***the World Factbook 1994 (part 4)

Names:
conventional long form:
Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form:
Germany
local long form:
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form:
Deutschland
Digraph:
GM
Type:
federal republic
Capital:
Berlin
note:
the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take place over a period of years
with Bonn retaining many administrative functions and several
ministries
Administrative divisions:
16 states (laender, singular - land); Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern,
Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,
Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland,
Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringen
Independence:
18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones
of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following
World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany)
proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French
zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7
October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West
Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four power
rights formally relinquished 15 March 1991
National holiday:
German Unity Day (Day of Unity), 3 October (1990)
Constitution:
23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united
German people 3 October 1990
Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Dr. Richard von WEIZSACKER (since 1 July 1984); note -
presidential elections were held on 23 May 1994; Roman HERZOG was the
winner and will be inaugurated 1 July 1994
head of government:
Chancellor Dr. Helmut KOHL (since 4 October 1982)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president upon the proposal of the
chancellor
Legislative branch:
bicameral chamber (no official name for the two chambers as a whole)
Federal Assembly (Bundestag):
last held 2 December 1990 (next to be held by 16 October 1994);
results - CDU 36.7%, SPD 33.5%, FDP 11.0%, CSU 7.1%, Green Party (West
Germany) 3.9%, PDS 2.4%, Republikaner 2.1%, Alliance 90/Green Party
(East Germany) 1.2%, other 2.1%; seats - (662 total) CDU 268, CSU 51,
SPD 239, FDP 79, PDS 17, Greens/Alliance '90 8; elected by direct
popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional
representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or 3 direct
mandates to gain representation
Federal Council (Bundesrat):
State governments are directly represented by votes; each has 3 to 6
votes depending on size and are required to vote as a block; current
composition: votes - (68 total) SPD-led states 37, CDU-led states 31
Judicial branch:
Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Helmut KOHL, chairman; Christian
Social Union (CSU), Theo WAIGEL, chairman; Free Democratic Party
(FDP), Klaus KINKEL, chairman; Social Democratic Party (SPD), Rudolf
SCHARPING, chairman; Alliance '90/Greens, Ludger VOLMER, Marianne
BIRTHLER, co-chairmen; Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), Lothar
BISKY, chairman; Republikaner, Franz SCHOENHUBER; National Democratic
Party (NPD), Guenter DECKERT; Communist Party (DKP), Rolf PRIEMER
Other political or pressure groups:
expellee, refugee, and veterans groups
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC,
CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA,
FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNHCR, UNOMIG,
UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Immo STABREIT
chancery:
4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 298-4000
FAX:
(202) 298-4249
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, San Francisco, Seattle
consulate(s):
Manila (Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands) and Wellington
(America Samoa)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard C. HOLBROOKE
embassy:
Deichmanns Avenue 29, 53170 Bonn
mailing address:
Unit 21701, Bonn; APO AE 09080
telephone:
(228) 3391
FAX:
(228) 339-2663
branch office:
Berlin
consulate(s) general:
Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and yellow

@Germany, Economy

Overview: With the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, prospects seemed bright for a fairly rapid incorporation of East Germany into the highly successful West German economy. The Federal Republic, however, continues to experience difficulties in integrating and modernizing eastern Germany, and the tremendous costs of unification pushed western Germany into its deepest recession since World War II. The western German economy shrank by 1.9% in 1993 as the Bundesbank maintained high interest rates to offset the inflationary effects of large government deficits and high wage settlements. Eastern Germany grew by 7.1% in 1993 but this was from a shrunken base. Despite government transfers to the east amounting to nearly $110 billion annually, a self-sustaining economy in the region is still some years away. The bright spots are eastern Germany's construction, transportation, telecommunications, and service sectors, which have experienced strong growth. Western Germany has an advanced market economy and is a world leader in exports. It has a highly urbanized and skilled population that enjoys excellent living standards, abundant leisure time, and comprehensive social welfare benefits. Western Germany is relatively poor in natural resources, coal being the most important mineral. Western Germany's world-class companies manufacture technologically advanced goods. The region's economy is mature: services and manufacturing account for the dominant share of economic activity, and raw materials and semimanufactured goods constitute a large portion of imports. In recent years, manufacturing has accounted for about 31% of GDP, with other sectors contributing lesser amounts. Gross fixed investment in 1993 accounted for about 20.5% of GDP. GDP in the western region is now $19,400 per capita, or 78% of US per capita GDP. Eastern Germany's economy appears to be changing from one anchored on manufacturing into a more service-oriented economy. The German government, however, is intent on maintaining a manufacturing base in the east and is considering a policy for subsidizing industrial cores in the region. Eastern Germany's share of all-German GDP is only 8% and eastern productivity is just 30% that of the west even though eastern wages are at roughly 70% of western levels. The privatization agency for eastern Germany, Treuhand, has privatized more than 90% of the 13,000 firms under its control and will likely wind down operations in 1994. Private investment in the region continues to be lackluster, resulting primarily from the deepening recession in western Germany and excessively high eastern wages. Eastern Germany has one of the world's largest reserves of low-grade lignite coal but little else in the way of mineral resources. The quality of statistics from eastern Germany is improving, yet many gaps remain; the federal government began producing all-German data for select economic statistics at the start of 1992. The most challenging economic problem is promoting eastern Germany's economic reconstruction - specifically, finding the right mix of fiscal, monetary, regulatory, and tax policies that will spur investment in eastern Germany - without destabilizing western Germany's economy or damaging relations with West European partners. The government hopes a "solidarity pact" among labor unions, business, state governments, and the SPD opposition will provide the right mix of wage restraints, investment incentives, and spending cuts to stimulate eastern recovery. Finally, the homogeneity of the German economic culture has been changed by the admission of large numbers of immigrants. National product: Germany: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.331 trillion (1993) western: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.218 trillion (1993) eastern: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $112.7 billion (1993) National product real growth rate: Germany: -1.2% (1993) western: -1.9% (1993) eastern: 7.1% (1993) National product per capita: Germany: $16,500 (1993) western: $19,400 (1993) eastern: $6,300 (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): western: 4.2% (1993) eastern: 8.9% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: western: 8.1% (December 1993) eastern: 15.4% (December 1993) Budget: revenues: $918 billion expenditures: $972 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992) Exports: $392 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: manufactures 89.0% (including machines and machine tools, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel products), agricultural products 5.4%, raw materials 2.2%, fuels 1.3% (1922) partners: EC 51.3% (France 11.1%, Netherlands 8.3%, Italy 8.2%, UK 7.9%, Belgium-Luxembourg 7.5%), EFTA 13.3%, US 6.8%, Eastern Europe 5.0%, OPEC 3.3% (1993) Imports: $374.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: manufactures 74.9%, agricultural products 10.3%, fuels 7.4%, raw materials 5.5% (1992) partners: EC 49.7 (France 11.0%, Netherlands 9.2%, Italy 8.8%, UK 6.6%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6.7%), EFTA 12.7%, US 5.9%, Japan 5.2%, Eastern Europe 4.8%, OPEC 2.6% (1993) External debt: $NA Industrial production: western: growth rate -7% (1993) eastern: growth rate $NA Electricity: capacity: 134,000,000 kW production: 580 billion kWh consumption per capita: 7,160 kWh (1992) Industries: western: among world's largest producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics; food and beverages eastern: metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding, machine building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum refining Agriculture: western: accounts for about 2% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); diversified crop and livestock farming; principal crops and livestock include potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbage, cattle, pigs, poultry; net importer of food eastern: accounts for about 10% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); principal crops - wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit; livestock products include pork, beef, chicken, milk, hides and skins; net importer of food Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine for West European markets Economic aid: western-donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.5 billion eastern-donor: bilateral to non-Communist less developed countries (1956-89) $4 billion Currency: 1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1 - 1.7431 (January 1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Germany, Communications

Railroads:
western:
31,443 km total; 27,421 km government owned, 1.435-meter standard
gauge (12,491 km double track, 11,501 km electrified); 4,022 km
nongovernment owned, including 3,598 km 1.435-meter standard gauge
(214 km electrified) and 424 km 1.000-meter gauge (186 km electrified)
eastern:
14,025 km total; 13,750 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 275 km
1.000-meter or other narrow gauge; 3,830 (est.) km 1.435-meter
standard gauge double-track; 3,475 km overhead electrified (1988)
Highways:
total:
625,600 km (1991 est.); western - 501,000 km (1990 est.); eastern -
124,600 km (1988 est.)
paved:
543,200 km, including 10,814 km of expressways; western - 495,900 km,
including 8,959 km of expressways; eastern - 47,300 km, including
1,855 km of expressways
unpaved:
82,400 km; western - 5,000 km earth; eastern - 77,400 km gravel and
earth
Inland waterways:
western:
5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of 1,000-metric-ton
capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel
Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea
eastern:
2,319 km (1988)
Pipelines:
crude oil 3,644 km; petroleum products 3,946 km; natural gas 97,564 km
(1988)
Ports:
coastal - Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Cuxhaven, Emden, Bremen, Hamburg,
Kiel, Lubeck, Wilhelmshaven, Rostock, Wismar, Stralsund, Sassnitz;
inland - 31 major on Rhine and Elbe rivers
Merchant marine:
485 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,541,441 GRT/5,835,511 DWT,
barge carrier 7, bulk 11, cargo 241, chemical tanker 20, combination
bulk 6, combination ore/oil 5, container 132, liquefied gas tanker 16,
oil tanker 7, passenger 3, railcar carrier 5, refrigerated cargo 7,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 20, short-sea passenger 5
note:
the German register includes ships of the former East and West Germany
Airports:
total:
590
usable:
583
with permanent-surface runways:
308
with runways over 3,659 m:
5
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
85
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
97
Telecommunications:
western:
highly developed, modern telecommunication service to all parts of the
country; fully adequate in all respects; 40,300,000 telephones;
intensively developed, highly redundant cable and microwave radio
relay networks, all completely automatic; broadcast stations - 80 AM,
470 FM, 225 (6,000 repeaters) TV; 6 submarine coaxial cables;
satellite earth stations - 12 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT antennas, 2
Indian Ocean INTELSAT antennas, EUTELSAT, and domestic systems; 2 HF
radiocommunication centers; tropospheric links
eastern:
badly needs modernization; 3,970,000 telephones; broadcast stations -
23 AM, 17 FM, 21 TV (15 Soviet TV repeaters); 6,181,860 TVs; 6,700,000
radios; 1 satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT and
Intersputnik systems

@Germany, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 20,253,482; fit for military service 17,506,468; reach
military age (18) annually 418,124 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $37.3 billion, 2% of GDP (1993)

@Ghana, Geography

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cote
d'Ivoire and Togo
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
238,540 sq km
land area:
230,020 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total 2,093 km, Burkina 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline:
539 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and
humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain:
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Natural resources:
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber
Land use:
arable land:
5%
permanent crops:
7%
meadows and pastures:
15%
forest and woodland:
37%
other:
36%
Irrigated land:
80 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities;
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat
destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; limited
supply of safe drinking water
natural hazards:
dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Marine Life Conservation
Note:
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly
harmattan wind (January to March)

@Ghana, People

Population:
17,225,185 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.09% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
44.13 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
12.27 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
83.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
55.52 years
male:
53.58 years
female:
57.52 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.15 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Ghanaian(s)
adjective:
Ghanaian
Ethnic divisions:
black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe
13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
Languages:
English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba,
Ewe, and Ga)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
60%
male:
70%
female:
51%
Labor force:
3.7 million
by occupation:
agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry 18.7%, sales and clerical
15.2%, services, transportation, and communications 7.7%, professional
3.7%
note:
48% of population of working age (1983)

@Ghana, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Ghana
conventional short form:
Ghana
former:
Gold Coast
Digraph:
GH
Type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
Accra
Administrative divisions:
10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra,
Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence:
6 March 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution:
new constitution approved 28 April 1992
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
universal at 18
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 3 November 1992) election last
held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA)
cabinet:
Cabinet; president nominates members subject to approval by the
Parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly:
elections last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Congress, Jerry John Rawlings; New Patriotic
Party, Albert Adu BOAHEN; People's Heritage Party, Alex Erskine;
various other smaller parties
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ekwow SPIO-GARBRAH
chancery:
3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 686-4520
FAX:
(202) 686-4527
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kenneth L. BROWN
embassy:
Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
mailing address:
P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone:
(21) 775348, 775349, 775297 or 775298
FAX:
(21) 776008
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a
large black five-pointed star centered in the gold band; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of
Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

@Ghana, Economy

Overview:
Supported by substantial international assistance, Ghana has been
implementing a steady economic rebuilding program since 1983,
including moves toward privatization and relaxation of government
controls. The agriculture sector consists largely of small traditional
farm holdings, rain-fed for the most part. Heavily dependent on cocoa,
gold, and timber exports, economic growth so far has not spread
substantially to other areas of the economy. The costs of sending
peacekeeping forces to Liberia and preparing for the transition to a
democratic government have boosted government expenditures and
undercut structural adjustment reforms. Ghana opened a stock exchange
in 1990 and plans to float 5% of its stake in Ashanti Goldfields
Corporation, which would make the exchange the largest in sub-Saharan
Africa outside of South Africa.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $25 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.9% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
10% (1991)
Budget:
revenues:
$1 billion
expenditures:
$905 million, including capital expenditures of $200 million (1991
est.)
Exports:
$1 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
cocoa 40%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, and aluminum
partners:
Germany 31%, US 12%, UK 11%, Netherlands 6%, Japan 5% (1991)
Imports:
$1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
petroleum 16%, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods, capital
equipment
partners:
UK 22%, US 11%, Germany 9%, Japan 6%
External debt:
$4.6 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate in manufacturing (1992); accounts for almost 15% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
1,180,000 kW
production:
4.49 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
290 kWh (1991)
Industries:
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum, food processing
Agriculture:
accounts for 43% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); the major
cash crop is cocoa; other principal crops - rice, coffee, cassava,
peanuts, corn, shea nuts, timber; normally self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit
hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and
Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $455 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.6
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $78 million; Communist
countries (1970-89) $106 million
Currency:
1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Exchange rates:
new cedis per US$1 - 713.00 (October 1993), 437.09 (1992), 367.83
(1991), 326.33 (1990), 270.00 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Ghana, Communications

Railroads:
953 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 32 km double track; railroads
undergoing major renovation
Highways:
total:
32,250 km
paved:
concrete, bituminous 6,084 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, improved earth 26,166 km
Inland waterways:
Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation
for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial
and feeder waterways
Pipelines:
none
Ports:
Tema, Takoradi
Merchant marine:
5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 46,289 GRT/61,606 DWT, cargo 4,
refrigerated cargo 1
Airports:
total:
11
usable:
11
with permanent-surface runways:
6
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
6
Telecommunications:
poor to fair system handled primarily by microwave radio relay links;
42,300 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 4 (8 translators)
TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Ghana, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Civil Defense
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 3,867,183; fit for military service 2,159,769; reach
military age (18) annually 170,283 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $30 million, less than 1% of GDP (1989
est.)

