Languages Around the World/LanguageWorld.iso/wrldfact/cze_faro.txt

Text File | 1996-01-10 | 147.4 KB | 4,826 lines

@Czech Republic, Geography

Location:
  Central Europe, between Germany and Slovakia
Map references:
  Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
total area:
  78,703 sq km
land area:
  78,645 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
  total 1,880 km, Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,
  Slovakia 214 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  Liechtenstein claims l,606 square miles of Czech territory confiscated
  from its royal family in 1918; Sudeten German claims for restitution
  of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World
  War II versus the Czech Republic claims that restitution does not
  proceed before February 1948 when the Communists seized power;
  unresolved property issues with Slovakia over redistribution of
  property of the former Czechoslovak federal government
Climate:
  temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:
  two main regions: Bohemia in the west, consisting of rolling plains,
  hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; and Moravia in the
  east, consisting of very hilly country
Natural resources:
  hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite
Land use:
arable land:
  NA%
permanent crops:
  NA%
meadows and pastures:
  NA%
forest and woodland:
  NA%
other:
  NA%
Irrigated land:
  NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
  air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia centered around
  Zeplica and in northern Moravia around Ostrava presents health
  hazards; acid rain damaging forests
natural hazards:
  NA
international agreements:
  party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
  Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Note:
  landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most
  significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional
  military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in
  central Europe

@Czech Republic, People

Population:
  10,408,280 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.21% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.23 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  11.14 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  73.08 years
male:
  69.38 years
female:
  76.99 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.84 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Czech(s)
adjective:
  Czech
Ethnic divisions:
  Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Gypsy 0.3%,
  Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%
Religions:
  atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%,
  other 13.4%
Languages:
  Czech, Slovak
Literacy:
total population:
  NA%
male:
  NA%
female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  5.389 million
by occupation:
  industry 37.9%, agriculture 8.1%, construction 8.8%, communications
  and other 45.2% (1990)

@Czech Republic, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Czech Republic
conventional short form:
  Czech Republic
local long form:
  Ceska Republika
local short form:
  Cechy
Digraph:
  EZ
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Prague
Administrative divisions:
  8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular); Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha,
  Severocesky, Severomoravsky, Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky
Independence:
  1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)
National holiday:
  National Liberation Day, 9 May; Founding of the Republic, 28 October
Constitution:
  ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
Legal system:
  civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line
  with Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE)
  obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President Vaclav HAVEL (since 26 January 1993); election last held 26
  January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998); results - Vaclav HAVEL
  elected by the National Council
head of government:
  Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992); Deputy Prime
  Ministers Ivan KOCARNIK, Josef LUX, Jan KALVODA (since NA June 1992)
cabinet:
  Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime
  minister
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Council (Narodni rada)
Senate:
  elections not yet held; seats (81 total)
Chamber of Deputies:
  elections last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (200 total) Civic Democratic
  Party/Christian Democratic Party 76, Left Bloc 35, Czech Social
  Democratic Party 16, Liberal Social Union 16, Christian Democratic
  Union/Czech People's Party 15, Assembly for the Republic/Republican
  Party 14, Civic Democratic Alliance 14, Movement for Self-Governing
  Democracy for Moravia and Silesia 14
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
  Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Vaclav KLAUS, chairman; Christian
  Democratic Union-Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL), Josef LUX, chairman;
  Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), Jan KALVODA, chairman; Christian
  Democratic Party (KDS), Ivan PILIP, chairman; Czech Social Democratic
  Party, Milos ZEMAN, chairman; Czech-Moravian Center Party, Jan KYCER,
  chairman; Liberal Social Union (LSU), Frantisek TRNKA; Communist Party
  of Bohemia/Moravia (KSCM), Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman; Association
  for the Republic - Republican Party, Miroslav SLADEK, chairman; Left
  Bloc, Marie STIBOROVA, chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
  Left Bloc; Liberal Party; Czech-Moravian Chamber of Trade Unions
Member of:
  BIS, CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, ECE,
  FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFCTU, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NSG,
  PCA, UN (as of 8 January 1993), UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNOMIG, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Michael ZANTOVSKY
chancery:
  3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone] or 6316
FAX:
  [phone]
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Adrian A. BASORA
embassy:
  Trziste 15, 11801, Prague 1
mailing address:
  Unit 25402; APO AE 09213
telephone:
  [42] (2) 251-0847
FAX:
  [42] (2) 531-193
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue
  isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost identical to the
  flag of the former Czechoslovakia)

@Czech Republic, Economy

Overview:
  The dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two independent nation states -
  the Czech Republic and Slovakia - on 1 January 1993 has complicated
  the task of moving toward a more open and decentralized economy. The
  old Czechoslovakia, even though highly industrialized by East European
  standards, suffered from an aging capital plant, lagging technology,
  and a deficiency in energy and many raw materials. In January 1991,
  approximately one year after the end of communist control of Eastern
  Europe, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic launched a sweeping
  program to convert its almost entirely state-owned and controlled
  economy to a market system. In 1991-92 these measures resulted in
  privatization of some medium- and small-scale economic activity and
  the setting of more than 90% of prices by the market - but at a cost
  in inflation, unemployment, and lower output. For Czechoslovakia as a
  whole inflation in 1991 was roughly 50% and output fell 15%. In 1992,
  in the Czech lands, inflation dropped to an estimated 12.5% and GDP
  was down a more moderate 5%. In 1993, Czech aggregate output remained
  unchanged, prices rose about 19%, and unemployment hovered above 3%;
  exports to Slovakia fell roughly 30%. An estimated 40% of the economy
  was privately owned. In 1994, Prague expects 2% to 3% growth in GDP,
  roughly 9% inflation, and 5% unemployment. Economic growth in 1994 is
  less important than continued economic restructuring; a mere 1% growth
  would be noteworthy if restructuring is accompanied by rising
  unemployment and enterprise bankruptcies.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $75 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
  $7,200 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  19% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  3.3% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
  $11.9 billion
expenditures:
  $11.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
  $12.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
  manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals,
  fuels, minerals, and metals
partners:
  Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, France, US, UK,
  CIS republics
Imports:
  $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants, manfactured
  goods, raw materials, chemicals, agricultural products
partners:
  Slovakia, CIS republics, Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland,
  Hungary, UK, Italy
External debt:
  $8.6 billion (October 1993)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -5.5% (December 1993 over December 1992)
Electricity:
capacity:
  16,500,000 kW
production:
  62.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  6,030 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment, coal, motor
  vehicles, glass, armaments
Agriculture:
  largely self-sufficient in food production; diversified crop and
  livestock production, including grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops,
  fruit, hogs, cattle, and poultry; exporter of forest products
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American
  cocaine to Western Europe
Economic aid:
donor:
  the former Czechoslovakia was a donor - $4.2 billion in bilateral aid
  to non-Communist less developed countries (1954-89)
Currency:
  1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru
Exchange rates:
  koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 30.122 (January 1994), 29.153 (1993), 28.26
  (1992), 29.53 (1991), 17.95 (1990), 15.05 (1989)
note:
  values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rates
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Czech Republic, Communications

Railroads:
  9,434 km total (1988)
Highways:
total:
  55,890 km (1988)
paved:
  NA
unpaved:
  NA
Inland waterways:
  NA km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river
Pipelines:
  natural gas 5,400 km
Ports:
  coastal outlets are in Poland (Gdynia, Gdansk, Szczecin), Croatia
  (Rijeka), Slovenia (Koper), Germany (Hamburg, Rostock); principal
  river ports are Prague on the Vltava, Decin on the Elbe (Labe)
Merchant marine:
  18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 225,934 GRT/350,330 DWT, bulk 7,
  cargo 11
Airports:
total:
  155
usable:
  123
with permanent-surface runways:
  27
with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  17
with runways 1,060-2,439 m:
  52
note:
  a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip
Telecommunications:
  NA

@Czech Republic, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,747,126; fit for military service 2,091,532; reach
  military age (18) annually 93,342 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  23 billion koruny, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of
  defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate
  could produce misleading results


@Denmark, Geography

Location:
  Nordic State, Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea on a peninsula
  north of Germany
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  43,070 sq km
land area:
  42,370 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Massachusetts
note:
  includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of
  metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Land boundaries:
  total 68 km, Germany 68 km
Coastline:
  3,379 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
  4 nm
continental shelf:
  200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the
  UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall
  area); dispute between Denmark and Norway over maritime boundary in
  Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Jan Mayen has been settled by the
  International Court of Justice
Climate:
  temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain:
  low and flat to gently rolling plains
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone
Land use:
arable land:
  61%
permanent crops:
  0%
meadows and pastures:
  6%
forest and woodland:
  12%
other:
  21%
Irrigated land:
  4,300 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  air pollution; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea;
  drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes
natural hazards:
  NA
international agreements:
  party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
  Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
  Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
  Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling;
  signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
  Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Note:
  controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; about
  one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen

@Denmark, People

Population:
  5,187,821 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.23% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  12.45 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  11.28 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  75.81 years
male:
  72.93 years
female:
  78.86 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.68 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Dane(s)
adjective:
  Danish
Ethnic divisions:
  Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 2%,
  other 7% (1988)
Languages:
  Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect), German (small
  minority)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population:
  99%
male:
  NA%
female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  2,553,900
by occupation:
  private services 37.1%, government services 30.4%, manufacturing and
  mining 20%, construction 6.3%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing
  5.6%, electricity/gas/water 0.6% (1991)

