\b illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption
#
"Zambia (Atlas)",266,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, east of Angola
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 15 00 S, 30 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 752,610 sq km
\Iland:\i 740,720 sq km
\Iwater:\i 11,890 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Texas
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 5,664 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JAngola\j 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, \JMozambique\j 419 km, \JNamibia\j 233 km, \JTanzania\j 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
\BTerrain:\b mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
\BNatural hazards:\b tropical storms (November to April)
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b air \Jpollution\j and resulting \Jacid rain\j in the mineral extraction and refining region; poaching seriously threatens \Jrhinoceros\j and elephant populations; deforestation; soil erosion; \Jdesertification\j; lack of adequate \Jwater\j treatment presents human health risks
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, Desertification, \JEndangered Species\j, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, \JOzone Layer\j Protection, Wetlands \Isigned, but not ratified:\i none of the selected agreements
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
\BConstitution:\b 2 August 1991
\BLegal system:\b based on English \Jcommon law\j and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991); Vice President General Godfrey MIYANDA (since NA August 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991); Vice President General Godfrey MIYANDA (since NA August 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
\Ielections:\i president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held October 2001); vice president appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Frederick CHILUBA elected president; percent of vote - Frederick CHILUBA 70%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12%, Humphrey MULEMBA 6%, Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3%, others 5%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
\Ielections:\i last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held October 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MMD 130, NP 5, ZDC 2, AZ 2, independents 11
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Agenda for \JZambia\j or AZ [Akashambatwa LEWANIKA]; Labor Party or LP [Chibiza MFUNI]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Democratic Process or MDP [Chama CHAKOM BOKA]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Frederick CHILUBA]; National Lima Party or NLP [Guy SCOTT and Ben KAPITA]; National Party or NP [Humphrey MULEMBIA]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Kenneth KAUNDA]; \JZambia\j Democratic Congress or ZADACO [Dean MUNG'OMBA]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA
\Ichancery:\i 2419 \JMassachusetts\j Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 332-0826
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Arlene RENDER
\Iembassy:\i corner of Independence Avenue and United Nations Avenue, Lusaka
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
\Itelephone:\i [260] (1) 250-955, 252-230
\IFAX:\i [260] (1) 252-225
\BFlag description:\b green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, \JZambia\j's economy has a long way to go. Inflation, while slowing somewhat, continues to be a major concern to the CHILUBA government. \JZambia\j's copper mining sector, which accounts for over 80% of the nation's foreign currency intake, is struggling. Production rates are down as are world copper prices. Aid cuts by \JZambia\j's donors, arising out of concern for the November 1996 flawed election, will severely damage \JZambia\j's economic prospects. Urged by the World Bank, \JZambia\j has embarked on a privatization program which is to include the all-important copper industry.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $9.7 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 6.4% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $1,060 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa
\Idomestic:\i high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 \JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 11, FM 5, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 1,889,140
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 9
\BTelevisions:\b 215,000 (1995 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,164 km (1995)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track)
\Inote:\i the total includes 891 km of the \JTanzania\j-\JZambia\j Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to the \JZambia\j Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of \JZambia\j Railways
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 37,359 km
\Ipaved:\i 6,575 km (including 56 km of expressways)
\Iunpaved:\i 30,784 km (1993 est.)