@Gibraltar

Header Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)

@Gibraltar, Geography

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

@Gibraltar, People

Population:
31,684 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.58% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
15.37 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
8.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.73 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:
76.33 years
male:
73.44 years
female:
79.19 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Gibraltarian(s)
adjective:
Gibraltar
Ethnic divisions:
Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Religions:
Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%),
Moslem 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Languages:
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian,
Portuguese, Russian
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
note:
UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of
the labor force

@Gibraltar, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Gibraltar
Digraph:
GI
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Gilbraltar
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Constitution:
30 May 1969
Legal system:
English law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months
or more
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
and Commander in Chief Gen. Sir John CHAPPLE (since NA March 1993)
head of government:
Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)
Gibraltar Council:
advises the governor
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed from the elected members of the
Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
House of Assembly:
elections last held on 16 January 1992 (next to be held January 1996);
results - SL 73.3%; seats - (18 total, 15 elected) number of seats by
party NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party (SL), Joe BOSSANO; Gibraltar Labor
Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR),
leader NA; Gibraltar Social Democrats, Peter CARUANA; Gibraltar
National Party, Joe GARCIA
Other political or pressure groups:
Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives
Organization
Member of:
INTERPOL (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a
three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from
the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

@Gibraltar, Economy

Overview:
The British military presence has been severely reduced and now only
contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector
accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism and shipping services fees also
generate income. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public
sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the
level of employment. Construction workers are particularly affected
when government expenditures are cut.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $182 million (FY87)
National product real growth rate:
5% (FY87)
National product per capita:
$4,600 (FY87)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$136 million
expenditures:
$139 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88)
Exports:
$82 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities:
(principally re-exports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other
8%
partners:
UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Imports:
$258 million (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities:
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
partners:
UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
External debt:
$318 million (1987)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
47,000 kW
production:
200 million kWh
consumption per capita:
6,740 kWh (1992)
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large
UK naval and air bases; transit trade and supply depot in the port;
light manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral waters,
candy, beer, and canned fish
Agriculture:
none
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $800,000; Western (non-US)
countries and ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $2.5 million
Currency:
1 Gibraltar pound (#G) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
Gibraltar pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993),
0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); note - the
Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

@Gibraltar, Communications

Railroads:
1.000-meter-gauge system in dockyard area only
Highways:
total:
50 km
paved:
50 km
Pipelines:
none
Ports:
Gibraltar
Merchant marine:
29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 496,898 GRT/857,140 DWT, bulk 5,
cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 16, refrigerated
cargo 1
note:
a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international
radiocommunication and microwave facilities; 9,400 telephones;
broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
station

@Gibraltar, Defense Forces

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

@Glorioso Islands

Header Affiliation: (possession of France)

@Glorioso Islands, Geography

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

@Glorioso Islands, People

Population: uninhabited

@Glorioso Islands, Government

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

@Glorioso Islands, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Glorioso Islands, Communications

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

@Glorioso Islands, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France

@Greece, Geography

Location:
Balkan State, Southern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea between
Turkey and Bulgaria
Map references:
Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
131,940 sq km
land area:
130,800 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
total 1,210 km, Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km
Coastline:
13,676 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
6 nm, but Greece has threatened to claim 12 nm
International disputes:
air, continental shelf, and territorial water disputes with Turkey in
Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia over name and symbol implying territorial claim
Climate:
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or
chains of islands
Natural resources:
bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble
Land use:
arable land:
23%
permanent crops:
8%
meadows and pastures:
40%
forest and woodland:
20%
other:
9%
Irrigated land:
11,900 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution; water pollution
natural hazards:
subject to severe earthquakes
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Environmental
Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea
Note:
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to
Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of
about 2,000 islands

@Greece, People

Population: 10,564,630 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.84% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 10.5 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9.32 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 7.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.71 years male: 75.2 years female: 80.35 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek Ethnic divisions: Greek 98%, other 2% note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% Languages: Greek (official), English, French Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 93% male: 98% female: 89% Labor force: 4.083 million by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 24%, industry 28% (1993)

@Greece, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Hellenic Republic
conventional short form:
Greece
local long form:
Elliniki Dhimokratia
local short form:
Ellas
former:
Kingdom of Greece
Digraph:
GR
Type:
presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by referendum
8 December 1974
Capital:
Athens
Administrative divisions:
52 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos); Aitolia kai Akarnania,
Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Dhrama,
Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia,
Imathia, Ioannina, Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia,
Kerkira, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia,
Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia,
Pella, Pieria, Piraievs, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai,
Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos,
autonomous region: Agion Oros (Mt. Athos)
Independence:
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of
independence)
Constitution:
11 June 1975
Legal system:
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal,
and administrative courts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Konstantinos KARAMANLIS (since 5 May 1990); election last
held 4 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results - Konstantinos
KARAMANLIS was elected by Parliament
head of government:
Prime Minister Andreas PAPANDREOU (since 10 October 1993)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime
minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Chamber of Deputies (Vouli ton Ellinon):
elections last held 10 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October
1997); results - PASOK 46.88%, ND 39.30%, Political Spring 4.87%, KKE
4.54%, and Progressive Left Coalition 2.94%; seats - (300 total) PASOK
170, ND 111, Political Spring 10, KKE 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Court, Special Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
New Democracy (ND; conservative), Miltiades EVERT; Panhellenic
Socialist Movement (PASOK), Andreas PAPANDREOU; Progressive Left
Coalition, Maria DAMANAKI; Democratic Renewal (DIANA), Konstantinos
STEFANOPOULOS; Communist Party (KKE), Aleka PAPARIGA;
Ecologist-Alternative List, leader rotates; Political Spring, Antonis
SAMARAS
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC,
ECE, EIB, FAO, G-6, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNOMIG, UNOSOM, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Loucas TSILAS
chancery:
2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 939-5800
FAX:
(202) 939-5824
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San
Francisco
consulate(s):
New Orleans
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Thomas M.T. NILES
embassy:
91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens
mailing address:
PSC 108, Athens; APO AE 09842
telephone:
(1) 721-2951 or 721-8401
FAX:
(1) 645-6282
consulate(s) general:
Thessaloniki
Flag:
nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is
a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross;
the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the
country

@Greece, Economy

Overview:
Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the basic entrepreneurial
system overlaid in 1981-89 by a socialist system that enlarged the
public sector from 55% of GDP in 1981 to about 70% in 1989. Since
then, the public sector has been reduced to about 60% of GDP. Tourism
continues as a major source of foreign exchange, and agriculture is
self-sufficient except for meat, dairy products, and animal
feedstuffs. Over the last decade, real GDP growth has averaged 1.6% a
year, compared with the European Union average of 2.2%. Inflation is
four times the EU average, and the national debt has reached 140% of
GDP, the highest in the EU. Prime Minister PAPANDREOU will probably
only make limited progress correcting the economy's problems of high
inflation, large budget deficit, and decaying infrastructure. His
economic program suggests that although he will shun his expansionary
policies of the 1980s, he will avoid tough measures needed to slow
inflation or reduce the state's role in the economy. He has limited
the previous government's privatization plans, for example, and has
called for generous welfare spending and real wage increases. In 1994,
the GDP growth rate is likely to remain low, and inflation probably
will accelerate, remaining the highest in the EU. PAPANDREOU'S failure
to improve the country's economic performance will further strain
relations with the EU. Since Greece's accession to the then EC in
1981, Athens' heavy reliance on EU aid - amounting to about 6% of
Greek GDP annually - and its poor use of Union funds have riled
Brussels. Its ailing economy will continue to be a drag on European
economic and monetary union.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $93.2 billion (1993)
National product real growth rate:
1% (1993)
National product per capita:
$8,900 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
14.4% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
9.5% (1993)
Budget:
revenues:
$28.3 billion
expenditures:
$37.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.2 billion (1994)
Exports:
$6 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
manufactured goods 53%, foodstuffs 34%, fuels 5%
partners:
Germany 23%, Italy 18%, France 7%, UK 7%, US 4% (1992)
Imports:
$23.3 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
manufactured goods 72%, foodstuffs 15%, fuels 10%
partners:
Germany 20%, Italy 14%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, Japan 6% (1992)
External debt:
$23.1 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate -1.3% (1992); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
10,500,000 kW
production:
36.4 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
3,610 kWh (1992)
Industries:
food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products,
tourism, mining, petroleum
Agriculture:
including fishing and forestry, accounts for 15% of GDP and 24% of the
labor force; principal products - wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets,
olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; self-sufficient in food
except meat, dairy products, and animal feedstuffs
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and limited opium; mostly for domestic
production; serves as a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling
cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the
West and precursor chemicals to the East; transshipment point for
Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $525 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.39
billion
Currency:
1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta
Exchange rates:
drachmae (Dr) per US$1 - 250.28 (January 1994), 229.26 (1993), 190.62
(1992), 182.27 (1991), 158.51 (1990), 162.42 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Greece, Communications

Railroads:
2,479 km total; 1,565 km 1,435-mm standard gauge, of which 36 km
electrified and 100 km double track; 892 km 1,000-mm gauge; 22 km
750-mm narrow gauge; all government owned
Highways:
total:
38,938 km
paved:
16,090 km
unpaved:
crushed stone, gravel 13,676 km; improved earth 5,632 km; unimproved
earth 3,540 km
Inland waterways:
80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the Corinth
Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf
of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the
Adriatic to Piraievs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers
Pipelines:
crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports:
Piraievs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki
Merchant marine:
1,059 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 29,343,367 GRT/54,249,294
DWT, bulk 453, cargo 117, chemical tanker 20, combination bulk 23,
combination ore/oil 38, container 36, liquefied gas 6, livestock
carrier 1, oil tanker 251, passenger 15, passenger-cargo 2,
refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea passenger
65, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1
note:
ethnic Greeks also own large numbers of ships under the registry of
Liberia, Panama, Cyprus, Malta, and The Bahamas
Airports:
total:
78
usable:
77
with permanent-surface runways:
63
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
20
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
24
Telecommunications:
adequate, modern networks reach all areas; 4,080,000 telephones;
microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire
network; submarine cables to off-shore islands; broadcast stations -
29 AM, 17 (20 repeaters) FM, 361 TV; tropospheric links, 8 submarine
cables; 1 satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean antenna), and EUTELSAT systems

@Greece, Defense Forces

Branches:
Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard,
Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,645,859; fit for military service 2,025,212; reach
military age (21) annually 74,484 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $4.0 billion, 5.4% of GDP (1993)

@Greenland

Header Affiliation: (part of the Danish realm)

@Greenland, Geography

Location:
Northern North America, in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Canada
and Norway
Map references:
Arctic Region, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
2,175,600 sq km
land area:
383,600 sq km (ice free)
comparative area:
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
44,087 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
dispute betwen Denmark and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic
Ocean between Greenland and Jan Mayen has been settled by the
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Climate:
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain:
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous,
barren, rocky coast
Natural resources:
zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
1%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
99%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe;
sparse population confined to small settlements along coast;
continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

@Greenland, People

Population: 57,040 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.94% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 18.6 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 7.43 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -1.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 26.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.91 years male: 62.55 years female: 71.28 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic Ethnic divisions: Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians), Danish 14% Religions: Evangelical Lutheran Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 22,800 by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding

@Greenland, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Greenland
local long form:
none
local short form:
Kalaallit Nunaat
Digraph:
GL
Type:
part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative
division
Capital:
Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions:
3 municipalities (kommuner, singular - kommun); Nordgronland,
Ostgronland, Vestgronland
Independence:
none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative
division)
National holiday:
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution:
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:
Danish
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High
Commissioner Torben Hede PEDERSEN (since NA)
head of government:
Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991)
cabinet:
Landsstyre; formed from the Landsting on basis of strength of parties
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament (Landsting):
elections last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held 5 March 1995);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) Siumut 11,
Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 5, Center Party 2, Polar Party 1
Danish Folketing:
last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994);
Greenland elects two representatives to the Folketing; results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) Siumut 1, Atassut 1
Judicial branch:
High Court (Landsret)
Political parties and leaders:
two-party ruling coalition; Siumut (a moderate socialist party that
advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from
Denmark), Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA; a
Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark
rather than home rule), Arqaluk LYNGE; Atassut Party (a more
conservative party that favors continuing close relations with
Denmark), leader NA; Polar Party (conservative-Greenland nationalist),
Lars CHEMNITZ; Center Party (a new nonsocialist protest party), leader
NA
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
US diplomatic representation:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk
slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is
red, the bottom half is white

@Greenland, Economy

Overview:
Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult. Unemployment
is increasing, and prospects for economic growth in the immediate
future are dim. Following the closing of the Black Angel lead and zinc
mine in 1989, Greenland became almost completely dependent on fishing
and fish processing, the sector accounting for 95% of exports.
Prospects for fisheries are not bright, as the important shrimp
catches will at best stabilize and cod catches have dropped.
Resumption of mining and hydrocarbon activities is not around the
corner, thus leaving only tourism with some potential for the near
future. The public sector in Greenland, i.e., the central government
and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant
role in Greenland accounting for about two-thirds of total employment.
About half the government's revenues come from grants from the Danish
Government.
National product:
GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $500 million (1988)
National product real growth rate:
-10% (1990)
National product per capita:
$9,000 (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
9% (1990 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$381 million
expenditures:
$381 million, including capital expenditures of $36 million (1989)
Exports:
$340.6 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
fish and fish products 95%
partners:
Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%
Imports:
$403 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment 24%, food
and live animals 12.4%, petroleum products 12%
partners:
Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%, Sweden
2.4%
External debt:
$480 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
84,000 kW
production:
176 million kWh
consumption per capita:
3,060 kWh (1992)
Industries:
fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead and zinc mining, handicrafts,
some small shipyards, potential for platinum and gold mining
Agriculture:
sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops limited to forage
and small garden vegetables; 1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 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

@Greenland, Communications

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

@Greenland, Defense Forces

Note: defense is responsibility of Denmark

@Grenada, Geography

Location:
Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 150 im north of
Trinidad and Tobago
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones
of the World
Area:
total area:
340 sq km
land area:
340 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
121 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
volcanic in origin with central mountains
Natural resources:
timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use:
arable land:
15%
permanent crops:
26%
meadows and pastures:
3%
forest and woodland:
9%
other:
47%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to
November
international agreements:
party to - Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not
ratified - Climate Change
Note:
islands of the Grenadines group are divided politically with Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines

@Grenada, People

Population: 94,109 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.35% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 30.28 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.19 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -20.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.4 years male: 68 years female: 72.85 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.93 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian Ethnic divisions: black African Religions: Roman Catholic, Anglican, other Protestant sects Languages: English (official), French patois Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% Labor force: 36,000 by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)

@Grenada, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Grenada
Digraph:
GJ
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Saint George's
Administrative divisions:
6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint
Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint
Patrick
Independence:
7 February 1974 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution:
19 December 1973
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Reginald Oswald PALMER (since 6 August 1992)
head of government:
Prime Minister Nicholas BRATHWAITE (since 13 March 1990)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime
minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
Senate:
consists of a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and 3 by
the Leader of the Opposition
House of Representatives:
elections last held on 13 March 1990 (next to be held by NA March
1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) NDC
7, GULP 4, TNP 2, NNP 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nicholas BRATHWAITE; Grenada
United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY; The National Party (TNP),
Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith MITCHELL; Maurice Bishop
Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence MARRYSHOW
Member of:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OECS,
OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Denneth MODESTE
chancery:
1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 265-2561
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Charge d'Affaires Ollie P. ANDERSON
embassy:
Point Salines, Saint George's
mailing address:
P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, W.I.
telephone:
(809) 444-1173 through 1178
FAX:
(809) 444-4820
Flag:
a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom)
and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red border
around the flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with three
centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red
border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag;
there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle
(Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after
Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative
divisions

@Grenada, Economy

Overview:
The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the traditional
production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture accounts for
about 15% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of the labor
force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by
agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped,
but is expected to grow, given a more favorable private investment
climate since 1983. The economy achieved an impressive average annual
growth rate of 5.5% in 1986-91 but stalled in 1992. Unemployment
remains high at about 25%.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $250 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-0.4% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$3,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$78 million
expenditures:
$51 million, including capital expenditures of $22 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$19.9 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
partners:
Netherlands, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
Imports:
$103.2 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%, chemicals 10%, fuel
6% (1989)
partners:
US 29%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1989)
External debt:
$109 million (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.8% (1992 est.); accounts for 9% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
12,500 kW
production:
26 million kWh
consumption per capita:
310 kWh (1992)
Industries:
food and beverage, textile, light assembly operations, tourism,
construction
Agriculture:
accounts for 15% of GDP and 80% of exports; bananas, cocoa, nutmeg,
and mace account for two-thirds of total crop production; world's
second-largest producer and fourth-largest exporter of nutmeg and
mace; small-size farms predominate, growing a variety of citrus
fruits, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, and vegetables
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY84-89), $60 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $70
million; Communist countries (1970-89), $32 million
Currency:
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Grenada, Communications

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

@Grenada, Defense Forces

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

@Guadeloupe

Header Affiliation: (overseas department of France)

@Guadeloupe, Geography

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

@Guadeloupe, People

Population:
428,947 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.55% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
17.68 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.97 years
male:
73.91 years
female:
80.14 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.04 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Guadeloupian(s)
adjective:
Guadeloupe
Ethnic divisions:
black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less
than 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages:
French, creole patois
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
total population:
90%
male:
90%
female:
91%
Labor force:
120,000
by occupation:
services, government, and commerce 53.0%, industry 25.8%, agriculture
21.2%

@Guadeloupe, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Department of Guadeloupe
conventional short form:
Guadeloupe
local long form:
Departement de la Guadeloupe
local short form:
Guadeloupe
Digraph:
GP
Type:
overseas department of France
Capital:
Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
head of government:
Prefect Franck PERRIEZ (since NA 1992); President of the General
Council Dominique LARIFA (since NA); President of the Regional Council
Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
General Council:
elections last held NA March 1992 (next to be held by NA 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (43 total) FRUI.G 13,
RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3 UPLG 1, PSG 1, independent 1
Regional Council:
elections last held on 31 January 1993 (next to be held by 16 March
1998); results - RPR/DUD 48.30%, FGPS 17.09%, FRUI.G 7.44%, PPDG
8.90%, UPLG 7.75% PCG 6.05%; seats - (41 total) seats by party NA
French Senate:
elections last held in September 1986 (next to be held September
1995); Guadeloupe elects two representatives; results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PCG 1, PS 1
French National Assembly:
elections last held on 21 and 28 March1993 (next to be held March
1998); Guadeloupe elects four representatives; results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) PS 1, RPR 1, PCG 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe,
French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Aldo BLAISE; Communist Party of
Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE; Socialist Party (FGPS),
Georges LOUISOR; Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe
(UPLG), Lucien PERATIN; FGPS Dissidents (FRUI.G); Union for French
Democracy (UDF), Simon BARLAGNE; Union for the Center Rally (URC;
coalition of the FGPS, RPR, and UDF); Guadeloupe Objective (OG),
Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY; Progressive Democratic Party (PPDG), Henri
BANGOU
Other political or pressure groups:
Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Popular
Movement for Independent Guadeloupe (MPGI); General Union of
Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG); General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers
(CGT-G); Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)
Member of:
FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (overseas department of France)
US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used