@Denmark, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form:
  Denmark
local long form:
  Kongeriget Danmark
local short form:
  Danmark
Digraph:
  DA
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Copenhagen
Administrative divisions:
  metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 1 city*
  (stad); Arhus, Bornholm, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kbenhavn, Nordjylland,
  Ribe, Ringkbing, Roskilde, Snderjylland, Staden Kbenhavn*, Storstrm,
  Vejle, Vestsjaelland, Viborg
note:
  see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are
  part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative divisions
Independence:
  1849 (became a constitutional monarchy)
National holiday:
  Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution:
  5 June 1953
Legal system:
  civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  Queen MARGRETHE II (since NA January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince
  FREDERIK, elder son of the Queen (born 26 May 1968)
head of government:
  Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since NA January 1993)
cabinet:
  Cabinet; appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Parliament (Folketing):
  elections last held 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December
  1994); results - Social Democratic Party 37.4%, Conservative Party
  16.0%, Liberal 15.8%, Socialist People's Party 8.3%, Progress Party
  6.4%, Center Democratic Party 5.1%, Radical Liberal Party 3.5%,
  Christian People's Party 2.3%, other 5.2%; seats - (179 total;
  includes 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands) Social
  Democratic 69, Conservative 30, Liberal 29, Socialist People's 15,
  Progress Party 12, Center Democratic 9, Radical Liberal 7, Christian
  People's 4
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
  Social Democratic Party, Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN; Conservative Party,
  Torben RECHENDORFF; Liberal Party, Uffe ELLEMANN-JENSEN; Socialist
  People's Party, Holger K. NIELSEN; Progress Party, Johannes SORENSEN;
  Center Democratic Party, Mimi Stilling JAKOBSEN; Radical Liberal
  Party, Marianne JELVED; Christian People's Party, Jann SJURSEN; Common
  Course, Preben Moller HANSEN; Danish Workers' Party
Member of:
  AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN,
  COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC,
  NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,
  UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Peter Pedersen DYVIG
chancery:
  3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone]
FAX:
  [phone]
consulate(s) general:
  Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edward E. ELSON
embassy:
  Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen O
mailing address:
  APO AE 09716
telephone:
  [45] (31) 42-31-44
FAX:
  [45] (35) 43-0223
Flag:
  red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the
  vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that
  design element of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted
  by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

@Denmark, Economy

Overview:
  This modern economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date
  small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare
  measures, comfortable living standards, and high dependence on foreign
  trade. Denmark's new center-left coalition government will concentrate
  on reducing the persistent high unemployment rate and the budget
  deficit as well as following the previous government's policies of
  maintaining low inflation and a current account surplus. In the face
  of recent international market pressure on the Danish krone, the
  coalition has also vowed to maintain a stable currency. The coalition
  hopes to lower marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax
  revenues; boost industrial competitiveness through labor market and
  tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and improve
  welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays.
  Prime Minister RASMUSSEN's reforms will focus on adapting Denmark to
  the criteria for European integration by 1999; although Copenhagen has
  won from the European Union (EU) the right to opt out of the European
  Monetary Union (EMU) if a national referendum rejects it. Denmark is,
  in fact, one of the few EU countries likely to fit into the EMU on
  time. Denmark is weathering the current worldwide slump better than
  many West European countries. As the EU's single market (formally
  established on 1 January 1993) gets underway, Danish economic growth
  is expected to pickup to around 2% in 1994. Danish approval of the
  Maastricht treaty on EU political and economic union in May 1993 has
  reversed the drop in investment, further boosting growth. The current
  account surplus remains strong as limitations on wage increases and
  low inflation - expected to be around 2% in 1994 - improve export
  competitiveness. Although unemployment is high, it remains stable
  compared to most European countries.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $95.6 billion (1993)
National product real growth rate:
  0.5% (1993)
National product per capita:
  $18,500 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.8% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  11.8% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
  $48 billion
expenditures:
  $55.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993)
Exports:
  $36.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
  meat and meat products, dairy products, transport equipment
  (shipbuilding), fish, chemicals, industrial machinery
partners:
  EC 54.3% (Germany 23.6%, UK 10.1%, France 5.7%), Sweden 10.5%, Norway
  5.8%, US 4.9%, Japan 3.6% (1992)
Imports:
  $29.7 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
  petroleum, machinery and equipment, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs,
  textiles, paper
partners:
  EC 53.4% (Germany 23.1%, UK 8.2%, France 5.6%), Sweden 10.8%, Norway
  5.4%, US 5.7%, Japan 4.1% (1992)
External debt:
  $40 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -2.5% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
  11,215,000 kW
production:
  34.17 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  6,610 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing,
  chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other
  wood products, shipbuilding
Agriculture:
  accounts for 4% of GDP and employs 5.6% of labor force (includes
  fishing and forestry); farm products account for nearly 15% of export
  revenues; principal products - meat, dairy, grain, potatoes, rape,
  sugar beets, fish; self-sufficient in food production
Economic aid:
donor:
  ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.9 billion
Currency:
  1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates:
  Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.771 (January 1994), 6.484 (1993),
  6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Denmark, Communications

Railroads:
  2,770 km; Danish State Railways (DSB) operate 2,120 km (1,999 km rail
  line and 121 km rail ferry services); 188 km electrified, 730 km
  double tracked; 650 km of standard-gauge lines are privately owned and
  operated
Highways:
total:
  66,482 km
paved:
  concrete, asphalt, stone block 64,551 km
unpaved:
  gravel, crushed stone, improved earth 1,931 km
Inland waterways:
  417 km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas 700 km
Ports:
  Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia; numerous secondary and
  minor ports
Merchant marine:
  347 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,974,494 GRT/6,820,067 DWT,
  bulk 15, cargo 110, chemical tanker 24, combination bulk 1, container
  51, liquefied gas 36, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 33, railcar
  carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 39, short-sea
  passenger 12
note:
  Denmark has created its own internal register, called the Danish
  International Ship register (DIS); DIS ships do not have to meet
  Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag of convenience
  within the Danish register; by the end of 1990, 308 of the Danish-flag
  ships belonged to the DIS
Airports:
total:
  118
usable:
  109
with permanent-surface runways:
  28
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  9
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  7
Telecommunications:
  excellent telephone, telegraph, and broadcast services; 4,509,000
  telephones; buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay
  support trunk network; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 50 TV; 19
  submarine coaxial cables; 7 earth stations operating in INTELSAT,
  EUTELSAT, and INMARSAT

@Denmark, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home
  Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,360,050; fit for military service 1,168,940; reach
  military age (20) annually 36,800 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.6 billion, 2% of GDP (1993)


@Djibouti, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Africa, at the entrance to the Red Sea between Eritrea and
  Somalia
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  22,000 sq km
land area:
  21,980 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly larger than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
  total 508 km, Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline:
  314 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
  24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:
  coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Natural resources:
  geothermal areas
Land use:
arable land:
  0%
permanent crops:
  0%
meadows and pastures:
  9%
forest and woodland:
  0%
other:
  91%
Irrigated land:
  NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
  desertification
natural hazards:
  prone to earthquakes, droughts
international agreements:
  party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution; signed,
  but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
Note:
  strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to
  Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; a vast
  wasteland

@Djibouti, People

Population:
  412,599 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.71% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  42.94 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  15.8 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  111 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  49.23 years
male:
  47.42 years
female:
  51.1 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.21 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Djiboutian(s)
adjective:
  Djiboutian
Ethnic divisions:
  Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
Religions:
  Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages:
  French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
  48%
male:
  63%
female:
  34%
Labor force:
  NA
by occupation:
  a small number of semiskilled laborers at the port and 3,000 railway
  workers
note:
  52% of population of working age (1983)

@Djibouti, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form:
  Djibouti
former:
  French Territory of the Afars and Issas  French Somaliland
Digraph:
  DJ
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Djibouti
Administrative divisions:
  5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil,
  Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence:
  27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution:
  multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4 September 1992
Legal system:
  based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic
  law
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977); election last
  held 7 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results - President Hassan
  GOULED Aptidon was reelected
head of government:
  Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978)
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers; responsible to the president
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes):
  elections last held 18 December 1992; results - RPP is the only party;
  seats - (65 total) RPP 65
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party:
  People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon
other parties:
  Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Mohamed Jama ELABE; Democratic
  National Party (PND), ADEN Robleh Awaleh
Other political or pressure groups:
  Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) and
  affiliates; Movement for Unity and Democracy (MUD)
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,
  IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
  INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UNIDO,
  UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Roble OLHAYE
chancery:
  Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
  [phone]
FAX:
  [phone]
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Martin CHESES
embassy:
  Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address:
  B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone:
  [253] 35-39-95
FAX:
  [253] 35-39-40
Flag:
  two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a
  white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red
  five-pointed star in the center

@Djibouti, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on service activities connected with the
  country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in
  northeast Africa. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port
  for the region and an international transshipment and refueling
  center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation
  is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance (an important
  supplement to GDP) to help support its balance of payments and to
  finance development projects. An unemployment rate of over 30%
  continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an
  estimated 35% over the last five years because of recession, civil
  war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and
  refugees).
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $500 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -1% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,200 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
  over 30% (1989)
Budget:
revenues:
  $170 million
expenditures:
  $203 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (1991
  est.)
Exports:
  $158 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
  hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
partners:
  Africa 47%, Middle East 40%, Western Europe 12%
Imports:
  $334 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
  foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
partners:
  Western Europe 48%, Asia 25%, Africa 8%
External debt:
  $355 million (December 1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3% (1991 est.); manufacturing accounts for 12% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  115,000 kW
production:
  200 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  580 kWh (1991)
Industries:
  limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and
  mineral-water bottling
Agriculture:
  accounts for only 2% of GDP; scanty rainfall limits crop production to
  mostly fruit and vegetables; half of population pastoral nomads
  herding goats, sheep, and camels; imports bulk of food needs
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $39 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, including ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
  (1970-89), $1.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $149 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $35 million
Currency:
  1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Djibouti, Communications

Railroads:
  the Ethiopian-Djibouti railroad extends for 97 km through Djibouti
Highways:
total:
  2,900 km
paved:
  280 km
unpaved:
  improved, unimproved earth 2,620 km (1982)
Ports:
  Djibouti
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
Airports:
total:
  13
usable:
  11
with permanent-surface runways:
  2
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the
  microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country;
  international connections via submarine cable to Saudi Arabia and by
  satellite to other countries; one ground station each for Indian Ocean
  INTELSAT and ARABSAT; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV

@Djibouti, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force), National
  Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 99,811; fit for military service 58,346
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $26 million, NA% of GDP (1989)


@Dominica, Geography

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

@Dominica, People

Population:
  87,696 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.32% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  20.46 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  76.96 years
male:
  74.12 years
female:
  79.95 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.99 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Dominican(s)
adjective:
  Dominican
Ethnic divisions:
  black, Carib Indians
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%,
  Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%,
  other 5%
Languages:
  English (official), French patois
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
total population:
  94%
male:
  94%
female:
  94%
Labor force:
  25,000
by occupation:
  agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% (1984)