\BWaterways:\b 2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula rivers, Lake Tanganyika
\BPipelines:\b crude oil 1,724 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Mpulungu
\BAirports:\b 103 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 42
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 1
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 3
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 4
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 2
\Iunder 914 m:\i 32 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 61
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 1
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 4
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 56 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Army, Air Force, paramilitary forces, Police
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 1,990,403 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,051,227 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $96 million (1995)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 2.7% (1995)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b quadripoint with \JBotswana\j, \JNamibia\j, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j-\JTanzania\j-\JZambia\j tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Democratic Republic of the \JCongo\j-\JZambia\j boundary has been settled
\BIllicit drugs:\b transshipment point for methaqualone, heroin, and \Jcocaine\j bound for Southern Africa and Europe; regional money-laundering center
#
"Zimbabwe (Atlas)",267,0,0,0
\BGeography\b
\BLocation:\b Southern Africa, northeast of Botswana
\BGeographic coordinates:\b 20 00 S, 30 00 E
\BMap references:\b Africa
\BArea:\b
\Itotal:\i 390,580 sq km
\Iland:\i 386,670 sq km
\Iwater:\i 3,910 sq km
\BArea - comparative:\b slightly larger than Montana
\BLand boundaries:\b
\Itotal:\i 3,066 km
\Iborder countries:\i \JBotswana\j 813 km, \JMozambique\j 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, \JZambia\j 797 km
\BCoastline:\b 0 km (landlocked)
\BMaritime claims:\b none (landlocked)
\BClimate:\b tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
\BTerrain:\b mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east
\BElevation extremes:\b
\Ilowest point:\i junction of the Lundi and Savi rivers 162 m
\Ihighest point:\i Inyangani 2,592 m
\BNatural resources:\b \Jcoal\j, \Jchromium\j ore, \Jasbestos\j, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, \Jvanadium\j, \Jlithium\j, tin, \Jplatinum\j group metals
\BLand use:\b
\Iarable land:\i 7%
\Ipermanent crops:\i 0%
\Ipermanent pastures:\i 13%
\Iforests and woodland:\i 23%
\Iother:\i 57% (1993 est.)
\BIrrigated land:\b 1,930 sq km (1993 est.)
\BNatural hazards:\b recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
\BEnvironment - current issues:\b deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and \Jwater\j \Jpollution\j; the black \Jrhinoceros\j herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching
\BEnvironment - international agreements:\b
\Iparty to:\i \JBiodiversity\j, Climate Change, \JEndangered Species\j, Law of the Sea, \JOzone Layer\j Protection
\BInfant mortality rate:\b 72.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
\BLife expectancy at birth:\b
\Itotal population:\i 40.84 years
\Imale:\i 40.85 years
\Ifemale:\i 40.83 years (1997 est.)
\BTotal fertility rate:\b 3.94 children born/woman (1997 est.)
\BNationality:\b
\Inoun:\i Zimbabwean(s)
\Iadjective:\i Zimbabwean
\BEthnic groups:\b African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%), white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%
\BReligions:\b syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
\BLanguages:\b English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects
\BLiteracy:\b
\Idefinition:\i age 15 and over can read and write in English
\Itotal population:\i 85%
\Imale:\i 90%
\Ifemale:\i 80% (1995 est.)
\BGovernment\b
\BCountry name:\b
\Iconventional long form:\i Republic of Zimbabwe
\Iconventional short form:\i Zimbabwe
\Iformer:\i Southern Rhodesia
\BData code:\b ZI
\BGovernment type:\b parliamentary democracy
\BNational capital:\b Harare
\BAdministrative divisions:\b 8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, \JHarare\j*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo (Victoria), \JMatabeleland\j North, \JMatabeleland\j South, Midlands
\BIndependence:\b 18 April 1980 (from UK)
\BNational holiday:\b Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
\BConstitution:\b 21 December 1979
\BLegal system:\b mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
\BSuffrage:\b 18 years of age; universal
\BExecutive branch:\b
\Ichief of state:\i Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987) and Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Ihead of government:\i Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987) and Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
\Icabinet:\i Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the House of Assembly