@Guadeloupe, Economy

Overview:
The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and
services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and
imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In
addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the
islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being
replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50%
of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root
crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is
still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France.
Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most
manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially
high among the young.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$8,400 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
31.3% (1990)
Budget:
revenues:
$333 million
expenditures:
$671 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports:
$168 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities:
bananas, sugar, rum
partners:
France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987)
Imports:
$1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities:
vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer goods, construction
materials, petroleum products
partners:
France 64%, Italy, FRG, US (1987)
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
171,500 kW
production:
441 million kWh
consumption per capita:
1,080 kWh (1992)
Industries:
construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Agriculture:
cash crops - bananas, sugarcane; other products include tropical
fruits and vegetables; livestock - cattle, pigs, goats; not
self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$8.235 billion
Currency:
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993),
5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Guadeloupe, Communications

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

@Guadeloupe, Defense Forces

Branches:
French Forces, Gendarmerie
Note:
defense is responsibility of France

@Guam

Header Affiliation: (territory of the US)

@Guam, Geography

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

@Guam, People

Population:
149,620 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.48% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
25.66 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.29 years
male:
72.42 years
female:
76.13 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.39 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Guamanian(s)
adjective:
Guamanian
Ethnic divisions:
Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean,
and other 18%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages:
English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
96%
male:
96%
female:
96%
Labor force:
46,930 (1990)
by occupation:
federal and territorial government 40%, private 60% (trade 18%,
services 15.6%, construction 13.8%, other 12.6%) (1990)

@Guam, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of Guam
conventional short form:
Guam
Digraph:
GQ
Type:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations
between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of
Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital:
Agana
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US)
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521); Liberation Day, 21
July
Constitution:
Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system:
modeled on US; federal laws apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US
presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice
President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government:
Governor Joseph A. ADA (since November 1986); Lieutenant Governor
Frank F. BLAS (since NA); election last held on 6 November 1990 (next
to be held NA November 1994); results - Joseph F. ADA reelected
cabinet:
executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the
consent of the Guam legislature
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislature:
elections last held on 9 November 1992 (next to be held NA November
1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total)
Democratic 14, Republican 7
US House of Representatives:
elections last held 9 November 1992 (next to be held NA November
1994); Guam elects one delegate; results - Robert UNDERWOOD was
elected as delegate; seats - (1 total) Democrat 1
Judicial branch:
Federal District Court, Territorial Superior Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party
of the Governor)
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of the US)
Flag:
territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four
sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse
containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree
with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the
national flag

@Guam, Economy

Overview:
The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenues
from tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown
rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion
of older ones. Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1992. The slowdown
in Japanese economic growth has been reflected in less vigorous growth
in the tourism sector. About 60% of the labor force works for the
private sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial
goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. In early 1994, Guam
faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to
offset the impact of military downsizing.
National product:
GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $2 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$14,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$525 million
expenditures:
$395 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
$34 million (f.o.b., 1984)
commodities:
mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction
materials, fish, food and beverage products
partners:
US 25%, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12%
Imports:
$493 million (c.i.f., 1984)
commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
partners:
US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
500,000 kW
production:
2.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
16,300 kWh (1990)
Industries:
US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete
products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Agriculture:
relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables,
eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra
Economic aid:
although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive large transfer
payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into
which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions
of a special law of Congress, the Guamanian Treasury, rather than the
US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and
civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

@Guam, Communications

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

@Guam, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

@Guatemala, Geography

Location:
Middle America, between Honduras and Mexico
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones
of the World
Area:
total area:
108,890 sq km
land area:
108,430 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total 1,687 km, Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km,
Mexico 962 km
Coastline:
400 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
the outer edge of the continental shelf
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
maritime border with Belize in dispute; desultory negotiations to
resolve the dispute have begun
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone
plateau (Peten)
Natural resources:
petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle
Land use:
arable land:
12%
permanent crops:
4%
meadows and pastures:
12%
forest and woodland:
40%
other:
32%
Irrigated land:
780 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
natural hazards:
numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes;
Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
international agreements:
party to - Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea
Note:
no natural harbors on west coast

@Guatemala, People

Population:
10,721,387 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.58% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
35.42 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
53.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
64.42 years
male:
61.86 years
female:
67.1 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.76 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Guatemalan(s)
adjective:
Guatemalan
Ethnic divisions:
Ladino 56% (mestizo - mixed Indian and European ancestry), Indian 44%
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan
Languages:
Spanish 60%, Indian language 40% (18 Indian dialects, including
Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
55%
male:
63%
female:
47%
Labor force:
2.5 million
by occupation:
agriculture 60%, services 13%, manufacturing 12%, commerce 7%,
construction 4%, transport 3%, utilities 0.7%, mining 0.3% (1985)

@Guatemala, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form:
Guatemala
local long form:
Republica de Guatemala
local short form:
Guatemala
Digraph:
GT
Type:
republic
Capital:
Guatemala
Administrative divisions:
22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta Verapaz,
Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla,
Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten,
Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa
Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986
note:
suspended on 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated on 5 June
1993 following ouster of president
Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Ramiro DE LEON Carpio (since 6 June 1993); Vice President
Arturo HERBRUGER (since 18 June 1993); election runoff held on 11
January 1991 (next to be held 11 November 1995); results - Jorge
SERRANO Elias (MAS) 68.1%, Jorge CARPIO Nicolle (UCN) 31.9%
note:
President SERRANO resigned on 1 June 1993 shortly after dissolving
Congress and the judiciary; on 6 June 1993, Ramiro DE LEON Carpio was
chosen as the new president by a vote of Congress; he will finish off
the remainder of SERRANO's five-year term which expires in 1995
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; named by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica):
last held on 11 November 1990 (next to be held 11 November 1995);
results - UCN 25.6%, MAS 24.3%, DCG 17.5%, PAN 17.3%, MLN 4.8%,
PSD/AP-5 3.6%, PR 2.1%; seats - (116 total) UCN 38, DCG 27, MAS 18,
PAN 12, Pro-Rios Montt 10, MLN 4, PR 1, PSD/AP-5 1, independent 5
note:
by agreement of 11 November 1993, a special election is to be held in
mid-1994 to elect a new congress
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Political parties and leaders:
National Centrist Union (UCN), (vacant); Solidarity Action Movement
(MAS), Oliverio GARCIA Rodas; Christian Democratic Party (DCG),
Alfonso CABRERA Hidalgo; National Advancement Party (PAN), Alvaro ARZU
Irigoyen; National Liberation Movement (MLN), Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon;
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Mario SOLARZANO Martinez; Popular
Alliance 5 (AP-5), Max ORLANDO Molina; Revolutionary Party (PR),
Carlos CHAVARRIA Perez; National Authentic Center (CAN), Hector MAYORA
Dawe; Democratic Institutional Party (PID), Oscar RIVAS; Nationalist
United Front (FUN), Gabriel GIRON; Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG),
Efrain RIOS Montt
Other political or pressure groups:
Coordinating Comittee of Agricultural, Comercial, Industrial, and
Financial Associations (CACIF); Mutual Support Group (GAM); Agrarian
Owners Group (UNAGRO); Committee for Campesino Unity (CUC); leftist
guerrilla movement known as Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union
(URNG) has four main factions - Guerrilla army of the Poor (EGP);
Revolutionary Organization of the People in Arms (ORPA); Rebel Armed
Forces (FAR); Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT/O)
Member of:
BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Edmond MULET Lesseur
chancery:
2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 745-4952 through 4954
FAX:
(202) 745-1908
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Marilyn McAFEE (since 28 May 1993)
embassy:
7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address:
APO AA 34024
telephone:
(2) 31-15-41
FAX:
(2) 31-88-55
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and
light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat
of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a
scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the
original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair
of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath

@Guatemala, Economy

Overview:
The economy is based on family and corporate agriculture, which
accounts for 26% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and
supplies two-thirds of exports. Manufacturing, predominantly in
private hands, accounts for about 18% of GDP and 12% of the labor
force. In both 1990 and 1991, the economy grew by 3%, the fourth and
fifth consecutive years of mild growth. In 1992 growth picked up to
almost 5% as government policies favoring competition and foreign
trade and investment took stronger hold. In 1993, despite political
unrest, this momentum continued, foreign investment held up, and
growth was estimated at 4%.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent- $31.3 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$3,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.6% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.1%; underemployment 30%-40% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$604 million (1990)
expenditures:
$808 million, including capital expenditures of $134 million (1990)
Exports:
$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamon, beef
partners:
US 37%, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras
Imports:
$2.6 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities:
fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor
vehicles
partners:
US 45%, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Germany
External debt:
$2.2 billion ( 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.9% (1991 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
847,600 kW
production:
2.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
260 kWh (1992)
Industries:
sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals,
rubber, tourism
Agriculture:
accounts for 26% of GDP; most important sector of economy; contributes
two-thirds of export earnings; principal crops - sugarcane, corn,
bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; livestock - cattle, sheep, pigs,
chickens; food importer
Illicit drugs:
transit country for cocaine shipments; illicit producer of opium poppy
and cannabis for the international drug trade; the government has an
active eradication program for cannabis and opium poppy
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $1.1 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.92
billion
Currency:
1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
free market quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 5.8542 (January 1994), 5,6354
(1993), 5.1706 (1992), 5.0289 (1991), 4.4858 (1990), 2.8161 (1989);
note - black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Guatemala, Communications

Railroads:
1,019 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 917 km government owned, 102
km privately owned
Highways:
total:
26,429 km
paved:
2,868 km
unpaved:
gravel 11,421 km; unimproved earth 12,140 km
Inland waterways:
260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during
high-water season
Pipelines:
crude oil 275 km
Ports:
Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Merchant marine:
1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,129 GRT/6,450 DWT
Airports:
total:
523
usable:
465
with permanent-surface runways:
11
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
20
Telecommunications:
fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala; 97,670
telephones; broadcast stations - 91 AM, no FM, 25 TV, 15 shortwave;
connection into Central American Microwave System; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

@Guatemala, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,491,582; fit for military service 1,629,222; reach
military age (18) annually 119,545 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $121 million, 1% of GDP (1993)

@Guernsey

Header
Affiliation:
(British crown dependency)

@Guernsey, Geography

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

@Guernsey, People

Population: 63,719 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.01% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 13.21 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9.97 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 6.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.15 years male: 75.45 years female: 80.88 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist Languages: English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA

@Guernsey, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form:
Guernsey
Digraph:
GK
Type:
British crown dependency
Capital:
Saint Peter Port
Administrative divisions:
none (British crown dependency)
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal
Court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Lt. Gen. Sir Michael
WILKINS (since NA 1990); Bailiff Mr. Graham Martyn DOREY (since
February 1992)
cabinet:
Advisory and Finance Committee (other committees); appointed by the
States
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Assembly of the States:
elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - no percent of
vote by party since all are independents; seats - (60 total, 33
elected), all independents
Judicial branch:
Royal Court
Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents
Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (British crown dependency)
US diplomatic representation:
none (British crown dependency)
Flag:
white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England)
extending to the edges of the flag

@Guernsey, Economy

Overview:
Financial services account from more than 50% of total income.
Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut
flowers, have been declining. Bank profits (1992) registered a record
26% growth. Fund management and insurance are the two other major
income generators.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
9% (1987)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$208.9 million
expenditures:
$173.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
partners:
UK (regarded as internal trade)
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
coal, gasoline, and oil
partners:
UK (regarded as internal trade)
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
173,000 kW
production:
525 million kWh
consumption per capita:
9,060 kWh (1992)
Industries:
tourism, banking
Agriculture:
tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses), sweet peppers,
eggplant, other vegetables, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Guernsey (#G) pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
Guernsey pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993),
0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); note - the
Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Guernsey, Communications

Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson 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: broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 41,900 telephones; 1 submarine cable

@Guernsey, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

@Guinea, Geography

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

@Guinea, People

Population: 6,391,536 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.45% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 44.08 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 19.6 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 139.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.13 years male: 41.9 years female: 46.43 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.85 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean Ethnic divisions: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, indigenous tribes 10% Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7% Languages: French (official); each tribe has its own language Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 24% male: 35% female: 13% Labor force: 2.4 million (1983) by occupation: agriculture 82.0%, industry and commerce 11.0%, services 5.4% note: 88,112 civil servants (1987); 52% of population of working age (1985)

@Guinea, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Guinea
conventional short form:
Guinea
local long form:
Republique de Guinee
local short form:
Guinee
former:
French Guinea
Digraph:
GV
Type:
republic
Capital:
Conakry
Administrative divisions:
33 administrative regions (regions administratives, singular - region
administrative); Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba,
Dinguiraye, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan,
Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe,
Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita,
Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou
Independence:
2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)
Constitution:
23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal
codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Lansana CONTE, elected in the first multi-party election 19
December 1993 prior to the election he had ruled as head of military
government since 5 April 1984
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
People's National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire):
the People's National Assembly was dissolved after the 3 April 1984
coup; framework established in December 1991 for a new National
Assembly with 114 seats; legislative elections are scheduled for 1994
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders:
political parties were legalized on 1 April 1992
pro-government:
Party for Unity and Progress (PUP)
other:
Rally for the Guinean People (RPG), Alpha CONDE; Union for a New
Republic (UNR), Mamadou BAH; Party for Renewal and Progress (PRP),
Siradiou DIALLO
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Elhadj Boubacar BARRY
chancery:
2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 483-9420
FAX:
(202) 483-8688
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Joseph A. SALOOM
embassy:
2nd Boulevard and 9th Avenue, Conakry
mailing address:
B. P. 603, Conakry
telephone:
(224) 44-15-20 through 24
FAX:
(224) 44-15-22
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag
of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow
band

@Guinea, Economy

Overview:
Although possessing major mineral and hydropower resources and
considerable potential for agricultural development, Guinea remains
one of the poorest countries in the world. The agricultural sector
contributes about 40% to GDP and employs more than 80% of the work
force, while industry accounts for 27% of GDP. Guinea possesses over
25% of the world's bauxite reserves. The mining sector accounted for
85% of exports in 1991. Long-run improvements in literacy, financial
institutions, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to
move out of poverty. Except in the bauxite industry, foreign
investment remains minimal.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.1 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.2% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
16.6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$449 million
expenditures:
$708 million, including capital expenditures of $361 million (1990
est.)
Exports:
$622 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee, pineapples, bananas, palm
kernels
partners:
US 23%, Belgium 12%, Ireland 12%, Spain 12%
Imports:
$768 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment,
foodstuffs, textiles, and other grain
partners:
France 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 12%, Hong Kong 6%, Germany 6%
External debt:
2.5 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for 27% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
113,000 kW
production:
300 million kWh
consumption per capita:
40 kWh (1989)
Industries:
bauxite mining, alumina, gold, diamond mining, light manufacturing and
agricultural processing industries
Agriculture:
accounts for 40% of GDP (includes fishing and forestry); mostly
subsistence farming; principal products - rice, coffee, pineapples,
palm kernels, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, timber; livestock -
cattle, sheep and goats; not self-sufficient in food grains
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $227 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$1.465 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $120 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $446 million
Currency:
1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 810.94 (1 July 1993), 922.9 (30
September 1992), 675 (1990), 618 (1989), 515 (1988), 440 (1987), 383
(1986)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Guinea, Communications

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

@Guinea, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force, Presidential
Guard, Republican Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National
Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,440,297; fit for military service 726,543
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.2% of GDP (1988)

@Guinea-Bissau, Geography

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea and
Senegal
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
36,120 sq km
land area:
28,000 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total 724 km, Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline:
350 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Guinea-Bissau and Senegal signed an agreement resolving their maritime
boundary in 1993
Climate:
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June
to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May)
with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain:
mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Natural resources:
unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite, phosphates, fish, timber
Land use:
arable land:
11%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
43%
forest and woodland:
38%
other:
7%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing
natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry
season; brush fires
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratifed - Biodiversity, Climate Change