@Dominica, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form:
  Dominica
Digraph:
  DO
Type:
  parliamentary democracy
Capital:
  Roseau
Administrative divisions:
  10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John,
  Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint
  Peter
Independence:
  3 November 1978 (from UK)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution:
  3 November 1978
Legal system:
  based on English common law
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October 1993) election
  last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998); results -
  President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO was elected by the House of
  Assembly to a five year term
head of government:
  Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21 July 1980, elected for
  a third term 28 May 1990)
cabinet:
  Cabinet; appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
  minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
House of Assembly:
  elections last held 28 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators
  and 21 elected representatives) DFP 11, UWP 6, DLP 4
Judicial branch:
  Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
  Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Brian ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party
  (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers Party (UWP), Edison JAMES
Other political or pressure groups:
  Dominica Liberation Movement (DLM), a small leftist group
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS,
  UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  Dominica has no chancery in the US
consulate(s) general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
  no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown
  (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica
Flag:
  green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part
  is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is
  yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the
  cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green
  five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10
  administrative divisions (parishes)

@Dominica, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable
  to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and
  employs 40% of the labor force. Principal products include bananas,
  citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts. Development of the tourist
  industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline and the
  lack of an international airport.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $185 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  2.6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,100 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  5.2% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  15% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
  $70 million
expenditures:
  $84 million, including capital expenditures of $26 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $54.6 million (1992)
commodities:
  bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
partners:
  UK 50%, CARICOM countries, Italy, US
Imports:
  $97.5 million (1992)
commodities:
  manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
partners:
  US 25%, CARICOM, UK, Canada
External debt:
  $92.8 million (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.2% (1992); accounts for 7% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  7,000 kW
production:
  16 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  185 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Agriculture:
  accounts for 30% of GDP; principal crops - bananas, citrus, mangoes,
  root crops, coconuts; bananas provide the bulk of export earnings;
  forestry and fisheries potential not exploited
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and
  Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
  (1970-89), $120 million
Currency:
  1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

@Dominica, Communications

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

@Dominica, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP


@Dominican Republic, Geography

Location:
  Caribbean, in the northern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Cuba
  and Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  48,730 sq km
land area:
  48,380 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
  total 275 km, Haiti 275 km
Coastline:
  1,288 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
  24 nm
continental shelf:
  200 nm or the outer edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  6 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal
  variation in rainfall
Terrain:
  rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
Natural resources:
  nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use:
arable land:
  23%
permanent crops:
  7%
meadows and pastures:
  43%
forest and woodland:
  13%
other:
  14%
Irrigated land:
  2,250 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
  water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs;
  deforestation
natural hazards:
  subject to occasional hurricanes (July to October)
international agreements:
  party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
  Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but
  not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note:
  shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the
  Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)

@Dominican Republic, People

Population:
  7,826,075 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.8% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  24.87 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  6.2 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  51.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  68.35 years
male:
  66.22 years
female:
  70.6 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.8 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Dominican(s)
adjective:
  Dominican
Ethnic divisions:
  white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
  Spanish
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
  83%
male:
  85%
female:
  82%
Labor force:
  2.3 million to 2.6 million
by occupation:
  agriculture 49%, services 33%, industry 18% (1986)

@Dominican Republic, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Dominican Republic
conventional short form:
  none
local long form:
  Republica Dominicana
local short form:
  none
Digraph:
  DR
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions:
  29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district*
  (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*,
  Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La
  Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor
  Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata,
  Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro
  De Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Independence:
  27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution:
  28 November 1966
Legal system:
  based on French civil codes
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory or married persons
  regardless of age
note:
  members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
  President Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, fifth
  elected term began 16 August 1990); Vice President Carlos A. MORALES
  Troncoso (since 16 August 1986); election last held 16 May 1990 (next
  to be held May 1994); results - Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 35.7%, Juan
  BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 34.4%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 22.9%
cabinet:
  Cabinet; nominated by the president
Legislative branch:
  bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
Senate (Senado):
  elections last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total) PRSC 16, PLD 12, PRD 2
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados):
  elections last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) PLD 44, PRSC 41, PRD
  33, PRI 2
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders:
Major parties:
  Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo;
  Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Juan BOSCH Gavino; Dominican
  Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Franciso PENA Gomez; Independent
  Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA
Minor parties:
  National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS
  Javier; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (PLRD), Andres Van Der
  HORST; Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD), Elias WESSIN Chavez;
  National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino VINICIO Castillo; Popular
  Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert; Dominican Communist
  Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde; Dominican Workers' Party (PTD), Ivan
  RODRIGUEZ; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA), Ignacio RODRIGUEZ
  Chiappini; Alliance for Democracy Party (APD), Maximilano Rabelais
  PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA
note:
  in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the
  Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain individual
  party structures
Other political or pressure groups:
  Collective of Popular Organzations (COP), leader NA
Member of:
  ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
  IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL,
  PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jose del Carmen ARIZA Gomez
chancery:
  1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone]
FAX:
  [phone]
consulate(s) general:
  Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New
  Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto
  Rico)
consulate(s):
  Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville,
  Minneapolis, Mobile, Ponce (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert S. PASTORINO
embassy:
  corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo
  Domingo
mailing address:
  Unit 5500, Santo Domingo; APO AA 34041-0008
telephone:
  [phone] and 541-8100
FAX:
  [phone]
Flag:
  a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag
  into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the
  bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at
  the center of the cross

@Dominican Republic, Economy

Overview:
  Rapid growth of free trade zones has led to a substantial expansion of
  manufacturing for export, especially of wearing apparel. Over the past
  decade, tourism has also increased in importance and is a major earner
  of foreign exchange and a source of new jobs. Agriculture remains a
  key sector of the economy. The principal commercial crop is sugarcane,
  followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco. Domestic industry is
  based on the processing of agricultural products, oil refining,
  minerals, and chemicals. Unemployment is officially reported at about
  30%, but there is considerable underemployment. Growth fell to a
  moderate 3% in 1993 because of power shortages in industry and
  political uncertainty which slowed down foreign investment.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $23 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
  $3,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  30% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
  $1.4 billion
expenditures:
  $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
  $769 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
  ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa
partners:
  US 56%, EC 22%, Puerto Rico 8% (1991)
Imports:
  $2.2 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
  foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and
  pharmaceuticals
partners:
  US 50%
External debt:
  $4.7 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -0.1% (1991); accounts for 14% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  2,283,000 kW
production:
  5 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  660 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles,
  cement, tobacco
Agriculture:
  accounts for 18% of GDP and employs 49% of labor force; sugarcane is
  the most important commercial crop, followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa,
  and tobacco; food crops - rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; animal
  output - cattle, hogs, dairy products, meat, eggs; not self-sufficient
  in food
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and
  Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $575 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $655
  million
Currency:
  1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 12.841 (January 1994), 12.679 (1993),
  12.774 (1992), 12.692 (1991), 8.525 (1990), 6.340 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Dominican Republic, Communications

Railroads:
  1,655 km total in numerous segments; 4 different gauges from 0.558 m
  to 1.435 m
Highways:
total:
  12,000 km
paved:
  5,800 km
unpaved:
  gravel or improved earth 5,600 km; unimproved earth 600 km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
Ports:
  Santo Domingo, Haina, San Pedro de Macoris, Puerto Plata
Merchant marine:
  1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT
Airports:
total:
  36
usable:
  31
with permanent-surface runways:
  12
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  8
Telecommunications:
  relatively efficient domestic system based on islandwide microwave
  relay network; 190,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 120 AM, no FM,
  18 TV, 6 shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT earth station

@Dominican Republic, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,114,606; fit for military service 1,333,049; reach
  military age (18) annually 81,919 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 0.7% of GDP (1993 est.)


@Ecuador, Geography

Location:
  Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator
  between Colombia and Peru
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  283,560 sq km
land area:
  276,840 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Nevada
note:
  includes Galapagos Islands
Land boundaries:
  total 2,010 km, Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline:
  2,237 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
  claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands
territorial sea:
  200 nm
International disputes:
  three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute
Climate:
  tropical along coast becoming cooler inland
Terrain:
  coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and
  flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Natural resources:
  petroleum, fish, timber
Land use:
arable land:
  6%
permanent crops:
  3%
meadows and pastures:
  17%
forest and woodland:
  51%
other:
  23%
Irrigated land:
  5,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution
natural hazards:
  subject to frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity;
  periodic droughts
international agreements:
  party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
  Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
  Timber, Wetlands
Note:
  Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

@Ecuador, People

Population:
  10,677,067 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.01% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  25.82 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  5.67 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  39.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  69.98 years
male:
  67.46 years
female:
  72.62 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.08 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Ecuadorian(s)
adjective:
  Ecuadorian
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%, Spanish 10%, black
  10%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
  Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
  88%
male:
  90%
female:
  86%
Labor force:
  2.8 million
by occupation:
  agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%, commerce 16%, services and other
  activities 28% (1982)

@Ecuador, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form:
  Ecuador
local long form:
  Republica del Ecuador
local short form:
  Ecuador
Digraph:
  EC
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Quito
Administrative divisions:
  21 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar,
  Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos,
  Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo,
  Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence:
  24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence of Quito)
Constitution:
  10 August 1979
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages
  18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
  President Sixto DURAN BALLEN Cordovez (since 10 August 1992); Vice
  President Alberto DAHIK Garzoni (since 10 August 1992); election
  runoff election held 5 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results -
  Sixto DURAN BALLEN elected as president and Alberto DAHIK elected as
  vice president
cabinet:
  Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
National Congress (Congreso Nacional):
  elections last held 17 May 1992 (next to be held 1 May 1994); results
  - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (77 total) PSC 20, PRE 15, PUR
  12, ID 7, PC 6, DP 5, PSE 3, MPD 3, PLRE 2, CFP 2, FRA 1, APRE 1
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders:
Center-Right parties:
  Social Christian Party (PSC), Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president; Republican
  Unity Party (PUR), President Sixto DURAN BALLEN, leader; Conservative
  Party (PC), Vice President Alberto DAHIK, president
Center-Left parties:
  Democratic Left (ID), Andres VALLEJO Arcos, Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos,
  leaders; Popular Democracy (DP), Jamil MANUAD Witt, president;
  Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party (PLRE), Carlos Luis PLAZA Aray,
  director; Radical Alfarista Front (FRA), Jaime ASPIAZU Seminario,
  director
Populist parties:
  Roldista Party (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director; Concentration of
  Popular Forces (CFP), Rafael SANTELICES, director; Popular
  Revolutionary Action (APRE), Frank VARGAS Passos, leader; Assad
  Bucaram Party (PAB), Avicena BUCARAM, leader; People, Change, and
  Democracy (PCD), Raul AULESTIA, director
Far-Left parties:
  Popular Democratic Movement (MPD), Jorge Fausto MORENO, director;
  Ecuadorian Socialist Party (PSE), Leon ROLDOS, leader; Broad Leftist
  Front (FADI), Jose Xavier GARAYCOA, president; Ecuadorian National
  Liberation (LN), Alfredo CASTILLO, director
Communists:
  Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE, pro-North Korea), Rene Leon Mague
  MOSWUERRA, secretary general (5,000 members); Communist Party of
  Ecuador/Marxist-Leninist (PCMLE, Maoist), leader NA (3,000 members)
Member of:
  AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
  LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
  UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edgar TERAN
chancery:
  2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
  [phone]
consulate(s) general:
  Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San
  Diego, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Peter F. ROMERO
embassy:
  Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
mailing address:
  P. O. Box 538, Unit 5309, Quito, or APO AA 34039-3420
telephone:
  [593] (2) 562-890, 561-623 or 624
FAX:
  [593] (2) 502-052
consulate(s) general:
  Guayaquil
Flag:
  three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red
  with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar
  to the flag of Colombia that is shorter and does not bear a coat of
  arms