\Ielections:\i president nominated by the House of Assembly for a six-year term (if more than one nomination, an electoral college consisting of members of the House of Assembly elects the president); election last held 26-27 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2002); co-vice presidents appointed by the president
\Ielection results:\i Robert Gabriel MUGABE elected president; percent of electoral college vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 92.7%, Abel MUZOREWA 4.8%; Ndabaningi SITHOLE 2.4%
\BLegislative branch:\b unicameral parliament, called House of Assembly (150 seats, 120 of which are directly elected by popular vote for six-year terms; of the other 30 seats, 12 are nominated by the president, 10 are occupied by traditional chiefs chosen by their peers, and 8 by provincial governors)
\Ielections:\i last held 8-9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2001)
\Ielection results:\i percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 117, ZANU-Ndonga 2, independent 1
\BJudicial branch:\b Supreme Court
\BPolitical parties and leaders:\b Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert MUGABE]; Zimbabwe African National Union-NDONGA or ZANU-NDONGA [Ndabaningi SITHOLE]; Zimbabwe Unity Movement or ZUM [Edgar TEKERE]; Democratic Party or DP [Emmanuel MAGOCHE]; Forum Party of Zimbabwe [Enock DUMBUTSHENA]; United Parties [Abel MUZOREWA]
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Amos Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI
\Ichancery:\i 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
\Itelephone:\i [1] (202) 332-7100
\IFAX:\i [1] (202) 483-9326
\BDiplomatic representation from the US:\b
\Ichief of mission:\i Ambassador Johnnie CARSON
\Iembassy:\i 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
\Imailing address:\i P. O. Box 3340, Harare
\Itelephone:\i [263] (4) 794521
\IFAX:\i [263] (4) 796488
\BFlag description:\b seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle edged in black based on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle
\BEconomy\b
\BEconomy - overview:\b Agriculture employs 70% of the labor force of this landlocked nation and supplies almost 40% of exports. Mining accounts for only 5% of both GDP and employment, but minerals and metals account for about 40% of exports. Severe \Jdrought\j caused GDP to drop 8% in 1992, with growth rebounding to 2% in 1993 and 4.5% in 1994, only to drop by 2.4% in 1995. The government is continuing to push its IMF/World Bank structural adjustment program aimed at encouraging exports and foreign investment. Officials face the difficult task of restraining expenditures in their effort to keep \Jinflation\j within bounds.
\BGDP:\b purchasing power parity - $26.4 billion (1996 est.)
\BGDP - real growth rate:\b 5.5% (1996 est.)
\BGDP - per capita:\b purchasing power parity - $2,340 (1996 est.)
\BTelephone system:\b system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance
\Idomestic:\i consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, and radiotelephone communication stations
\Iinternational:\i \Jsatellite\j \Jearth\j station - 1 Intelsat (\JAtlantic Ocean\j)
\BRadio broadcast stations:\b AM 8, FM 18, shortwave 0
\BRadios:\b 890,000 (1992 est.)
\BTelevision broadcast stations:\b 8 (1986 est.)
\BTelevisions:\b 280,000 (1992 est.)
\BTransportation\b
\BRailways:\b
\Itotal:\i 2,759 km (1995)
\Inarrow gauge:\i 2,759 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified; 42 km double track) (1995 est.)
\BHighways:\b
\Itotal:\i 91,099 km
\Ipaved:\i 15,486 km
\Iunpaved:\i 75,613 km (1993 est.)
\BWaterways:\b the Mazoe and Zambezi rivers are used for transporting chrome ore from \JHarare\j to Mozambique
\BPipelines:\b \Jpetroleum\j products 212 km
\BPorts and harbors:\b Binga, Kariba
\BAirports:\b 402 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with paved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 203
\Iover 3,047 m:\i 3
\I2,438 to 3,047 m:\i 2
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 6
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 8
\Iunder 914 m:\i 184 (1996 est.)
\BAirports - with unpaved runways:\b
\Itotal:\i 199
\I1,524 to 2,437 m:\i 1
\I914 to 1,523 m:\i 198 (1996 est.)
\BMilitary\b
\BMilitary branches:\b Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police)
\BMilitary manpower - availability:\b
\Imales age 15-49:\i 2,717,032 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary manpower - fit for military service:\b
\Imales:\i 1,687,536 (1997 est.)
\BMilitary expenditures - dollar figure:\b $236 million (FY95/96)
\BMilitary expenditures - percent of GDP:\b 3.4% (FY95/96)
\BTransnational Issues\b
\BDisputes - international:\b quadripoint with \JBotswana\j, \JNamibia\j, and \JZambia\j is in disagreement
\BIllicit drugs:\b significant transit point for African cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines destined for the South African and European markets