@Guinea-Bissau, People

Population: 1,098,231 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.37% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 40.75 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 17.03 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 120 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.44 years male: 45.79 years female: 49.15 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.51 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Guinea-Bissauan(s) adjective: Guinea-Bissauan Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1% Religions: indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5% Languages: Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 36% male: 50% female: 24% Labor force: 403,000 (est.) by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry, services, and commerce 5%, government 5% note: population of working age 53% (1983)

@Guinea-Bissau, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form:
Guinea-Bissau
local long form:
Republica de Guine-Bissau
local short form:
Guine-Bissau
former:
Portuguese Guinea
Digraph:
PU
Type:
republic formerly highly centralized, multiparty since mid-1991
Capital:
Bissau
Administrative divisions:
9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau,
Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
Independence:
10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 10 September (1974)
Constitution:
16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing revision to
liberalize popular participation in the government)
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President of the Council of State Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed
power 14 November 1980 and was elected President of Council of State
on 16 May 1984); election last held 19 June 1989 (next to be held 3
July 1994); results - Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA was reelected without
opposition by the National People's Assembly
Council of State:
this body is elected by the National People's Assembly from among its
own members to legislate between sessions of the National People's
Assembly
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National People's Assembly:
(Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections last held 15 June 1989 (next
to be held 3 July 1994); results - PAIGC was the only party; seats -
(150 total) PAIGC 150
Judicial branch:
none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council of Ministers
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde
(PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader; Democratic Social
Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader; Bafata Movement, Domingos
Fernandes GARNER, leader; Democratic Front (FD), Aristides MENEZES,
leader
note:
PAIGC is still the major party (of 10 parties) and controls all
aspects of the government
Member of:
ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,
IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL
chancery:
918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006
telephone:
(202) 872-4222
FAX:
(202) 872-4226
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Roger A. McGUIRE
embassy:
Barrio de Penha, Bissau
mailing address:
C.P. 297, 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
telephone:
25-2273, 25-2274, 25-2275, 25-2276
FAX:
25-2282
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical
red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star
centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Cape Verde, which has the black star
raised above the center of the red band and is framed by two corn
stalks and a yellow clam shell

@Guinea-Bissau, Economy

Overview:
Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world, with a
per capita GDP of roughly $800. Agriculture and fishing are the main
economic activities. Cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels are the
primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at
present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of
development.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $860 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA
National product per capita:
$800 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
55% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$33.6 million
expenditures:
$44.8 million, including capital expenditures of $570,000 (1991 est.)
Exports:
$20.4 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels
partners:
Portugal, Spain, Senegal, India, Nigeria
Imports:
$63.5 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum products, machinery and
equipment
partners:
Portugal, Netherlands, China, Germany, Senegal
External debt:
$462 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 0.1% (1991 est.); accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
22,000 kW
production:
30 million kWh
consumption per capita:
30 kWh (1991)
Industries:
agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks
Agriculture:
accounts for over 45% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports, and 90% of
employment; rice is the staple food; other crops include corn, beans,
cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and cotton; not
self-sufficient in food; fishing and forestry potential not fully
exploited
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $615
million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $68 million
Currency:
1 Guinea-Bissauan peso (PG) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1 - 11,850 (December 1993), 10,082
(1993), 6,934 (1992), 3,659 (1991), 2,185 (1990), 1,810 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Guinea-Bissau, Communications

Highways: total: 3,218 km paved: bituminous 2,698 km unpaved: earth 520 km Inland waterways: scattered stretches are important to coastal commerce Ports: Bissau Airports: total: 32 usable: 16 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5 Telecommunications: poor system of radio relay, open-wire lines, and radiocommunications; 3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 1 TV

@Guinea-Bissau, Defense Forces

Branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; including Army, Navy, Air
Force), paramilitary force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 243,715; fit for military service 139,161
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $9.3 million, 5%-6% of GDP (1987)

@Guyana, Geography

Location:
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between
Suriname and Venezuela
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
214,970 sq km
land area:
196,850 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries:
total 2,462 km, Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Coastline:
459 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 nm or the outer edge of continental margin
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela;
Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and
Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy
seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)
Terrain:
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Natural resources:
bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Land use:
arable land:
3%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
6%
forest and woodland:
83%
other:
8%
Irrigated land:
1,300 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals;
deforestation
natural hazards:
flash floods a constant threat during rainy seasons
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber; signed, but not ratifed - Biodiversity, Climate
Change

@Guyana, People

Population:
729,425 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.75% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
19.95 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-20.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
48.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
64.9 years
male:
61.66 years
female:
68.3 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.29 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Guyanese
Ethnic divisions:
East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%, European and
Chinese 2%
Religions:
Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%
Languages:
English, Amerindian dialects
Literacy:
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990 est.)
total population:
95%
male:
98%
female:
96%
Labor force:
268,000
by occupation:
industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture 33.8%, services 21.7%
note:
public-sector employment amounts to 60-80% of the total labor force
(1985)

@Guyana, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Co-operative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form:
Guyana
former:
British Guiana
Digraph:
GY
Type:
republic
Capital:
Georgetown
Administrative divisions:
10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East
Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice,
Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper
Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Independence:
26 May 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Constitution:
6 October 1980
Legal system:
based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Executive President Cheddi JAGAN (since 5 October 1992); First Vice
President Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992); election last held on 5
October 1992; results - Cheddi JAGAN was elected president since he
was leader of the party with the most votes in the National Assembly
elections
head of government:
Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992)
cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president, responsible to the
legislature
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly:
elections last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held in 1997);
results - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats - (65 total,
53 elected) PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature
Political parties and leaders:
People's Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi JAGAN; People's National
Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE;; People's National Congress (PNC),
Hugh Desmond HOYTE; Working People's Alliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA,
Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE;
People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN; National
Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The United Force (TUF),
Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY;
National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN; Guyana Labor Party
(GLP), Nanda GOPAUL
Other political or pressure groups:
Trades Union Congress (TUC); Guyana Council of Indian Organizations
(GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC)
note:
the latter two organizations are small and active but not well
organized
Member of:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL
chancery:
2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 265-6900 through 6903
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador George F. Jones
embassy:
99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingstown, Georgetown
mailing address:
P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
telephone:
(2) 54900 through 54909 and 57960 through 57969
FAX:
(2) 58497
Flag:
green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)
superimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black
border between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between
the yellow and the green

@Guyana, Economy

Overview:
Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, has
pushed ahead strongly in 1991-93, at 7% average annual growth rate.
Favorable factors include recovery in the key agricultural and mining
sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more
realistic exchange rate, a sharp drop in the inflation rate, and the
continued support of international organizations. Serious underlying
economic problems will continue. Electric power has been in short
supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national
output. The government will have to persist in efforts to control
external debt and inflation and to extend the privatization program.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
8.3% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,900 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (1993
Unemployment rate:
12% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$121 million
expenditures:
$225 million, including capital expenditures of $50 million (1990
est.)
Exports:
$400 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
sugar, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses
partners:
UK 33%, US 31%, Canada 9%, France 5%, Japan 3%, (1992)
Imports:
$520 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
partners:
US 37%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%, UK 11%, Italy 8%, Japan 5% (1992)
External debt:
$1.9 billion including arrears (1992 est)
Industrial production:
growth rate 11% (1991 est.); accounts for about 11% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
253,500 kW
production:
276 million kWh
consumption per capita:
370 kWh (1992)
Industries:
bauxite mining, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp),
textiles, gold mining
Agriculture:
most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and about half of
exports; sugar and rice are key crops; development potential exists
for fishing and forestry; not self-sufficient in food, especially
wheat, vegetable oils, and animal products
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $116 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $325
million; Communist countries 1970-89, $242 million
Currency:
1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 130.7 (January 1994), 126.7 (1993),
125.0 (1992), 111.8 (1991), 39.533 (1990), 27.159 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Guyana, Communications

Railroads:
no public railroads; about 100 km of narrow gauge industrial railroads
to transport minerals, including bauxite
Highways:
total:
7,665 km
paved:
550 km
unpaved:
gravel 5,000 km; earth 2,115 km
Inland waterways:
6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and
Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100
km, and 80 km, respectively
Ports:
Georgetown, New Amsterdam
Merchant marine:
1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT
Airports:
total:
53
usable:
48
with permanent-surface runways:
5
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
12
Telecommunications:
fair system with radio relay network; over 27,000 telephones;
tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 3
FM, no TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Guyana, Defense Forces

Branches:
Guyana Defense Force (GDF; including the Ground Forces, Coast Guard
and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana National Service
(GNS)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 197,802; fit for military service 150,072
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP

@Haiti, Geography

Location:
Caribbean, in the northern Caribbean Sea, about 90 km southeast of
Cuba
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
27,750 sq km
land area:
27,560 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total 275 km, Dominican Republic 275 km
Coastline:
1,771 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims US-administered Navassa Island
Climate:
tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Terrain:
mostly rough and mountainous
Natural resources:
bauxite
Land use:
arable land:
20%
permanent crops:
13%
meadows and pastures:
18%
forest and woodland:
4%
other:
45%
Irrigated land:
750 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion
natural hazards:
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms
from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes
international agreements:
party to - Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Note:
shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third
is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

@Haiti, People

Population:
6,491,450 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.63% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
39.72 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
18.78 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
108.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
45.11 years
male:
43.45 years
female:
46.85 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.94 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Haitian(s)
adjective:
Haitian
Ethnic divisions:
black 95%, mulatto and European 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 80% (of which an overwhelming majority also practice
Voodoo), Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%,
other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
Languages:
French (official) 10%, Creole
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
53%
male:
59%
female:
47%
Labor force:
2.3 million
by occupation:
agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%
note:
shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)

@Haiti, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Haiti
conventional short form:
Haiti
local long form:
Republique d'Haiti
local short form:
Haiti
Digraph:
HA
Type:
republic
Capital:
Port-au-Prince
Administrative divisions:
9 departments, (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite,
Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Independence:
1 January 1804 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Constitution:
constitution approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles
reinstated March 1989; October 1991, government claims to be observing
the Constitution
Legal system:
based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February 1991), ousted in a
coup in September 1991, but still recognized by international
community as Chief of State; election last held 16 December 1990 (next
to be held by December 1995); results - Rev. Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE
67.5%, Marc BAZIN 14.2%, Louis DEJOIE 4.9%
head of government:
acting Prime Minister Robert MALVAL (since August 1993)
cabinet:
Cabinet; chosen by prime minister in consultation with the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Senate:
elections last held 18 January 1993, widely condemned as illegitimate
(next to be held December 1994); results - percent of vote NA; seats -
(27 total) FNCD 12, ANDP 8, PAIN 2, MRN 1, RDNP 1, PNT 1, independent
2
Chamber of Deputies:
elections last held 16 December 1990, with runoff held 20 January 1991
(next to be held by December 1994); results - percent of vote NA;
seats - (83 total) FNCD 27, ANDP 17, PDCH 7, PAIN 6, RDNP 6, MDN 5,
PNT 3, MKN 2, MODELH 2, MRN 1, independents 5, other 2
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders:
National Front for Change and Democracy (FNCD), including National
Congress of Democratic Movements (CONACOM), Victor BENOIT, and
National Cooperative Action Movement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH;
Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti (MIDH), Marc
BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge
GILLES; National Patriotic Movement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean
BELIZAIRE; National Agricultural and Industrial Party (PAIN), Louis
DEJOIE; Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE;
Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Joseph DOUZE; Assembly of
Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT; National Party
of Labor (PNT), Thomas DESULME; Mobilization for National Development
(MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of
Haiti (MODELH), Francois LATORTUE; Haitian Social Christian Party
(PSCH), Gregoire EUGENE; Movement for the Organization of the Country
(MOP), Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE
Other political or pressure groups:
Democratic Unity Confederation (KID); Roman Catholic Church;
Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers Trade
Unions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National Popular
Assembly (APN); Revolutionary Front for Haitian Advancement and
Progress (FRAPH)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, CARICOM (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jean CASIMIR
chancery:
2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 332-4090 through 4092
FAX:
(202) 745-7215
consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William Lacy SWING
embassy:
Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
telephone:
22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, or 22-0612
FAX:
23-1641
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white
rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked
by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT
LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)

@Haiti, Economy

Overview:
About 75% of the population live in abject poverty. Agriculture is
mainly small-scale subsistence farming and employs nearly
three-fourths of the work force. The majority of the population does
not have ready access to safe drinking water, adequate medical care,
or sufficient food. Few social assistance programs exist, and the lack
of employment opportunities remains one of the most critical problems
facing the economy, along with soil erosion and political instability.
Trade sanctions applied by the Organization of American States in
response to the September 1991 coup against President ARISTIDE have
further damaged the economy. Output continued to drop in 1993 although
not as sharply as in 1992.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $5.2 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-13% (FY92 est.)
National product per capita:
$800 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20% (FY92 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25%-50% (1991)
Budget:
revenues:
$300 million
expenditures:
$416 million, including capital expenditures of $145 million (1990
est.)
Exports:
$135 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
light manufactures 65%, coffee 19%, other agriculture 8%, other 8%
partners:
US 84%, Italy 4%, France 3%, other industrial countries 6%, less
developed countries 3% (1987)
Imports:
$423 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%, petroleum
products 14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9%
partners:
US 64%, Netherlands Antilles 5%, Japan 5%, France 4%, Canada 3%,
Germany 3% (1987)
External debt:
$838 million (December 1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate -2% (1991 est.); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
217,000 kW
production:
480 million kWh
consumption per capita:
75 kWh (1992)
Industries:
sugar refining, textiles, flour milling, cement manufacturing,
tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts
Agriculture:
accounts for 28% of GDP and employs around 70% of work force; mostly
small-scale subsistence farms; commercial crops - coffee, mangoes,
sugarcane, wood; staple crops - rice, corn, sorghum; shortage of wheat
flour
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en route to the US and
Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $700 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $770
million
Currency:
1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
gourdes (G) per US$1 - 12.00 (1 July 1993), 8.4 (December 1991), fixed
rate of 5.000 through second quarter of 1991
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

@Haiti, Communications

Railroads:
40 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge, single-track, privately owned
industrial line
Highways:
total:
4,000 km
paved:
950 km
unpaved:
otherwise improved 900 km; unimproved earth 2,150 km
Inland waterways:
negligible; less than 100 km navigable
Ports:
Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien; six minor ports
Airports:
total:
14
usable:
11
with permanent-surface runways:
3
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
3
Telecommunications:
domestic facilities barely adequate, international facilities slightly
better; 36,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 33 AM, no FM, 4 TV, 2
shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Haiti, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army (including Police), Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,313,265; fit for military service 709,712; reach
military age (18) annually 62,488 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $34 million, 1.5% of GDP (1988 est.)