@Ecuador, Economy

Overview:
  Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas.
  Growth has been uneven because of natural disasters, fluctuations in
  global oil prices, and government policies designed to curb inflation.
  Banana exports, second only to oil, have suffered as a result of
  import quotas of the European Union and banana blight. The new
  President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN, has a much more favorable attitude
  toward foreign investment than did his predecessor. Ecuador has
  implemented trade agreements with Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and
  Venezuela and has applied for GATT membership. At the end of 1991,
  Ecuador received a standby IMF loan of $105 million, which will permit
  the country to proceed with the rescheduling of Paris Club debt. In
  September 1992, the government launched a new, macroeconomic program
  that gives more play to market forces. In 1993, the DURAN-BALLEN
  administration adopted a rigorous austerity program that resulted in
  economic stabilization, with inflation cut in half and international
  reserves boosted to a record $1.3 billion. Growth in 1993 was perhaps
  only 2% due to falling export prices, notably oil, and slow progress
  on privatization.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $41.8 billion
National product real growth rate:
  2% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
  $4,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  31% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
  8% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
  $1.9 billion
expenditures:
  $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
  petroleum 42%, bananas, shrimp, cocoa, coffee
partners:
  US 53.4%, Latin America, Caribbean, EC countries
Imports:
  $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
  transport equipment, vehicles, machinery, chemicals
partners:
  US 32.7%, Latin America, Caribbean, EC countries, Japan
External debt:
  $12.7 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 3.9% (1991); accounts for almost 30% of GDP, including
  petroleum
Electricity:
capacity:
  2,921,000 kW
production:
  7.676 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  700 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal works, paper products,
  wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, timber
Agriculture:
  accounts for 18% of GDP and 35% of labor force (including fishing and
  forestry); leading producer and exporter of bananas and balsawood;
  other exports - coffee, cocoa, fish, shrimp; crop production - rice,
  potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; livestock sector - cattle,
  sheep, hogs, beef, pork, dairy products; net importer of foodgrains,
  dairy products, and sugar
Illicit drugs:
  significant transit country for derivatives of coca originating in
  Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; minor illicit producer of coca; importer
  of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics;
  important money-laundering hub
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $498 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.15
  billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $64 million
Currency:
  1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  sucres (S/) per US$1 - 1,947.1 (October 1993), 1,534.0 (1992),
  1,046.25 (1991), 767.8 (1990), 767.78 (1990), 526.35 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Ecuador, Communications

Railroads:
  965 km total; all 1.067-meter-gauge single track
Highways:
total:
  28,000 km
paved:
  3,600 km
unpaved:
  gravel or improved earth 17,400 km; unimproved earth 7,000 km
Inland waterways:
  1,500 km
Pipelines:
  crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
Ports:
  Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, Esmeraldas
Merchant marine:
  40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 263,752 GRT/378,675 DWT, bulk 1,
  cargo 3, container 2, liquefied gas 1, oil tanker 14, passenger 3,
  refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
Airports:
total:
  211
usable:
  208
with permanent-surface runways:
  56
with runway over 3,659 m:
  1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  7
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  21
Telecommunications:
  domestic facilities generally adequate; 318,000 telephones; telephone
  density - 30 per 1,000 persons; broadcast stations - 272 AM, no FM, 33
  TV, 39 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Ecuador, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana), Air Force
  (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana), National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 2,734,988; fit for military service 1,850,989; reach
  military age (20) annually 111,707 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP


@Egypt, Geography

Location:
  Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea,
  between Sudan and Libya
Map references:
  Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  1,001,450 sq km
land area:
  995,450 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
  total 2,689 km, Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan
  1,273 km
Coastline:
  2,450 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
  24 nm
continental shelf:
  200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
  not specified
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with
  international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area
  of 20,580 sq km; the dispute over this area escalated in 1993, this
  area continues to be in dispute
Climate:
  desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain:
  vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone,
  gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use:
arable land:
  3%
permanent crops:
  2%
meadows and pastures:
  0%
forest and woodland:
  0%
other:
  95%
Irrigated land:
  25,850 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands;
  increasing soil salinization below Aswan High Dam; desertification;
  oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats;
  other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, untreated sewage,
  and industrial effluents; water scarcity away from the Nile which is
  the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population
  overstraining natural resources
natural hazards:
  periods of drought; subject to frequent earthquakes, landslides,
  volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in
  spring
international agreements:
  party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous
  Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
  Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling;
  signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
Note:
  controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and
  remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea
  link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean; size, and juxtaposition
  to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics

@Egypt, People

Population:
  60,765,028 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.95% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  28.69 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  8.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  76.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  60.79 years
male:
  58.91 years
female:
  62.76 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.77 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Egyptian(s)
adjective:
  Egyptian
Ethnic divisions:
  Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek,
  Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%
Religions:
  Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate), Coptic Christian and
  other 6% (official estimate)
Languages:
  Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated
  classes
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
  48%
male:
  63%
female:
  34%
Labor force:
  15 million (1992 est.)
by occupation:
  government, public sector enterprises, and armed forces 36%,
  agriculture 34%, privately owned service and manufacturing enterprises
  20% (1984)
note:
  shortage of skilled labor; 2,500,000 Egyptians work abroad, mostly in
  Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states (1993 est.)

@Egypt, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form:
  Egypt
local long form:
  Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form:
  none
former:
  United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Digraph:
  EG
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Cairo
Administrative divisions:
  26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al
  Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah,
  Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al
  Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyu't,
  Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina, Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh,
  Qina, Shamal Sina, Suhaj
Independence:
  28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)
Constitution:
  11 September 1971
Legal system:
  based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes;
  judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees
  validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (was made acting President on 6
  October 1981 upon the assassination of President SADAT and sworn in as
  president on 14 October 1981); national referendum held 4 October 1993
  validated Mubarak's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third
  6-year presidential term
head of government:
  Prime Minister Atef Mohammed Najib SEDKY (since 12 November 1986)
cabinet:
  Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
  bicameral
People's Assembly (Majlis al-Cha'b):
  elections last held 29 November 1990 (next to be held NA November
  1995); results - NDP 86.3%, NPUG 1.3%, independents 12.4%; seats -
  (454 total, 444 elected, 10 appointed by the president) NDP 383, NPUG
  6, independents 55; note - most opposition parties boycotted; NDP
  figures include NDP members who ran as independents and other
  NDP-affiliated independents
Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura):
  functions only in a consultative role; elections last held 8 June 1989
  (next to be held NA June 1995); results - NDP 100%; seats - (258
  total, 172 elected, 86 appointed by the president) NDP 172
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
  National Democratic Party (NDP), President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK,
  leader, is the dominant party; legal opposition parties are; New Wafd
  Party (NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN; Socialist Labor Party, Ibrahim
  SHUKRI; National Progressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid
  MUHYI-AL-DIN; Socialist Liberal Party (SLP), Mustafa Kamal MURAD;
  Democratic Unionist Party, Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Umma Party,
  Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misr al-Fatah Party (Young Egypt Party), Ali al-Din
  SALIH; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party, Dia' al-din DAWUD; Democratic
  Peoples' Party, Anwar AFIFI; The Greens Party, Kamal KIRAH
note:
  formation of political parties must be approved by government
Other political or pressure groups:
  the constitution bans religious-based political parties; nonetheless,
  the government tolerates limited political activity by the technically
  illegal Muslim Brotherhood, which constitutes Mubarak's chief
  political opposition; trade unions and professional associations are
  officially sanctioned
Member of:
  ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer), AL, AMF,
  CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
  INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC,
  OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
  UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, UNRWA, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ahmed Maher El SAYED
chancery:
  2310 Decatur Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone]
consulate(s) general:
  Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Edward WALKER
embassy:
  (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Saleh Street, Garden City, Cairo
mailing address:
  APO AE 09839-4900
telephone:
  [20] (2) 355-7371
FAX:
  [20] (2) 357-3200
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the
  national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the
  hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic)
  centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a
  plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria that has two green
  stars and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an
  Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band

