Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/135.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 15KB | 347 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\lebanon.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Lebanon"}


{4}Note: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its
national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war which began in 1975. Under
the Ta'if accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more
equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process.
Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed four cabinets and conducted the first legislative
election in 20 years. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed
Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and
extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical
Shi'a party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel
maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, The Army of South
Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave
encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town
of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 30,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in
Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab
League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the
LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the
constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from
Beirut.


{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Lebanon, click {z,"33.502045,32.005122,38.331623,35.674190",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 10,400 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 10,230 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 454 km
{3}border countries:{4} Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 225 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in
northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976

{2}Climate:{4} Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains
experience heavy winter snows

{2}Terrain:{4} narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon
Mountains
{3}lowest point:{4} Mediterranean Sea 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 21%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 9%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 1%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 8%
{3}other:{4} 61%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 860 sq km (1990 est.)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular
traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil
spills

{2}natural hazards:{4} dust storms, sandstorms

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

{2}Geographic note:{4} 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


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 3,776,317 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 36% (male 687,631; female 662,100)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 59% (male 1,049,689; female 1,163,255)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 5% (male 98,406; female 115,236) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 2.16% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 27.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 6.35 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.9 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.85 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 69.99 years
{3}male:{4} 67.49 years
{3}female:{4} 72.62 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 3.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Lebanese (singular and plural)
{3}adjective:{4} Lebanese

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

{2}Religions:{4} Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite,
Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legally recognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6
Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL%

{2}Languages:{4} Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 92.4%
{3}male:{4} 94.7%
{3}female:{4} 90.3%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Lebanon
{3}conventional short form:{4} Lebanon
{3}local long form:{4} Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
{3}local short form:{4} none

{2}Type of government:{4} republic

{2}Capital:{4} Beirut

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub,
Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan

{2}Independence:{4} 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

{2}Constitution:{4} 23 May 1926, amended a number of times

{2}Legal system:{4} mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with
elementary education

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989) was elected for a six-year term
by the National Assembly and in 1995 the National Assembly amended the constitution to extend
his term by three years; note - by custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister
is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI (since 22 October 1992) and Deputy Prime
Minister Michel al-MURR (since NA) were appointed by the president in consultation with the
National Assembly
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the members of the
National Assembly; the current Cabinet was formed in 1995

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
National Assembly (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab, French - Assembl: elections last held in the summer
of 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (128 total, one-half
Christian and one-half Muslim) independents 128

{2}Judicial branch:{4} four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one
court for criminal cases)

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} 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

{2}International organization participation:{4} ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Riyad TABBARAH
{3}chancery:{4} 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Richard H. JONES
{3}embassy:{4} Antelias, Beirut
{3}mailing address:{4} P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002
{3}telephone:{4} [961] (1) 402200, 403300, 406650, 406651, 426183, 417774, 889926
{3}FAX:{4} [961] (1) 407112

{2}Flag:{4} three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown
cedar tree centered in the white band


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure,
cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and
banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, 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. Family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and
international aid are the main sources of foreign exchange. In the relatively settled year of 1991,
industrial production, agricultural output, and exports showed substantial gains. The rebuilding of
the war-ravaged country was delayed in 1992 because of an upturn in political wrangling. In
October 1992, Rafiq al-HARIRI was appointed prime minister. A billionaire entrepreneur, al-
HARIRI, announced ambitious plans for Lebanon's reconstruction, which involve a substantial
influx of foreign aid and investment. The economy has posted considerable gains since 1992, with
GDP rebounding, inflation falling, and foreign capital inflows jumping. Signs of strain have
emerged in recent years, however, as the government budget deficit has risen and grassroots
economic dissatisfaction has grown. Meantime, the future fate of Lebanon and its economy is
being determined largely by outside forces - in Syria, other Arab nations, Israel, and the West.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $18.3 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 6.5% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $4,900 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 13%
{3}industry:{4} 28%
{3}services:{4} 59% (1995 est.)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 9% (1995 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 650,000
{3}by occupation:{4} services 60%, industry 28%, agriculture 12% (1990 est.)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 30% (1995 est.)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $1.4 billion
{3}expenditures:{4} $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil refining, chemicals, jewelry, some metal
fabricating

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} NA%

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 1,220,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 2.5 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 676 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} citrus, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish); sheep, goats

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} illicit producer of hashish and heroin for the international drug trade; hashish
production is shipped to Western Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America; a key
locus of cocaine processing and trafficking; a Lebanese/Syrian 1994 eradication campaign
practically eliminated the opium crop and caused a 50% decrease in the cannabis crop

{2}Exports:{4} $1 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious and semiprecious metals and
jewelry, metals and metal products
{3}partners:{4} Saudi Arabia 13%, Switzerland 12%, UAE 11%, Syria 9%, US 5%

{2}Imports:{4} $7.3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
{3}partners:{4} Italy 14%, France 9%, US 8%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%

{2}External debt:{4} $1.2 billion (July 1995)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Lebanese pound (úL) = 100 piasters

{2}Exchange rates:{4} Lebanese pounds (úL) per US$1 - 1,584.0 (March 1996), 1,621.4 (1995), 1,680.1
(1994), 1,741.4 (1993), 1,712.8 (1992), 928.2 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 222 km
standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 7,370 km
{3}paved:{4} 6,265 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 1,105 km (1990 est.)

{2}Pipelines:{4} crude oil 72 km (none in operation)

{2}Ports:{4} Al Batrun, Al Mina, An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az Zahrani, Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka,
Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 192,075 GRT/296,256 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 4, cargo 39, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, combination ore/oil 1,
container 2, livestock carrier 4, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 7
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 2
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 2
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 1 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 150,000 (1990 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4} telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding still
underway
{3}domestic:{4} primarily microwave radio relay and cable
{3}international:{4} satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic
operations); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to
Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1
{3}note:{4} more than 100 AM and FM stations are operated sporadically by various factions

{2}Radios:{4} 2.37 million (1992 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 13

{2}Televisions:{4} 1.1 million (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force)

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 889,517
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 553,538 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $278 million, 5.5% of GDP (1994)