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Header Affiliation: (territory of Australia)

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Geography

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

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands, People

Population: uninhabited

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Government

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

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

@Holy See (Vatican City), Geography

Location:
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome - central Italy
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total area:
0.44 sq km
land area:
0.44 sq km
comparative area:
about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total 3.2 km, Italy 3.2 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry
summers (May to September)
Terrain:
low hill
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Note:
urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state;
outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo
(the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights

@Holy See (Vatican City), People

Population:
821 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.15% (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:
none
adjective:
none
Ethnic divisions:
Italians, Swiss
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Italian, Latin, various other languages
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live
outside the Vatican

@Holy See (Vatican City), Government

Names:
conventional long form:
The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form:
Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form:
Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form:
Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Digraph:
VT
Type:
monarchical-sacerdotal state
Capital:
Vatican City
Independence:
11 February 1929 (from Italy)
National holiday:
Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II)
note:
Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Constitution:
Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978); election
last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the
current pope); results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected for life by the
College of Cardinals
head of government:
Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991)
cabinet:
Pontifical Commission; appointed by Pope
Legislative branch:
unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch:
none; normally handled by Italy
Political parties and leaders:
none
Other political or pressure groups:
none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
Member of:
CSCE, IAEA, ICFTU, IMF (observer), INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS
(observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN
chancery:
3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 333-7121
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN
embassy:
Villino Pacelli, Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome
mailing address:
PSC 59, APO AE 09624
telephone:
46741
FAX:
638-0159
Flag:
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed
keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band

@Holy See (Vatican City), Economy

Overview:
This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by
contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout
the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for
admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and
living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better
than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Budget:
revenues:
$86 million
expenditures:
$178 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
5,000 kW standby
production:
power supplied by Italy
consumption per capita:
NA (1992)
Industries:
printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff
uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Currency:
1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates:
Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,700.2 (January 1994), 1,573.7 (1993),
1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989); note -
the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates
freely
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Holy See (Vatican City), Communications

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

@Holy See (Vatican City), Defense Forces

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

@Honduras, Geography

Location:
Middle America, between Guatemala and Nicaragua
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones
of the World
Area:
total area:
112,090 sq km
land area:
111,890 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total 1,520 km, Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km
Coastline:
820 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
land boundary dispute with El Salvador mostly resolved by 11 September
1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; ICJ referred the
maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in
this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El
Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required
Climate:
subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain:
mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Natural resources:
timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal,
fish
Land use:
arable land:
14%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
30%
forest and woodland:
34%
other:
20%
Irrigated land:
900 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the
clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation
and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper
land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining
activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of
freshwater) with heavy metals as well as several rivers and streams
natural hazards:
subject to frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging
hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Tropical Timber

@Honduras, People

Population: 5,314,794 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.73% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 34.97 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.22 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 45.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.6 years male: 65.23 years female: 70.08 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.71 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian 7%, black 2%, white 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority Languages: Spanish, Indian dialects Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 73% male: 76% female: 71% Labor force: 1.3 million by occupation: agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6% (1985)

@Honduras, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Honduras
conventional short form:
Honduras
local long form:
Republica de Honduras
local short form:
Honduras
Digraph:
HO
Type:
republic
Capital:
Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions:
18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida,
Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco
Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira,
Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
Legal system:
rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English
common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Carlos Roberto REINA Idiaquez (since 27 January 1994);
election last held on 28 November 1993 (next to be held November
1997); results - Carlos Roberto REINA Idiaquez (PLH) 53%, Oswaldo
RAMOS Soto (PNH) 41%, other 6%
cabinet:
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Congress (Congreso Nacional):
elections last held on 27 November 1993 (next to be held November
1997); results - PNH 53%, PLH 41%, PDCH 1.0%, PINU-SD 2.5%, other
2.5%; seats - (134 total) PNH 55, PLH 77, PINU-SD 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica)
Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Party (PLH), Rafael PINEDA Ponce, president; National Party
(PN) has two factions: Movimiento Nacional de Reivindication
Callejista (Monarca), Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS, and Oswaldista,
Oswaldo RAMOS Soto, presidential candidate; National Innovation and
Unity Party (PINU), Olban VALLADARES, president; Christian Democratic
Party (PDCH), Efrain DIAZ Arrivillaga, president
Other political or pressure groups:
National Association of Honduran Campesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council
of Private Enterprise (COHEP); Confederation of Honduran Workers
(CTH); National Union of Campesinos (UNC); General Workers
Confederation (CGT); United Federation of Honduran Workers (FUTH);
Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras (CODEH);
Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations (CCOP)
Member of:
BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
LAIA (observer), LORCS, MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Rene Arturo BENDANA
chancery:
3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 966-7702, 2604, 5008, 4596
FAX:
(202) 966-9751
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San
Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s):
Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William PRYCE
embassy:
Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpa
mailing address:
American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
telephone:
32-3120
FAX:
32-0027
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five
blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white
band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic
of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and
Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round
emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA
CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of
Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA
DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the
white band

@Honduras, Economy

Overview:
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Agriculture, the most important sector of the economy, accounts for
more than 25% of GDP, employs 62% of the labor force, and produces
two-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low. Industry, still in
its early stages, employs nearly 9% of the labor force, accounts for
15% of GDP, and generates 20% of exports. The service sectors,
including public administration, account for 50% of GDP and employ 20%
of the labor force. Basic problems facing the economy include rapid
population growth, high unemployment, a lack of basic services, a
large and inefficient public sector, and the dependence of the export
sector mostly on coffee and bananas, which are subject to sharp price
fluctuations. A far-reaching reform program initiated by former
President CALLEJAS in 1990 is beginning to take hold. In 1993 the
large fiscal deficit emerged as a key economic problem, the result of
improvident state spending.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $10 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.7% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,950 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10%; underemployed 30%-40% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.4 billion
expenditures:
$1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $511 million (1990
est.)
Exports:
$850 million (f.o.b., 1993 est)
commodities:
bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber
partners:
US 53%, Germany 11%, Belgium 8%, UK 5%
Imports:
$1.1 billion (c.i.f. 1993 est)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemical products, manufactured
goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs
partners:
US 50%, Mexico 8%, Guatemala 6%
External debt:
$2.8 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate 0.8% (1990 est.); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
575,000 kW
production:
2 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
390 kWh (1992)
Industries:
agricultural processing (sugar and coffee), textiles, clothing, wood
products
Agriculture:
most important sector, accounting for more than 25% of GDP, more than
60% of the labor force, and two-thirds of exports; principal products
include bananas, coffee, timber, beef, citrus fruit, shrimp; importer
of wheat
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine; illicit producer of cannabis,
cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1
billion
Currency:
1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
lempiras (L) per US$1 - 7.2600 (December 1993), 7.2600 (1993), 5.8300
(1992), 5.4000 (1991); 2.0000 (fixed rate until 1991) 5.70 parallel
black-market rate (November 1990); the lempira was allowed to float in
1992
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Honduras, Communications

Railroads:
785 km total; 508 km 1.067-meter gauge, 277 km 0.914-meter gauge
Highways:
total:
8,950 km
paved:
1,700 km
unpaved:
otherwise improved 5,000 km; unimproved earth 2,250 km
Inland waterways:
465 km navigable by small craft
Ports:
Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo
Merchant marine:
270 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 831,856 GRT/1,248,186 DWT, bulk
25, cargo 177, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 1, container 7,
liquified gas 1, oil tanker 22, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 2,
refrigerated cargo 20, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger
2, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
note:
a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 14 ships under the
Honduran flag
Airports:
total:
160
usable:
133
with permanent-surface runways:
11
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
4
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
14
Telecommunications:
inadequate system with only 7 telephones per 1,000 persons;
international services provided by 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
stations and the Central American microwave radio relay system;
broadcast stations - 176 AM, no FM, 7 SW, 28 TV

@Honduras, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, Public Security Forces
(FUSEP)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,229,777; fit for military service 732,866; reach
military age (18) annually 60,445 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $42.8 million, about 1.3% of GDP (1993
est.)

@Hong Kong

Header Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)

@Hong Kong, Geography

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

@Hong Kong, People

Population:
5,548,754 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.09% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
12.16 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
5.85 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-7.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
80.09 years
male:
76.67 years
female:
83.71 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.37 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Chinese
adjective:
Chinese
Ethnic divisions:
Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions:
eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages:
Chinese (Cantonese), English
Literacy:
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1971)
total population:
77%
male:
90%
female:
64%
Labor force:
2.8 million (1990)
by occupation:
manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and
hotels 27.9%, services 17.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate
9.2%, transport and communications 4.5%, construction 2.5%, other 9.7%
(1989)

@Hong Kong, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Hong Kong
Abbreviation:
HK
Digraph:
HK
Type:
dependent territory of the UK scheduled to revert to China in 1997
Capital:
Victoria
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed an agreement with
China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997;
in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's
existing social and economic systems and lifestyle)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; new Basic
Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
direct election 21 years of age; universal for permanent residents
living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years;
indirect election limited to about 100,000 professionals of electoral
college and functional constituencies
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
Governor Chris PATTEN (since 9 July 1992); Chief Secretary Anson CHAN
Fang On-Sang (since 29 November 1993)
cabinet:
Executive Council; appointed by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislative Council:
indirect elections last held 12 September 1991 and direct elections
were held for the first time 15 September 1991 (next to be held in
September 1995 when the number of directly-elected seats increases to
20); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total; 21
indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 18 directly elected,
18 appointed by governor, 3 ex officio members); indirect elections -
number of seats by functional constituency NA; direct elections - UDHK
12, Meeting Point 3, ADPL 1, other 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
United Democrats of Hong Kong, Martin LEE, chairman; Democratic
Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing, chairman;
Hong Kong Democratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying, chairman
note:
in April 1994, the United Democrats of Hong Kong and Meeting Point
merged to form the "Democratic Party;" the merger becomes effective in
October 1994
Other political or pressure groups:
Liberal Party, Allen LEE, chairman; Meeting Point, Anthony CHEUNG
Bing-leung, chairman; Association for Democracy and People's
Livelihood, Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman; Liberal Democratic
Federation, HU Fa-kuang, chairman; Federation of Trade Unions
(pro-China), LEE Chark-tim, president; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade
Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Unions
(pro-democracy), LAU Chin-shek, chairman; Hong Kong General Chamber of
Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Federation
of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong
Kong; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong,
president; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic
Movement in China, Szeto WAH, chairman
note:
in April 1994, the United Democrats of Hong Kong and Meeting Point
merged to form the "Democratic Party;" the merger becomes effective in
October 1994
Member of:
COCOM (cooperating), APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU,
IMO (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL,
WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Consul General Richard MUELLER
consulate general:
26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address:
PSC 464, Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96522-0002
telephone:
523-9011
FAX:
845-1598
Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the
Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of
the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below
a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon
(representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner
bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield

@Hong Kong, Economy

Overview:
Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or
nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw
materials must be imported. Manufacturing accounts for about 17% of
GDP. Goods and services exports account for about 50% of GDP. Real GDP
growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90,
and picked up to 4.2% in 1991, 5.0% in 1992, and 5.2% in 1993.
Unemployment, which has been declining since the mid-1980s, is now
about 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on
prices and the cost of living. Short-term prospects remain bright so
long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably prosperous.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $119 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5.2% (1993)
National product per capita:
$21,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.5% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
2.3% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$19.2 billion
expenditures:
$19.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94)
Exports:
$145.1 billion (including re-exports of $104.2 billion )(f.o.b., 1993
est.)
commodities:
clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical appliances,
watches and clocks, toys
partners:
China 32%, US 23%, Germany 5%, Japan 5%, UK 3% (1993 est.)
Imports:
$149.6 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures,
petroleum
partners:
China 36%, Japan 19%, Taiwan 9%, US 7% (1993 est.)
External debt:
none (1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
9,566,000 kW
production:
29.4 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
4,980 kWh (1992)
Industries:
textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches,
clocks
Agriculture:
minor role in the economy; local farmers produce 26% fresh vegetables,
27% live poultry; 8% of land area suitable for farming
Illicit drugs:
a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and major
financial and money-laundering center
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $152 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $923
million
Currency:
1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1993), 7.741 (1992), 7.771
(1991), 7.790 (1990), 7.800 (1989); note - linked to the US dollar at
the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

@Hong Kong, Communications

Railroads:
35 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned
Highways:
total:
1,100 km
paved:
794 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, earth 306 km
Ports:
Hong Kong
Merchant marine:
201 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 6,972,233 GRT/11,965,809 DWT,
bulk 105, cargo 23, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, combination
ore/oil 6, container 29, liquefied gas 7, oil tanker 16, refrigerated
cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 2
note:
a flag of convenience registry; ships registered in Hong Kong fly the
UK flag, and an estimated 500 Hong Kong-owned ships are registered
elsewhere
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international
services; 3,000,000 telephones; microwave transmission links and
extensive optical fiber transmission network; broadcast stations - 6
AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) repeater
station and 1 British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater station;
2,500,000 radio receivers; 1,312,000 TV sets (1,224,000 color TV
sets); satellite earth stations - 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 2
Indian Ocean INTELSAT; coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; links to 5
international submarine cables providing access to ASEAN member
nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

@Hong Kong, Defense Forces

Branches:
Headquarters of British Forces, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal
Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,636,397; fit for military service 1,251,901; reach
military age (18) annually 42,044 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $300 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989 est.); this
represents one-fourth of the total cost of defending itself, the
remainder being paid by the UK
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK

@Howland Island

Header Affiliation: (territory of the US)

@Howland Island, Geography

Location:
Oceania, Polynesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 2,575 km southwest of
Honolulu, just north of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and
Australia
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
1.6 sq km
land area:
1.6 sq km
comparative area:
about 2.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
6.4 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow
fringing reef; depressed central area
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
5%
other:
95%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
lacks freshwater
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing
shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting,
roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine
wildlife; feral cats

@Howland Island, People

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

@Howland Island, Government

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

@Howland Island, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Howland Island, Communications

Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle
of the west coast
Airports:
airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the
round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left
Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the
airstrip is no longer serviceable
Note:
Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that
was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been
rebuilt in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart

@Howland Island, Defense Forces

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

@Hungary, Geography

Location:
Central Europe, between Slovakia and Romania
Map references:
Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
Area:
total area:
93,030 sq km
land area:
92,340 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total 1,989 km, Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia
and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km, Slovenia 82
km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia
Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains
Natural resources:
bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Land use:
arable land:
50.7%
permanent crops:
6.1%
meadows and pastures:
12.6%
forest and woodland:
18.3%
other:
12.3%
Irrigated land:
1,750 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution; industrial and municipal pollution of Lake Balaton
natural hazards:
levees are common along many streams, but flooding occurs almost every
year
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Note:
landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between
Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and
Mediterranean basin

@Hungary, People

Population:
10,319,113 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.03% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
12.46 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
12.72 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
12.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.37 years
male:
67.37 years
female:
75.58 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.83 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Hungarian(s)
adjective:
Hungarian
Ethnic divisions:
Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian
0.7%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other
7.5%
Languages:
Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
98%
Labor force:
5.4 million
by occupation:
services, trade, government, and other 44.8%, industry 29.7%,
agriculture 16.1%, construction 7.0% (1991)

@Hungary, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Hungary
conventional short form:
Hungary
local long form:
Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form:
Magyarorszag
Digraph:
HU
Type:
republic
Capital:
Budapest
Administrative divisions:
38 counties (megyek, singular - megye) and 1 capital city* (fovaros);
Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen,
Budapest*, Csongrad, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Fejer, Gyor,
Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Hodmezovasarhely,
Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc,
Nagykanizsa, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Pest, Somogy, Sopron,
Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szolnok, Szombathely,
Tatabanya, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala, Zalaegerszeg
Independence:
1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday:
St. Stephen's Day (National Day), 20 August (commemorates the founding
of Hungarian state circa 1000 A.D.)
Constitution:
18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18
October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and
constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also
established the principle of parliamentary oversight
Legal system:
in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western
model
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim
president from 2 May 1990); election last held 3 August 1990 (next to
be held NA 1995); results - President GONCZ elected by parliamentary
vote; note - President GONCZ was elected by the National Assembly with
a total of 295 votes out of 304 as interim President from 2 May 1990
until elected President
head of government:
Prime Minister Peter BOROSS (since 12 December 1993 on the death of
Jozsef ANTALL); new prime minister will probably be Gyula HORN
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; elected by the National Assembly on
recommendation of the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Orszaggyules):
elections last held on 8 and 29 May 1994 (next to be held spring
1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (386 total)
Hungarian Socialist Party 209, Alliance of Free Democrats 70,
Hungarian Democratic Forum 37, Independent Smallholders 26, Christian
Democratic People's Party 22, Federation of Young Democrats 20, other
2
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Forum, Sandor LESZAK, chairman; Independent Smallholders
(FKGP), Jozsef TORGYAN, president; Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP),
Gyula HORN, president; Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), Dr.
Lazlo SURJAN, president; Federation of Young Democrats (FIDESZ),
Viktor ORBAN, chairman; Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), Ivan PETO,
chairman
note:
the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSZMP) renounced
Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) in October
1989; there is still a small MSZMP
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE,
EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-9, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM
(guest), NSG, OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pal TAR
chancery:
3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 362-6730
FAX:
(202) 966-8135
consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Donald BLINKEN
embassy:
V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
mailing address:
Am Embassy, Unit 1320, Budapest; APO AE 09213
telephone:
(1) 112-6450
FAX:
(1) 132-8934
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

@Hungary, Economy

Overview:
Hungary is still in the midst of a difficult transition from a command
to a market economy. Its economic reforms during the Communist era
gave it a head start on this process, particularly in terms of
attracting foreign investors - Hungary has accounted for about half of
all foreign direct investment in Eastern Europe since 1989.
Nonetheless, the economy continued to contract in 1993, with real GDP
falling perhaps 1%. Although the privatization process has lagged, in
December 1993 Hungary carried out the largest privatization yet in
Eastern Europe, selling a controlling interest in the Matav
telecommunications firm to private investors - including a 30% share
to a US-German consortium for $875 million. Overall, about half of GDP
now originates in the private sector. Unemployment rose to about 13%
in 1993 while inflation remained above 20%, and falling exports pushed
the trade deficit to about $3 billion. The government hopes that
economic recovery in Western Europe in 1994 will boost exports, lower
the trade deficit, and help jump-start the economy. The budget,
however, is likely to remain a serious concern; depressed tax revenue
pushed up the budget deficit in 1993.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $57 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-1% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$5,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
23% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13% (1993)
Budget:
revenues:
$10.2 billion
expenditures:
$12.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
$8.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals 39.6%, machinery 14.5%,
consumer goods 22.3%, food and agriculture 20.0%, fuels and energy
3.6% (January-June 1993)
partners:
EC 49.8% (Germany 27.8%, Italy 9.5%), Austria 10.7%, the FSU 13.1%,
Eastern Europe 9.8% (1992)
Imports:
$12.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
fuels and energy 13.9%, raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals
35.9%, machinery 22.4%, consumer goods 21.8%, food and agriculture
6.0% (January-June 1993)
partners:
EC 42.8% (Germany 23.6%, Italy 6.3%), Austria 14.4%, the FSU 16.8%,
Eastern Europe 9.2%
External debt:
$24.7 billion (November 1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 4% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
7,200,000 kW
production:
30 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
3,000 kWh (1992)
Industries:
mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles,
chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), buses, automobiles
Agriculture:
including forestry, accounts for 15% of GDP and 16% of employment;
highly diversified crop and livestock farming; principal crops -
wheat, corn, sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets; livestock - hogs,
cattle, poultry, dairy products; self-sufficient in food output
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southeast Asia heroin transiting the Balkan
route
Economic aid:
recipient:
assistance pledged by OECD countries since 1989 about $9 billion
Currency:
1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates:
forints per US$1 - 93.46 (September 1993), 92.5 (1993), 78.99 (1992),
74.74 (1991), 63.21 (1990), 59.07 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Hungary, Communications