@Egypt, Economy

Overview:
  Egypt has one of the largest public sectors of all the Third World
  economies, most industrial plants being owned by the government.
  Overregulation holds back technical modernization and foreign
  investment. Even so, the economy grew rapidly during the late 1970s
  and early 1980s, but in 1986 the collapse of world oil prices and an
  increasingly heavy burden of debt servicing led Egypt to begin
  negotiations with the IMF for balance-of-payments support. Egypt's
  first IMF standby arrangement concluded in mid-1987 was suspended in
  early 1988 because of the government's failure to adopt promised
  reforms. Egypt signed a follow-on program with the IMF and also
  negotiated a structural adjustment loan with the World Bank in 1991.
  In 1991-93 the government made solid progress on administrative
  reforms such as liberalizing exchange and interest rates but resisted
  implementing major structural reforms like streamlining the public
  sector. As a result, the economy has not gained momentum and
  unemployment has become a growing problem. Egypt probably will
  continue making uneven progress in implementing the successor programs
  with the IMF and World Bank it signed onto in late 1993. In 1992-93
  tourism plunged 20% or so because of sporadic attacks by Islamic
  extremists on tourist groups. President MUBARAK has cited population
  growth as the main cause of the country's economic troubles. The
  addition of about 1.4 million people a year to the already huge
  population of 60 million exerts enormous pressure on the 5% of the
  land area available for agriculture.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $139 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0.3% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,400 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  11% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  20% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
  $16.8 billion
expenditures:
  $19.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.4 billion (FY94
  est.)
Exports:
  $3.5 billion (f.o.b., FY93 est.)
commodities:
  crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles,
  metal products, chemicals
partners:
  EC, Eastern Europe, US, Japan
Imports:
  $10.5 billion (c.i.f., FY93 est.)
commodities:
  machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable
  consumer goods, capital goods
partners:
  EC, US, Japan, Eastern Europe
External debt:
  $32 billion (March 1993 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -0.4% (FY92 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  14,175,000 kW
production:
  47 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  830 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum,
  construction, cement, metals
Agriculture:
  accounts for 20% of GDP and employs more than one-third of labor
  force; dependent on irrigation water from the Nile; world's
  sixth-largest cotton exporter; other crops produced include rice,
  corn, wheat, beans, fruit, vegetables; not self-sufficient in food for
  a rapidly expanding population; livestock - cattle, water buffalo,
  sheep, goats; annual fish catch about 140,000 metric tons
Illicit drugs:
  a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and
  opium moving to Europe and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian
  couriers; large domestic consumption of hashish from Lebanon and Syria
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15.7 billion; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $10.1
  billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $2.9 billion; Communist
  countries (1970-89),  $2.4 billion
Currency:
  1 Egyptian pound (#E) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates:
  Egyptian pounds (#E) per US$1 - 3.369 (November 1993), 3.345 (November
  1992), 2.7072 (1990), 2.5171 (1989), 2.2233 (1988), 1.5183 (1987)
Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June

@Egypt, Communications

Railroads:
  5,110 km total; 4,763 km 1,435-meter standard gauge, 347 km
  0.750-meter gauge; 951 km double track; 25 km electrified
Highways:
total:
  45,500 km
paved:
  18,300 km
unpaved:
  gravel 12,503 km; earth 14,697 km
Inland waterways:
  3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway,
  and numerous smaller canals in the delta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km long
  (including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1
  meters of water
Pipelines:
  crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km
Ports:
  Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, Bur Safajah, Damietta
Merchant marine:
  171 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,08,208 GRT/1,617,890 DWT,
  bulk 16, cargo 88, container 1, oil tanker 14, passenger 27,
  refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 15, short-sea passenger 7
Airports:
total:
  92
usable:
  82
with permanent-surface runways:
  66
with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  45
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  23
Telecommunications:
  large system by Third World standards but inadequate for present
  requirements and undergoing extensive upgrading; 600,000 telephones
  (est.) - 11 telephones per 1,000 persons; principal centers at
  Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia Suez, and Tanta are connected
  by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; international traffic is
  carried by satellite - one earth station for each of Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT, Indian Ocean INTELSAT, ARABSAT and INMARSAT; by 5 coaxial
  submarine cables, microwave troposcatter (to Sudan), and microwave
  radio relay (to Libya, Israel, and Jordan); broadcast stations - 39
  AM, 6 FM, and 41 TV

@Egypt, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 15,335,889; fit for military service 9,961,128; reach
  military age (20) annually 625,748 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $2.05 billion, 6% of GDP (FY92/93)


@El Salvador, Geography

Location:
  Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean between Guatemala
  and Honduras
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones
  of the World
Area:
total area:
  21,040 sq km
land area:
  20,720 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
  total 545 km, Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:
  307 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
  200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm
International disputes:
  land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly resolved by 11 September
  1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; ICJ referred the
  maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in
  this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El
  Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required
Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to
  April)
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Natural resources:
  hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum
Land use:
arable land:
  27%
permanent crops:
  8%
meadows and pastures:
  29%
forest and woodland:
  6%
other:
  30%
Irrigated land:
  1,200 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
  deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils
  from disposal of toxic wastes
natural hazards:
  known as the Land of Volcanoes, subject to frequent and sometimes very
  destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity
international agreements:
  party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban,
  Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note:
  smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on
  Caribbean Sea

@El Salvador, People

Population:
  5,752,511 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.04% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  32.81 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  6.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -6.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  40.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  66.99 years
male:
  64.41 years
female:
  69.71 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.78 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Salvadoran(s)
adjective:
  Salvadoran
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo 94%, Indian 5%, white 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 75%
note:
  Roman Catholic about 75%; there is extensive activity by Protestant
  groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an
  estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages:
  Spanish, Nahua (among some Indians)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
  73%
male:
  76%
female:
  70%
Labor force:
  1.7 million (1982 est.)
by occupation:
  agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%, government 13%,
  financial services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1%
note:
  shortage of skilled labor and a large pool of unskilled labor, but
  manpower training programs improving situation (1984 est.)

@El Salvador, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form:
  El Salvador
local long form:
  Republica de El Salvador
local short form:
  El Salvador
Digraph:
  ES
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  San Salvador
Administrative divisions:
  14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan,
  Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union,
  Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate,
  Usulutan
Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
  20 December 1983
Legal system:
  based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial
  review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory
  ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
  President Armando CALDERON SOL (since 1 June 1994); Vice President
  Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994) election last held 20
  March 1994 (next to be held March 1999); results - Armando CALDERON
  SOL (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel
  CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other 10.49%; because no candidate received
  a majority, run off election was held 24 April 1994; results - Armando
  CALDERON SOL (ARENA) 68.35%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa):
  elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held March 1997);
  results - ARENA 46.4%, FMLN 25.0%, PDC 21.4%, PCN 4.8%, other 2.4%;
  seats - (84 total) ARENA 39, FMLN 21, PDC 18, PCN 4, other 2
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Republican Alliance (ARENA); Farabundo Marti National
  Liberation Front (FMLN) has five factions - Popular Liberation Forces
  (FPL), Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN), Popular Expression
  of Renewal (ERP), Salvadoran Communist Party (PCES), and
  Central American Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRTC); Christian
  Democratic Party (PDC); National Conciliation Party (PCN); Democratic
  Convergence (CD), a coalition of three parties - the Social Democratic
  Party (PSD), Democratic Nationalist Union (UDN), and the Popular
  Social Christian Movement (MPSC); Authentic Christian Movement (MAC)
note:
  new party leaders not yet designated at time of publication
Other political or pressure groups:
labor organizations:
  Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasant association; General
  Confederation of Workers (CGT), moderate; United Workers Front (FUT)
business organizations:
  Productive Alliance (AP), conservative; National Federation of
  Salvadoran Small Businessmen (FENAPES), conservative
Member of:
  BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA
  (observer), LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ana Cristina SOL
chancery:
  2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone] or 9672
consulate(s) general:
  Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San
  Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Alan H. FLANIGAN
embassy:
  Final Boulevard, Station Antigua Cuscatlan, San Salvador
mailing address:
  Unit 3116, San Salvador; APO AA 34023
telephone:
  [503] 78-4444
FAX:
  [503] 78-6011
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the
  national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
  features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL
  SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua,
  which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it
  features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on
  top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of
  Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered
  in the white band

@El Salvador, Economy

Overview:
  The agricultural sector accounts for 24% of GDP, employs about 40% of
  the labor force, and contributes about 66% to total exports. Coffee is
  the major commercial crop, accounting for 45% of export earnings. The
  manufacturing sector, based largely on food and beverage processing,
  accounts for 19% of GDP and 15% of employment. In 1992-93 the
  government made substantial progress toward privatization and
  deregulation of the economy. Growth in national output in 1990-93
  exceeded growth in population for the first time since 1987, and
  inflation in 1993 of 12% was down from 17% in 1992
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $14.2 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
  $2,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  12% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  6.7% (1993)
Budget:
revenues:
  $846 million
expenditures:
  $890 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $730 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
  coffee, sugarcane, shrimp
partners:
  US, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Germany
Imports:
  $1.9 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities:
  raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods
partners:
  US, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany
External debt:
  $2.6 billion (December 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 7.6% (1993)
Electricity:
capacity:
  713,800 kW
production:
  2.19 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  390 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  food processing, beverages, petroleum, nonmetallic products, tobacco,
  chemicals, textiles, furniture
Agriculture:
  accounts for 24% of GDP and 40% of labor force (including fishing and
  forestry); coffee most important commercial crop; other products -
  sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseeds, beef, dairy products, shrimp;
  not self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana produced for local
  consumption
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $2.95 billion (plus $250
  million for 1992-96); Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF
  bilateral commitments (1970-89), $525 million
Currency:
  1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
  Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 - 8.720 (January 1994), 8.670 (1993),
  8.4500 (1992), 8.080 (1991), 8.0300 (1990), fixed rate of 5.000
  (1986-1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@El Salvador, Communications

Railroads:
  602 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; some sections abandoned,
  unusable, or operating at reduced capacity
Highways:
total:
  10,000 km
paved:
  1,500 km
unpaved:
  gravel 4,100 km; improved, unimproved earth 4,400 km
Inland waterways:
  Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports:
  Acajutla, Cutuco
Airports:
total:
  107
usable:
  76
with permanent-surface runways:
  5
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  6
Telecommunications:
  nationwide trunk microwave radio relay system; connection into Central
  American Microwave System; 116,000 telephones (21 telephones per 1,000
  persons); broadcast stations - 77 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 2 shortwave; 1
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@El Salvador, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,351,641; fit for military service 866,010; reach
  military age (18) annually 74,181 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $104 million, 1.1% of GDP (1994 est.)