Railroads:
7,765 km total; 7,508 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 222 km narrow
gauge (mostly 0.760-meter), 35 km 1.520-meter broad gauge; 1,236 km
double track, 2,249 km electrified; all government owned (1990)
Highways:
total:
130,224 km
paved:
61,948 km
unpaved:
68,276 km (1988)
Inland waterways:
1,622 km (1988)
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
Ports:
Budapest and Dunaujvaros are river ports on the Danube; coastal
outlets are Rostock (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Gdynia (Poland),
Szczecin (Poland), Galati (Romania), and Braila (Romania)
Merchant marine:
10 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) and 1 bulk totaling 46,121
GRT/61,613 DWT
Airports:
total:
126
usable:
65
with permanent-surface runways:
12
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
18
with runways 1,060-2,439 m:
31
note:
a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip
Telecommunications:
automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system;
1,128,800 phones (1991); telephone density is at 19.4 per 100
inhabitants; 49% of all phones are in Budapest; 608,000 telephones on
order (1991); 12-15 year wait for a phone; 14,213 telex lines (1991);
broadcast stations - 32 AM, 15 FM, 41 TV (8 Soviet TV repeaters); 4.2
million TVs (1990); 1 satellite ground station using INTELSAT and
Intersputnik

@Hungary, Defense Forces

Branches:
Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, Territorial
Defense
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,636,888; fit for military service 2,105,628; reach
military age (18) annually 90,134 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
66.5 billion forints, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of
defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate
could produce misleading results

@Iceland, Geography

Location:
Nordic State, Northern Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Greenland and Norway
Map references:
Arctic Region, Europe, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
103,000 sq km
land area:
100,250 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,988 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the
UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall
area)
Climate:
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters;
damp, cool summers
Terrain:
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast
deeply indented by bays and fiords
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
20%
forest and woodland:
1%
other:
78%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater
treatment
natural hazards:
subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Environmental
Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Note:
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European
country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental
Europe

@Iceland, People

Population:
263,599 (July 1994 est.)
note:
population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ
slightly from official population data because of volatile migration
rates
Population growth rate:
0.9% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
16.41 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
6.72 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
78.83 years
male:
76.57 years
female:
81.21 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.11 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Icelander(s)
adjective:
Icelandic
Ethnic divisions:
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none
1% (1988)
Languages:
Icelandic
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
total population:
100%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
127,900
by occupation:
commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%, manufacturing 12.5%,
fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.8%, agriculture
4.0% (1990)

@Iceland, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Iceland
conventional short form:
Iceland
local long form:
Lyoveldio Island
local short form:
Island
Digraph:
IC
Type:
republic
Capital:
Reykjavik
Administrative divisions:
23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns*
(kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*,
Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla,
Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla,
Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*,
Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla,
Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la,
Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*,
Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla,
Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla,
Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla,
Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
Independence:
17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)
Constitution:
16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system:
civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980); election last
held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996); results - there
was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was
unopposed
head of government:
Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament (Althing):
elections last held on 20 April 1991 (next to be held by April 1995);
results - Independence Party 38.6%, Progressive Party 18.9%, Social
Democratic Party 15.5%, People's Alliance 14.4%, Womens List 8.3%,
Liberals 1.2%, other 3.1%; seats - (63 total) Independence 26,
Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10, People's Alliance 9, Womens List
5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Haestirettur)
Political parties and leaders:
Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party,
Steingrimur HERMANNSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin
HANNIBALSSON; People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar
GRIMSSON; Women's List
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA,
NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO,
WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON
chancery:
2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 265-6653 through 6655
FAX:
(202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Parker W. BORG
embassy:
Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavik
mailing address:
US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, Reykjavik; FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone:
(1) 629100
FAX:
(1) 629139
Flag:
blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side
in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

@Iceland, Economy

Overview:
Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but
with an extensive welfare system, relatively low unemployment, and
comparatively even distribution of income. The economy is heavily
dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 75% of export
earnings and employs 12% of the workforce. In the absence of other
natural resources - except energy - Iceland's economy is vulnerable to
changing world fish prices. Iceland's economy has been in recession
since 1988. The recession continued in 1993 due to a third year of
cutbacks in fishing quotas as well as falling world prices for the
country's main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and
ferrosilicon. Real GDP declined 3.3% in 1992 and rose slightly, by
0.4%, in 1993. The center-right government's economic goals include
reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign
borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing
policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned
industries. The recession has led to a wave of bankruptcies and
mergers throughout the economy, as well as the highest unemployment of
the post-World War II period. Inflation, previously a serious problem,
declined from double digit rates in the 1980s to only 3.7% in 1992-93.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.2 billion (1993)
National product real growth rate:
0.4% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$16,000 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
4.5% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.8 billion
expenditures:
$1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $191 million (1992)
Exports:
$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon,
diatomite
partners:
EC 68% (UK 25%, FRG 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)
Imports:
$1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products,
foodstuffs, textiles
partners:
EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)
External debt:
$3.9 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.75% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
1,063,000 kW
production:
5.165 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
19,940 kWh (1992)
Industries:
fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production,
geothermal power
Agriculture:
accounts for about 15% of GDP; fishing is most important economic
activity, contributing nearly 75% to export earnings; principal crops
- potatoes, turnips; livestock - cattle, sheep; self-sufficient in
crops; fish catch of about 1.1 million metric tons in 1992
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million
Currency:
1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar
Exchange rates:
Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 72.971 (January 1994), 67.603
(1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991), 58.284 (1990), 57.042 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Iceland, Communications

Highways:
total:
12,537 km
paved:
2,690 km
unpaved:
gravel, earth 9,847 km
Ports:
Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik, Seydhisfjordhur,
Siglufjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:
8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 33,212 GRT/47,359 DWT, cargo 2,
chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 2
Airports:
total:
90
usable:
84
with permanent-surface runways:
9
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
12
Telecommunications:
adequate domestic service; coaxial and fiber-optical cables and
microwave radio relay for trunk network; 140,000 telephones; broadcast
stations - 5 AM, 147 (transmitters and repeaters) FM, 202
(transmitters and repeaters) TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station carries all international traffic; a second
INTELSAT earth station is scheduled to be operational in 1993

@Iceland, Defense Forces

Branches:
Police, Coast Guard
note:
no armed forces, Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned
Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 70,074; fit for military service 62,197
Defense expenditures:
none

@India, Geography

Location:
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal,
between Bangladesh and Pakistan
Map references:
Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
3,287,590 km2
land area:
2,973,190 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total 14,103 km, Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km,
China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline:
7,000 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
boundaries with Bangladesh and China; status of Kashmir with Pakistan;
water-sharing problems with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the
Ganges and Pakistan over the Indus
Climate:
varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain:
upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along
the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
Natural resources:
coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese,
mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds,
petroleum, limestone
Land use:
arable land:
55%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
23%
other:
17%
Irrigated land:
430,390 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air
pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water
pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; huge
and rapidly growing population is overstraining natural resources
natural hazards:
droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common; subject to
earthquakes (a quake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale occurred near
Hyderabad killing several thousand people and causing extensive damage
in late September 1993)
international agreements:
party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber,
Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Note:
dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade
routes

@India, People

Population:
919,903,056 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.82% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
28.45 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
10.29 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
78.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
58.58 years
male:
58.09 years
female:
59.09 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.48 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Indian(s)
adjective:
Indian
Ethnic divisions:
Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3%
Religions:
Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhist 0.7%, Jains
0.5%, other 0.4%
Languages:
English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for
national, political, and commercial communication, Hindi the national
language and primary tongue of 30% of the people, Bengali (official),
Telugu (official), Marathi (official), Tamil (official), Urdu
(official), Gujarati (official), Malayalam (official), Kannada
(official), Oriya (official), Punjabi (official), Assamese (official),
Kashmiri (official), Sindhi (official), Sanskrit (official),
Hindustani a popular variant of Hindu/Urdu, is spoken widely
throughout northern India
note:
24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons; numerous other
languages and dialects, for the most part mutually unintelligible
Literacy:
age 7 and over can read and write (1991 est.)
total population:
52.11%
male:
63.86%
female:
39.42%
Labor force:
314.751 million (1990)
by occupation:
agriculture 65% (1993 est.)

@India, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of India
conventional short form:
India
Digraph:
IN
Type:
federal republic
Capital:
New Delhi
Administrative divisions:
25 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*,
Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra
and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland,
Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura,
Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Independence:
15 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 26 January (1950)
Constitution:
26 January 1950
Legal system:
based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 25 July 1992); Vice President
Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN (since 21 August 1992)
head of government:
Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since 21 June 1991)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on recommendation of
the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Sansad)
Council of States (Rajya Sabha):
body consisting of not more than 250 members, up to 12 appointed by
the president, the remainder chosen by the elected members of the
state and territorial assemblies
People's Assembly (Lok Sabha):
elections last held 21 May, 12 and 15 June 1991 (next to be held by
November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (545
total, 543 elected, 2 appointed) Congress (I) Party 245, Bharatiya
Janata Party 119, Janata Dal Party 39, Janata Dal (Ajit Singh) 20,
CPI/M 35, CPI 14, Telugu Desam 13, AIADMK 11, Samajwadi Janata Party
5, Shiv Sena 4, RSP 4, BSP 1, Congress (S) Party 1, other 23, vacant 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Congress (I) Party, P. V. Narasimha RAO, president; Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP), L.K. ADVANI; Janata Dal Party, Chandra SHEKHAR; Janata
Dal (Ajit Singh), Ajit SINGH; Communist Party of India/Marxist
(CPI/M), Harkishan Singh SURJEET; Communist Party of India (CPI),
Indrajit GUPTA; Telugu Desam (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh), N.
T. Rama RAO; All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK; a
regional party in Tamil Nadu), Jayaram JAYALALITHA; Samajwadi Party
(SP, formerly Samajwadi Janata Party), Mulayam Singh YADAV
(President), Om Prakash CHAUTALA, Devi LAL; Shiv Sena, Bal THACKERAY;
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY; Bahujana Samaj
Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM; Congress (S) Party, leader NA; Communist
Party of India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Vinod MISHRA; Dravida
Munnetra Kazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu), M. KARUNANIDHI;
Akali Dal factions representing Sikh religious community in the
Punjab; National Conference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and
Kashmir), Farooq ABDULLAH
Other political or pressure groups:
various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional
autonomy; numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations,
including Adam Sena, Ananda Marg, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh
Member of:
AG (observer), AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-19, AfDB,
G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUSAL, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Siddhartha Shankar RAY
chancery:
2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 939-7000
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador-designate Frank WISNER
embassy:
Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
(11) 600651
FAX:
(11) 687-2028
consulate(s) general:
Bombay, Calcutta, Madras
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a
blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to
the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white
band

@India, Economy

Overview:
India's economy is a mixture of traditional village farming, modern
agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a
multitude of support services. Faster economic growth in the 1980s
permitted a significant increase in real per capita private
consumption. A large share of the population, perhaps as much as 40%,
remains too poor to afford an adequate diet. Financial strains in 1990
and 1991 prompted government austerity measures that slowed industrial
growth but permitted India to meet its international payment
obligations without rescheduling its debt. Policy reforms since 1991
have extended earlier economic liberalization and greatly reduced
government controls on production, trade, and investment. US and other
foreign firms are increasing their investment in India. In January
1994, international financial reserves were comfortably high.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.17 trillion (FY94 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.8% (FY94 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,300 (FY94 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$29.6 billion
expenditures:
$45.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.2 billion (FY93)
Exports:
$21.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
gems and jewelry, clothing, engineering goods, chemicals, leather
manufactures, cotton yarn, and fabric
partners:
US 18.9%, Germany 7.8%, Italy 7.8%, (FY93)
Imports:
$22 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, gems, fertilizer, chemicals,
machinery
partners:
US 9.8%, Belgium 8.4%, Germany 7.6% (FY93)
External debt:
$90.1 billion (March 1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2% (1993 est.); accounts for about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
82,000,000 kW
production:
310 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
340 kWh (1992)
Industries:
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment,
cement, mining, petroleum, machinery
Agriculture:
accounts for about 40% of GDP and employs 65% of labor force;
principal crops - rice, wheat, oilseeds, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane,
potatoes; livestock - cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, poultry; fish
catch of about 3 million metric tons ranks India among the world's top
10 fishing nations
Illicit drugs:
licit producer of opium poppy for the pharmaceutical trade, but some
opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; major transit
country for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries;
illicit producer of hashish; minor production of illicit opium
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $31.7
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $315 million; USSR (1970-89),
$11.6 billion; Eastern Europe (1970-89), $105 million
Currency:
1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise
Exchange rates:
Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1 - 31.370 (January 1994), 30.493 (1993),
25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

@India, Communications

Railroads:
61,850 km total (1986); 33,553 km 1.676-meter broad gauge, 24,051 km
1.000-meter gauge, 4,246 km narrow gauge (0.762 meter and 0.610
meter); 12,617 km is double track; 6,500 km is electrified
Highways:
total:
1.97 million km
paved:
960,000 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, earth 1.01 million km (1989)
Inland waterways:
16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels
Pipelines:
crude oil 3,497 km; petroleum products 1,703 km; natural gas 902 km
(1989)
Ports:
Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Kandla, Madras, New Mangalore, Port Blair
(Andaman Islands)
Merchant marine:
297 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,236,902 GRT/10,369,948 DWT,
bulk 111, cargo 81, chemical tanker 9, combination bulk 2, combination
ore/oil 7, container 7, liquefied gas 6, oil tanker 66,
passenger-cargo 6, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:
total:
337
usable:
288
with permanent-surface runways:
208
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
59
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
92
Telecommunications:
domestic telephone system is poor providing only one telephone for
about 200 persons on average; long distance telephoning has been
improved by a domestic satellite system which also carries TV;
international service is provided by 3 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth
stations and by submarine cables to Malaysia and the United Arab
Emirates; broadcast stations - 96 AM, 4 FM, 274 TV (government
controlled)

@India, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Security or Paramilitary Forces (including
Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 247,948,906; fit for military service 145,881,705;
reach military age (17) annually 9,408,586 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $6.0 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY93/94)

@Indian Ocean, Geography

Location:
body of water between Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica
Map references:
Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
73.6 million sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than eight times the size of the US; third-largest ocean
(after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the
Arctic Ocean)
note:
includes Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of
Malacca, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Oman, Mozambique Channel, and
other tributary water bodies
Coastline:
66,526 km
International disputes:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Climate:
northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to
October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November
in the north Indian Ocean and January/February in the south Indian
Ocean
Terrain:
surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of
currents) in the south Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface
currents in the north Indian Ocean, low atmospheric pressure over
southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest
monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high
pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in
the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents;
ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided
by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and
Ninety East Ridge; maximum depth is 7,258 meters in the Java Trench
Natural resources:
oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer
deposits, polymetallic nodules
Environment:
current issues:
endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and
whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of
Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait;
ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme south near Antarctica
from May to October

@Indian Ocean, Government

Digraph:
XO

@Indian Ocean, Economy

Overview:
The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East,
Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a
particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from
the oil fields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of
great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic
consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, Korea, and
Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna.
Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas
of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and Western Australia. An estimated 40%
of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean.
Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are
actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South
Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Industries:
based on exploitation of natural resources, particularly fish,
minerals, oil and gas, fishing, sand and gravel

@Indian Ocean, Communications

Ports:
Bombay (India), Calcutta (India), Madras (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka),
Durban (South Africa), Fremantle (Australia), Jakarta (Indonesia),
Melbourne (Australia), Richards Bay (South Africa)
Telecommunications:
submarine cables from India to United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, and
from Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia

@Indonesia, Geography

Location:
Southeastern Asia, between Malaysia and Australia
Map references:
Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1,919,440 sq km
land area:
1,826,440 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total 2,602 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Coastline:
54,716 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province) disputed with
Portugal and not recognized by the UN; two islands in dispute with
Malaysia
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
Natural resources:
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile
soils, coal, gold, silver
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
3%
meadows and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
67%
other:
15%
Irrigated land:
75,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air
pollution in urban areas
natural hazards:
occasional floods, severe droughts, and tsunamis
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Marine Life Conservation
Note:
archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles Equator;
strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean
to Pacific Ocean

@Indonesia, People

Population:
200,409,741 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.59% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
24.45 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
8.6 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
67.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
60.74 years
male:
58.7 years
female:
62.88 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.8 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Indonesian(s)
adjective:
Indonesian
Ethnic divisions:
Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other
26%
Religions:
Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%,
other 1% (1985)
Languages:
Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay; official), English, Dutch,
local dialects the most widely spoken of which is Javanese
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
77%
male:
84%
female:
68%
Labor force:
67 million
by occupation:
agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%, construction 4%, transport and
communications 3% (1985 est.)

@Indonesia, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Indonesia
conventional short form:
Indonesia
local long form:
Republik Indonesia
local short form:
Indonesia
former name:
Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
Digraph:
ID
Type:
republic
Capital:
Jakarta
Administrative divisions:
24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special
regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1
special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali,
Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah,
Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah,
Kalimantan Timur, Lampung, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara
Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara,
Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara,
Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*
Independence:
17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949,
Indonesia became legally independent from the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Constitution:
August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional
Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous
concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO (since 27 March 1968); Vice President
Gen. (Ret.) Try SUTRISNO (since 11 March 1993)
cabinet:
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral
House of Representatives:
(Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR) elections last held on 8 June 1992
(next to be held NA 1997); results - GOLKAR 68%, PPP 17%, PDI 15%;
seats - (500 total, 400 elected, 100 military representatives
appointed) GOLKAR 282, PPP 62, PDI 56
note:
the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or
MPR) includes the DPR plus 500 indirectly elected members who meet
every five years to elect the president and vice president and,
theoretically, to determine national policy
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung)
Political parties and leaders:
GOLKAR (quasi-official party based on functional groups), Lt. Gen.
(Ret.) HARMOKO, general chairman; Indonesia Democracy Party (PDI -
federation of former Nationalist and Christian Parties), Megawati
SUKARNOPUTRI, chairman; Development Unity Party (PPP, federation of
former Islamic parties), Ismail Hasan METAREUM, chairman
Member of:
APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Arifin SIREGAR
chancery:
2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 775-5200
FAX:
(202) 775-5365
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, New York, and Los Angeles
consulate(s):
San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Robert L. BARRY
embassy:
Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Box 1, Jakarta
mailing address:
APO AP 96520
telephone:
(21) 360-360
FAX:
(21) 386-2259
consulate(s):
Medan, Surabaya
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag
of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which
is white (top) and red

@Indonesia, Economy

Overview:
Indonesia is a mixed economy with some socialist institutions and
central planning but with a recent emphasis on deregulation and
private enterprise. Indonesia has extensive natural wealth, yet, with
a large and rapidly increasing population, it remains a poor country.
Real GDP growth in 1985-93 averaged about 6%, quite impressive, but
not sufficient to both slash underemployment and absorb the 2.3
million workers annually entering the labor force. Agriculture,
including forestry and fishing, is an important sector, accounting for
21% of GDP and over 50% of the labor force. The staple crop is rice.
Once the world's largest rice importer, Indonesia is now nearly
self-sufficient. Plantation crops - rubber and palm oil - and textiles
and plywood are being encouraged for both export and job generation.
Industrial output now accounts for almost 40% of GDP and is based on a
supply of diverse natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas,
timber, metals, and coal. Foreign investment has also boosted
manufacturing output and exports in recent years. Indeed, the
economy's growth is highly dependent on the continuing expansion of
nonoil exports. Japan remains Indonesia's most important customer and
supplier of aid. Rapid growth in the money supply in 1989-90 prompted
Jakarta to implement a tight monetary policy in 1991, forcing the
private sector to go to foreign banks for investment financing. Real
interest rates remained above 10% and off-shore commercial debt grew.
The growth in off-shore debt prompted Jakarta to limit foreign
borrowing beginning in late 1991. Despite the continued problems in
moving toward a more open financial system and the persistence of a
fairly tight credit situation, GDP growth in 1992 and 1993 has matched
the government target of 6%-7% annual growth.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $571 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
6.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,900 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3% official rate; underemployment 45% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$32.8 billion
expenditures:
$32.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $12.9 billion (FY95)
Exports:
$38.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum and gas 28%, clothing and fabrics 15%, plywood 11%, footwear
4% (1992)
partners:
Japan 32%, US 13%, Singapore 9%, South Korea 6% (1992)
Imports:
$28.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery 37%, semi-finished goods 16%, chemicals 14%, raw materials
10%, transport equipment 7%, food stuffs 6%, petroleum products 4%,
consumer goods 3% (1992)
partners:
Japan 22%, US 14%, Germany 8%, South Korea 7%, Singapore 6%, Australia
5%, Taiwan 5% (1992)
External debt:
$100 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 11.6% (1989 est.); accounts 35% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
11,600,000 kW
production:
38 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
200 kWh (1990)
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, textiles, mining, cement, chemical
fertilizers, plywood, food, rubber
Agriculture:
accounts for 21% of GDP; subsistence food production; small-holder and
plantation production for export; main products are rice, cassava,
peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, other tropical
products, poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade, but not
a major player; government actively eradicating plantings and
prosecuting traffickers
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $25.9
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $213 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $175 million
Currency:
1 Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen (sen no longer used)
Exchange rates:
Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1 - 2,116.9 (January 1994), 2,087.1
(1993), 2,029.9 (1992), 1,950.3 (1991), 1,842.8 (1990), 1,770.1 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

@Indonesia, Communications

Railroads:
6,964 km total; 6,389 km 1.067-meter gauge, 497 km 0.750-meter gauge,
78 km 0.600-meter gauge; 211 km double track; 101 km electrified; all
government owned
Highways:
total:
119,500 km
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
undifferentiated:
provincial 34,180 km; district 73,508 km; state 11,812 km
Inland waterways:
21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan
10,460 km, Sulawesi 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km
Pipelines:
crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural gas 1,703 km
(1989)
Ports:
Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Ujungpandang, Semarang,
Surabaya
Merchant marine:
430 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,893,830 GRT/2,768,294 DWT,
bulk 26, cargo 256, chemical tanker 7, container 11, liquefied gas 6,
livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 83, passenger 4, passenger-cargo 13,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 7,
vehicle carrier 4
Airports:
total:
444
usable:
414
with permanent-surface runways:
122
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
11
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
68
Telecommunications:
interisland microwave system and HF police net; domestic service fair,
international service good; radiobroadcast coverage good; 763,000
telephones (1986); broadcast stations - 618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV; satellite
earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 Pacific
Ocean INTELSAT earth station; and 1 domestic satellite communications
system

@Indonesia, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 54,518,490; fit for military service 32,175,853; reach
military age (18) annually 2,201,295 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, 1.5% of GNP (FY93/94 est.)

@Iran, Geography

Location:
Middle East, between the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea
Map references:
Asia, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1.648 million sq km
land area:
1.636 million sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total 5,440 km, Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan (north)
432 km, Azerbaijan (northwest) 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km,
Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline:
2,440 km
note:
Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
50 nm in the Gulf of Oman; continental shelf limit, continental shelf
boundaries, or median lines in the Persian Gulf
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still
trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes
from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation,
prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the
Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf
claimed by the UAE: Tunb as Sughra (Arabic), Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek
(Persian) or Lesser Tunb, and Tunb al Kubra (Arabic), Jazireh-ye
Tonb-e Bozorg (Persian) or Greater Tunb; it jointly administers with
the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE, Abu Musa
(Arabic) or Jazireh-ye Abu Musa (Persian); in 1992 the dispute over
Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally
tried to control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE
portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face
of significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the region; periodic
disputes with Afghanistan over Helmand water rights
Climate:
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain:
rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains;
small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead,
manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
27%
forest and woodland:
11%
other:
54%
Irrigated land:
57,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions,
refinery operations, and industry; deforestation; overgrazing;
desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; shortages of
drinking water
natural hazards:
periodic droughts
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation

@Iran, People

Population:
65,615,474 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.46% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
42.43 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7.83 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
60.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.66 years
male:
64.7 years
female:
66.68 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Iranian(s)
adjective:
Iranian
Ethnic divisions:
Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab
3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Shi'a Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and
Baha'i 1%
Languages:
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%,
Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Baloch 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
54%
male:
64%
female:
43%
Labor force:
15.4 million
by occupation:
agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%
note:
shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)

@Iran, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form:
Iran
local long form:
Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form:
Iran
Digraph:
IR
Type:
theocratic republic
Capital:
Tehran
Administrative divisions:
24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan,
Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,
Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Independence:
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday:
Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Constitution:
2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and
eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system:
the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
Suffrage:
15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
supreme leader and functional chief of state:
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since
4 June 1989); supreme leader (velayat-e faqih)
head of government:
President Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI (since 3 August 1989); election
last held June 1993 (next to be held June-July 1997); results - Ali
Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI was elected with 63% of the vote
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; selected by the president with legislative
approval
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Islamic Consultative Assembly:
(Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami) elections last held 8 April 1992 (next to
be held April 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(270 seats total) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
there are at least 76 licensed parties; the three most important are -
Tehran Militant Clergy Association, Mohammad Reza MAHDAVI-KANI;
Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar
MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Fedaiyin Islam Organization, Sadeq KHALKHALI
Other political or pressure groups:
groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Hizballah,
Hojjatiyeh Society, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim
Students Following the Line of the Imam; armed political groups that
have been almost completely repressed by the government include
Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Kurdish
Democratic Party; the Society for the Defense of Freedom
Member of:
CCC, CP, ESCAP, ECO, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy in Washington,
DC
chancery:
Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20007
telephone:
(202) 965-4990
US diplomatic representation:
protecting power in Iran is Switzerland
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the
national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red
is centered in the white band; Allah Alkbar (God is Great) in white
Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green
band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band

@Iran, Economy

Overview:
Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of
oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale
private trading and service ventures. Over the past several years, the
government has introduced several measures to liberalize the economy
and reduce government intervention, but most of these changes have
moved slowly because of political opposition. Iran has faced
increasingly severe financial difficulties in 1992-93 due to an import
surge since 1989 and general financial mismanagement. At yearend 1993
the Iranian Government estimated that it owed foreign creditors about
$30 billion; an estimated $8 billion of this debt was in arrears.
Earnings from oil exports—which provide over 90% of Iran's export
revenues—are providing less relief to Iran than usual because of
declining oil prices. Estimated overall growth was a robust 6.3% in
1992 and a moderate 3% in 1993.
National product:
GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $303 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$4,780 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
30% (September 1992-September 1993)
Unemployment rate:
30% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$15.5 billion (f.o.b., FY92 est.)
commodities:
petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides
partners:
Japan, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg, Spain, and
Germany
Imports:
$23.7 billion (c.i.f., FY92 est.)
commodities:
machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs,
pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products
partners:
Germany, Japan, Italy, UK, France
External debt:
$30 billion (December 1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 3% (1993 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP, including
petroleum
Electricity:
capacity:
15,649,000 kW
production:
43.6 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
710 kWh (1992)
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other building
materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable
oil production), metal fabricating
Agriculture:
accounts for about 20% of GDP; principal products - wheat, rice, other
grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton, dairy products, wool,
caviar; not self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and international
drug trade; net opiate importer but also a key transshipment point for
Southwest Asian heroin to Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$1.675 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $976 million
note:
aid fell sharply following the 1979 revolution
Currency:
1 Iranian rial (IR) = 10 tomans
Exchange rates:
Iranian rials (IR) per US$1 - 1,748.86 (January 1994), 1,267.77
(1993), 65.552 (1992), 67.505 (1991); note - in March 1993 the Iranian
government announced a new single-parity exchange rate system with a
new official rate of 1,538 rials per dollar; there is also a black
market rate of 2200 rials per US$1 (December 1993)
Fiscal year:
21 March - 20 March

@Iran, Communications

Railroads:
4,852 km total; 4,760 km 1.432-meter gauge, 92 km 1.676-meter gauge;
480 km under construction from Bafq to Bandar-e 'Abbas, rail
construction from Bafq to Sirjan has been completed and is
operational; section from Sirjan to Bandar-e 'Abbas still under
construction
Highways:
total:
140,200 km
paved:
42,694 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone 46,866 km; improved earth 49,440 km; unimproved
earth 1,200 km
Inland waterways:
904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for
about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use
Pipelines:
crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km; natural gas 4,550 km
Ports:
Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war), Bandar
Beheshti, Bandar-e 'Abbas, Bandar-e Bushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni,
Bandar-e Torkeman (Caspian Sea port), Khorramshahr (repaired after
being largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war) has been in
limited operation since November 1992
Merchant marine:
139 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,480,000 GRT/8,332,667 DWT,
bulk 48, cargo 41, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 2, liquefied
gas 1, oil tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8,
short-sea passenger 1
Airports:
total:
219
usable:
193
with permanent-surface runways:
80
with runways over 3,659 m:
17
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
18
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
70
Telecommunications:
microwave radio relay extends throughout country; system centered in
Tehran; 2,143,000 telephones (35 telephones per 1,000 persons);
broadcast stations - 77 AM, 3 FM, 28 TV; satellite earth stations - 2
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; HF radio and
microwave radio relay to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan,
and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber optic cable to UAE

@Iran, Defense Forces

Branches:
Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Force, Revolutionary Guards (including Basij militia and own ground,
air, and naval forces), Law Enforcement Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 14,382,216; fit for military service 8,555,760; reach
military age (21) annually 600,630 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
according to official Iranian data, Iran spent 1,785 billion rials,
including $808 million in hard currency in 1992 and budgeted 2,507
billion rials, including $850 million in hard currency for 1993 (est.)
note:
conversion of rial expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing
exchange rate could produce misleading results

@Iraq, Geography

Location:
Middle East, between Iran and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
437,072 sq km
land area:
432,162 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:
total 3,631 km, Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi
Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Coastline:
58 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still
trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes
from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation,
prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the
Shatt al Arab waterway; in April 1991 official Iraqi acceptance of UN
Security Council Resolution 687, which demands that Iraq accept the
inviolability of the boundary set forth in its 1963 agreement with
Kuwait, ending earlier claims to Bubiyan and Warbah islands or to all
of Kuwait; the 20 May 1993 final report of the UN Iraq/Kuwait Boundary
Demarcation Commission was welcomed by the Security Council in
Resolution 833 of 27 May 1993, which also reaffirmed that the
decisions of the commission on the boundary were final, bringing to a
completion the official demarcation of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary; Iraqi
officials still refuse to unconditionally recognize Kuwaiti
sovereignty or the inviolability of the UN demarcated border; periodic
disputes with upstream riparian Syria over Euphrates water rights;
potential dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Climate:
mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers;
northernmost regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold
winters with occasionally heavy snows
Terrain:
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains along
borders with Iran and Turkey
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:
arable land:
12%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
9%
forest and woodland:
3%
other:
75%
Irrigated land:
25,500 sq km (1989 est)
Environment:
current issues:
government water control projects drain inhabited marsh areas, drying
up or diverting the streams and rivers that support a sizable
population of Shi'a Muslims who have inhabited these areas for
thousands of years; the destruction of the natural habitat also poses
serious threats to the wildlife populations; damage to water treatment
and sewage facilities during Gulf war; inadequate supplies of potable
water; development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon
agreements with upstream riparians (Syria, Turkey); air and water
pollution; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion;
desertification
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified
- Environmental Modification

@Iraq, People

Population: 19,889,666 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.73% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 44.11 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 7.26 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 67.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.74 years male: 64.87 years female: 66.66 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.71 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi Ethnic divisions: Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5% Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60-65%, Sunni 32-37%), Christian or other 3% Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 60% male: 70% female: 49% Labor force: 4.4 million (1989) by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22% note: severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about 1,600,000 (July 1990); since then, it has declined substantially