@Equatorial Guinea, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cameroon
  and Gabon
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  28,050 sq km
land area:
  28,050 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  total 539 km, Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline:
  296 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty
  over islands in Corisco Bay
Climate:
  tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
  coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Natural resources:
  timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese,
  uranium
Land use:
arable land:
  8%
permanent crops:
  4%
meadows and pastures:
  4%
forest and woodland:
  51%
other:
  33%
Irrigated land:
  NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
  desertification
natural hazards:
  subject to violent windstorms
international agreements:
  party to - Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Note:
  insular and continental regions rather widely separated

@Equatorial Guinea, People

Population:
  409,550 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.59% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  40.65 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  14.73 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  102.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  52.09 years
male:
  49.97 years
female:
  54.27 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.28 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective:
  Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic divisions:
  Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang),
  Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions:
  nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages:
  Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
  50%
male:
  64%
female:
  37%
Labor force:
  172,000 (1986 est.)
by occupation:
  agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980)
note:
  labor shortages on plantations; 58% of population of working age
  (1985)

@Equatorial Guinea, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form:
  Equatorial Guinea
local long form:
  Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
local short form:
  Guinea Ecuatorial
former:
  Spanish Guinea
Digraph:
  EK
Type:
  republic in transition to multiparty democracy
Capital:
  Malabo
Administrative divisions:
  7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte,
  Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence:
  12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution:
  new constitution 17 November 1991
Legal system:
  partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3
  August 1979) election last held 25 June 1989 (next to be held 25 June
  1996); results - President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
  MBASOGO was reelected without opposition
head of government:
  Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17 January 1992); Vice
  Prime Minister Anatolio NDONG MBA (since November 1993);
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
House of People's Representatives:
  (Camara de Representantes del Pueblo) elections last held 21 November
  1993; seats - (82 total) PDGE 72, various opposition parties 10
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
  ruling - Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig. Gen.
  (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leader; Progressive
  Democratic Alliance (ADP), Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president;
  Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea (APGE),Casiano Masi Edu, leader;
  Liberal Democratic Convention (CLD), Alfonso Nsue MOKUY, president;
  Convergence for Social Democracy (CPDS),Santiago Obama Ndong,
  president; Social Democratic and Popular Convergence (CSDP), Secundino
  Oyono Agueng Ada, general secretary; Party of the Social Democratic
  Coalition (PCSD), Buenaventura Moswi M'Asumu, general coordinater;
  Liberal Party (PL), leaders unknown; Party of Progress (PP), Severo
  MOTO Nsa, president; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Benjamin-Gabriel
  Balingha Balinga Alene, general secretary; Socialist Party of
  Equatorial Guinea (PSGE), Tomas MICHEBE Fernandez, general secretary;
  National Democratic Union (UDENA), Jose MECHEBA Ikaka, president;
  Democratic Social Union (UDS), Jesus Nze Obama Avomo, general
  secretary; Popular Union (UP), Juan Bitui, president
Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC,
  ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD,
  UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador DAMASO Obiang Ndong
chancery:
  (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553
telephone:
  [phone] or 667-6913
FAX:
  [phone]
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador John E. BENNETT
embassy:
  Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo
mailing address:
  P.O. Box 597, Malabo
telephone:
  [240] (9) 2185, 2406, 2507
FAX:
  [240] (9) 2164
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a
  blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms
  centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow
  six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore
  islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below
  which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace,
  Justice)

@Equatorial Guinea, Economy

Overview:
  Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for about half of GDP and
  nearly all exports. Subsistence farming predominates. Although
  pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for
  hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under
  successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led
  growth. A number of AID programs sponsored by the World Bank and the
  international donor community have failed to revitalize export
  agriculture. There is little industry; businesses for the most part
  are owned by government officials and their family members. Commerce
  accounts for about 8% of GDP and the construction, public works, and
  service sectors for about 38%. Undeveloped natural resources include
  titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil
  exploration, taking place under concessions offered to US, French, and
  Spanish firms, has been moderately successful. Increased production
  from recently discovered natural gas fields will provide a greater
  share of exports by 1995.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $280 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA
National product per capita:
  $700 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
revenues:
  $32.5 million
expenditures:
  $35.9 million, including capital expenditures of $3 million (1992
  est.)
Exports:
  $52.8 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
  coffee, timber, cocoa beans
partners:
  Spain 55.2%, Nigeria 11.4%, Cameroon 9.1% (1992)
Imports:
  $63.6 million (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
  petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
partners:
  Cameroon 23.1%, Spain 21.8%, France 14.1%, US 4.3%
External debt:
  $260 million (1992 est)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -6.5% (1992 est.); accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  23,000 kW
production:
  60 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  160 kWh (1991)
Industries:
  fishing, sawmilling
Agriculture:
  accounts for almost 50% of GDP, cash crops - timber and coffee from
  Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops - rice, yams, cassava, bananas,
  oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY81-89), $14 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $130
  million; Communist countries (1970-89), $55 million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05
  (January 1994), 273,16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26
  (1990), 319.01 (1989)
note:
  beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per
  French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

@Equatorial Guinea, Communications

Highways:
total:
  2,760 km (2,460 km on Rio Muni and 300 km on Bioko)
paved:
  NA
unpaved:
  NA
Ports:
  Malabo, Bata
Merchant marine:
  2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,412 GRT/6,699 DWT, cargo 1,
  passenger-cargo 1
Airports:
total:
  3
usable:
  3
with permanent-surface runways:
  2
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  poor system with adequate government services; international
  communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries;
  2,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian
  Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Equatorial Guinea, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 86,957; fit for military service 44,174
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP


@Eritrea, Geography

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

@Eritrea, People

Population:
  3,782,543 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.41% (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Eritrean(s)
adjective:
  Eritrean
Ethnic divisions:
  ethnic Tigrays 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast
  dwellers) 3%
Religions:
  Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages:
  Tigre and Kunama, Cushitic dialects, Tigre, Nora Bana, Arabic
Literacy:
total population:
  NA%
male:
  NA%
female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  NA

@Eritrea, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  State of Eritrea
conventional short form:
  Eritrea
local long form:
  none
local short form:
  none
former:
  Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Digraph:
  ER
Type:
  transitional government
note:
  on 29 May 1991 ISSAIAS Afeworke, secretary general of the Eritrean
  People's Liberation Front (EPLF), announced the formation of the
  Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE), in preparation for the 23-25
  April 1993 referendum on independence for the autonomous region of
  Eritrea; the result was a landslide vote for independence that was
  announced on 27 April 1993
Capital:
  Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions:
  7 provinces; Akale Guzay, Baraka, Denakil, Hamasen, Samhar, Seraye,
  Sahil (1993)
Independence:
  27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea Autonomous Region)
National holiday:
  National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May (1993)
Constitution:
  transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993
Legal system:
  NA
Suffrage:
  NA
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
  President ISSAIAS Afeworke (since 22 May 1993)
cabinet:
  State Council; the collective executive authority
note:
  election to be held before 20 May 1997
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
National Assembly:
  EPLF Central Committee serves as the country's legislative body until
  multinational elections are held (before 20 May 1997)
Judicial branch:
  Judiciary
Political parties and leaders:
  Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) (Christian Muslim), ISSAIAS
  Aferworke, PETROS Solomon; Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) (Muslim),
  ABDULLAH Muhammed; Eritrean Liberation Front - United Organization
  (ELF-UO), Mohammed Said NAWUD; Eritrean Liberation Front -
  Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC), Ahmed NASSER
Other political or pressure groups:
  Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ); Islamic Militant Group
Member of:
  OAU, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ILO, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador-designate Hagos GEBREHIWOT
chancery:
  Suite 400, 910 17th Street NW, Washington DC 20006
telephone:
  [phone]
FAX:
  [phone]
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert G. HOUDEK
embassy:
  34 Zera Yacob St., Asmara
mailing address:
  P.O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone:
  [291] (1) 123-720
FAX:
  [291] (1) 127-584
Flag:
  red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag
  into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one
  is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on
  the hoist side of the red triangle

@Eritrea, Economy

Overview:
  With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faces the
  bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country.
  Most of the population will continue to depend on subsistence farming.
  Domestic output is substantially augmented by worker remittances from
  abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and income and
  sales taxes. Eritrea has inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia
  and has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of
  offshore oil, offshore fishing and tourism. For the time being,
  Ethiopia will be largely dependent on Eritrean ports for its foreign
  trade.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.7 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
revenues:
  $NA
expenditures:
  $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
  $NA
commodities:
  NA
partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $NA
commodities:
  NA
partners:
  NA
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
  NA kW
production:
  NA kWh
consumption per capita:
  NA kWh
Industries:
  food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Agriculture:
  products - sorghum, livestock (including goats), fish, lentils,
  vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal (for making rope)
Economic aid:
  $NA
Currency:
  1 birr (Br) = 100 cents; at present, Ethiopian currency used
Exchange rates:
  1 birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.000 (fixed rate since 1992)
Fiscal year:
  NA

@Eritrea, Communications

Railroads:
  307 km total; 307 km 1.000-meter gauge; 307 km 0.950-meter gauge
  (nonoperational) linking Ak'ordat and Asmara (formerly Asmera) with
  the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa; 1993 est.)
Highways:
total:
  3,845 km
paved:
  807 km
unpaved:
  gravel 840 km; improved earth 402 km; unimproved earth 1,796 km
Ports:
  Assab (formerly Aseb), Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine:
  none
Airports:
total:
  5
usable:
  5
with permanent-surface runways:
  2
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  NA

@Eritrea, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP


@Estonia, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  45,100 sq km
land area:
  43,200 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
note:
  includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Land boundaries:
  total 557 km, Latvia 267 km, Russia 290 km
Coastline:
  1,393 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain:
  marshy, lowlands
Natural resources:
  shale oil, peat, phosphorite, amber
Land use:
arable land:
  22%
permanent crops:
  0%
meadows and pastures:
  11%
forest and woodland:
  31%
other:
  36%
Irrigated land:
  110 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues:
  air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power
  plants in northeast; contamination of soil and ground water with
  petroleum products, chemicals at military bases
natural hazards:
  NA
international agreements:
  party to - Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified
  - Biodiversity, Climate Change
Population:
  1,616,882 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.52% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  13.98 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  12.04 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  3.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  19.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  69.96 years
male:
  64.98 years
female:
  75.19 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Estonian(s)
adjective:
  Estonian
Ethnic divisions:
  Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.17%, Byelorussian 1.8%,
  Finn 1.1%, other 2.13% (1989)
Religions:
  Lutheran
Languages:
  Estonian (official), Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
  age 9-49 can read and write (1989)
total population:
  100%
male:
  100%
female:
  100%
Labor force:
  750,000 (1992)
by occupation:
  industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38%
  (1990)

@Estonia, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Republic of Estonia
conventional short form:
  Estonia
local long form:
  Eesti Vabariik
local short form:
  Eesti
former:
  Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
  EN
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Tallinn
Administrative divisions:
  15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond) and 6 municipalities*:
  Harju maakond (Tallinn), Hiiu maakond (Kardla), Ida-Viru maakond
  (Johvi), Jarva maakond (Paide), Jogeva maakond (Jogeva),
  Kohtla-Jarve*, Laane maakond (Haapsalu), Laane-Viru maakond (Rakvere),
  Narva*, Parnu*, Parnu maakond (Parnu), Polva maakond (Polva), Rapla
  maakond (Rapla), Saare maakond (Kuessaare), Sillamae*, Tallinn*,
  Tartu*, Tartu maakond (Tartu), Valga maakond (Valga), Viljandi maakond
  (Viljandi), Voru maakond (Voru)
note:
  county centers are in parentheses
Independence:
  6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Constitution:
  adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system:
  based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President Lennart MERI (since 21 October 1992); election last held 20
  September 1992; (next to be held NA 1997); results - no candidate
  received majority; newly elected Parliament elected Lennart MERI (21
  October 1992)
head of government:
  Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since 21 October 1992)
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister, authorized by
  the legislature
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Parliament (Riigikogu):
  elections last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held NA); results -
  Fatherland 21%, Safe Haven 14%, Popular Front 13%, M 10%, ENIP 8%, ERP
  7%, ERL 7%, EP 2%, other 18%; seats - (101 total) Fatherland 29, Safe
  Haven 18, Popular Front 15, M 12, ENIP 10, ERP 8, ERL 8, EP 1
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
  National Coalition Party 'Pro Patria' (Isamaa of Fatherland), Mart
  LAAR, president, made up of 4 parties: Christian Democratic Party
  (KDE), Aivar KALA, chairman; Christian Democratic Union (KDL), Illar
  HALLASTE, chairman; Conservative People's Party (KR), Enn TARTO,
  chairman; Republican Coalition Party (VK), Leo STARKOV, chairman;
  Moderates (M), made up of two parties: Estonian Social Democratic
  Party (ESDB), Marju LAURISTIN, chairman; Estonian Rural Center Pary
  (EMK), Ivar RAIG, chairman; Estonian National Independence Party
  (ENIP), Tunne KELAM, chairman; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),
  Paul-Eerik RUMMO, chairman; Safe Haven, made up of three parties:
  Estonian Coalition Party (EK), Tiit VAHI, chairman; Estonian Rural
  Union (EM), Arvo SIRENDI, chairman; Estonian Democratic Justice
  Union/Estonian Pensioners' League (EDO/EPU), Harri KARTNER, chairman;
  Estonian Centrist Party (EK), Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman; Estonian
  Democratic Labor Party (EDT), Vaino VALJAS, chairman; Estonian Green
  Party (ERL), Tonu OJA; Estonian Royalist Party (ERP), Kalle KULBOK,
  chairman; Entrepreneurs' Party (EP), Tiit MADE; Estonian Citizen
  (EKL), Juri TOOMEPUU, chairman
Member of:
  BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Toomas Hendrik ILVES
chancery:
  1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, Suite 1000
telephone:
  [phone]
FAX:
  [phone]
consulate(s) general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Robert C. FRASURE
embassy:
  Kentmanni 20, Tallin EE 0001
mailing address:
  use embassy street address
telephone:
  011-[372] (6) 312-021 through 024
FAX:
  [372] (6) 312-025
Flag:
  pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal
  horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

@Estonia, Economy

Overview:
  Bolstered by a widespread national desire to reintegrate into Western
  Europe, the Estonian government has pursued a program of market
  reforms and rough stabilization measures, which is rapidly
  transforming the economy. Two years after independence - and one year
  after the introduction of the kroon - Estonians are beginning to reap
  tangible benefits; inflation is low; production declines appear to
  have bottomed out; and living standards are rising. Economic
  restructuring is clearly underway with the once-dominant
  energy-intensive heavy industrial sectors giving way to
  labor-intensive light industry and the underdeveloped service sector.
  The private sector is growing rapidly; the share of the state
  enterprises in retail trade has steadily declined and by June 1993
  accounted for only 12.5% of total turnover, and 70,000 new jobs have
  reportedly been created as a result of new business start-ups.
  Estonia's foreign trade has shifted rapidly from East to West with the
  Western industrialized countries now accounting for two-thirds of
  foreign trade.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.8 billion (1993 estimate from
  the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and
  published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as
  extrapolated to 1993 using official Estonian statistics, which are
  very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)
National product real growth rate:
  -5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
  $5,480 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.6% per month (1993 average)
Unemployment rate:
  3.5% (May 1993); but large number of underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues:
  $223 million
expenditures:
  $142 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $765 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
  textile 14%, food products 11%, vehicles 11%, metals 11% (1993)
partners:
  Russia, Finland, Latvia, Germany, Ukraine
Imports:
  $865 million (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities:
  machinery 18%, fuels 15%, vehicles 14%, textiles 10% (1993)
partners:
  Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands
External debt:
  $650 million (end of 1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -27% (1993)
Electricity:
capacity:
  3,700,000 kW
production:
  22.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
  14,245 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  accounts for 42% of labor force; oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates,
  electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles,
  paper, shoes, apparel
Agriculture:
  employs 20% of work force; very efficient by Soviet standards; net
  exports of meat, fish, dairy products, and potatoes; imports of
  feedgrains for livestock; fruits and vegetables
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia
  and Latin America to Western Europe; limited illicit opium producer;
  mostly for domestic consumption
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million
Currency:
  1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents (introduced in August 1992)
Exchange rates:
  kroons (EEK) per US$1 - 13.9 (January 1994), 13.2 (1993); note -
  kroons are tied to the German Deutschmark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

@Estonia, Communications

Railroads:
  1,030 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
total:
  30,300 km
paved or gravelled:
  29,200 km
unpaved:
  earth 1,100 km (1990)
Inland waterways:
  500 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
  natural gas 420 km (1992)
Ports:
  coastal - Tallinn, Novotallin, Parnu; inland - Narva
Merchant marine:
  69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 406,405 GRT/537,016 DWT, bulk 6,
  cargo 50, container 2, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6,
  short-sea passenger 4
Airports:
total:
  29
usable:
  18
with permanent-surface runways:
  11
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  10
with runways 1,060-2,439 m:
  8
note:
  a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip
Telecommunications:
  Estonia's telephone system is antiquated and supports about 400,000
  domestic telephone circuits, i.e. 25 telephones for each 100 persons;
  improvements are being made piecemeal, with emphasis on business needs
  and international connections; there are still about 150,000
  unfulfilled requests for telephone service; broadcast stations - 3 TV
  (provide Estonian programs as well Moscow Ostenkino's first and second
  programs); international traffic is carried to the other former USSR
  republics by land line or microwave and to other countries partly by
  leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, and
  partly by a new Tallinn-Helsinki fiber optic submarine cable which
  gives Estonia access to international circuits everywhere; substantial
  investment has been made in cellular systems which are operational
  throughout Estonia and also Latvia and which have access to the
  international packet switched digital network via Helsinki

@Estonia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ground Forces, Maritime Border Guard, National Guard (Kaitseliit),
  Security Forces (internal and border troops), Coast Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 392,135; fit for military service 308,951; reach
  military age (18) annually 11,789 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  124.4 million kroons, NA% of GDP (forecast for 1993); note -
  conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current
  exchange rate could produce misleading results


@Ethiopia, Geography

Location:
  Eastern Africa, between Somalia and Sudan
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
  1,127,127 sq km
land area:
  1,119,683 sq km
comparative area:
  slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
  total 5,311 km, Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km, Somalia
  1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline:
  none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
  none - landlocked
International disputes:
  southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional
  Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden
Climate:
  tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain:
  high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
Natural resources:
  small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash
Land use:
arable land:
  12%
permanent crops:
  1%
meadows and pastures:
  41%
forest and woodland:
  24%
other:
  22%
Irrigated land:
  1,620 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
  deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; famine
natural hazards:
  geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes,
  volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
international agreements:
  party to - Endangered Species; signed, but not ratified -
  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the
  Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Note:
  landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de
  jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993

@Ethiopia, People

Population:
  54,927,108 (July 1994 est.)
note:
  Ethiopian demographic data, except population and population growth
  rate, include Eritrea
Population growth rate:
  3.4% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  45.01 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  13.89 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  2.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  106.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  52.67 years
male:
  51 years
female:
  54.38 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.81 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Ethiopian(s)
adjective:
  Ethiopian
Ethnic divisions:
  Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%,
  Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions:
  Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 5%
Languages:
  Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic,
  English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy:
  age 10 and over can read and write (1984)
total population:
  24%
male:
  33%
female:
  16%
Labor force:
  18 million
by occupation:
  agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%,
  industry and construction 8% (1985)

@Ethiopia, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  none
conventional short form:
  Ethiopia
local long form:
  none
local short form:
  Ityop'iya
Digraph:
  ET
Type:
  transitional government
note:
  on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
  (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam
  and took control in Addis Ababa; the Transitional Government of
  Ethiopia (TGE), announced a two-year transitional period
Capital:
  Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions:
  14 administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader
  akababi) Addis Ababa, Afar, Amhara, Benishangul, Gambela,
  Gurage-Hadiya-Kambata, Harer, Kefa, Omo, Oromo, Sidamo, Somali,
  Tigray, Wolayta
Independence:
  oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the
  world - at least 2,000 years
National holiday:
  National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu regime)
Constitution:
  to be redrafted by 1993
Legal system:
  NA
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  President MELES Zenawi (since 1 June 1991); election last held 10
  September 1987; next election planned after new constitution drafted;
  results - MENGISTU Haile-Mariam elected by the now defunct National
  Assembly, but resigned and left Ethiopia on 21 May 1991
head of government:
  Prime Minister TAMIRAT Layne (since 6 June 1991)
cabinet:
  Council of Ministers; designated by the chairman of the Council of
  Representatives
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Constituent Assembly:
  elections were held on 5 June 1994 (next to be held NA); results - NA;
  a major task of the new Assembly will be to ratify the constitution to
  drafted by the end of 1994
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
  Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), MELES
  Zenawi; Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO), Kuma DEMEKSA
Other political or pressure groups:
  Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party
  (EPRP); numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since
  Mengistu's resignation, including several Islamic militant groups
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
  NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos
chancery:
  2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
  [phone] or 2282
FAX:
  [phone]
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
  Ambassador Marc A. BAAS
embassy:
  Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address:
  P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone:
  [251] (1) 550-666
FAX:
  [251] (1) 552-191
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red; Ethiopia
  is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the colors of her
  flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon
  independence that they became known as the pan-African colors