@Iraq, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Iraq
conventional short form:
Iraq
local long form:
Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form:
Al Iraq
Digraph:
IZ
Type:
republic
Capital:
Baghdad
Administrative divisions:
18 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah,
Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At
Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan,
Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence:
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration)
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
Constitution:
22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (provisional Constitution);
new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted
Legal system:
based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law system
elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha
Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice President Taha Yasin
RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991)
head of government:
Prime Minister Ahmad Husayn Khudayir al-SAMARRAI (since 5 September
1993); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979)
Revolutionary Command Council:
Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri
cabinet:
Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani):
elections last held on 1 April 1989 (next to be held NA); results -
Sunni Arabs 53%, Shi'a Arabs 30%, Kurds 15%, Christians 2% est.; seats
- (250 total) number of seats by party NA
note:
in northern Iraq, a "Kurdish Assembly" was elected in May 1992 and
calls for Kurdish self-determination within a federated Iraq; the
assembly is not recognized by the Baghdad government
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders:
Ba'th Party
Other political or pressure groups:
political parties and activity severely restricted; opposition to
regime from disaffected members of the Baath Party, Army officers, and
Shi'a religious and ethnic Kurdish dissidents; the Green Party
(government-controlled)
Member of:
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Iraq has an Interest Section in the Algerian Embassy in Washington, DC
chancery:
Iraqi Interests Section, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 483-7500
FAX:
(202) 462-5066
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); note - operations have been temporarily suspended; a US
Interests Section is located in Poland's embassy in Baghdad
embassy:
Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdad
mailing address:
P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad
telephone:
(1) 719-6138 or 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three
green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white
band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script -
Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the
middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf
crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script
and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the
flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

@Iraq, Economy

Overview:
The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning and
management of industrial production and foreign trade while leaving
some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to private
enterprise. The economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which
has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In
the 1980s, financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the
eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran,
led the government to implement austerity measures and to borrow
heavily and later reschedule foreign debt payments. After the end of
hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the
construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities.
Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages,
salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and
collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded
high priority by the government, also was under financial constraints.
Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international
economic embargoes, and military action by an international coalition
beginning in January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture.
Industrial and transportation facilities suffered severe damage and
have been only partially restored. Oil exports remain at less than 10%
of the previous level. Shortages of spare parts continue. Living
standards deteriorated even further in 1993 and early 1994; consumer
prices at least tripled in 1993. The UN-sponsored economic embargo has
reduced exports and imports and has contributed to the sharp rise in
prices. The government's policies of supporting large military and
internal security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters
of the regime have exacerbated shortages. In brief, per capita output
in 1993-94 is far below the 1989-90 level, but no precise estimate is
available.
National product:
GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $38 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$2,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
200% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$10.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur
partners:
US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands, Spain (1990)
Imports:
$6.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
manufactures, food
partners:
Germany, US, Turkey, France, UK (1990)
External debt:
$45 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt of about $35 billion owed to
Arab Gulf states
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; manufacturing accounts for 10% of GNP (1989)
Electricity:
capacity:
7,300,000 kW available out of 9,902,000 kW due to Gulf war
production:
12.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
700 kWh (1992)
Industries:
petroleum production and refining, chemicals, textiles, construction
materials, food processing
Agriculture:
accounted for 11% of GNP and 30% of labor force before the Gulf war;
principal products - wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other
fruit, cotton, wool; livestock - cattle, sheep; not self-sufficient in
food output
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $647
million; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.9 billion
Currency:
1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates:
Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 3.2 (fixed official rate since 1982);
black-market rate (May 1994) US$1 = 370 Iraqi dinars
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Iraq, Communications

Railroads:
2,457 km 1.435-meter standard gauge
Highways:
total:
34,700 km
paved:
17,500 km
unpaved:
improved earth 5,500 km; unimproved earth 11,700 km
Inland waterways:
1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for
about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use;
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft
watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft
before closing in 1991 because of the Persian Gulf war
Pipelines:
crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural gas 1,360 km
Ports:
Umm Qasr reopened in November 1993; Khawr az Zubayr and Al Basrah have
been closed since 1980
Merchant marine:
37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 805,205 GRT/1,444,810 DWT, cargo
15, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo
1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3
note:
none of the Iraqi flag merchant fleet was trading internationally as
of 1 January 1993
Airports:
total:
118
usable:
105
with permanent-surface runways:
76
with runways over 3,659 m:
10
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
51
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
17
Telecommunications:
reconstitution of damaged telecommunication facilities began after
Desert Storm, most damaged facilities have been rebuilt; the network
consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links; 632,000
telephones; broadcast stations - 16 AM, 1 FM, 13 TV; satellite earth
stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1
Atlantic Ocean GORIZONT in the Intersputnik system and 1 ARABSAT;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and
Turkey, Kuwait line is probably non-operational

@Iraq, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army and Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border
Guard Force, Internal Security Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 4,428,193; fit for military service 2,487,319; reach
military age (18) annually 219,641 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GNP

@Ireland, Geography

Location:
Western Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, across the Irish Sea from
Great Britain
Map references:
Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
70,280 sq km
land area:
68,890 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total 360 km, UK 360 km
Coastline:
1,448 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf
dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK
have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Climate:
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters,
cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain:
mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and
low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Natural resources:
zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone,
dolomite, peat, silver
Land use:
arable land:
14%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
71%
forest and woodland:
5%
other:
10%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification, Hazardous
Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Note:
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North American
and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60
miles of Dublin

@Ireland, People

Population:
3,539,296 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.3% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
14.21 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
8.59 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.68 years
male:
72.85 years
female:
78.68 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.99 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)
adjective:
Irish
Ethnic divisions:
Celtic, English
Religions:
Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981)
Languages:
Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along the western
seaboard, English is the language generally used
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
total population:
98%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
1.37 million
by occupation:
services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%, agriculture,
forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5% (1992)

@Ireland, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Ireland
Digraph:
EI
Type:
republic
Capital:
Dublin
Administrative divisions:
26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway,
Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth,
Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford,
Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Independence:
6 December 1921 (from UK)
National holiday:
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution:
29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebecite
Legal system:
based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous
concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990); election last
held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary
Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
head of government:
Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by president with previous nomination of the prime
minister and approval of the House of Representatives
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas)
Senate (Seanad Eireann):
elections last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held February
1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49
elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats
2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6
House of Representatives (Dail Eireann):
elections last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June
1995); results - Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party
19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein
1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total)
Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats
10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS;
Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party
of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive
Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY
note:
Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna
Fail and the Labor Party
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, EC,
ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO,
MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNPROFRO, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WEU
(observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER
chancery:
2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 462-3939
consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH
embassy:
42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
(1) 6687122
FAX:
(1) 6689946
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange;
similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the
colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar
to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist
side), white, and red

@Ireland, Economy

Overview:
The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most
important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 37%
of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force.
Since 1987, real GDP growth, led by exports, has averaged 4% annually.
Over the same period, inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade
deficits have been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment
remains a serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus
of government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts
foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development
agency to aid small indigenous firms. Government assistance is
constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit reduction measures.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $46.3 billion (1993)
National product real growth rate:
2.7% (1993)
National product per capita:
$13,100 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$16 billion
expenditures:
$16.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (1992
est.)
Exports:
$28.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery, live
animals, animal products
partners:
EC 75% (UK 32%, Germany 13%, France 10%), US 9%
Imports:
$23.3 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum
products, machinery, textiles, clothing
partners:
EC 66% (UK 41%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 4%), US 15%
External debt:
$17.6 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 11.5% (1992); accounts for 37% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
5,000,000 kW
production:
14.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
4,120 kWh (1992)
Industries:
food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and
crystal
Agriculture:
accounts for 8% of GDP and 13% of the labor force; principal crops -
turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; livestock - meat and
dairy products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food shortages include
bread grain, fruits, vegetables
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to the UK and
Netherlands
Economic aid:
donor:
ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million
Currency:
1 Irish pound (#Ir) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
Irish pounds (#Ir) per US$1 - 0.6978 (January 1994), 0.6816 (1993),
0.5864 (1992), 0.6190 (1991), 0.6030 (1990), 0.7472 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Ireland, Communications

Railroads:
Irish National Railways (CIE) operates 1,947 km 1.602-meter gauge,
government owned; 485 km double track; 37 km electrified
Highways:
total:
92,294 km
paved:
87,422 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone 4,872 km
Inland waterways:
limited for commercial traffic
Pipelines:
natural gas 225 km
Ports:
Cork, Dublin, Waterford
Merchant marine:
53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 139,278 GRT/173,325 DWT, bulk 4,
cargo 32, chemical tanker 2, container 4, oil tanker 3, refrigerated
cargo 2, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 3
Airports:
total:
44
usable:
42
with permanent-surface runways:
14
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
7
Telecommunications:
modern system using cable and digital microwave circuits; 900,000
telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 45 FM, 86 TV; 2 coaxial
submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Ireland, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda
Siochana)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 914,052; fit for military service 739,288; reach
military age (17) annually 33,809 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $500 million, 1.3% of GDP (1993)

@Israel

Header
Affiliation:
(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
Note:
The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included
in the data below. In keeping with the framework established at the
Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being
conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, Syria, and
Jordan to determine the final status of the occupied territories. On
25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979
Israel-Egypt Peace treaty.

@Israel, Geography

Location:
Middle East, bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt
and Lebanon
Map references:
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
20,770 sq km
land area:
20,330 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total 1,006 km, Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon
79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline:
273 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank by the 1949 Armistice
Line; differences with Jordan over the location of the 1949 Armistice
Line that separates the two countries; the Gaza Strip and Jericho,
formerly occupied by Israel, are now administered by the Palestinian
Authority; other areas of the West Bank outside Jericho are Israeli
occupied; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli troops in
southern Lebanon since June 1982; water-sharing issues with Jordan
Climate:
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain:
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains;
Jordan Rift Valley
Natural resources:
copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt,
manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
Land use:
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
5%
meadows and pastures:
40%
forest and woodland:
6%
other:
32%
Irrigated land:
2,140 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
limited arable land and freshwater resources pose serious constraints;
deforestation; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical
fertilizers, and pesticides
natural hazards:
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate
Change, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation
Note:
there are 200 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the
West Bank, 40 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza
Strip, and 25 in East Jerusalem (April 1994)

@Israel, People

Population:
5,050,850 (July 1994 est.)
note:
includes 110,500 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 14,000 in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 4,500 in the Gaza Strip, and 144,100
in East Jerusalem (1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.22% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
20.55 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
6.43 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
8.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.96 years
male:
75.86 years
female:
80.16 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.83 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Israeli(s)
adjective:
Israeli
Ethnic divisions:
Jewish 83%, non-Jewish 17% (mostly Arab)
Religions:
Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2%, Druze and
other 2%
Languages:
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English
most commonly used foreign language
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1983)
total population:
92%
male:
95%
female:
89%
Labor force:
1.9 million (1992)
by occupation:
public services 29.3%, industry 22.1%, commerce 13.9%, finance and
business 10.4%, personal and other services 7.4%, construction 6.5%,
transport, storage, and communications 6.3%, agriculture, forestry,
and fishing 3.5%, other 0.6% (1992)

@Israel, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
State of Israel
conventional short form:
Israel
local long form:
Medinat Yisra'el
local short form:
Yisra'el
Digraph:
IS
Type:
republic
Capital:
Jerusalem
note:
Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the US, like
nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv
Administrative divisions:
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem,
Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence:
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared independence on 14 May
1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in
April or May)
Constitution:
no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are
filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the basic laws of
the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law
Legal system:
mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in
personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in
December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no
longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993) election last held 24 March
1993 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - Ezer WEIZMAN elected
by Knesset
head of government:
Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN (since NA July 1992)
cabinet:
Cabinet; selected from and approved by the Knesset
Legislative branch:
unicameral
parliament (Knesset):
elections last held NA June 1992 (next to be held by NA 1996); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) Labor Party 44,
Likud bloc 32, Meretz 12, Tzomet 8, National Religious Party 6, Shas
6, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality
(Hadash) 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party 2; note - in 1994 three
new parties were formed, Yi'ud (from Tzomet), Histadrut List (from the
Labor Party), and Peace Guard (from Moledet), resulting in the
following new distribution of seats - Labor Party 41, Likud bloc 32,
Meretz 12, National Religious Party 6, Shas 6, Tzomet 5, United Torah
Jewry 4, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Yi'ud 3,
Histadrut List 3, Moledet 2, Arab Democratic Party 2, Peace Guard 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
members of the government:
Labor Party, Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN; MERETZ, Minister of
Communications Shulamit ALONI
not in coalition, but voting with the government:
SHAS, Arieh DERI; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash),
Hashim MAHAMID; Arab Democratic Party, Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAH;
Histadrut List, Haim RAMON
opposition parties:
Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael EITAN; National
Religious Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry, Avraham SHAPIRA;
Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI; Yi'ud, Gonen SEGEV; Peace Guard, Shoul GUTMAN
note:
Israel currently has a coalition government comprising 3 parties that
hold 56 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats
Other political or pressure groups:
Gush Emunim, Jewish nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the
West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now, critical of government's West
Bank/Gaza Strip and Lebanon policies
Member of:
AG (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (oberver), EBRD, ECE, FAO,
GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer),
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH
chancery:
3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 364-5500
FAX:
(202) 364-5610
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
Philadelphia, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Edward DJEREJIAN (expected to resign in August 1994)
embassy:
71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
mailing address:
PSC 98, Box 100, Tel Aviv; APO AE 09830
telephone:
(3) 517-4338
FAX:
(3) 663-449
Flag:
white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the
Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal
blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

@Israel, Economy

Overview:
Israel has a market economy with substantial government participation.
It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and
military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has
intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the
past 20 years. Industry employs about 22% of Israeli workers,
construction 6.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, and
services most of the rest. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and
agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports.
Israel usually posts current account deficits, which are covered by
large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half
of the government's external debt is owed to the United States, which
is its major source of economic and military aid. To earn needed
foreign exchange, Israel has been targeting high-technology niches in
international markets, such as medical scanning equipment. The influx
of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR, which topped 450,000 during
the period 1990-93, increased unemployment, intensified housing
problems, and strained the government budget. At the same time, the
immigrants bring to the economy valuable scientific and professional
expertise. Economic problems have eased as immigration has declined,
but activity has slowed as the economy shifts from housing to
export-driven growth.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $65.7 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$13,350 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.3% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.4% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$33.4 billion
expenditures:
$36.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.4 billion (FY93)
Exports:
$14.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery and equipment, cut diamonds, chemicals, textiles and
apparel, agricultural products, metals
partners:
US, EC, Japan
Imports:
$20.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, oil, other
productive inputs, consumer goods
partners:
US, EC
External debt:
$24.8 billion (December 1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6.5% (1993 est.); accounts for about 30% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
5,835,000 kW
production:
21.84 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
4,600 kWh (1992)
Industries:
food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles and apparel,
chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transport equipment,
electrical equipment, miscellaneous machinery, potash mining,
high-technology electronics, tourism
Agriculture:
accounts for about 7% of GDP; largely self-sufficient in food
production, except for grains; principal products - citrus and other
fruits, vegetables, cotton; livestock products - beef, dairy, poultry
Illicit drugs:
increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse and trafficking
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $18.2 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.8
billion
Currency:
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.9760 (February 1994), 2.8301
(1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year (since 1 January 1992)

@Israel, Communications

Railroads:
600 km 1.435-meter gauge, single track; diesel operated
Highways:
total:
13,300 km
paved:
13,300 km
Pipelines:
crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89 km
Ports:
Ashdod, Haifa
Merchant marine:
33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 637,097 GRT/737,762 DWT, cargo
8, container 22, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
note:
Israel also maintains a significant flag of convenience fleet, which
is normally at least as large as the Israeli flag fleet; the Israeli
flag of convenience fleet typically includes all of its oil tankers
Airports:
total:
55
usable:
48
with permanent-surface runways:
30
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
6
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
13
Telecommunications:
most highly developed in the Middle East although not the largest;
good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; 1,800,000
telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 21 FM, 20 TV; 3 submarine
cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT

@Israel, Defense Forces

Branches:
Israel Defense Forces (including ground, naval, and air components)
note:
historically, there have been no separate Israeli military services
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,257,345; females age 15-49 1,280,899; males fit for
military service 1,026,699; females fit for military service
1,049,998; males reach military age (18) annually 47,297 (1994 est.);
females reach military age (18) annually 45,214 (1994 est.); both
sexes are liable for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $12.5 billion, 18% of GDP (1993)

@Italy, Geography

Location:
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean
Sea
Map references:
Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
301,230 sq km
land area:
294,020 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Arizona
note:
includes Sardinia and Sicily
Land boundaries:
total 1,899.2 km, Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican
City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline:
4,996 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Natural resources:
mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling natural gas and crude oil
reserves, fish, coal
Land use:
arable land:
32%
permanent crops:
10%
meadows and pastures:
17%
forest and woodland:
22%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
31,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide;
coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural
effluents; acid rain damaging lakes
natural hazards:
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of
the Sea
Note:
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as
southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

@Italy, People