@Ethiopia, Economy

Overview:
  With the independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993, Ethiopia continues
  to face difficult economic problems as one of the poorest and least
  developed countries in Africa. (The accompanying analysis and figures
  predate the independence of Eritrea.) Its economy is based on
  subsistence agriculture, which accounts for about 45% of GDP, 90% of
  exports, and 80% of total employment; coffee generates 60% of export
  earnings. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs from
  the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but less
  than 10% of agriculture, is state run; the government is considering
  selling off a portion of state-owned plants. Favorable agricultural
  weather largely explains the 4.5% growth in output in FY89, whereas
  drought and deteriorating internal security conditions prevented
  growth in FY90. In 1991 the lack of law and order, particularly in the
  south, interfered with economic development and growth. In 1992,
  because of some easing of civil strife and aid from the outside world,
  the economy substantially improved.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $22.7 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  7.8% (FY93 est)
National product per capita:
  $400 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  21% (1992 est)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
revenues:
  $NA
expenditures:
  $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $189 million (f.o.b., FY91)
commodities:
  coffee, leather products, gold, petroleum products
partners:
  Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy
Imports:
  $472 million (c.i.f., FY91)
commodities:
  capital goods, consumer goods, fuel
partners:
  US, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Japan
External debt:
  $3.48 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -3.3% (FY92); accounts for 12% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
  330,000 kW
production:
  650 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  10 kWh (1991)
Industries:
  food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing,
  cement
Agriculture:
  accounts for 47% of GDP and is the most important sector of the
  economy even though frequent droughts and poor cultivation practices
  keep farm output low; famines not uncommon; export crops of coffee and
  oilseeds grown partly on state farms; estimated 50% of agricultural
  production at subsistence level; principal crops and livestock -
  cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and other
  vegetables, hides and skins, cattle, sheep, goats
Illicit drugs:
  transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and
  destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for
  southern African markets; cultivates qat (chat) for local use and
  regional export
Economic aid:
recipient:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $504 million; Western
  (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.4
  billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $8 million; Communist countries
  (1970-89), $2 billion
Currency:
  1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.0000 (fixed rate since 1992); fixed at 2.070
  before 1992
Fiscal year:
  8 July - 7 July

@Ethiopia, Communications

Highways:
total:
  24,127 km
paved:
  3,289 km
unpaved:
  gravel 6,664 km; improved earth 1,652 km; unimproved earth 12,522 km
  (1993)
Ports:
  none; landlocked
Merchant marine:
  12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,627 GRT/88,909 DWT, cargo 8,
  livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 2, roll on/roll off cargo 1
Airports:
total:
  120
usable:
  84
with permanent-surface runways:
  10
with runways over 3,659 m:
  1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  15
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  83
Telecommunications:
  open-wire and radio relay system adequate for government use;
  open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and
  Djibouti; broadcast stations - 4 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 100,000 TV sets;
  9,000,000 radios; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
  and 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

@Ethiopia, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 13,229,078; fit for military service 6,867,582; reach
  military age (18) annually 596,691 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  $NA, NA% of GDP


@Europa Island

Header
Affiliation:
  (possession of France)

@Europa Island, Geography

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

@Europa Island, People

Population:
  uninhabited

@Europa Island, Government

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

@Europa Island, Economy

Overview:
  no economic activity

@Europa Island, Communications

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

@Europa Island, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of France


@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Header
Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)

@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Geography

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

@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), People

Population:
  2,261 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.43% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  NA
Death rate:
  NA
Net migration rate:
  NA
Infant mortality rate:
  NA
Life expectancy at birth:
  NA
Total fertility rate:
  NA
Nationality:
noun:
  Falkland Islander(s)
adjective:
  Falkland Island
Ethnic divisions:
  British
Religions:
  primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist
  Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
total population:
  NA%
male:
  NA%
female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  1,100 (est.)
by occupation:
  agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)

@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  Colony of the Falkland Islands
conventional short form:
  Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Digraph:
  FA
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  Stanley
Administrative divisions:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday:
  Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution:
  3 October 1985
Legal system:
  English common law
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
  Governor David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992)
cabinet:
  Executive Council; 3 members elected by the Legislative Council, 2
  ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and
  the governor
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Legislative Council:
  elections last held 11 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994);
  results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (10 total, 8 elected)
  number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
  NA
Member of:
  ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer
  half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising
  is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose
  crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the
  motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on sheep farming, which directly or indirectly
  employs most of the work force. A few dairy herds are kept to meet
  domestic consumption of milk and milk products, and crops grown are
  primarily those for providing winter fodder. Exports feature shipments
  of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins.
  Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently
  exploited by the islanders. So far, efforts to establish a domestic
  fishing industry have been unsuccessful. In 1987 the government began
  selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the
  Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees amount to more
  than $40 million per year and are a primary source of income for the
  government. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development
  Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the
  abundant wildlife and trout fishing.
National product:
  GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7.4% (1980-87 average)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%; labor shortage
Budget:
revenues:
  $62.7 million
expenditures:
  $42.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)
Exports:
  at least $14.7 million
commodities:
  wool, hides and skins, and meat
partners:
  UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)
Imports:
  at least $13.9 million
commodities:
  food, clothing, fuels, and machinery
partners:
  UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.)
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
  9,200 kW
production:
  17 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  8,940 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  wool and fish processing
Agriculture:
  predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds; some fodder and
  vegetable crops
Economic aid:
recipient:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
  (1992-93), $87 million
Currency:
  1 Falkland pound (#F) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
  Falkland pound (#F) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993),
  0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5604 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); note - the
  Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Communications

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

@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Defense Forces

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


@Faroe Islands

Header
Affiliation:
  (part of the Danish realm)

@Faroe Islands, Geography

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

@Faroe Islands, People

Population:
  48,427 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.83% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
  17.97 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
  7.56 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
  78.1 years
male:
  74.71 years
female:
  81.62 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.47 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
  Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective:
  Faroese
Ethnic divisions:
  Scandinavian
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
  Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy:
total population:
  NA%
male:
  NA%
female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  17,585
by occupation:
  largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and
  commerce

@Faroe Islands, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
  none
conventional short form:
  Faroe Islands
local long form:
  none
local short form:
  Foroyar
Digraph:
  FO
Type:
  part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative
  division of Denmark
Capital:
  Torshavn
Administrative divisions:
  none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Independence:
  none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative
  division of Denmark)
National holiday:
  Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution:
  5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:
  Danish
Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
  Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High
  Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA)
head of government:
  Prime Minister Marita PETERSEN (since 18 January 1993)
cabinet:
  Landsstyri; elected by the local legislature
Legislative branch:
  unicameral
Faroese Parliament (Lgting):
  elections last held 17 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994);
  results - Social Democratic 27.4%, People's Party 21.9%, Cooperation
  Coalition Party 18.9%, Republican Party 14.7%, Home Rule 8.8%,
  PFIP-CPP 5.9%, other 2.4%; seats - (32 total) two-party coalition 17
  (Social Democratic 10, People's Party 7), Cooperation Coalition Party
  6, Republican Party 4, Home Rule 3, PFIP-CPP 2
Danish Parliament:
  elections last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December
  1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) Social
  Democratic 1, People's Party 1; note - the Faroe Islands elects two
  representatives to the Danish Parliament
Judicial branch:
  none
Political parties and leaders:
three-party ruling coalition:
  Social Democratic Party, Marita PETERSEN; Republican Party, Signer
  HANSEN; Home Rule Party, Hilmar KASS
opposition:
  Cooperation Coalition Party, Pauli ELLEFSEN; Progressive and Fishing
  Industry Party-Christian People's Party (PFIP-CPP), leader NA;
  Progress Party, leader NA; People's Party, Jogvan SUND-STEIN
Member of:
  none
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
US diplomatic representation:
  none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag:
  white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of
  the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side
  in the style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)

@Faroe Islands, Economy

Overview:
  The Faroese, who have long enjoyed the affluent living standards of
  the Danes and other Scandinavians, now must cope with the decline of
  the all-important fishing industry and one of the world's heaviest per
  capita external debts of nearly $30,000. When the nations of the world
  extended their fishing zones to 200 nautical miles in the early 1970s,
  the Faroese no longer could continue their traditional long-distance
  fishing and subsequently depleted their own nearby fishing areas. The
  government's tight controls on fish stocks and its austerity measures
  have caused a recession, and subsidy cuts will force nationalization
  in the fishing industry, which has already been plagued with
  bankruptcies. Copenhagen has threatened to withhold its annual subsidy
  of $130 million - roughly one-third of the islands' budget revenues -
  unless the Faroese make significant efforts to balance their budget.
  To this extent the Faroe government is expected to continue its tough
  policies, including introducing a 20% value-added tax (VAT) in 1993,
  and has agreed to an IMF economic-political stabilization plan. In
  addition to its annual subsidy, the Danish government has bailed out
  the second largest Faroe bank to the tune of $140 million since
  October 1992.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $662 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1989 est.)
National product per capita:
  $14,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
  2.5% (1993 est)
Budget:
revenues:
  $425 million
expenditures:
  $480 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $386 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
  fish and fish products 88%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment
  (ships) (1989)
partners:
  Denmark 20%, Germany 18.3%, UK 14.2%, France 11.2%, Spain 7.9%, US
  4.5%
Imports:
  $322 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment 24.4%, manufactures 24%, food and
  livestock 19%, fuels 12%, chemicals 6.5%
partners:
  Denmark 43.8%, Norway 19.8%, Sweden 4.9%, Germany 4.2%, US 1.3%
External debt:
  $1.3 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
  80,000 kW
production:
  280 million kWh
consumption per capita:
  5,760 kWh (1992)
Industries:
  fishing, shipbuilding, handicrafts
Agriculture:
  accounts for 27% of GDP and employs 27% of labor force; principal
  crops - potatoes and vegetables; livestock - sheep; annual fish catch
  about 360,000 metric tons
Economic aid:
recipient:
  receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $130 million
Currency:
  1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates:
  Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.771 (January 1994), 6.484 (1993),
  6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

@Faroe Islands, Communications

Highways:
total:
  200 km
paved:
  NA
unpaved:
  NA
Ports:
  Torshavn, Tvoroyri
Merchant marine:
  7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,943 GRT/18,399 DWT, cargo 5,
  roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1
note:
  a subset of the Danish register
Airports:
total:
  1
usable:
  1
with permanent-surface runways:
  1
with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  good international communications; fair domestic facilities; 27,900
  telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 3 (10 repeaters) FM, 3 (29
  repeaters) TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables

@Faroe Islands, Defense Forces

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